Muzzle loader fired in the air kills girl over a mile away

[TxD]

" A man cleaning his muzzle-loading rifle shot the gun into the air, accidentally killing a 15-year-old Amish girl driving a horse-drawn buggy more than a mile away, a sheriff said Tuesday.......

The man had fired the gun in the air about 1.5 miles from where Yoder was shot, Zimmerly said. State investigators were checking the rifle for a ballistics match, he said."


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/20/oh ... z1h780EUDs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[fulano]

I can imagine this happening. My muzzle loader is a smooth bore that I load with .61 lead balls or #4 shot. It is in effect a 20ga. Not a novelty gun but a real weapon.

This story is witness to the fact that celebrations should be limited to fireworks.

[wgoforth]

Yup, also helps explains that "warning shots" are not good ideas. Such a thing as bullet accountability.

[Oldgringo]

Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, yikes!

Bless their hearts, this is amazing, totally amazing...if true.

[Keith B]

Modern muzzle loaders have rifled barrels and can use tapered /clad projectiles with sabots behind them. Ballistics are very similar to large caliber center-fire rifles. And, if you put a large powder charge in them, then they actually could be more powerful than a standard center-fire load of the same caliber.

[Seabear]

Yep, I got the chance to play with one last Winter. It was a TC Bone Collector???? That thing was wicked. .50 cal Sabbots drop in the charge you want , pack a sabbot and let her rip. Talk about packing a wallop, mile and a half would not have been a problem lobbed in. Sad.

[Heartland Patriot]

Modern muzzle loaders have rifled barrels and can use tapered /clad projectiles with sabots behind them. Ballistics are very similar to large caliber center-fire rifles. And, if you put a large powder charge in them, then they actually could be more powerful than a standard center-fire load of the same caliber.

Thanks for reminding me about those. I've read about them before, and those white compacted charges you can buy in place of the powder, but I had forgotten. My mind went straight to some Kentucky long rifle kind of idea...and I bet a lot of others' did, too. I imagine those sabot rounds can easily go that far...sad business. Those firearm safety rules are NOT to be taken lightly.