I got it when I was 14. I was 35 feet up in a tree. This was back before safety harnesses. It was a very cold day and I had a heavy hunting jacket on. A doe came across a field from left to right. I couldnt turn so I had to use an extreme angle to shoot. I didnt get the gun into my shoulder and fired. I was dazed for a second and not sure what happened. I knew I missed the doe. Ten minutes later my dad comes over. He climbs up and gets my gun from me. I had blood running down my face. When I got down I told him and my uncle what happened. They checked me out and after we all figured I was ok....it was a good laugh. Looking back I was very lucky. I still have the scar and I was at it again the next day.
Wear the glasses. If a primer ruptures you will get a face full of crap. I saw it happen to a guy 25 years ago and to this day the scars make him look like he has a face full on blackheads.
The picture is on my cell and its to large to put on here
My 9 year old son did that a few years ago with my Ruger Mark II; we were shooting my .22s in my parent's back yard, and he wanted to try the pistol. Before I realized what he was doing and could stop him, he had pulled the gun up close to get a better sight alignment and squeezed the trigger. Got a cut on his cheekbone, but after a few tears and my explanation and various reasons why you hold the pistol out from your face he was back at it. My fault for not realizing that he wasn't just "looking down the sights", so I watch everything they do now. Good lesson for both of us.
I dont know how long ago this was, but being around a group of people in todays Army that have never held a pistol is no surprise at all.
Before you hand your high-powered rifle to somebody who doesn't know what they're doing, please teach them these 3 things:
Shoulder Pocket
Turkey Neck
Cheek Weld
If you don't know what these things are, come to an Appleseed and we will be glad to show you!
Scope eye is not something that just happens... it happens because you didn't follow proper technique. It happens when the rifle recoils rearward, and for whatever reason, your head does not. This can happen 1) if you don't have the stock properly pocketed or 2) if there is "slack" in your neck.
Most everybody knows about properly pocketing a rifle, and most know about cheek weld, but not everybody knows about turkey necking.
If you have a proper shoulder pocket, your shoulder is pushed back when the rifle fires. If there is slack in your neck, your head will stay still while your shoulder and the rifle travel rearward, and WHAM. Scope eye. You avoid this by "turkey necking:" craning your neck out and getting your head as far forward as you can before getting your cheek weld. This means that when the rifle pushes your shoulder back, your head will travel with it as one unit. It makes it much more comfortable to shoot powerful rifles, and actually makes it a little easier on your shoulder, too. The more mass absorbing the force the better. It also helps with consistency... it uses a natural mechanical limit to make you put your head in the same place on the stock every time, and keeps it there. If you're not turkey necking, you might not be getting whacked in the eye, but your head may still be creeping forward slightly with every shot, which will change your point of impact. You need to set the eye relief on your scope while turkey necked out.
If people were taught this little thing when they learn to shoot it would save a lot of pain!
As for that Army story... man, that's why I never joke around new shooters! If they are deficient in the common sense department they may just take something you say literally!
Shoulder Pocket
Turkey Neck
Cheek Weld
If you don't know what these things are, come to an Appleseed and we will be glad to show you!
Scope eye is not something that just happens... it happens because you didn't follow proper technique. It happens when the rifle recoils rearward, and for whatever reason, your head does not. This can happen 1) if you don't have the stock properly pocketed or 2) if there is "slack" in your neck.
Most everybody knows about properly pocketing a rifle, and most know about cheek weld, but not everybody knows about turkey necking.
If you have a proper shoulder pocket, your shoulder is pushed back when the rifle fires. If there is slack in your neck, your head will stay still while your shoulder and the rifle travel rearward, and WHAM. Scope eye. You avoid this by "turkey necking:" craning your neck out and getting your head as far forward as you can before getting your cheek weld. This means that when the rifle pushes your shoulder back, your head will travel with it as one unit. It makes it much more comfortable to shoot powerful rifles, and actually makes it a little easier on your shoulder, too. The more mass absorbing the force the better. It also helps with consistency... it uses a natural mechanical limit to make you put your head in the same place on the stock every time, and keeps it there. If you're not turkey necking, you might not be getting whacked in the eye, but your head may still be creeping forward slightly with every shot, which will change your point of impact. You need to set the eye relief on your scope while turkey necked out.
If people were taught this little thing when they learn to shoot it would save a lot of pain!
As for that Army story... man, that's why I never joke around new shooters! If they are deficient in the common sense department they may just take something you say literally!
MAN!
If you think getting bashed in the eye with a scope and drawing blood is funny I'd hate to think about what you consider terrible.
With guys that don't shoot a lot, huh?
Where were you? Why weren't you watching what was going on and instructing the guy that he was holding the rifle wrong?
Geeeeez!
The next time you want to take a bunch of newbs shooting you may want to consider taking along someone that actually knows what they're doing.
A new guy getting hurt while shooting
IS NOT FUNNY!
IS NOT FUNNY!
Guys like you make me want to rethink my stand on mandatory safety training for anyone that buys a gun.
