So, this Saturday I was up at my buddies farm shooting and a funny thing happened. I was finishing up a largely irrelevant box test of the Elcan Specter DR scope not paying much attention to what was going on behind me. I was vaguely aware that my friends dad was explaining the ins and out of shooting to one of the guys who had come up with a group from his church for a day of shooting things. He seemed to be telling the fellow that the 270 win he would be shooting really didn't kick much and not to worry. I thought his reassurances perhaps a bit misplaced as people new to shooting are often surprised by any perceptible recoil and my buddy had told me that he thought some of these guys were pretty inexperienced. I didn't think much of it at the time and when I heard the thump of the big Mauser action 270win and saw a pin fall I concluded that, this guy at least, was more experienced than he let on. A short lived misperception on my part.
After the shot I immediately heard a commotion and when I turned about I saw the new guy covering his eye and saying something about it getting him a little. I thought that with the short eye relief of such an old optic perhaps it had given him a little kiss. Then I noticed the blood, lots of blood. It turns out the new guy wasn't aware that the stock is supposed to be firmly lodged against ones shoulder when firing. He had instead opted to have the stock under his shoulder and had absorbed the full recoil of the rifle with his head via the scope. This shock was so substantial that it had actually broken the lens in the eyepiece of the scope. Quite a shame given the age and fine track record of the scope. He was very fortunate not to loose an eye. As you probably guessed, some stitches were in order though. I'll tell you what, that guy was one tough SOB. He strapped a butterfly bandage on wound, shot some more, though with a less substantial piece, and even ate dinner before getting sewed up. I think you will agree with me that he is quite thick headed in more than one way.
I have decided not to disclose any pictures or incriminating footage of the unfortunate fellow but here is a pic of the scope showing the circular fracture around the top of the lens as well as a pic of the scope in which you can see from the oily residue just how far it sunk into his head. Ouch. There is at least one lesson in here.
I had a pretty good day despite all the ruckus. Conditions were ideal and I managed to shoot some better than moa 100 yd groups out of my .22lr using fairly inexpensive Federal 719 ammo.
After the shot I immediately heard a commotion and when I turned about I saw the new guy covering his eye and saying something about it getting him a little. I thought that with the short eye relief of such an old optic perhaps it had given him a little kiss. Then I noticed the blood, lots of blood. It turns out the new guy wasn't aware that the stock is supposed to be firmly lodged against ones shoulder when firing. He had instead opted to have the stock under his shoulder and had absorbed the full recoil of the rifle with his head via the scope. This shock was so substantial that it had actually broken the lens in the eyepiece of the scope. Quite a shame given the age and fine track record of the scope. He was very fortunate not to loose an eye. As you probably guessed, some stitches were in order though. I'll tell you what, that guy was one tough SOB. He strapped a butterfly bandage on wound, shot some more, though with a less substantial piece, and even ate dinner before getting sewed up. I think you will agree with me that he is quite thick headed in more than one way.
I have decided not to disclose any pictures or incriminating footage of the unfortunate fellow but here is a pic of the scope showing the circular fracture around the top of the lens as well as a pic of the scope in which you can see from the oily residue just how far it sunk into his head. Ouch. There is at least one lesson in here.
I had a pretty good day despite all the ruckus. Conditions were ideal and I managed to shoot some better than moa 100 yd groups out of my .22lr using fairly inexpensive Federal 719 ammo.
