Why eye protection is required

[snaketail2]

I was shooting in the Texas State Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette match last weekend and got hit in the collar bone by a bullet fragment. It scared me pretty good.
I was sitting behind about 10 or 12 feet behind the Chicken firing line (50 meter targets). As the final shot was fired I felt a wack on my right collar bone under my neck - I turned to the guy next to me and said, "Am I bleeding?" "Yes, what happened?"
First aid was simply a little anapestic and a band aid.
One of the other shooters found the bullet frag stuck to my shirt...it hit the heavy seam that the buttons go through, and cut the shirt down to my t-shirt.
I find no one at fault for this - there are easier ways to shoot someone.
But, you'll never see me take my glasses off when the firing line is hot...this fragment in the eye would have ended my shooting career.
Almost a week later and the bruise is almost gone.

lead frag.jpg

[dscak1]

Good reminder, thank you.

[cedestech]

Yup. I have seen complete jackets flung back to the firing line. Glad it was just a small poke and good story.