Very FIRST time at a gunrange today and hit by a ricochet...is that normal????

[AKElroy]

I can see how that would be pretty scary. I personally have never experienced that at a range, but I regularly get shot across the corn field (on purpose) by my rowdy, inbread, do anything for a laugh dove hunting "friends". Equally amusing is the shooting of wasp nests over each other's heads. Hilarious.

 

[medalguy]

"It's unnerving at first but now it doesn't bother me."

You're kidding me, right?? How in the world could anyone get used to being hit with stray rounds??

You stated this is a new range with a good safety record. That's already gone down the toilet IMO.

This is why I don't go to busy ranges to shoot. I like to go out somewhere where there's no one else around. If you can't find a good, safe place to shoot, I don't have a good suggestion for you. Anyone else??

 

[esquare]

I agree - I'd love to see an actual layout of this place. From the description it sounds like there are shooters on two opposite sides of a berm shooting into the berm. If that's the case - YIKES!

I would get out of that range and go somewhere else. Other people think differently, but for me, there should be no reason for lead flying back at you at any range. We've had guns around long enough to know how to build safe backstops and targets.

 

[russ69]

It definitely sounds like there is a safety issue at that range. Ricochets do happen but it should be a very rare occurrence. It sounds like you did all the right things, tell the shooters their shots are ricocheting, leave the area and notify the range officers. Good job.

Thanx, Russ

 

[Slamfire]

There were what seemed to be bullets flying through the air over are head and it was pretty clear from the sound that there were shotguns being fired on the other side of the berm...however in our direction.

It is my considered opinion that being downrange of any shooting is a hazardous location.

I can recall one year at the National Matches on Viale when a bullet struck the folding stairway above the berm. This rifle bullet was deflected into the jaw of a Match Official, as I heard, taking out teeth. The gentleman was taken to the hospital, but the Ex Marine came back as soon as he was patched up.

Once a Marine, always a Marine.

Viale range has seen been renovated http://www.odcmp.org/0806/default.asp?page=VIALE_REDEDICATION

I searched on line, but I cannot find an exact URL to a fatal shooting that was investigated by a TV show. The range was in Texas and a young man was officiating in a match. The range building he was in was in the center of the range, behind berms. There was also an action pistol match going on the other side of the berm and a ricochete managed to deflect off the range building roof killing the young man.

Based on my own experience, ricochets are extremely unpredictable, back stops inconsistent in construction or materials, and if bullets are making their way through the berm, and you are on the other side, I would not visit that range again.

 

[raz-0]

Depends on what people are shooting.

If you have lots of falling steel targets, you more than likely will get chunks of bullet zinging up in the air and falling down.

However, the worst that'll happen if you are wearing eye protection is that they are hot and you get hit with a couple hundred grains of lead like it was dropped form 30-40 feet in the air.

OTOH if you are downrange of the skeet range, it can be like someone keeps shoveling dirt and small rocks on you as the shot rains back down. With proper eye protection, it's really harmless but annoying as heck.

Biggest hazard is if you are in the same pit as someone shooting a steel target with jacketed ammo. You can gets chunks of jacket coming back, and they are sharp. In that case, you can actually require a band aid. At least with properly maintained steel. However, they won't really do harm coming over a berm because they are light and have a fairly large surface are for their weight. So they aren't moving fast on the way back down.



If someone is shooting cratered steel, that is downright dangerous and can cause sever harm unde rthe right circumstances.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

It's your own fault for not wearing your flack jacket and helmet........

I'm rather shocked to hear some say this is "typical"........
I've been showered with bird shot while hunting, but never at a gun club.

 

[JMusic]

Its like hunting lions except the odds are on your side.

 

[Average Joe]

I have had a ricochet happen on the rimfire range, when shooting at steel targets set up at 25 yards.

 

[racine]

Fairly Rare...

I've been shooting in competition since 1993 and have been hit by shrapnel 3 times (ricochet from steel targets from 12 yds or more) and a 230 gr. 45acp slug once( spent slug was probably hit by an errant bullet that sent it over a 12 ft sand berm and hit me on the forehead/covered by a hat). That slug hurt, had me seeing stars, drew a bit of blood and made me appreciate my glasses, ear muffs, and hat. I cannot over emphasize eye protection, preferably wrap around types. How often do you see a Nascar racecar careen into the protective fence, tires flying everywhere, or that last desert truck that ran into a group of viewers out in Mexico? The risk here is lower but held at bay by tools to protect us. Nothing is 100% safe... So be safe out there.

 

[TXPeach]

Well ya'll, I have to say it's been interesting reading the responses. A majority of them agree that this was not best or even safe practice.

I understand from growing up with hunters and gunsman in my immediate family that ricochets can and do happen occasionally while out on a hunt...especially with bird shot for dove, etc...

My problem is that that I always learned from my family (and the chl instroctor) that you are ALWAYS responsible for the bullet as soon as you pull that trigger and to ALWAYS know what's behind your target....this being said the people engaging in the competion were notified that A) they were causing ricochet to not just "annoy" others but to actually inflict pain/harm (seriosuly ya'll should see the whelp/bruise on my jugluar.)...this to me is in clear violation of being responsible for your bullets and B) that they were shooting in our direction behind their target (yes, I know dirt berms are reasonably safe but it's the sheer fact). AND THEY DID NOT STOP.

I'm mean ya'll. It was bad enough for a chl instructor and gun aficianado of well over a decade to "HOLY ****". And packed us up SUPER quick to haul our ass out of there.

AND THIS WAS THE DESIGNATED CHL BERM!

