bullet ricochet hit me in leg @ indoor range - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Robopie · 07-27-2007, 08:26 AM

A couple of weeks ago, I was shooting at an indoor range.

I was in the middle of the range. A guy at the first booth to my right was doing head shots on a human silhouette target. One of the bullets hit the clip that held the paper, and fragments of the bullet ricocheted to an angle, hitting me in my leg.

It was like a BB shot, didn't hurt - only bled just a little bit since it barely broke the skin. It was a surprise realization that I've been "shot" in the leg. I still have the lead piece as a souvenir. I did not tell any officials at the range, didn't want to make a big deal about it. I did walk over to the shooter and told him what happened, I made a joke about it to illustrate that I wasn't serious about it - just wanted to let him know what happened...

It was only my 2nd or 3rd time at an indoor range, so I figured it must be normal due to being indoors in an enclosed area... until I talked to my dad (who's been shooting/reloading for 40+ years, including the military), told him about what happened. He told me that I should have informed the range about what happened, for a number of reasons.

If this happened to you at the range, what would you do?

Also, should I write a letter to the range and let them know for their records?

ElJimmyStrappo · 07-27-2007, 08:50 AM

I would've reported right after it happened.

Krackels · 07-27-2007, 09:00 AM

I've seen bullet splatter on the floor at the range, but i've never been hit by it.

I would've told the shooter and told the range officer. If he hadn't shot the target holder he might've been violating the range rules or using a caliber or type of ammunition that's prohibited or his gun may have been malfunctioning, so it's really in everyone's best interest to know what happened.

I'm glad you're okay, but what if the shooter was shooting there again and some kid lost his eye or worse.

The shooter was unaware of the problem and the range was unaware of the problem, so can you blame either for not correcting it?

jeff221 · 07-27-2007, 09:06 AM

If you aren't injured, I wouldn't bother personally...

This is the kind of thing which has put our society in the position it's in now...

You report it, they fill out the paperwork, they most likely have to report it to insurance/lawyers, which then raise the insurance rates, etc,etc,etc...

If her were shooting CRAZILY or you OBVIOUSLY saw him doing something wrong, I'd be all for reporting it. But, from what you wrote, it was nothing more than splatter.

jdavionic · 07-27-2007, 09:37 AM

I was hit in the shoulder many years ago at an indoor range where I worked. I can tell you from cleaning up the range...people do some really, really stupids things and there are bullet fragments all over the place. Fortunately the vast majority of the fragments are way down range due to design of the range itself (e.g., angled plates on the ceiling, etc). However you do see some signs of stupidity flourishing well in the population with holes right in the divider walls, floor chips, etc.

Regardless you should report it when it happens. Fortunately you weren't seriously hurt.

**Old School** · 07-27-2007, 12:19 PM

That is why you were eye protection. I have been hit with splatter a lot; that is part of shooting against a backstop or steel targets.

OS

leeindy · 07-27-2007, 12:54 PM

ive thrown people out of my range for that. its part of our safety rules. i dont tolerate safety violations.

arizona98tj · 07-29-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeindy

ive thrown people out of my range for that. its part of our safety rules. i dont tolerate safety violations.

I probably didn't understand your response....did you mean you throw people out for.....

Quote:

A guy at the first booth to my right was doing head shots on a human silhouette target. One of the bullets hit the clip that held the paper, and fragments of the bullet ricocheted to an angle, hitting me in my leg.

jeepinbanditrider · 07-29-2007, 07:55 PM

It sounds (since I wasn't there) that they guy may have been praticing failure drills and accidently hit the target holder. I don't think thats a "kickable" offense in my mind. Maybe they should make the holders out of wood and just change them more often if splatter is really a concern.

The local indoor range here has holes in the dividers diviots in the side walls holes in the ceiling tiles, ect. I stay away from there during the weekends. I go during the week (I work nights) and its deserted except for me and the guy working the counter. I get the whole range to myself.

Robopie · 07-29-2007, 08:00 PM

He was doing head shots. Just right above the head is a clip that holds the paper.

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

07-27-2007, 08:26 AM	#1
Robopie XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 118	bullet ricochet hit me in leg @ indoor range A couple of weeks ago, I was shooting at an indoor range. I was in the middle of the range. A guy at the first booth to my right was doing head shots on a human silhouette target. One of the bullets hit the clip that held the paper, and fragments of the bullet ricocheted to an angle, hitting me in my leg. It was like a BB shot, didn't hurt - only bled just a little bit since it barely broke the skin. It was a surprise realization that I've been "shot" in the leg. I still have the lead piece as a souvenir. I did not tell any officials at the range, didn't want to make a big deal about it. I did walk over to the shooter and told him what happened, I made a joke about it to illustrate that I wasn't serious about it - just wanted to let him know what happened... It was only my 2nd or 3rd time at an indoor range, so I figured it must be normal due to being indoors in an enclosed area... until I talked to my dad (who's been shooting/reloading for 40+ years, including the military), told him about what happened. He told me that I should have informed the range about what happened, for a number of reasons. If this happened to you at the range, what would you do? Also, should I write a letter to the range and let them know for their records? Last edited by Robopie : 07-27-2007 at 08:29 AM.

