Caught frag in my chest today.

[ZeroFoxGiven]

Caught a ricochet off of steel targets during training. We always wore our vests so it was just "thump" to my sternum feeling.

Glad you are ok.

 

[NorCALSpeed]

Whoa this is scary. Glad you're ok. I had no idea that <10 yards could be that dangerous or that pistol frag could rebound with so much energy. I guess the energy has to go somewhere.

Thank you for the education on target angles. Hopefully I never have to learn the hard way.

And now I have 2 reasons to buy some IIIA vests (the other being general paranoia).

 

[Woody]

Yikes! I was practicing my draw and target transitions at the ranch, shooting steel at 10yds, I took a shot, felt a thump on my chest and didn’t think much about it. My buddy yells “Holy ! There’s a hole in your shirt and your bleeding”. Took my shirt off and there’s a 1/4” hole to right of my sternum. I can say Quick Clot pads work really well. I slapped one of those on, applied pressure and it stopped bleeding soon after. We packed up, went to the ER, got checked and there’s a chunk of frag stuck in a rib. They put a band aid on me and sent me home to wait for it heal and the frag should work its way out on its own.

Needless to say, I just bought a level IIIA vest and will not be teasing my buddy who wears one at competitions anymore.

Glad you're ok,questioning stuck in a rib and working it's self out, maybe struck a rib? Thanks for bringing this to everyones attention.

 

[D.A.V.I.D.]

got a picture of the injury?

 

[axhoaxho]

Cool story OP, and good to know that you are okay. Wish you a speedy recovery.

One of the best classes/trainings I've taken was the First Aid for Medical Emergencies Course, specifically dealing with gunshot wounds..... how to correctly apply different kinds of tourniquets even when ourselves are injured, how to effectively pack a wound, how to use chest seal and to improvise if one is not available, etc., etc. I would recommend everyone to taking such class.

 

[riceman]

"Damn Sam ", glad you're ok. I was shooting a plate rack at ranch a couple of years ago with 124 gr jacketed 9 mm at about 8 yards. Going well, all of a sudden, I feel something hit my leg. I looked down and had a tear (I just love the English language) in my jeans about mid-calf (again English language) checked it out and only had a scratch. So, got off lucky.

 

[Jon F]

got a picture of the injury?

It just looks like a boo-boo, CT shows otherwise; the frag is circled in red. I talked with a surgeon to get it removed and she refused, said it’s stuck too deep into the rib and risky for her to remove it. Also, no more MRIs for me. I tried to get one for an avulsion fracture in my knee and it was denied because of it.

 

[Jimi Jah]

This is why I use paper targets.

 

[Vintagearms]

This is why I use paper targets.

Paper targets or shoot steel at minimum 25 yd distance.

 

[colossians323]

I was shooting 9mm 124gr fmj bullets loaded to 137pf at an ar500 2/3 IPSC target on an angled hanger. I guess I hit a divot on the target and that sent the frag back at me.

Was the steel hanging at 10-20 degrees to deflect the bullets to the ground?
Not judging, just asking.

 

[Hiraeth9092]

I always wondered why this isn't more common. Whenever I'm "running and gunning" out in the forest, I'll wear armor. There's no RSO out there.

I don't feel the need to wear armor at a range where you are just shooting from benches or stalls. Although there are some indoor ranges I'd think wearing a vest isn't a bad idea. But then again, if it's that unsafe, better not to go there to begin with.

Level IIA is probably all you need for shrapnel.

I won't say the indoor range, but I stood next to an old man on the back bench when I was grabbing another target from my bag. The guy had his ear pro only covering one ear with rounds going off and he was unfazed. There was about a dozen loaded mags laid out in front of him, and a glock in his hand that he was just staring at with his mouth open. I thought, "huh thats odd" and went back to my lane and started back at it. I get off about half a mag and I hear the call for cease fire. Everyone leans back out of the lanes looking around, and it strikes me, the glass is spider webbed.

The RSO comes running in and says, "you are done, you just shot the glass" and the old guy yells, "No I didn't!" (he's literally holding a smoking glock facing the wrong way) the RSO said, "I just watched you do it on the camera!" the old guy pauses and goes, "....I don't remember!"

I died a little bit inside right there.

The worst part was when they walked out, the two middle aged guys who brought him in were laughing about it and one turns to me a says, "Want these targets? we won't be needing them haaha! Hey! accidents happen right?"

I learned that day that the glass there is not bullet proof so never assume it is, I dont even know if thats a thing. The round zipped through and into the cabinets behind. I see people sitting there all the time. The staff at this place is great, It was a very busy day and this all happened within a minute or less. Its definately not their fault, or them being lazy on the job. They were calling peoples mistakes like every 2 minutes on the speakers. This stuff just happens even though it shouldn't.

Indoor ranges are probably the most unsafe because it attracts the most unsafe users of firearms. I think its the easy access, gun rentals, there is no far drive and no secret spot. Take a look at the walls and ceiling behind the shooting line and thats all the proof you need. If theres anywhere I would want soft armor its at an indoor range around abunch of people I don't know.

 

[Jimi Jah]

Bring in a black light to see all the blood stains on the booth carpets.

 

[Hiraeth9092]

Bring in a black light to see all the blood stains on the booth carpets.

I wouldn't even want to if I could. Every indoor range I have been to has had atleast a few suicides.... its very sad.

 

[Jimi Jah]

Yep. Had a suicidal jerk blow himself out on my birthday at Iron Sites a few years back. At least I didn't have to pay.

 

[Jon F]

Was the steel hanging at 10-20 degrees to deflect the bullets to the ground?
Not judging, just asking.

Yep. It was a worn target so I probably hit a dent and it tossed it back at me.

 

[NorCALSpeed]

Cool story OP, and good to know that you are okay. Wish you a speedy recovery.

One of the best classes/trainings I've taken was the First Aid for Medical Emergencies Course, specifically dealing with gunshot wounds..... how to correctly apply different kinds of tourniquets even when ourselves are injured, how to effectively pack a wound, how to use chest seal and to improvise if one is not available, etc., etc. I would recommend everyone to taking such class.

Which organization did you take yours through? I'd love to take one.

 

[NapalmCheese]

It's a common occurrence at Cowboy Action Shooting events, but that's why we shoot non-jacketed lead bullets and have a maximum velocity to go along with a minimum velocity.

 

[ugimports]

It just looks like a boo-boo, CT shows otherwise; the frag is circled in red. I talked with a surgeon to get it removed and she refused, said it’s stuck too deep into the rib and risky for her to remove it. Also, no more MRIs for me. I tried to get one for an avulsion fracture in my knee and it was denied because of it.

isn't the frag lead? What's the risk in an MRI for lead? I thought it was only magnetic stuff?

 

[axhoaxho]

Which organization did you take yours through? I'd love to take one.

PM sent!

 

[Jon F]

isn't the frag lead? What's the risk in an MRI for lead? I thought it was only magnetic stuff?

I thought so, too. It has to do with damn lawyers and sue-happy people.