The story is true . . . and a sad tale of warning to YOU!
It was a clear Saturday morning when it happened that April day, and it all happened within about THREE seconds from the first guy to the last.
Here's the gun I used . . . my trusted favorite handgun of all types, my chopped (to 3 1/4") barrel 25-2, moon-clipped .45ACP revolver pictured here:
It actually happened at a shooting range too, making things worse! Here's what happened . . .
It was at a bowling pin match. Pin matches are shot at a distance of ten yards, typically with five pins on a table that you have to knock completely off the table. Fastest aggregate time wins the match and .45ACP is king.
This match was different though . . . six pins and just knock 'em down on the table. So, I thought I'd get an edge and load powderpuff loads using Unique . . . and use 155gn lead bullets in order to reduce recoil and thus allow a little faster time between pins.
You probably now know where this is going . . .
At the buzzer I nailed the first pin and I noticed a motion out of my eye to my left as I swung to the next pin . . . the range officer beside me went down.
The next pin also fell, then the next in order, then the next. I felt a sharp sting to my stomach, dead center as the fifth pin fell, then the six round dropped the six pin. FAST TIME INDEED!
WHAT HAPPENED . . .
The 350lb., muscle-bound range officer was rolling on the ground, nailed in the privates. Luckily, he was just fine and laughing about it a couple minutes later (lucky for ME).
I just had a little red spot on my stomach.
BOTH these rounds hit each pin absolutely dead center . . . and thus came straight back! Normally, even .22LR ammo will be absorbed by a regulation bowling pin. Wow!
A few minutes later a guy walking by the concession area 100 yards away behind us also got hit by a 155gn .45ACP bullet.
All hit with less force than a bb BUT . . .
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS . . .
1. ALWAYS wear eye protection at a range at all times!!!
2. DON'T load ammo at very reduced loads, it can be dangerous via ricochets.
3. Light loads can result in squib rounds that lodge in your barrel. My ammo obviously barely had enough "juice" to it to even launch the bullets straight for that ten yards. I could have ruined my favorite gun. ALWAYS FOLLOW maximum AND MINIMUM loading manual recipies!!!
4. Lastly, if you are going to make the mistake of doing what I did, AND if you choose to nail a 6'5" 350lb muscle-builder in his privates with a .45 . . . you better hope he's a friend!!!
Humorously yours . . . but also dead serious in the lesson I wrote as a warning,
Tom