A lesson learned: Firearm Safety is a MUST.....

[SpyderNut]

It seems that I just can't stay out of harm's way......



This afternoon was just beautiful over here in Northern Indiana, so I decided that I would take my Ruger Ranch Rifle and go plinking. I went out to my favorite woods, [ 2 miles from my house ] and I began to look for "targets" to shoot at. It wasn't long before I saw a fence post about 35 paces away. I drew a bead on it, and let loose a few rounds. I couldn't see where I was hitting, so I took a few steps forward...

a BIG mistake. I let off two more rounds, when ZING! A piece of bullet riccocheted off the fence and hit me right above my left eyebrow. I was dazed before I realized that I was hit. I also had two other small hits: one in my jaw and one in my left forearm.

Thank God nothing was serious! I went home and changed into some clean clothes, and then went to the emergency room. The nurse had to call the police, [because it was a firearm wound] and got things straightened out.

They still haven't got all the metal out of my brow wound, so I will have to go back in a week's time.



If there are any young people reading this, PLEASE learn from my stupid mistake. I could have lost an eye, or worse because I didn't take the time to set up a real target.

A .223 bullet is something you don't play games with. Think about it.





Grateful to be alive,



Michael [ Spydernut ]



PS. I used my Calypso Jr. to take the piece of metal out of my arm. The nurse called me a "dummy" for that, but that sharp tip worked well.

[darkjedi458]

im sorry you got hurt and glad it wasnt as serious as it could have been spydernut. get well soon! i agree with you wholeheartedly. any young people reading this take note. it could have been much worse. i remember when my grandpa taught me gun safety. after giving me the safety basics he took me out to shoot my first 12 gauge...he took a grapefruit out of a sack and tossed it on the ground and told me to shoot it. of course the grapefruit exploded...and he said now you know what itll do to your head if your not careful. thanks to his common sense approach and patience in teaching me safety before ever letting me load it, iv never had a firearm mishap in my life. theres no such thing as to careful. especially with an "unloaded" gun

" we chased our pleasures here...dug our treasures there...can you still recall how we cried...break on through to the other side" - the doors

[jaxon]

Spydernut,
Shame on you bro. I think I'm much older than you but listen up. I've got a whole lot of firearms and I'm always trying not to shoot myself. <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle><img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> You get healed up bro and always look behind your targets. If you don't shoot somebody else you may shoot yourself as you can now attest. Be cool and be good. Hang on to your CF Calypsos.<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>.
Regards,
Jaxon

"One of these days I'm going to cut you into little pieces!!!" Pink Floyd

[SpyderNut]

You are plumb right, Jaxon. I pulled the ultimate Faux Pas....

I had to go in this morning and have another docter look at the head wound. He had me go down to radiology and have a X-ray taken again of that area. He did some probing, but was unable to locate any more bullet fragments. He had to put a staple in to close up the wound. Geez does my head hurt! <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

I have kicked myself a LOT over this one. I will do all shooting &quot;by the book&quot; the next time I go out shooting.

Thank you guys, for the kind words. I have learned my lesson!

~Spydernut

[Kahz]

SpyderNut,

Glad to know you are fine. Oh, and no dinner for you tonight! <img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Stay safe, PLEASE!

Kahz

[sam the man..]

Hey Mike,

Glad you are ok! <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies will travel

[jaxon]

Hey Spydernut,
I hope you're not becoming accident prone. The saw incident now followed by this.<img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> Its fun to play with sharp and dangerous things but please take care. Be safe!<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
Jaxon

"One of these days I'm going to cut you into little pieces!!!" Pink Floyd

[SpyderNut]

Kahz, my mom wondered why I skipped supper last night, but I didn't get in too big of trouble over it! LOL!<img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Thank you also, Samo and Jaxon for the kind well wishes.<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

I still can't believe that I allowed myself to do something like that. My wound feels a little better today, so I am feeling a little more active. Yesterday in class it was still pretty sore. Anytime someone said something funny, it smarted to laugh because my skin stretched and pulled the wound a little. Ouchie! I told my prof that I had got my first piece of jewlery, a nice shiny staple.

