Being Nice Doesn't Always Pay

win39 · 02-09-2008, 05:10 AM

We had some fairly good weather the other day so I decided to go to the range. Upon my arrival at the range I noticed there was a couple there, so I tried to be friendly and this seemed to make the couple nervous. I then advised them that I was going to fire my gun and they better put some ear protection on. I finally got a smile out of them and began sighting my gun. I noticed that the man had a single shot Rossi, so I asked him what caliber, and he stated 30/06. He also began waving the gun around with the hammer cocked and the gun loaded. I politely asked him to keep the gun down range.
Now it is time to shoot my next rifle and the man was aiming at his target so I sat for approximately 10 minutes waiting for him to fire the gun. I then asked him if he was OK, and he stated that he was nervous. He then advised me that I was making him nervous, and asked me If I would sight his gun in. I said sure because I just wanted to get working on my guns. Well I knew the gun was going to be a mule so I held it tight and the first shot was not even close. so I bore sighted the gun and fired a second shot and it was about 6 inches low. So I made the final adjustments and squeezed the trigger for the third time, and was knocked silly. I looked down on the bench and noticed a puddle of blood and the scope laying off to the side by itself. The screws holding the the bases pulled out of the gun. So here I am telling the story 10 stitches later.
I have to say it doesn't always pay to be nice. But the final shot was only about a 1/2 inch of of dead center.

neophyte · 02-09-2008, 06:11 AM

win39: Sir; that sucks. Did they offer to take you to the hospital?
Man oh Man

wunhunglo · 02-09-2008, 06:36 AM

People will really believe that you're a Big-game hunter now with the authentic half-moon scope scar over your eye!
Seriously, was he appologetic? Concerned? Embarrassed?

win39 · 02-09-2008, 06:54 AM

The wife said I think you need stitches and the husband said he felt bad, but his next question was if I seen the the screw that was missing. I really think he believed that I broke his gun. You had to be their. It's not the first time I've been hit but it is the first time I was dazed and needed stitches. It will be the last time that happens with someone else's gun. I

Windwalker · 02-09-2008, 09:09 AM

Glad you weren't seriously hurt. Don't blame you for not wanting to shoot a stranger's gun any more.

270wsm · 02-09-2008, 09:19 AM

Win39,
Incredible story! I hate that it happened to you.But,on the bright side the stranger may have seriously hurt himself had you not been there to take the blow for him.I was at a range and a man was sighting in his and his son's rifles.1 in .30-06 and 1 in.308Win.He accidentally put the .308 cartridge in the '06 and sprayed himself with brass and powder.Looked as if he had been shot with a shotgun at a really far range.

win39 · 02-09-2008, 10:56 AM

Thanks: I mainly told this story so everyone will think the next time someone wants you to sight their gun in. Because I am a big safety fanatic and I let myself get in this situation. You don't know other peoples equipment or what they have done to it. I'm not talking about close friends. This was definitely a wake up call. The worst thing of all is I did not finish my own guns.

two-70 · 02-09-2008, 11:37 AM

man that was not good, bummer

GlockMeister · 02-09-2008, 01:33 PM

Win, glad you weren't seriously hurt. But I have to ask. What did you do that made him so nervous? Did he/they ever say? Or was that first gun you took out to sight in a scary one? lol
And evidentially you didn't make him so nervous he couldn't ask you to sight it in. lol

Again, glad not to serious.

win39 · 02-09-2008, 04:55 PM

To be honest I have no Idea. I was thinking that maybe he did not want anyone watching him. I asked him if everything was OK a couple times and the last time he said he could not get the gun situated on his rest. Maybe because I asked him to keep the gun pointed down range is what made him nervous. I was a little stern when I asked him to keep the gun pointed down rang. It's one of them situations where you had to be there. He just looked like he was struggling and I thought I would help so no one would get hurt. Because he was making me nervous. As far as my gun was concerned it was just a little Win. 70 270w. Maybe all the equipment and me having three rifles there, I don't have a clue. I forgot to add that after I got the bleeding slowed down he asked if I knew were the 4th screw went for his base. (Does that help the picture any)

samuel · 02-09-2008, 05:27 PM

There is a lot I dont understand about this.I dont know Rossi,s but NEF and H&R only have 3 screws holding the base if I am correct.Rossi is built under their patent.When 3 screws much less 4 are tight you would break the aluminum base before you tore the screws out.If the screws backed out it would be absolutely impossible to get bullets anywhere near where you aimed.This is a one piece base.I just cant feature on a breakopen firearm,how a base could be that loose and go undetected when reloading.I am not doubting your word but could you explain in more detail and correct me? sam.

