Drunken teen accidentally shoots self in head (updated at posts 44, 46 & 48)

The Monitor (McAllen, Texas) ^ | June 13, 2012 | Naxiely Lopez

[EveningStar]

SOUTH OF ALAMO — A 17-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself with a semi-automatic handgun Monday night when the single round he fired at a butane tank ricocheted and hit him in the head, authorities said.

[peeps36]

This could be seen as another form of self deportation. I’m sure Mr Holder is looking to file a lawsuit against Texas to keep this from ever happening again. The democrats can’t afford to lose voters like this.

[Eaker]

Looks like Juan is getting the same amount of pity here as I gave him on Facebook.

Thanks for the ping!

[Neidermeyer]

I’m thinking a rounded/cylindrical tank might deform and spring back , the metal would be “self supporting” unlike a simple square steel plate would ... it could send the slug back with more force than you think ... time to experiment.

[The Good Doctor]

“I ain’t buying it. I’ve been hit by 9 Makarov ricochets from 10 feet. Wouldn’t hurt a mouse. A .380? Sumpin’s wrong.” I agree.. there’s something fishy here.

I just read it quickly, but I think it said he pointed it at the tank, didn't fire, then pointed it at his head and fired.

[Delta 21]

...sorta kinda like this.....

[2111USMC]

Thanks doc.

I clicked on the link and read this:

The teen’s girlfriend refused to handle the loaded weapon, so he pulled out the gun’s clip and aimed at a butane tank, but he “thought twice” about shooting it and instead pointed it at his head, Treviño said. “He fires one time and shoots himself in the head,” Treviño said.

No ricochette invloved at all.

[smokingfrog]

..he “thought twice” about shooting it...

Maybe he should have thought three times...

Nah - let's see how we can impress the GF with our gun expertise.

[Tunehead54]

You read correctly Doc.

---

The teen’s girlfriend refused to handle the loaded weapon, so he pulled out the gun’s clip and aimed at a butane tank, but he “thought twice” about shooting it and instead pointed it at his head, Treviño said.

“He fires one time and shoots himself in the head,” Treviño said.

---

That round in the chamber is often a surprise to the uninitiated but once they're initiated its usually too late. Oh well ... definitely a Darwin Award candidate.

[EveningStar]

The article has been updated. See posts 44 & 46.

[EveningStar]

Thanks for the update. That’s a major change.

[gundog]

Been thinking about this one. At some point in its’ travel, the bullet’s velocity relative to the idiot was zero FPS. At the muzzle, .380 goes about 1000 fps, carrying 200 ft-pds of energy. ANY deformation of the slug, the tank, or movement by the tank is gonna eat some energy. If the bullet followed a radiused path around some part of the tank, there’s friction involved, but it wouldn’t have had to slow to zero fps in all vectors. Wonder what you’d get if you fired into a horseshoe shaped pipe.

[Neidermeyer]

Wonder what you’d get if you fired into a horseshoe shaped pipe.

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The Germans had a grease gun variant that did half a horseshoe..