Jaxon, I have noticed a trend here too: The 'saw' incident last Monday, and now the shooting ordeal on THIS Monday. Hmmmm, go figure. I think I'll take next Monday off.<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Thanks guys! [And Kahz!]

~Spydernut

Edited by - Spydernut on 1/30/2002 8:42:41 AM

[Sword and Shield]

Be careful, heal fast. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> I have always remembered how it was put to me when I first started shooting: &quot;That .22 has a range of 1.5 miles (LR round). That means that anyone in front of that gun within 1.5 miles can be hit by the round. Always be sure of your aim, and only point it at something if you mean it.&quot;

Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.

[panguero]

Sir:
Live and learn, as they say. One thing though..do you wears &quot;Shooting Glasses&quot; when plinking? If not, seriously consider getting a pair of dedicated, safety-rated, genuine shooting glasses. I have a pair that has several multi-colored, interchangable lenses that cover all of the lighting conditions. I wear eye protection indoors on the range as well as when &quot;home, home on the range&quot;. You should change your forum handle to &quot;Ricochet Rabbit&quot;.

Dumbest thing I ever did with a weapon was to shoot an arrow straight up into the air as far as I could. Up it went and as soon as I lost sight of it, I freaked out and then ran like hell to make sure I would not get hit by it. Guess where it landed....? Right in my thigh. I must have been 50 yrds away from where I launched it too-and still on the run. What are the chances of that happenening? About the same as you getting hit by your own bullet. Ouch. So yeah-be safe and sane..

Wait, change your forum name to &quot;The Sheriff&quot;. Then you can go around singing that song...&quot;I shot the Sherif&quot; Sorry

[bell]

I really envy SpyderNuts environs and ability to get out a couple of miles and &quot;go shooting&quot; (coming from an urban area) but jeez find a better target. Goggles are a good suggestion. Maybe full body armor. Sharp 1 you shoud be in Ripleys!.....and you guys carry knives???

[panguero]

Bell,
Nice reply! Yeah- that arrow-in-the thigh incident happened about 1959, so obviously I don't live (all) that dangerously nowadays. The best part about it was that my two friends, who were also scattering like smokers in school restroom when a teacher walks in, were not hit instead. That would have been much worse all the way around. That arrow was sticking straight out of my leg-just like in a John Wayne movie; so I just pulled it on out; just like in a John Wayne movie.

Full body armor for Spydernut may be in order for sure.

RE: not being able to discharge fire arms in an urban environment, uh.... I live in LA. Gunfire is a naturally occurring background noise around these parts!

[earthworm]

Dear SpyderNut: People like you deserve neither guns nor knives so for your own good &amp; the safety of your neighbors you should immedieatly send all your firearms &amp; knives to me.This is for your own good.(Hey! It's worth a try ain't it?*ROTFLMAO*) S-Nut you DO know I'm kidding you,right? I personally have put a .45 round into the wall of my bedroom narrowly missing the window(Thank God for brick homes!),shot out one friend's window &amp; almost bagged a set of French doors(there are tales behind the latter two:the first was plain ole carelessness).Live &amp; learn chum,&amp; be glad you got-off as light as you did.

[earthworm]

P.S.-for some good tales of accidental discharges read Bill Jordan's&quot;No Second Place Winner&quot; &amp; Skeeter Skelton's articles.Bear in mind these are mostly cop stories*G*.

[dogged]

I can't decide which is more appalling; that you are so unbelievably careless with a firearm, or that you try to pass the consequences off as a cautionary tale to the &quot;young people reading this&quot;.

Both require considerable gall.

[jaxon]

Goodness dogged,
Don't stress so. We're just sharing here. Spydernut at his own expense and maybe somebody will benefit. We all know he made a mistake. And he admitted it going in.
Jaxon

BTW dogged, welcome to the forums. Enjoy.

