Also, I see a lot of scopes mounted too high where proper cheek weld is nearly impossible to obtained which results in the head "floating" around to obtain reticle focus.
Bloody Day at the Range
- Thread starter K22
- Start date
Leupold used to make a little rubber ring that screwed on to the eye piece. It would convert a nasty cut to a simple bludgeoning. I have them on my hard kicking rifles. So far I've haven't needed one......
Before ladder stands became prevalent, our modus operendi for our deer camp was to sit atop a bull pine which got you above the scrub oaks which were then 4 to 5 ft high. On a brutally cold day one member had a deer came underneath the tree from a hard angle to which he was facing and the only chance to get a shot off was to shoot with his oft eye. The .308 Rem 600 broke his eyeglass frame in two, his nose had to be reset at the Dr. He got the buck albeit a scrapper, but there was more of his blood than from the deer. Fond memories.
I've never made myself bleed, but seen it and had a couple bumps from weird positions, so this principle I adhere to. Never metal (or hard plastic) as the first thing you hit. Rear scope cap is usually enough (Butler Creek is soft plastic) and otherwise I'll find some rubber sleeve or shrink tube etc to put on there.
Same with NODs. I run the eyecups forward, but always keep them on as otherwise it's metal stuff 1" from my eyes, millimeters from my glasses. Noise or injury: no thanks either way.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
I did this when 17 with my 444 Marlin, see through mounts. My buddy was not coming back to the truck at the appointed time. I had sighted in the 444 with the scope, never checked the iron sights. I made the hasty decision to shoot at a knot on a pine tree about 50 yards away and see how far off the iron sights were. Of course I had to get closer to the scope to properly see the iorn sights. I was just about knocked unconscious at the shot, and brother did I bleed!At the range today and a fellow shooter shows up with a nice new Tikka T3X, lite in 308. He sets up on the bench to sight in his new rifle with a nice Leupold Variable Scope. After his first shot and I hear a yell followed by ******* (expletives deleted) then see blood rushing down the bridge of his nose, looks like Mike Tyson just decked the poor fellow. Well, deer season is coming, and I always expect the unexpected at the range.
I retrieve my first aid kit from the truck and perform my role as "range medic" for a fellow shooting brother. He has a nasty half-moon slice on the bridge on his nose. I get the bleeding under control so he can drive home. While helping load up his car I notice was shooting factory ammo, 180 grain bullets.
Just another day at the range.
Another fellow hunting partner went to the tree stand where the missing pard was at, he had got down and went to sleep.
I carry the scar to this day!
Same thing that happened with my son with .300 blk. Thank goodness for a the rubber ring on the scope.
Jonnyofalltrades
Silver $$ Contributor
I have inadvertently set two of my kids up to have it happen to them.
Looking down just as they're pulling the trigger, seeing that they're going to get clobbered, but no time to stop them.
Makes a guy feel like a winner dad...
Looking down just as they're pulling the trigger, seeing that they're going to get clobbered, but no time to stop them.
Makes a guy feel like a winner dad...
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
When I set up a scope for someone on a rifle that has some recoil, I set the eye relief so that he has to lean into the scope quite a bit in standing position to get a full field of view. This usually puts the scope far enough forward that it will not be too close when shooting from a bench. Prone is a whole other animal, and is why stocks have adjustable length of pull. It is all about the fore and aft position of the eye, relative to the shoulder in various shooting positions. I usually also mention to the newbies to make sure that the rifle is solidly against their shoulder and that they have a good grip on the rifle before firing the first shot. This will minimize the felt recoil and give their eyebrow and or nose additional protection.
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rockhound78
Silver $$ Contributor
Don't forget to add Cessna ailerons and STOL kit wingtips. Lost a lot more blood and have many more scars from those instead of my rifles. Actually, only bit once, from my 700 bdl '06 while prairie dog hunting (knock on wood).
brokeasajoke
Silver $$ Contributor
Somewhere I got the bright idea to let a 338L free recoil. I didn't bleed on that one but it could've been bad. My 30-30 fixed 4x Deerfield scope got me once.
Edit: had that scope for 35 years. It came on and was used when I bought the 1974 Marlin used in 5th grade. Dropped it when I slipped in the mud last year and the turret cover hit square on a rock.
Edit: had that scope for 35 years. It came on and was used when I bought the 1974 Marlin used in 5th grade. Dropped it when I slipped in the mud last year and the turret cover hit square on a rock.
Yep. Sure does. When I told my wife that she wasn't to thrilled but she was more waiting for the butt chewing I was going to get from Grandma, which I did and then calmly told her that I wanted to be the first one to show and bring into the world of firearms. Not video games, TV, the internet and most importantly one of his immature and unaware friends. There's nothing worse that some one who thinks they know and says "I didn't think it was Loaded".
