I went to my local range (seven-lane, 25yd, indoor) in Raleigh today to get some more practice in with the Springfield XD40. I had an uneasy feeling when I walked in and every lane was taken by rapid-firing cowboys whose targets looked more like a Swiss-cheese Rorschach drawing than a true target. I went to lane #4 and started to hang my target when I felt a sharp pain in my right chest. I looked down and pinned against my shirt was a nicely flattened lead bullet. I peeled it off my shirt like you would peel off a sticker.
The real pain didn't set in until a few minutes later and after lifting up my shirt, I noticed that I had a large red welt where the bullet had struck (like getting hit with a golf ball if you've ever had the misfortune of being hit by one).
The RSO on this range consists of the cashier monitoring the cameras from outside the range, which roughly translates to no RSO at all. Although it was impossible to pin down where the bullet came from, I suspect that one of the cowboys shot the floor or ceiling and the bullet ultimately found its way back to my chest. Thankfully, most of the energy had been dissipated before it found me.
I promptly packed up my gear and left. I doubt I will ever return to this range. There is no way to prevent all accidents, of course, but in no way should six VERY bad shooters be allowed to rapid fire like that.
Lesson learned: Trust your instincts. I had a bad feeling when I walked into the range and saw who the other shooters were. I should have listened to that little voice in my head saying to walk away...just walk away...
The real pain didn't set in until a few minutes later and after lifting up my shirt, I noticed that I had a large red welt where the bullet had struck (like getting hit with a golf ball if you've ever had the misfortune of being hit by one).
The RSO on this range consists of the cashier monitoring the cameras from outside the range, which roughly translates to no RSO at all. Although it was impossible to pin down where the bullet came from, I suspect that one of the cowboys shot the floor or ceiling and the bullet ultimately found its way back to my chest. Thankfully, most of the energy had been dissipated before it found me.
I promptly packed up my gear and left. I doubt I will ever return to this range. There is no way to prevent all accidents, of course, but in no way should six VERY bad shooters be allowed to rapid fire like that.
Lesson learned: Trust your instincts. I had a bad feeling when I walked into the range and saw who the other shooters were. I should have listened to that little voice in my head saying to walk away...just walk away...
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