07-27-2007, 08:50 AM	#2
ElJimmyStrappo XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SE Idaho Posts: 1,316	I would've reported right after it happened. __________________ The Carry: Springfield XD 9 Service - Crossbreed Supertuck & DGR with #16 and #22 springs. The Tack Driver: Sako Vixen L461 .222 Rifle with Bushnell 4X Scope A real tack driver! The Fun Gun: Marlin .22 LR with Bushnell 7X Scope The best weapon anyone can have: a brain. "The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental." -John Steinbeck "Beware the man who owns just one gun, he will know how to use it."

07-27-2007, 09:00 AM	#3
Krackels XDTalk 10K Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 18,749 Blog Entries: 5	I've seen bullet splatter on the floor at the range, but i've never been hit by it. I would've told the shooter and told the range officer. If he hadn't shot the target holder he might've been violating the range rules or using a caliber or type of ammunition that's prohibited or his gun may have been malfunctioning, so it's really in everyone's best interest to know what happened. I'm glad you're okay, but what if the shooter was shooting there again and some kid lost his eye or worse. The shooter was unaware of the problem and the range was unaware of the problem, so can you blame either for not correcting it? __________________ "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." --Benjamin Franklin America's Third Parties --- Duping the Foolish and Idealistic since 1832. PA Roll Call .................... My Blog

07-27-2007, 09:06 AM	#4
jeff221 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 2,364	If you aren't injured, I wouldn't bother personally... This is the kind of thing which has put our society in the position it's in now... You report it, they fill out the paperwork, they most likely have to report it to insurance/lawyers, which then raise the insurance rates, etc,etc,etc... If her were shooting CRAZILY or you OBVIOUSLY saw him doing something wrong, I'd be all for reporting it. But, from what you wrote, it was nothing more than splatter. __________________ Springfield XD40 Sub-Compact Bi-Tone (.40S&W) Springfield XD9 Tactical Black (9mm) Springfield G.I. Milspec Stainless 1911-A1 (.45 ACP) Kimber Raptor II 1911 (.45 ACP) Kel-Tec P-3AT (.380 ACP) Charter Arms "Off Duty" Revolver (.38 Spl) Ruger 22/45 Mark III (.22 LR) Smith&Wesson M&P15A 16in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) BushMaster Carbon-15 (.22 LR) BushMaster XM15 E2S 20in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) Stoeger P350 Tactical Pump Shotgun (12 Gauge) Winchester Black Model98 Canon (10 Gauge)

07-27-2007, 12:19 PM	#6
Old School XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 7,582	That is why you were eye protection. I have been hit with splatter a lot; that is part of shooting against a backstop or steel targets. OS __________________ Visit www.pistolgear.com for all of your XD needs!

07-27-2007, 09:37 AM	#5
jdavionic XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: GA Posts: 5,105	I was hit in the shoulder many years ago at an indoor range where I worked. I can tell you from cleaning up the range...people do some really, really stupids things and there are bullet fragments all over the place. Fortunately the vast majority of the fragments are way down range due to design of the range itself (e.g., angled plates on the ceiling, etc). However you do see some signs of stupidity flourishing well in the population with holes right in the divider walls, floor chips, etc. Regardless you should report it when it happens. Fortunately you weren't seriously hurt.

07-27-2007, 12:54 PM	#7
leeindy XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: montana Posts: 2,892	ive thrown people out of my range for that. its part of our safety rules. i dont tolerate safety violations. __________________ USAF F-15 Attack Control Specialist / Range Officer / Defensive Pistol Instructor "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" Sigmund Freud Anchorage Practical Shooters Club aka ANPRACS ANPRACS Match Videos click here and here USPSA # A-58756 IDPA # A28338 Co-Founder of the OFFICIAL XDtalk Competition League Another good gun forum http://www.nationalgunforum.com

07-29-2007, 07:55 PM	#9
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,776	It sounds (since I wasn't there) that they guy may have been praticing failure drills and accidently hit the target holder. I don't think thats a "kickable" offense in my mind. Maybe they should make the holders out of wood and just change them more often if splatter is really a concern. The local indoor range here has holes in the dividers diviots in the side walls holes in the ceiling tiles, ect. I stay away from there during the weekends. I go during the week (I work nights) and its deserted except for me and the guy working the counter. I get the whole range to myself. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

07-29-2007, 08:00 PM	#10
Robopie XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 118	He was doing head shots. Just right above the head is a clip that holds the paper. Thanks to everyone for their responses.

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