TexasCHLforum.com

I'm heading out to the "Astro" range heading toward Austin tomorrow with the wife. If they let me I'll try and take some pics of it and let you guys know what I think of it. It's a fairly new range, so I'm hoping that it's a nice area to shoot. Just me and the wife tomorrow, so wish me luck that she doesn't finish what my daughter tried to do.

Greybeard wrote:We "mine" the bullets out of our berm about once a year to prevent buildup near the surface. It's hard to see what is directly behind the target stands in that photo, but that appears to me to be heavy metal pipes above them - perpendicular to the shooters?

Heavy Corrigated steel panels, with tires on them I believe. The thick ones we used to have around when I was in the Military.

sjfcontrol wrote:What's the white rectangle in the picture above the targets, surrounding the tires? Looks like something added to the picture? Or possibly a plexiglass (clear) baffle?

It's just to highlight the steel used as overhead cover with the tires on it. Make it easier to see. The picture was taken about 50 yards a way so it's a little blurry.

Here's a enlarged pic of where we were shooting. I had taken a pic of my son and didn't realize I had this in the background. The top target is what my daughter was shooting at - 10 yards away.

Hmmm, doesn't exactly sound like "the highest level of care".

Did you ever remember the name of the range?[/quote]

Stann's - I'm no expert on how ranges are suppose to be set up, so I don't know if the range is in the right or if it's a violation. Add to that, it was my daughter shooting and she did shoot high at 10 yards, going for a head shot on the target. I don't have exact measurments, so I'm not condeming "Stanns" range. I've shot there numerous times without inncodent.

That said... I've never seen overhead cover made of any kind of metal on an open range. Usually it's just open, but I've shot mostly on military ranges, and have little experience on civilian run ranges.

sjfcontrol wrote:Was this an indoor, or outdoor range? I presumed it was outdoor, shooting into a earthen backstop containing some debris.

Out door range - debris??? This range has a large piece of sheet metal running over the birm to keep rounds from exiting, or from people shooting over the birm.

Hmm, now the .45 acp fan boys are going to go crazy over this...... Talk about "knock down power" he was knocked back 2 feet from only a ricochet!

On a serious note though, glad to hear you're relatively ok without landing yourself a trip to the hospital....[/quote]

Thanks.... I'm a pretty big guy - Samoan/Mix.... 250+ lbs ... It happened last week - and the bruise is still there, but just barely. I'd say it was 7 - 10 yards to target, and probably another 2 to the piece of metal. So in total I estimated the bullet traveled about 20/22 feet or so. The day after it happened, I could move my arm, but it hurt a bit. The day it happened, I played it off the best I could. I didn't want the kids to be scared of the range, however the wife new I was hurting when I asked her to carry the gun bags for me. Needless to say I drove home one handed that day.

Taking the kids back to the rifle range next week. Just like riding a bike. I'll test/check out the pistol range again before letting the kids shoot there. Hopefully it was just a fluke accident. There aren't too many ranges we can go to around here. But safety first.

Bonc_CHL wrote:Was it Stan's Shooting Range?
That is where I did my CHL shooting test, and the lady doing my class was not a fan of there set up. As we were wrapping up for the morning we had 2 ricochets buzz over head from what I think was the rifle range but am not sure. The CHL range is kind of away from the rest of the place.
But when I saw my instructor get nervous I was glad we were getting outta there!!

austinrealtor wrote:Did this happen at Astro Shooting Range? Not trying to disparage the range, I've shot there briefly twice (just trying out a new gun for 25-50 rounds and left). But I've heard a few people say they didn't think the range was "safe enough". One of these persons was active-duty military and seems to know something about range safety from military work (armorer for a certain group or something?) Anyway, no one has elaborated on what specifically they found unsafe.

I've driven past that range a couple of times, however no. Astro isn't the range I am referring too. I have a couple of police friends who don't recommend that place, and the range I have been going too I've been there several times over the past 3 years.

The range isn't bad, and I wish I could recall the name. lol - it's metal overhang on the pistol side is what got me. But I have been going there for a while. This was a fluke, but I normally don't see over head cover on pistol targets on ranges and up today it hadn't ever been a problem. I will probably go back, check the burm and lower the targets. I won't bring the kids though.

I was going to check out astro until my police friends said that it wasn't safe. Ultimately you will have to go there on your own to judge for yourself though, as will I.

Wish I had the money, I'd love to open my own range.

Unfortunately this is one of the inherent dangers of shooting. Small risk if using the proper safety gear.
In my case, bullet proof vest just would have been impractical. lol

I'm glad it was me and not my daughter - even though my chest hurts bad, I'm trying to make light of the incident because I don't want the family to be afraid of shooting. These things do happen, but we as shooters can lessen the risk by wearing goggles, ear protection, making sure it's a clean burm and other safety precautions.

It wasn't a fragment by the way, it was a full on .45 bullet that hit me. Knocked me back a couple feet. I've been shooting for years, +25 or so, civilian and military and this was the first time and hopefully the last.

I've seen those vids before and always thought, "sucked to be that guy". Guess the jokes on me. lol

PJK wrote:I am very glad you are OK. Praise God!

Thank you ;) I hold myself responsible. I've been shooting a long time and even though this was an established range that we paid to be at, the sheet metal over the birm should have been a big warning sign for me.
Like I said earlier, could have been way worse, or one of the kids.

I don't know I couldn't find it. I looked briefly for it, however I was spotting for my daughter at the time. It felt like the whole bullet but don't know. It hit hard.

We were at the range between Austin and lampasas. Can't remember the name right off hand, however my daughter was shooting .45 XD at 15 yards with me on her left rear watching her. The round bounced off some sheet metal and hit me square in the shoulder/chest.

Hurt

Have to say I won't be going back to that range anytime soon. my daughter didn't do anything wrong, good stance, good hold, good aim. Sheet metal in the berm = bad.

Not a bad wound, just broke the skin, but it knocked me back a couple of feet. Feel lucky it was me and not my duaghter.