My interesting day at Wicen's

[normanvin]

6ft. sure sounds like a small berm.

[phillyshooter]

Originally Posted by normanvin

6ft. sure sounds like a small berm.

6 feet is the berm closest to the firing line. I don't know the height of the berm at the top of the backstop hill.

[phillyshooter]

Ok, I got a copy of the police report from the PD today I also drove by the home in question. I didn't notice any plastic on the front of the roof, but it may have happened to the back of the house. The home is in direct line with the range, about 1 mile away. It's possible that this was caused by my rifle. The only things I don't like about the report is they state the rear sight was set for 500 yards, there's no proof that it didn't get moved during transit or back at the station. Also, that when they asked me how I knew he was shooting high I told them I was watching through my scope, and told him to lower his aim, I knew because I saw the round hitting the back stop about half way up.

Police Report:




Google Earth Picture:

[crlovel]

So what happens next?

[ChamberedRound]

Have to admit, that's a pretty thorough report from the officer. If the information there is correct, they saw evidence to suggest that the rounds did skip over the berm. I would've liked to see more information on the state of retrieved bullet, however. As I posted earlier, I'd be very suspect that the round in question isn't the actual round fired if it isn't deformed after hitting the berm and the coming down through a roof.

[Vortex]

Originally Posted by phillyshooter

The only things I don't like about the report is they state the rear sight was set for 500 yards, there's no proof that it didn't get moved during transit or back at the station.

What would you say the rear sights were set to when your brother in law was shooting?

[Hokkmike]

I can't imagine a range being set up with houses beyond the backstop.

[Vortex]

Originally Posted by Hokkmike

I can't imagine a range being set up with houses beyond the backstop.

I think it would be more accurate to say I can't imagine building houses behind the backstop of an already existing shooting range.

[jsb889]

Philly, you'd need the height of the berm at 100 yards to see if it could have possibly hit. But, if it bounced off the berm, anything is possible. Very suprising the bullet isn't deformed at all though, given everything it traveled through.

Also, in the police report it says you knew the rounds were high, but didn't say how you knew. You might want to inform the LEOs of noticing the rounds hitting a bit high. If this ever ends up in court, it'd look better than an "I don't know", which could mean he shot and you saw no hit at all (meaning a shot over berm). As always, check with a lawyer first.

That looks like a pretty straight shot from the range. I was very skeptical if it was the closer house that Sober pointed out...but that one is further and more in line. That house would make sense. Completely intact bullet is still weird as hell.

[Hokkmike]

I think it would be more accurate to say I can't imagine building houses behind the backstop of an already existing shooting range.

Yeah, I understand. We had someone build a house near our range and immediately went to discuss some arrangements to insure that they knew how the range operated an what to do in the event of a problem. The only thing that might affect them would be noise, so shooting early Sunday mornings is out.

The police officers report in this case sounds complete and reasonable. I can't imagine any kind of punitive action being taken. The range owners and the shooters also did the "right things".

Maybe the range could go with a really big (much bigger) backstop.

If I lived in that house I would worry too much.