ArkansasHunter · 02-09-2008, 05:35 PM

I read this after you posted it and I've came to the conlusion to be friendly at the shooting range, but mind your own bussiness.
That scope and mounts breaking loose speaks volumes to me. You could of put your eye out or something worst !!!
A.H

win39 · 02-09-2008, 06:30 PM

I do not know much about the Rossi or the scope mounting system other then it had a one piece base that did have four holes. I cannot tell you if their was 3 or 4 mounting holes on the gun because at this point I just wanted to get my own equipment loaded and get myself to the hospital. But I can tell you that I did run my hand across the top of the breach and felt very sharp edges on the mounting screw hole when I went to hand the gun back to the owner. He sat the gun on the rest for me the first shot & I did not notice the scope being loose when I adjusted it. Now I did think to myself that possibly the screws were not long enough.
I will be able to find out Tuesday because he said he was going to take the gun to the same gunsmith that does all of my work. And I can tell you that there was definitely 3 screws still in the base and one empty hole.

samuel · 02-09-2008, 07:31 PM

The only thing I can feature is the screws were too short.They make two mounts for the H&R,one is higher than the other.But it sounds like a bubba mounting job to me.I believe H&R uses 6-32 threads.I wonder if the smith(I use that name loosely)put the wrong screws in.Dont quote me on thread size. sam.

win39 · 02-09-2008, 07:35 PM

Maybe you miss understood me about the gunsmith. He was going to take it to the gunsmith after this all happened. I think maybe the he mounted the scope himself.

BANDIDO · 02-09-2008, 08:03 PM

Now, now, let us know, did you or didn't you have his scalp flattened with that rifle after he treated you like that. Come on ... at least did you shoot the wife...? he, he.

OK I'm joking. I had a close call once with a friend's shotgun ("brand new" and very pointy firing pin) and I almost killed myself. The firing pin was handmade but I didn't know that...

I know better now !!!

mym1a · 02-09-2008, 08:07 PM

lol It's a wonder you didn't get blamed for the scope coming loose????

win39 · 02-09-2008, 09:50 PM

Even if he had I don't think he would have really meant it that way. Anyway it wasn't a total loss, because I got a lot of sympathy from the nurses. lol

samuel · 02-10-2008, 07:21 AM

Love those nurses!Greatest l'il gals on earth.'Nuf to make me want to go out and get whacked with a scope! sam.

win39 · 02-10-2008, 08:27 AM

Sam: I also remember thinking that day, that I have finally met then gun that kills whats in front and cripples whats behind. lol

02-09-2008, 05:10 AM	#1
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	Being Nice Doesn't Always Pay We had some fairly good weather the other day so I decided to go to the range. Upon my arrival at the range I noticed there was a couple there, so I tried to be friendly and this seemed to make the couple nervous. I then advised them that I was going to fire my gun and they better put some ear protection on. I finally got a smile out of them and began sighting my gun. I noticed that the man had a single shot Rossi, so I asked him what caliber, and he stated 30/06. He also began waving the gun around with the hammer cocked and the gun loaded. I politely asked him to keep the gun down range. Now it is time to shoot my next rifle and the man was aiming at his target so I sat for approximately 10 minutes waiting for him to fire the gun. I then asked him if he was OK, and he stated that he was nervous. He then advised me that I was making him nervous, and asked me If I would sight his gun in. I said sure because I just wanted to get working on my guns. Well I knew the gun was going to be a mule so I held it tight and the first shot was not even close. so I bore sighted the gun and fired a second shot and it was about 6 inches low. So I made the final adjustments and squeezed the trigger for the third time, and was knocked silly. I looked down on the bench and noticed a puddle of blood and the scope laying off to the side by itself. The screws holding the the bases pulled out of the gun. So here I am telling the story 10 stitches later. I have to say it doesn't always pay to be nice. But the final shot was only about a 1/2 inch of of dead center. __________________ Benny Last edited by win39; 02-09-2008 at 07:11 PM.

02-09-2008, 06:11 AM	#2
neophyte Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,873	offer win39: Sir; that sucks. Did they offer to take you to the hospital? Man oh Man __________________ Craig By the standards of most

02-09-2008, 06:54 AM	#4
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	The wife said I think you need stitches and the husband said he felt bad, but his next question was if I seen the the screw that was missing. I really think he believed that I broke his gun. You had to be their. It's not the first time I've been hit but it is the first time I was dazed and needed stitches. It will be the last time that happens with someone else's gun. I __________________ Benny

02-09-2008, 09:09 AM	#5
Windwalker Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,904	Glad you weren't seriously hurt. Don't blame you for not wanting to shoot a stranger's gun any more. __________________ America: Love it and protect it or leave it

02-09-2008, 09:19 AM	#6
270wsm Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 326	Win39, Incredible story! I hate that it happened to you.But,on the bright side the stranger may have seriously hurt himself had you not been there to take the blow for him.I was at a range and a man was sighting in his and his son's rifles.1 in .30-06 and 1 in.308Win.He accidentally put the .308 cartridge in the '06 and sprayed himself with brass and powder.Looked as if he had been shot with a shotgun at a really far range. __________________ THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT,THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER,AS I HAVE LOVED YOU-Jesus Christ(John15:12)

02-09-2008, 06:36 AM	#3
wunhunglo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa" Posts: 1,129	People will really believe that you're a Big-game hunter now with the authentic half-moon scope scar over your eye! Seriously, was he appologetic? Concerned? Embarrassed?