&quot;One of these days I'm going to cut you into little pieces!!!&quot; Pink Floyd

Edited by - jaxon on 2/1/2002 6:36:20 PM

[dogged]

Oh, I see. Destruction of private property (I assume he didn't pack that fence post in with him), firing a deadly weapon with no knowledge of who or what might be behind his target (did he have the property owner's permission to be there?)... it's all just wholsome fun. God forbid we should criticize blatantly stupid behavior. We might hurt someone's feelings.

While I'm glad spydernut wasn't more seriously injured, I can't work up any sympathy for him. And yes, we all make mistakes, but this behavior bordered on the criminally negligent. His poor judgement is exceeded only by his good luck.

Spydernut, if I've offended you by these postings I apologize for the form, but not the content. I stand by my statements. I'm sure you're a nice guy, but on the evidence presented, I wouldn't trust you with a nerf stun gun.

Thanks jaxon. I've lurked on this site for a while and am generally impressed with the knowledge and insight of the postings I've found. My only observation (with further apologies to spydernut) is there seems to be a great deal of tolerance for inappropriate behavior. I for one, expect my friends to nail my butt if they catch me screwing up. Maybe that's not the way it's done here. If my postings offend, I'll just observe and keep my mouth shut. In the words of R.A. Heinlein, &quot;Only a sadistic scoundrel-or a fool- tells the bald truth on social occasions.&quot;

later,

dogged

[jaxon]

'Nuf said. Over and out.
Jaxon

"One of these days I'm going to cut you into little pieces!!!" Pink Floyd

[SpyderNut]

Yikes! A lot goes on when you haven't been on &quot;The Forum&quot; for 2 days.

Dogged,

First off......Welcome to the Spyderco Forum!
Its always good to 'see' new faces around.

Now to the facts:

I take your chastisment 100 percent, Dogged. I agree with you all the way. The act I preformed was a very poor example of gun safety and if my father was alive today, he would no doubt take away anything that even resembled a gun from me. I was in the wrong. I admit it.

The property I was on is owned by a friend of mine who is like a grandfather to me. He is a close friend to my family, and he allows my brother and I to hunt and fish on his property anytime we desire. [During season, of course!] No, he doesn't mind if we target practice out there, but I know that he wants us to exhibit firearm safety whenever we are out there. My brother and I work with him and help out with any little projects he has going just to show our appreciation for him allowing the use of his property.

As far as destruction of property:

I will agree with you again, bro, because there was no logical reason for me to plink at a fence-post in the first place. Trust me, I have been chewed out by many people for my error. I was totally in the wrong, and before you all, I stand guilty.

I just thank God that I didn't lose an eye that day....although it would have deserved me right.


Thank you all for your concern over this. I really appreciate it.

If I do get rid of my guns, I will notify you all immediately! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

~Spydernut

[earthworm]

SpyderNut:AHEM!! You haven't sent me your equipment yet!
Gentlemen,there are three types of people who don't make mistakes;the perfect,the dead,&amp; those who don't do anything.SpyderNut is to be congratulated for his courage &amp; honesty in admitting his &amp; in telling the tale for others to profit by.I tell my students one test I apply to potential teachers is a willingness to admit to mistakes;particularly if this is followed by an explaination &amp; correction.

[gunandtackle]

silverware is not a good target.i was shooting my 10/22 one daynear a trash dump.(the only place i will shoot bottles)there is a safe back stop made of a huge lump of dirt . i ran out of bottles in the dump but i found a spoon one of those cheap thin stainless ones. i stuck the handle in the ground by the back stop .then i backed up about 40 yards to my truck and fired. one shot and hit the spoon but it ricochetted and hit my truck. it put a small hole in the rusty fender. i dont know what would have happened if it hit me,but i learned my lesson .i never shoot there any more and when i do only at proper targets. iguess it was a stupid mistake on my part but at least i learned from it,
stay safe,
john

[jaxon]

I hope the gun control sheeple don't find out about you guys. Take care please.<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
Jaxon

Weekend yet?