Bloody Day at the Range

[K22]

At the range today and a fellow shooter shows up with a nice new Tikka T3X, lite in 308. He sets up on the bench to sight in his new rifle with a nice Leupold Variable Scope. After his first shot and I hear a yell followed by ******* (expletives deleted) then see blood rushing down the bridge of his nose, looks like Mike Tyson just decked the poor fellow. Well, deer season is coming, and I always expect the unexpected at the range.

I retrieve my first aid kit from the truck and perform my role as "range medic" for a fellow shooting brother. He has a nasty half-moon slice on the bridge on his nose. I get the bleeding under control so he can drive home. While helping load up his car I notice was shooting factory ammo, 180 grain bullets.

Just another day at the range.

 

[HTSmith]

Those rifles are light. They come back fast. Good on you for your assistance.

 

[1K6BRA]

Yep deer season is almost here in Pennsylvania, and so are fresh members of the Half moon club! Reminds me of an older gentleman years ago sighting in his 30-30 model 94 with a side mount on it. I noticed the scope was set ridiculously far back and thought to myself that can’t be good. And I was right it was not good. The fella fired one shot stood up turned around faced the crowd behind him with blood just pouring off of his nose. He just stood there the whole time and let it drip never a reaction on his face. Yeah the things you see this time of the year at the range!

 

[ebb]

I wish I could feel sorry for him and many more like him that had no idea that rifles have recoil. I am guessing but was there no one to tell him about rifles kicking?

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Hate that, did he pack it up or finish up sighting it in?

 

[mousegunner]

Freind had a Win pre 64 featherweight in .243 or .270 (?) that I borrowed for deer. Sighted in the rifle and I was almost hoping a deer wouldn't cross my path and spare my shoulder. Never got a shot at one but wasn't too broke up about it.

 

[hogpatrol]

Short eye relief scopes and Cessna flaps. BTDT.

 

[Dimner]

I always chalk this kinda injury up to very poor shooting position. People get really lax and don't prepare for the recoil. They put their face close but also never have the butt set firmly in their shoulder. Especially when it starts getting cold and people are wearing more layers.

 

[K22]

Hate that, did he pack it up or finish up sighting it in?

No, he just departed - imagine he had a hell of a headache. Those 180's in a light rifle are brutal, I know, been there, done that..

 

[distinguished]

Saw that sort of thing many times while working hunters sight in. The most ridiculous time was the police "snipers". I saw he was too close before he fired and said something about it, he said it was fine, he was a sniper and knows what he was doing. Bang, scope ring above his eye. I offered to let him use my tools to readjust his scope and he declined, saying he knows what he is doing. Bang, nice gash in the same place and blood dripping all over. Think he needed stitches for that one! Just can't help some "snipers".

 

[K22]

I always chalk this kinda injury up to very poor shooting position. People get really lax and don't prepare for the recoil. They put their face close but also never have the butt set firmly in their shoulder. Especially when it starts getting cold and people are wearing more layers.

Yes, that is definitely part of it. I've seen it many times before, a front and rear rest too low that cause the shooter to get too low on the rifle and creep the cheek forward, even with scopes properly mounted with adequate eye relief, it can happen with that low setup in a light rifle with heavy loads.

 

[SSL]

A condition not restricted to newbies. I had a Marlin 1895 45/70 that I planned to take to Michigan for a deer hunt back in 1974. I had shot it all summer and was well accustomed to the recoil of my hot 350-grain loads. Weekend before I headed to Michigan, I decided to do a fast check of my scope settings. Using just a quick position across the hood of my car I fired four shots without issue and then fired number five. I had not noticed that I had been slowly shifting position and crawling up the stock resulting in that last shot slamming the scope into my forehead and opening a nice, deep cut right to the bone in my right eyebrow. Bled like a stuck hog, saw stars and dropped me to my knees!
Still made it to Michigan and got a nice buck on opening day, so it wasn't a complete loss. Just hurt my head and damaged my dignity.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I’ve done it more than once shooting my 30BR in matches and shooting free recoil.

I really bleeds when you are old and on blood thinners.

 

[wedgy]

About 10 years ago just after my girlfriends 1st pig hunt she says she has a headache, I look over and she has a black eye coming on. She didn't notice it until all the excitement wore off. Still my fault LOL

 

[Ken]

Hope he gets over the flinch

 

[Ranger188]

A friend of mine just bought a 300 win mag. (years ago)
Had to have a big man rifle.
Well it was light and he snugged right up to that scope and let one rip.
Cut his eye brow and was bleeding for quite awhile.
Think he sold it not too long after that. lol

 

[Old Navy]

About 10 years ago just after my girlfriends 1st pig hunt she says she has a headache, I look over and she has a black eye coming on. She didn't notice it until all the excitement wore off. Still my fault LOLView attachment 1489927

I bet you offered to kiss it better!

 

[JMayo]

A hunting rifle on a bench will knock the hide off quick. I thought i wanted to shoot my 280 that way. Aww heck no. I still shutter at the memory

 

[209jones]

My 7-08 got me many yrs ago at a turkey shoot, shooting prone, wasn't thinking. I've felt a light touch a few times over the years, never drew blood any other time though.

 

[jdh47]

I'm sure it happens a lot more than we hear about. A fellow I know went hunting with his father when he was a kid. They sat in a blind and a deer came out. His dad shot with his 30-30 and missed the deer. The boy said shoot him again dad and his dads reply was "you want the @#%@ thing shoot it yourself". He had blood running down his face from a scope cut. I have had an unwanted surprise form a heavy recoiling gun before and though it didn't result in any blood loss it sure made me pay attention.
Hope the guy recovers well and doesn't get any bad habbits from his experience. He might want to try 155 gr. bullets.