02-09-2008, 10:56 AM	#7
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	Thanks: I mainly told this story so everyone will think the next time someone wants you to sight their gun in. Because I am a big safety fanatic and I let myself get in this situation. You don't know other peoples equipment or what they have done to it. I'm not talking about close friends. This was definitely a wake up call. The worst thing of all is I did not finish my own guns. __________________ Benny

02-09-2008, 11:37 AM	#8
two-70 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ponca city, oklahoma Posts: 1,755	man that was not good, bummer __________________ What Would Jesus Do ????? Just Ask Him.

02-09-2008, 01:33 PM	#9
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 4,293	Win, glad you weren't seriously hurt. But I have to ask. What did you do that made him so nervous? Did he/they ever say? Or was that first gun you took out to sight in a scary one? lol And evidentially you didn't make him so nervous he couldn't ask you to sight it in. lol Again, glad not to serious. __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

02-09-2008, 04:55 PM	#10
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	To be honest I have no Idea. I was thinking that maybe he did not want anyone watching him. I asked him if everything was OK a couple times and the last time he said he could not get the gun situated on his rest. Maybe because I asked him to keep the gun pointed down range is what made him nervous. I was a little stern when I asked him to keep the gun pointed down rang. It's one of them situations where you had to be there. He just looked like he was struggling and I thought I would help so no one would get hurt. Because he was making me nervous. As far as my gun was concerned it was just a little Win. 70 270w. Maybe all the equipment and me having three rifles there, I don't have a clue. I forgot to add that after I got the bleeding slowed down he asked if I knew were the 4th screw went for his base. (Does that help the picture any) __________________ Benny Last edited by win39; 02-09-2008 at 07:27 PM.

02-09-2008, 05:27 PM	#11
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,655	There is a lot I dont understand about this.I dont know Rossi,s but NEF and H&R only have 3 screws holding the base if I am correct.Rossi is built under their patent.When 3 screws much less 4 are tight you would break the aluminum base before you tore the screws out.If the screws backed out it would be absolutely impossible to get bullets anywhere near where you aimed.This is a one piece base.I just cant feature on a breakopen firearm,how a base could be that loose and go undetected when reloading.I am not doubting your word but could you explain in more detail and correct me? sam.

02-09-2008, 05:35 PM	#12
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,178	I read this after you posted it and I've came to the conlusion to be friendly at the shooting range, but mind your own bussiness. That scope and mounts breaking loose speaks volumes to me. You could of put your eye out or something worst !!! A.H

02-09-2008, 06:30 PM	#13
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	I do not know much about the Rossi or the scope mounting system other then it had a one piece base that did have four holes. I cannot tell you if their was 3 or 4 mounting holes on the gun because at this point I just wanted to get my own equipment loaded and get myself to the hospital. But I can tell you that I did run my hand across the top of the breach and felt very sharp edges on the mounting screw hole when I went to hand the gun back to the owner. He sat the gun on the rest for me the first shot & I did not notice the scope being loose when I adjusted it. Now I did think to myself that possibly the screws were not long enough. I will be able to find out Tuesday because he said he was going to take the gun to the same gunsmith that does all of my work. And I can tell you that there was definitely 3 screws still in the base and one empty hole. __________________ Benny

02-09-2008, 07:31 PM	#14
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,655	The only thing I can feature is the screws were too short.They make two mounts for the H&R,one is higher than the other.But it sounds like a bubba mounting job to me.I believe H&R uses 6-32 threads.I wonder if the smith(I use that name loosely)put the wrong screws in.Dont quote me on thread size. sam.

02-09-2008, 07:35 PM	#15
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	Maybe you miss understood me about the gunsmith. He was going to take it to the gunsmith after this all happened. I think maybe the he mounted the scope himself. __________________ Benny

02-09-2008, 08:03 PM	#16
BANDIDO Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: GREECE Posts: 42	Now, now, let us know, did you or didn't you have his scalp flattened with that rifle after he treated you like that. Come on ... at least did you shoot the wife...? he, he. OK I'm joking. I had a close call once with a friend's shotgun ("brand new" and very pointy firing pin) and I almost killed myself. The firing pin was handmade but I didn't know that... I know better now !!!

02-09-2008, 08:07 PM	#17
mym1a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,296	lol It's a wonder you didn't get blamed for the scope coming loose????

02-09-2008, 09:50 PM	#18
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	Even if he had I don't think he would have really meant it that way. Anyway it wasn't a total loss, because I got a lot of sympathy from the nurses. lol __________________ Benny

02-10-2008, 07:21 AM	#19
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,655	Love those nurses!Greatest l'il gals on earth.'Nuf to make me want to go out and get whacked with a scope! sam.

02-10-2008, 08:27 AM	#20
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	Sam: I also remember thinking that day, that I have finally met then gun that kills whats in front and cripples whats behind. lol __________________ Benny

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