Wear a vest!!!

[Mike]

Or don't stand too close to the steel target you are shooting....

I was out shooting my steel targets I made a few months ago. I was about 25 yards away when I shot and a piece of the round ricocheted back, hitting me in the side.

Unfortunately I neglected to put on my vest when I went out back to shoot. I figured I was only going to shoot one mag and I didn't need to bother this time. Luckily it didn't penetrate any deeper than it did.

A minor injury that placed a few inches to the right could have been serious.

Wear a vest or move back when shooting steel.

Rifle caliber was .308

[Magiccarpetrides]

Ouch! If that had hit you in the neck you would have been screwed with or without a vest. You probably need to put some slope/angle on your steel targets so they deflect away.

[Mike]

I designed them to slope down and back, deflecting into the ground, also to swing back to dissipate some energy.

I figure I shot while it was swinging back towards me resulting in shooting at nearly perpendicular angle to the steel.

BTW, that FAL is awesome.

Edited November 2, 2009 by Mike

[Hotshot]

I thought shooting fmj at steel was a known bad.

Edited November 2, 2009 by Hotshot
sp

[Kelemvor]

"So I was shooting this steel target with my .308 at 25yds..."

Sounds like the beginning of a lot of bad stories.

[Mike]

I thought shooting fmj at steel was a known bad.

Shooting lead nosed ammo, not FMJ.

"So I was shooting this steel target with my .308 at 25yds..."

Sounds like the beginning of a lot of bad stories.

Never said it was my brightest moment...

[Guest sling]

"So I was shooting this steel target with my .308 at 25yds..."

Sounds like the beginning of a lot of bad stories.

+1000

[Magiccarpetrides]

I designed them to slope down and back, deflecting into the ground, also to swing back to dissipate some energy.

I figure I shot while it was swinging back towards me resulting in shooting at nearly perpendicular angle to the steel.

BTW, that FAL is awesome.

Glad you like it I thought it was pretty sweet myself...now just be more careful with it!

[Dropkick Murphy]

Damn dude. I bet the chicks dig the wound though.

[Hotshot]

Wanna see my scar??

Glad you're ok.

[ShaunM]

Glad your all right just be carefull next time.

[poak]

Damn, Mike!

Maybe order some frangible bullets in the future?

BTW, hats off for sharing the story. It takes nuts to admit you farked up on a public forum like this.

[Kegger]

Mike, I'm pretty sure I've told you before...

You're gonna shoot your eye out with that thing.

[Guest FroggyOne2]

[Guest mikedwood]

"So I was shooting this steel target with my .308 at 25yds..."

Sounds like the beginning of a lot of bad stories.

Just what I was thinking.

Man I am so glad you are OK with a cool scar to show for it.

I have been thinking of making some steel targets for some 9mm shooting. You may have talked me right out of it.

[Mike]

I'm going to modify mine to where they won't swing out. I've got to design a limiter to keep them swing ing back but never out.

Honestly they work great, and deflect the rounds into the ground. I just have revise my design to keep this from happenning again.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

Damn dude. I bet the chicks dig the wound though.

+1

Now just make up a good lie expaining how you got it.

Chicks won't be impressed with the real reason. :D

[E4 No More]

Glad you're ok. Now you can brag to the girls about your bullet wound.

[Bubba0031]

There is a video on U-Tube that shows a guy shooting a target that is attached to a steel sign post pole. The guy fires and instantly his hat flies off of his head backward. The ricochet came straight back and grazed the top of his head. An inch lower and it would have been one shot one kill, right between the eyes.

[GLOCKMEISTER]

so your still going to use steel at close ranges??? What kinda Fal do you own, what other guns you got... car, house, dog, cat, is your wife cute? Can I please be in your will????? :-)

[Mike]

so your still going to use steel at close ranges???

That's a big no. I'm just going to adjust my design to where this won't ever be a concern at longer distances.

[Guest mikedwood]

Shameless plug for my flak jacket for sale in the classifieds.

And it's not off topic.

[Kegger]

He has an Eagle Industries CIRAS with level 4 plates...

He just wasn't wearing it.

Oh and my girlfriend says haha.

[strickj]

He needs...

[Guest iamtwon]

What kind of steel?