lapses of judgment

[PNWTrekker]

Anyone brave enough to share lapses of judgment for the betterment of the whole? I'll start.

I was a firearms instructor for years and consider myself pretty safe when it comes to range etiquette and safety rules. The other day, my 13 y/o and a 12 y/o friend were target practicing in the back yard. I was trying to make it fun for them, so we were shooting nontraditional targets. Plastic army guys, pop cans filled with water, etc. Then I got the great idea to shoot golf balls off the top of plastic soda bottles. I have shot a lot of golf balls with .22 rimfires trying to keep them dancing. The trigger was pulled, the whine of a ricochet was heard, and my son (who was sitting behind the shooter) grabs his neck and yelps. It did not break skin, but it hit with some oomph. Had it hit an unprotected eye, or had we been closer than 25 yards, I think we would have been heading to the ER.

Morale of the story, shooting golf balls = bad.

 

[Trucker3573]

When shooting out of a window make sure you open it first or you end up shooting “out” the window.

 

[greenbeans]

When shooting out of a window make sure you open it first or you end up shooting “out” the window.

Second that (my window, not my shot):

 

[Vetmx]

When shooting out of a window make sure you open it first or you end up shooting “out” the window.

This. I shoot out a port. My dad who’s in his 80’s said you should put a sticker on that window thats visible through the port. I said not necessary. Eventually blew out the window. Now it’s necessary.

FX decided to make the safety the opposite when they introduced the M3. I had two MKll’s and one M3. Didn’t think it was a big deal until I blew a hole in a wall. So the MKll’s went up for sale.

 

[Mr.Brocock]

I shot thru a golf cart windshield....Jace can tell you more.
My kids will never let me hear the end of it. Iguana fever....

 

[markT]

Anyone brave enough to share lapses of judgment for the betterment of the whole? I'll start.

I was a firearms instructor for years and consider myself pretty safe when it comes to range etiquette and safety rules. The other day, my 13 y/o and a 12 y/o friend were target practicing in the back yard. I was trying to make it fun for them, so we were shooting nontraditional targets. Plastic army guys, pop cans filled with water, etc. Then I got the great idea to shoot golf balls off the top of plastic soda bottles. I have shot a lot of golf balls with .22 rimfires trying to keep them dancing. The trigger was pulled, the whine of a ricochet was heard, and my son (who was sitting behind the shooter) grabs his neck and yelps. It did not break skin, but it hit with some oomph. Had it hit an unprotected eye, or had we been closer than 25 yards, I think we would have been heading to the ER.

Morale of the story, shooting golf balls = bad.

More information please: Distance/ caliber/ grain pellet/ fps. Golf ball brand?
I’ve shot golf balls before and pellet buried in the ball.

 

[wimpanzee]

yeah i try hard not to shoot things that are engineered to reflect kinetic energy...

 

[nervoustrig]

Golf balls sending a pellet back at the shooter is a repeated theme over the years.

One I didn’t anticipate was 10m shooting with a low power pistol (e.g. Beeman P17) with the target paper stapled to a plywood backer. Turns out a large percentage of the pellets come right back.

 

[Ratzy]

When shooting out of a window make sure you open it first or you end up shooting “out” the window.

When degassing a Gauntlet clear the gun first. If you forget the pressure reaches low enough the hammer lets loose and a pellet goes right through the window.

Not that I would ever get distracted and forget to clear the gun before working on it.

 

[Ratzy]

Golf balls sending a pellet back at the shooter is a repeated theme over the years.

One I didn’t anticipate was 10m shooting with a low power pistol (e.g. Beeman P17) with the target paper stapled to a plywood backer. Turns out a large percentage of the pellets come right back.

Especially if they hit a knot in the wood.

I use particle board (x2) with an 1/8" aluminum plate as the backer. I have access to a lot of 24x48x1/2 particle board.

The aluminum plate is required because .30 will go through both 1/2" particle boards.

 

[nervoustrig]

When degassing a Gauntlet clear the gun first. If you forget the pressure reaches low enough the hammer lets loose and a pellet goes right through the window.

