Range Safety

[Renbots]

I share this in hopes of getting some advice as well as making the point of how safety is always a concern. I was at the range today with my Walther P22. I am always mindful of safety procedures so this one caught me off guard. I was at my station with another shooter to my left. As I was in the process of firing at the target an ejected cartridge went down my back collar and started burning my bare back. I was in the middle of shooting so my finger was still on the trigger and being a semi-auto I had another round in the chamber with a single action pull ready to go. As I reacted to the burning piece of brass going down my back I moved the gun to my left, finger on trigger. It never pointed at my neighbor but I didn't like the fact that my gun moved in that direction at all with my finger on the trigger. This all happened in a split second. Any thoughts on how to prevent this when a piece of brass ends up in the wrong spot..... Including your face? My thoughts are.... Since this has happened the next time I will put the gun down immediately pointing down range burning skin or not. Other idea, finger out of trigger after each shot. Or where better clothing. Of course all of the above would work. Any other suggestions?? Thanks!

 

[redneckfuller1977]

Just deal with it, secure your weapon, and then retreive the spent shell from your shirt....it has happened to most of us.

 

[Elspeth]

Yup...not much else you can do. Although I did learn the hard way not to wear a low-cut blouse to the range...Ouch!

 

[uscg4good]

Always secure the weapon first. Drop the mag and clear the chamber. Then bench with the muzzle down range. A little burn is always better than a bullet hole where there shouldn't be one.

 

[Themainhag]

Another simple solution, wear a shirt that has a collar that can be buttoned closed while shooting and ALWAYS were a hat with a bill on it to prevent hot brass flying thru the air from hitting your face.

 

[Bighouse Doc]

 

[BulletTrainingLtd]

Yes, it will continue to happen as long as there are adjacent firing points without wall dividers. The only solution is as themainhag wrote, to wear a collared shirt. I advise all of my students not only of this but to also wear a billed cap. I had a student "catch" ejected brass behind their safety glasses and burnt their eye lid and nose.

 

[Hoganbeg]

What would you do if you spilled hot coffee in your lap while driving down the highway? First things first: control the car, pull over, deal with the mess/damage. Same thing on the firing line. Maintain control of your weapon, set it down pointing down range, deal with the brass. It's good that you're thinking about it.

 

[Babarock]

I also suggest wearing socks or make sure your pants cover your shoe tops. Daughter has a pretty scar on foot where hot casing went into side of shoe.

 

[uscg4good]

What would you do if you spilled hot coffee in your lap while driving down the highway? First things first: control the car, pull over, deal with the mess/damage.

Great analogy!
.

 

[Phillip Gain]

My thoughts are.... Since this has happened the next time I will put the gun down immediately pointing down range burning skin or not. Other idea, finger out of trigger after each shot. Or where better clothing. Of course all of the above would work. Any other suggestions?? Thanks!

Oh yes. I know this dance. Happened to me just about every other time I was qualifying with the M-16 back in my Army days. Always down the frickin collar!!

All good ideas, except the finger off trigger part is a bit excessive.

Otherwise, now that it's happened to you, I suspect you'll be able to keep even better control next time it happens. That's how it was with me, anyway.

 

[cjs]

Just knowing that it's going to happen at some point helps...you need to be mentally prepared and remember the basic safety rules (whichever list you use)...those rules don't change even when hot brass is giving you a new mark.

I've been shooting bullseye lately in tight lanes, and have had at least two decent burns (I don't think anything short of a turtleneck could have stopped them, and even then, with my luck, they'd have still made their way in). I just carefully set the gun down and deal with the heat.

 

[Stan45]

Just let it burn. This will be good self defense training; hot lead from the bad guy will burn more.
Focus, Focus, Focus.

 

[Renbots]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Arc Angel]

It's just like being shot: You take the pain and do what you've got to do. At the same time be grateful it wasn't a red hot 7.62 x 51mm cartridge case! Last time a CETM put one of those down the back of my neck I couldn't believe just how hot that damned thing really was! Talk about leaving a mark!

 

[Griffworks]

My advice to first time shooters about this is pretty simple and straight forward - you're a human being, allegedly the highest form of intelligent life on this planet. Learn to overcome the fact that a piece of hot brass just landed down your shirt. In mostinstances this brass isn't going to do more than leave a red mark which MIGHT last more than a day. The only exception to this is if it hits you in the eye - but you're still a human being who doesn't have to react like an animal and get all ignorant.

 

[Rocketgeezer]

Not much you can do except to let it burn, most importantly KEEP YOUR MIND ON YOUR WEAPON, not a little pain from a hot shell case, or find something else to do cause unless you have private property, weather its a inside or outside range, it will happen

 

[walknotinfear]

The "Warrior Mind Set " would of helped you in this situation. What do you think a Navy SEAL does when he gets a hot shell down his shirt? He keeps on firing his weapon! I get brass down my shirt from time to time during a match, it hurts like heck but I keep going. But always keep your finger off the trigger and in a safe direction if you are not engaged or firing on the line.

 

[SGB]

Yes, it will continue to happen as long as there are adjacent firing points without wall dividers. The only solution is as themainhag wrote, to wear a collared shirt. I advise all of my students not only of this but to also wear a billed cap. I had a student "catch" ejected brass behind their safety glasses and burnt their eye lid and nose.

I agree with BulletTrainingLtd 110%

 

[Rayb]

After many years of shooting and many hits on the head with casings from the neighboring lane I had one come in between my goggles and my eye for the first time this last weekend. Good thing was I managed to not loose my cool in front of my kid and all he saw was me putting the gun down and stepping back. Had never thought about it but will not go without a hat again!