First time in over 20 years I lost my cool

Tomme boy

Tomme boy

Well-Known Member
Was at the public range today playing and picking up brass. I ran into a friend that is a metallurgist at the Rock Island Arsenal here in Rock Island, IL. He is a wealth of info on things.

Anyway we were talking about his new Rifle a Henry 357 with the 20 inch barrel. It is the case hardened receiver. It looks really nice!. Then we hear a loud BOOM! A guy shot a 1lb container of Tannerite. Then about 30 sec later there was a HUGE explosion at the berm. We were 100yds away and then something the size of a soft ball was flying right at us. I tried to jump out of the way but it hit me in the leg. It ended up being plastic and rubber. I have no idea what it is.

I picked it up and started to yell at the people at the short range part there that shot it. This younger guy was with another guy and and a lady. They were laughing and carrying on till I got to him. I was just about ready to punch him when his old lady jumped between me and him. That was the only reason I am not in jail right now was her. Everyone there came over because they seen what happened. Everyone told them to just leave.

And get this! The guy says I have 2 more of them up on the hill I am going to shoot them before I leave. I told him to go and try it. His old lady pushed him into his truck and they left. I have shot a bunch of this stuff over the years. And even in some very large amounts. This was 10lbs or more on this stuff. It left a hole about 2 foot down and 3.5 feet across. We had dirt landing on us at the 100 yd side we were on.

I got his plate # and he even told me his name! IDIOT! I got pics of him and his truck. Our Sherriff was in my class in HS He is a good friend. I think I might give him a call tomorrow.

My BP was extremally high. I could hear my heatbeat in my ears about 15 minutes later.
 
glassparman

glassparman

"OK, OK, I'm going as fast as I don't want to go!"
I'm sorry you had to deal with that. It happens all too frequently.

Because I'm in the "desert", people come up from L.A. and shoot that stuff all the time in the canyons. It sounds like a war zone from my house.

Sometimes, these idiots bring small camping propane canisters to shoot at and actually catch the canyon on fire. I have ZERO respect or tolerance for them.

I, like you, have a good friend who is a local Sheriff. He is actually my nephew and lives right near the entrance to the canyon. He and his fellow Sheriff deputies have arrested multiple people over the years for starting fires, using illegal full auto weapons and such. It's good to know he is close by.
 
J

Jeff H

NW Ohio
Yes, sorry to hear yo had to deal with that.

Way too easy to go to jail or get sued/ruin your life over a well-deserved punch in the nose these days. Cameras everywhere too, so one must be careful.

Glad things didn't turn too ugly for you.
 
T

Thumbcocker

Active Member
Shooting ranges and large parking lots often have people who are walking arguments for gun control. Also, their vote counts just as much as yours. Shudder.
 
M

MW65

Wetside, Oregon
Common sense ain't so Common. As part of my job, I know a lot of the deputies on a first name basis. They've always been good to read a riot act on someone if they need a wake up call.

On another note, watch the impact site on your leg... a blood clot in the leg is no laughing matter, and can be fatal if it travels to the important parts of ya. Get it checked out if it concerns you.
 
Tomme boy

Tomme boy

Well-Known Member
I know one thing, I am living in his head right now worrying if the law is going to show up.

Here are a couple pics of what hit me. Luckily there is no bruising or anything on my leg. I think the only reason I seen this coming at me was it was hitting the dirt and kicking the dirt and grass up as it bounced toward me. I swear it was like the "Patriot" movie where they shot a cannon ball at the Brits and it was bouncing across the fields and taking men out one after the other as it bounced through them.

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Bazoo

Bazoo

Active Member
Wow that's crazy as heck. Glad it wasn't much worse for you or that guy. Seeing that reminds me to be thankful I have private land to shoot on. Seeing the bucket of brass makes me think perhaps I should visit an occasional range... about all I ever get on the farm is a couple handfuls of 38 Special or 9mm from a friend.
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
we had a dude bang off a bunch of the stuff here at the range.
i don't know how much it was, but it got all my neighbors to come outside and look around.
 
Tomme boy

Tomme boy

Well-Known Member
Bazoo said:
Seeing the bucket of brass makes me think perhaps I should visit an occasional range... about all I ever get on the farm is a couple handfuls of 38 Special or 9mm from a friend.
Click to expand...
I have a private range. I just go here to get free brass and BS with friends. I got 3 of them this weekend. I have 5 buckets ready to go to the scrap yard. A new barrel for my ruger American or a new revolver is what it is going to get turned into.

I hate dealing with anything gov't related. I turn this JA in and I am setting myself up for dealing with the gov't. I am going to go talk to my Sheriff friend and talk to him about, so at least he knows about it in case this JA ever does it again. I am going to leave it up to him.
 
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CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
100% Tommy boy! Everyone was lucky nobody got hurt this time. If he doesn't get told he can't do this he may hurt somebody seriously "next time''

Maybe you said, I didn't read it, is that legal on that range? None I mean none around here allow it.!
 
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