Two nights before 2d MEB invaded Marjah last year, I was sharing a cigar around a 'tactical planning fire' with a couple friends who were going into the city (I stayed on the outskirts). One of the guys related a story of exceedingly bad judgement from his youth.
He, a high school friend, and two girls had been drinking for a few hours, when they decided to go spotlight some hogs. With my friend at the left front of the vehicle, and his friend high and right in the bed of the truck, they took aim with rifles and fired. My friend immediately dropped, blood pouring out of his arm. The guy in the back of the truck had shot the truck's antenna, and sent about 2/3 of the round's jacketing into my friend's arm. He healed and obviously went on to college and a commission in the Marine Corps, but he never touched a drop of booze again.
I've also had my (thankfully armored) vehicle peppered by 7.62 minigun ricochets during a danger-close CAS mission. My driver thought they were shooting at us at first and freaked out a little. If you think one ricochet whizzing by is scary, try 2-4,000 rpm. At least they weren't .50 cal rounds, though. Because all our birds carried nothing but a SAPHEI/tracer mix.
SAPHEI--Semi Amor Piercing High Explosive Incendiary, sometimes referred to as 'skittles' rounds, for the way they burst on a target. Hence the cry of, "Taste the rainbow," I've heard over the radio.
I guess the point is that, regardless of the shooting situation, you need to consider the overall geometry of where, what, and how you are firing. When I see people at the range walk up and just start blasting like they're trying out for a John Woo movie, I quietly just pack my gear and move on down the line to a quieter, hopefully safer shooting position.
