I agree that this man is a true Texan, displaying the famous Feinhelder style of Rifle Hunting. First established by Josiah Feinhelder in 1856, this hunting method is used for extremely long distance shots while hunting Bull Moose. Held in both hands, with the rifle fully extended away from the body, the hunter can sight in his shot by using his shadow on the ground. Although records were not kept by hunters prior to 1908, we do know that no fewer than nine single shot kills have been verified from distances of over three miles away using this technique.
The drawback to this hunting method, unfortunately, is displayed very obviously here - namely, that any rifle capable of being used in a Feinhelder shot will be of a caliber that gives sufficient recoil. This recoil is traditionally absorbed by the hunter's forehead. As your animation shows, improper position of the shooter's hands, arms, clavicle and fundament will result in what's known as a "Crack'n Hard Wallop" - aka, a Feinhelder shot that goes astray.
I do think this hunter made a strange choice of firearm, as well. Although it IS true that the Wilkins & Brighton .50-.485 Magnum is a proper Texas Moose rifle, it's also well known that this rifle is only to be used by experts in the Feinhelder Stance. Perhaps one of his friends put him up to it. It's obvious that the gun has a scope, which means the owner normally uses the traditional Queegman stance. I doubt the man in the GIF is the actual owner of this rifle.
I started watching, and when he... "aimed..." I actually reflexively covered my eyes with a hand and turned away and had to wait for the .gif to loop again to see what I knew was coming.
That was instinct, not experience---I have never held an operational gun even once in my life.
That has to be fake; I mean, even folks who've never held a real firearm before have at least seen them carried properly on TV. This isn't one of those common mistakes, like holding a semi-auto pistol too far up the grip (for a painful and sometimes-bloody Noob Pinch from the slide) or the "gangsta" sideways hold... that's just plainly awkward and clumsy and geeky-looking. Even kids shooting Nerf guns know better.
-- Steve supposes that there is always a "greater idiot" out there, but this one stretches the already-generous bounds of plausible idiocy.
His body language before he sights the rifle suggests abundant liquid persuasion. The lack of shake in the camera suggests a tripod, and that this was therefore a self-inflicted video.
When I worked in the ER ~25 years there was a 'short form' abbreviation used on any number of cases, pending official ruling by Medical Examiner; TSTL.
A device only in use by teenaged girls and greenhorns, in these parts. Any grown man caught using one would be subject to ridicule and floggings with black chaparral.
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Date: 2010-02-22 01:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 01:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 02:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 02:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 02:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 03:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 03:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 03:20 pm (UTC)The drawback to this hunting method, unfortunately, is displayed very obviously here - namely, that any rifle capable of being used in a Feinhelder shot will be of a caliber that gives sufficient recoil. This recoil is traditionally absorbed by the hunter's forehead. As your animation shows, improper position of the shooter's hands, arms, clavicle and fundament will result in what's known as a "Crack'n Hard Wallop" - aka, a Feinhelder shot that goes astray.
I do think this hunter made a strange choice of firearm, as well. Although it IS true that the Wilkins & Brighton .50-.485 Magnum is a proper Texas Moose rifle, it's also well known that this rifle is only to be used by experts in the Feinhelder Stance. Perhaps one of his friends put him up to it. It's obvious that the gun has a scope, which means the owner normally uses the traditional Queegman stance. I doubt the man in the GIF is the actual owner of this rifle.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 03:21 pm (UTC)Every. single. ounce.
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Date: 2010-02-22 03:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 03:32 pm (UTC)I'm going to have to steal this at some point.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 03:51 pm (UTC)That was instinct, not experience---I have never held an operational gun even once in my life.
Basic physics, let me show you it.
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Date: 2010-02-22 04:11 pm (UTC)-- Steve supposes that there is always a "greater idiot" out there, but this one stretches the already-generous bounds of plausible idiocy.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 04:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 04:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 04:18 pm (UTC)A dude deliberately doing something dumb because there's a camera around, y'know?
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Date: 2010-02-22 04:36 pm (UTC)-- Steve thinks it's a pity this isn't a candidate for a Darwin Award.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 04:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 05:05 pm (UTC)The actual cause:
Date: 2010-02-22 05:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 05:17 pm (UTC)Quite literally, in fact!
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Date: 2010-02-22 05:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 07:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 09:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 10:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-22 11:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-23 06:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-23 08:37 am (UTC)Too Stupid To Live.
Really.
To that, I would like to add...
Date: 2010-02-23 02:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-23 06:21 pm (UTC)