And I think most of us have had a close call and or worse. I have I admit but thankfully nothing bad happened.
I've seen a couple first time gun owners with their first firearm being a pistol grip shotgun. Amazing how they place their eye right behind the pistol grip and not bracing at all for any recoil.
I've been able to stop a couple people from getting all bloodied up. But some are just determined.
I've been able to stop a couple people from getting all bloodied up. But some are just determined.
Flouncer
What the heck it works for me !!
I think I am very lucky and have a Mauser God that watches over me. With no instruction or help I have shot three Mausers which are heavy, and then my Tikka 3X which is not, about 6 1/2 pound sans scope and junk with 8x57 with 200g Partitions off the bench to load develop. Never even a touch.
7mm weatherby mag for me. Shot an antelope with my buddies rifle. Kicked more than my .270.. Killed the anntelope but wounded me. Doug
divingin
Gold $$ Contributor
At the range shooting pistol; my benchrest mentor was on the rifle line. About the time I get ready to swap pistols for rifles, my friend asks "Did you see the guy with the 7 mag?" Nope, didn't notice.
Apparently a new shooter with a new deer rifle (don't ask me why he felt he needed a 7Mag - nothing in California would need that.) First shot cut over his eye pretty good. Goes into the restroom, lots of cold water and a good number of paper towels, gets the bleeding stopped. Comes back out, takes another shot, gets whacked again. Back to the restroom, more towels, comes back out and gets whacked a third time. At that point, my buddy says that he guesses that the guy figures it's just normal and he watched as the guy continued to shoot the other 17 rounds, getting whacked in the face each time. Packed up, one more trip to the restroom to clean up, and he left without saying a word to anyone.
Apparently a new shooter with a new deer rifle (don't ask me why he felt he needed a 7Mag - nothing in California would need that.) First shot cut over his eye pretty good. Goes into the restroom, lots of cold water and a good number of paper towels, gets the bleeding stopped. Comes back out, takes another shot, gets whacked again. Back to the restroom, more towels, comes back out and gets whacked a third time. At that point, my buddy says that he guesses that the guy figures it's just normal and he watched as the guy continued to shoot the other 17 rounds, getting whacked in the face each time. Packed up, one more trip to the restroom to clean up, and he left without saying a word to anyone.
I have had a couple flap diamonds and the aileron pinch! Been shooting for 69 years and never touched by a scope. Course grandpappy always says, never say never. If it happens to me I'm sure their will be witnesses laughing!
My first centerfire rifle was a 300WM, I was poor so I got a used target turret scope and didn't look up the specs, the eye relief was pretty short. Clipped myself several times at the range with it but not horrible. My first elk hunt I got a bull at 638 yards and he had us pinned and unable to stalk so I shot him from there from a less than ideal position, put 4 rounds through his boiler room. Afterwards something is running in my eye, yup I cut my forehead deep. Didn't even feel it.
That scope now sits on a 243AI with a brake....
That scope now sits on a 243AI with a brake....
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
I "unbroke" my nose with the first shot from a 50 cal muzzleloader(no scope). I played a lot of slow pitch softball tournaments, broke my nose on a hard ground ball that I watched deflect up between my eyes.
My girlfriend/wife to be had given me a TC muzzleloader kit for Christmas. I finished it in June. 3 days after I broke my nose, before my ENT visit, decided to test fire it. Loaded up the recommended maxi ball load and shot standing using a bag on the hood of my truck. Dropped me to one knee, nose bleeding again. 2 days later I'm in the docs office and he's looking at the after the break ER x-Ray and the after muzzleloader test x-Ray. He asked me if my ER film is mine? Saved me the 2 metal rods and packing up my nose, which I hear is worse than the break, unbreak pain?
My girlfriend/wife to be had given me a TC muzzleloader kit for Christmas. I finished it in June. 3 days after I broke my nose, before my ENT visit, decided to test fire it. Loaded up the recommended maxi ball load and shot standing using a bag on the hood of my truck. Dropped me to one knee, nose bleeding again. 2 days later I'm in the docs office and he's looking at the after the break ER x-Ray and the after muzzleloader test x-Ray. He asked me if my ER film is mine? Saved me the 2 metal rods and packing up my nose, which I hear is worse than the break, unbreak pain?
Infrequent Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
ok, so who is going to start making a rubber eye piece? bicycle tire tube folded over?
Back in the 90's, with my first 7mm Rem Mag, sighting in a new scope... with short eye relief. First shot left a half moon circle around my eye and side of nose. Bleeding but not too bad. So, to my shame, and embarrassment, I admit I tried a second shot.... with same results. Bleeding a little worse now. Brother in Law laughing his but off. We packed up and went home.
Thank goodness i learned my lesson about short eye relief that day.
Thank goodness i learned my lesson about short eye relief that day.
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