But on a happy note, I am making myself go out to a completly different range tomorrow to finish the shooting portion of my chl test....ya'll this almost ruined and put a huge tarnish on my view of guns and gun saftey if it wasn't for my dad and sisters' reassurment....come on, how else am I going to shoot Commies?!? (a little funny here).

My opininon after being hit and reading the many replies is: This just shouldn't happen to a first timer, but ANYONE under normal and safe circumstances. If a person says they're taking your shot. You should stop and rectify the situation. End of story.

BTW this is their first rule listed:
SAFETY FIRST! Every shooter has the responsibility to make sure that each bullet fired impacts safely in a backstop or bullet trap.

 

[Hatterasguy]

I go shooting to have fun, if I wanted to get shot at I would join the Army. I recommend going to a different range, or at least not to that range when they are doing whatever they are doing.

 

[taliv]

welcome to THR, TXpeach

I shoot competitively pretty regularly. Occasionally get hit by splatter from my own rounds, but I can't recall ever having rounds leave another shooting bay/berm and hit me. Offhand, that seems like a pretty poorly designed facility and course of fire.

and they DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AFTER THE FIRST WARNING.

 

[MacTech]

That range sounds like...no, wait, *IS* an accident waiting to happen, thank the great Flying Spaghetti Monster that you escaped largely uninjured, and I think you made the right decision to find a different range, my local range has a single shooting hut with individual bays on the rifle range and on the handgun range, all shooters are pointing in the same direction, and nobody is in the lane of fire on a hot range

South Berwick Rod and Gun Association GPS coordinates are;
43.18737,-70.799117

Plug that into your GPS/smartphone/Google Maps, and see how a safe range is set up

from top to bottom;
doubles trap range
singles trap range
handgun range (up to 25 yards distance)
rifle range (200, 100, and 50 yard ranges)

It's an old satellite picture, the handgun range now has berms and backstops at 15, 20 and 25 yards, the pistol range in the image was the older "movable target holder" range with the single berm at 25 yards, and the rifle range shooting hut now extends all the way to the 50 yard range, the bright sand patches on the rifle range are the 200, 100 and 50 yard berms and backstops, the curved white blob is the side berm preventing stray bullet escapes to the right

the structure near the road is the clubhouse, and the archery range is directly across from it
notice, no shooting positions beyond the shooting huts?

 

[JTHunter]

Both good points!

That range was [IS] poorly designed and dangerous.

I would not frequent a range such as described.

 

[wvshooter]

I've only been to two different ranges but never anything like what you describe. I would not stay at a range like that any longer than it would take for me to get my stuff back into the car and leave. That's way too dangerous and unnecessary as well. Sorry for your experience.

Find a good range and hang in there.

 

[Dulvarian]

Sorry: Wall of text and parentheticals. Can't sleep.

I think the majority are in agreement on the fact that it is an unsafe layout. I personally would not have actually gone out there seeing a setup like that.

There is also the little part of me that thinks the people firing on the other side were doing it intentionally, and probably knew that it was CC class out there. It actually sounds even more malicious that they didn't stop when they got told about it.

I would have asked for any money I had spent be refunded, and then I would file a formal complaint. I don't know who the proper person would be, but I would take the time to find out. And then I would ask every other person that was present give me a name and contact info to tell them what I was doing, and ask if they file additional complaints. I would write it up, send them a copy, with an stamped envelope so all they would have to do is sign their name and put it into the mail.

I was always taught that "what's behind your target" meant all the way to the end of the range of the round that you were firing. A lot of people don't understand about bullets not plunging straight into the ground but instead deflecting off something on the ground and ricocheting up into the air and over the berm. As stated above, you are morally and legally responsible every time you pull the trigger for where that bullet goes. If you were at an 'official range', the proprietor is probably also legally liable if they have a set-up like that.

I'm impressed that you have the fortitude to continue on with your training, and that you are not letting a bad (one of the worst first timer stories I think I have ever heard) experience turn you off. Your gut was right.

And not that I am anyone of import, welcome to the boards. Call me a sexist, but I find it refreshing to interact with determined ladies with guns (so long as I am not at the wrong end of the barrel). I cannot think of a single woman shooter I have ever gone with that did not show a healthy respect for the tools, have an over-bearing machismo about how awesome they were, or that didn't take well to advice or instruction. (The only bad thing I've seen is that a lot of the women shooters I know shoot far less than they should to remain really proficient.)

I also feel much better about women being able to defend themselves. Someone on here has a signature line along the line of a woman being able to defend herself. Having a mother, MIL, wife, 2 daughters, SIL's, and numerous nieces... Great decision.

Also, please post the name of the range so that we can Google Earth it. I would like to see the layout (if it was posted, I don't remember seeing it).

 

[CapnMac]

This is why I don't go to busy ranges to shoot. I like to go out somewhere where there's no one else around.

Every bad instance I have ever had was on a quiet range with only a couple of other shooters. Just my bad luck that sometimes (1 in 200, 1 in 500, whatever it works out to be) those few other people were bozos.

The IPSC people "bought" their spot, with three berms from the one range. For an actual competition, they close the entire range. Only a hazard if they are out there on a quiet Wednesday or Thursday, and then only if someone wanders into the range fan of one of the more wacky IPSC target set-ups.

 

[ljnowell]

When I take my son to our private gun club if there are more than five or six people on the pistol or rifle line, we leave, and come back later. I cant control all those people and ensure they are safe, and my sons life is worth more than anything I own, including my own life.

 

[Blakk]

Our gun club has no ranges in which they have you shooting in any direction towards another range of a different kind. All the various ranges all face the same direction, and I've never heard of this sort of thing before. I don't blame you for hauling ass out of there. I might have done something worse, good thing I wasn't there, lol.