Hunting class close call

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  • Robb in Austin

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    Howdy all. (Long time no post I know.)

    I was at the hunter ed class at Austin Rifle Club yesterday and the instructor had us step outside to judge distances. We were on the backside of the building over looking the range. While we were standing there, someone sent a round over our heads. It took a minute for it to register what had just happened. I was shocked to say the least.
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    benenglish

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    I'm mildly aware of the layout of that range. Where do you think the shot originated? I have a theory but a bit more of an eyewitness account would be more valuable.
     

    AustinN4

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    I'm mildly aware of the layout of that range. Where do you think the shot originated? I have a theory but a bit more of an eyewitness account would be more valuable.
    It could have come from an action shooting bay, or if it came from the static ranges the firearm had to have been pointed away from the targets. ND for sure.
     

    benenglish

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    It could have come from an action shooting bay, or if it came from the static ranges the firearm had to have been pointed away from the targets. ND for sure.
    I don't know if a ND is required for this to happen. Anyone in an action bay shooting at the ground could cause the problem. Despite rules to the contrary, I've seen shooters in "action bays" (not at ARC, btw) shooting at targets placed on the ground, well in front of the berms. Some people just don't think things through.

    OTOH, If it was an ND from the static ranges, the member responsible should self-report and resign their membership. You'd have to be really brain-dead to simultaneously fail to make a firearm safe, point it ~180 degrees away from the safe direction, and pull the trigger.
     

    Robb in Austin

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    close call.jpg


    We were the red dot. Blue line is the approximate bullet path. So, presumably one of those 3 bays in line with it. A friend who is a combat vet was with me and he figured it was about 10-12 ft from us.

    I suppose it could have been a ricochet but that hill the building is on is fairly elevated from the ranges. They definitely would have to have been shooting well in front of the berm.
     

    benenglish

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    A friend who is a combat vet was with me and he figured it was about 10-12 ft from us.
    I hate to be a pain but I find analyzing mistakes helps avoid them in the future.

    If you had someone with you who is familiar with the sound of bullets passing by, did he have any further comments? Personally, I've listened to bullets fired in my general direction fly by with a steady crack sound. I've also listened to ricochets which almost always seems to have a warbling/unsteady sound. Based on what y'all heard, was the sound steady (probable ND from the static ranges) or was it unsteady (probable ricochet from somewhere)?
     

    AustinN4

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    I don't know if a ND is required for this to happen. Anyone in an action bay shooting at the ground could cause the problem. Despite rules to the contrary, I've seen shooters in "action bays" (not at ARC, btw) shooting at targets placed on the ground, well in front of the berms. Some people just don't think things through.
    I haven't shot in one of the action bays for a while, but I don't recall ever seeing targets on ground in one of them.

    I said ND because from the action bays, sombody could have been drawing their weapon and hit the trigger too early causing a ricochet, or an inadvertant double tap while the weapon was in recoil sending it up the hill.

    I suppose it could have been a ricochet but that hill the building is on is fairly elevated from the ranges. They definitely would have to have been shooting well in front of the berm.
    I would never stand behind the building where you were, especially if the action bays were active. I would only stand in front of the building.
     

    benenglish

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    I said ND because from the action bays, ... an inadvertant double tap while the weapon was in recoil sending it up the hill.
    I hadn't thought of that. Definitely possible and a scary thought.

    In the aftermath, someone ought to carefully inspect the back of the building and see if it has any bullet strikes. If there's a problem of any type down in the action bays that is sending bullets in the direction of the building, I'd imagine there would be some evidence of that.

    If not, this sounds like a real fluke. What bugs me is that even if it is a crazy fluke, I can still think of several ways it could have happened.

    Human stupidity is ingenious.
     

    benenglish

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    I haven't shot in one of the action bays for a while, but I don't recall ever seeing targets on ground in one of them.
    As an aside, these targets that sit on the ground...

    124950.jpg

    ...are incredible fun but it's nearly impossible to find a safe place to use them. If someone in one of the action bays wasn't thinking it through, they might be unknowingly doing something really stupid.
     

    zincwarrior

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    Howdy all. (Long time no post I know.)

    I was at the hunter ed class at Austin Rifle Club yesterday and the instructor had us step outside to judge distances. We were on the backside of the building over looking the range. While we were standing there, someone sent a round over our heads. It took a minute for it to register what had just happened. I was shocked to say the least.
    There was a major USPSA competition there yesterday. Might have been a ricochet. Also a fair number of rifle shooters.
     

    zincwarrior

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    View attachment 128482

    We were the red dot. Blue line is the approximate bullet path. So, presumably one of those 3 bays in line with it. A friend who is a combat vet was with me and he figured it was about 10-12 ft from us.

    I suppose it could have been a ricochet but that hill the building is on is fairly elevated from the ranges. They definitely would have to have been shooting well in front of the berm.
    Ricochets happen. I've been hit by them in an indoor range, at ARC, and Liberty Hill.
     

    zincwarrior

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    As an aside, these targets that sit on the ground...

    View attachment 128485
    ...are incredible fun but it's nearly impossible to find a safe place to use them. If someone in one of the action bays wasn't thinking it through, they might be unknowingly doing something really stupid.
    There was nothing like that yesterday. Heavy steel poppers and paper targets (and one small stuffed bear!)
     

    Robb in Austin

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    The sound was a high pitched whirring zzzzz sound. I didn't realize what it was right away and had to ask him if was what I thought it was a few minutes later.

    I didn't think about it at the time, but in retrospect, he shouldn't have taken us out there with the bays being active AND I (or someone) should have said something.

    And yeah, it was crazy busy there.
     

    benenglish

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    There was nothing like that yesterday. Heavy steel poppers and paper targets (and one small stuffed bear!)
    Thanks for the useful info.

    Heavy steel poppers that fall backward bother me. I've never understood why they've become so popular given that two moderately paced shots to a popper can result in one hitting the steel at ~90 degrees at the second hitting steel at any angle from 90 degrees standing straight up to lying flat on the ground.

    Manufacturers recognize the danger. For example, skip to the 28-second mark on this advertising video to see a manufacturer acknowledge the ricochet problems with multiple shots on a popper.

     

    zincwarrior

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    Thanks for the useful info.

    Heavy steel poppers that fall backward bother me. I've never understood why they've become so popular given that two moderately paced shots to a popper can result in one hitting the steel at ~90 degrees at the second hitting steel at any angle from 90 degrees standing straight up to lying flat on the ground.

    Manufacturers recognize the danger. For example, skip to the 28-second mark on this advertising video to see a manufacturer acknowledge the ricochet problems with multiple shots on a popper.


    One positive is that a forward falling popper can actually be stopped if the shooter hits it again before it falls. The negative is that they are heavy mothers for old guys like myself...
     

    Armybrat

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    The sound was a high pitched whirring zzzzz sound.

    I heard a few of those while crouching behind a car on 21st Street when Charlie Whitman was doing his evil work from atop the UT Tower in the Summer of 1966.
    Unmistakably scary.
     
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