Good example. I had something similar happen once...a gun leaked down to the point where the hammer pushed the poppet open and sent a pellet into the sheetrock wall it was propped against. Granted, it didn’t leave at full velocity but I wouldn’t want anything biological in the vicinity of the muzzle when it happened. Just one of those low probability / high risk failures that reinforce the reasons why a gun should never be pointed at something you don’t want shot, and why it’s not smart to leave a pellet chambered even if uncocked.

 

[Ezana4CE]

When shooting a my original Benjamin Bulldog .357 at a target tacked to a dead tree from about 25 - 35 yards I began stacking pellets in the same area of the target. Eventually the lead compacted and I guess it became dense enough to send some shots back towards me. The first couple of times I kept shooting. It wasn't until I felt a soft ricochet hit me where I stopped and determined that it wasn't a good idea to continue shooting. I'm assuming that's the reason for the ricochets.

 

[Ratzy]

Good example. I had something similar happen once...a gun leaked down to the point where the hammer pushed the poppet open and sent a pellet into the sheetrock wall it was propped against. Granted, it didn’t leave at full velocity but I wouldn’t want anything biological in the vicinity of the muzzle when it happened. Just one of those low probability / high risk failures that reinforce the reasons why a gun should never be pointed at something you don’t want shot, and why it’s not smart to leave a pellet chambered even if uncocked.

I was lucky/unlucky enough it was on the tripod facing out my back window. Nothing out back for 45 yards then a creek with the opposite back higher. Nothing to hit but the double pane window.

 

[Ratzy]

When shooting a my original Benjamin Bulldog .357 at a target tacked to a dead tree from about 25 - 35 yards I began stacking pellets in the same area of the target. Eventually the lead compacted and I guess it became dense enough to send some shots back towards me. The first couple of times I kept shooting. It wasn't until I felt a soft ricochet hit me where I stopped and determined that it wasn't a good idea to continue shooting. I'm assuming that's the reason for the ricochets.

Yeah, I've got a big piece of 4x12 i was using for my 25 yard backstop. Heard a ricochet hit near me. Realized I had been putting high velocity .25 slugs in the same spot.

Built up another particle board box with aluminum plate backer. Fill the box with hard foam pads to absorb any ricochet.

 

[Vetmx]

I’ll keep going and embarrassing myself. A high powered PCP can shoot a laser bore sighter exactly 26 yards.

 

[stateofmisery]

Anyone brave enough to share lapses of judgment for the betterment of the whole? I'll start.

I was a firearms instructor for years and consider myself pretty safe when it comes to range etiquette and safety rules. The other day, my 13 y/o and a 12 y/o friend were target practicing in the back yard. I was trying to make it fun for them, so we were shooting nontraditional targets. Plastic army guys, pop cans filled with water, etc. Then I got the great idea to shoot golf balls off the top of plastic soda bottles. I have shot a lot of golf balls with .22 rimfires trying to keep them dancing. The trigger was pulled, the whine of a ricochet was heard, and my son (who was sitting behind the shooter) grabs his neck and yelps. It did not break skin, but it hit with some oomph. Had it hit an unprotected eye, or had we been closer than 25 yards, I think we would have been heading to the ER.

Morale of the story, shooting golf balls = bad.

Don't ask. Mark Ps the doctors would not remove it.

 

[trapdoor2]

Low power...

I've been very happy shooting the .25s into my rubber mulch filled trap. No issues at all.

When I rebuilt my old Benjamin 132 pump .22 pistol, the third shot popped back out and rattled around the shop. I found the pellet yesterday (a month later) behind some boxes. I plink outside only with it now.

 

[6gun]

When your mrod triggered disco is set so light just bumping it will set it off, don't move the gun without the safety on when loaded or you have a new rivet hole in your aluminum shop door.

 

[Dbez1]

I’m thinking you might want to consider adjusting that trigger a little for safety??? Even our competition BR PB .22’s with the Jewl triggers are not set that light. Just sayin. Best wishes.

 

[Dbez1]

Second that (my window, not my shot):
View attachment 575084

As what you get for cleaning your windows.