JonInNY

I shoot trap at least twice weekly, and have been caught in the rain many times, and actually enjoy it sometimes.

However, yesterday, we had lightning strikes nearby, and decided to close the range for safety.

The question came up... is it possible, or has anyone heard of any case where a raised shotgun attracted a lightning strike?

Seems to me, on a trap field, if you are the tallest thing standing, and a there with a metal rod (12 gauge) pointing straight out, it's theoretically possible.

Any comments or thoughts?

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Tally XD

Uhm. . . . . someone needs to read up on lightening strikes. I live in Florida, the lightening strike/death capital of the WORLD. No joke.

Lightening can and will kill you from far enough away that you cannot even see the storm cloud. Lightening travels from a leader strand from the GROUND UPWARD. You do not have to be the tallest thing standing in the area to be hit.

It can also hit one object, such as a tree nearby, and branch out and crawl across the ground and get other objects, or people, standing in the area. It can kill multiple people in one strike.

If you find out lightening is nearby, or the forecast is for lightening, get into a safe place and dont chance it.

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Paco

I thought lightening only hit power poles and 1 irons?

Same situation here in North Texas, normally during the Spring we get some real doozie of storms and have been taught at an early age to not jack around with lightening.

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ppkheat

If it's lightning nearby, and I'm outside, you can bet I'm leaving......it's not worth it.

I've had a couple of close strikes that sounded like they were right next to me. Later on it was determined that both were about a quarter mile away. I don't want to be any closer.

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Rock and Glock

Golfers run for the course shelters at the first sign of lightning. For good reason! A 12 gauge is no different than a steel shafted golf club (if those are even made anymore).

You're wet, your feet are on the ground, and you're holding a steel rod into the air. Sounds like a perfect lightning rod to me. Sad news is a possible result.

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NRA Life Member

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ccw9mm

The last thing I'd want to be doing in a lightning storm is to be holding a metal "pipe" in my hands pointing it skyward. I'm all for a little excitement, but IMO that's just nuts. Doesn't matter to me if I don't have citations galore, for prior instances.

Do whatever you'd like. I'm not stopping anyone. But for me, that's hangin' it out there just a bit too far.

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JonInNY

I agree with all of you that it's foolish to be out during a storm, but has anyone actually ever heard of a shooter being hit by lightning? I actually did know a golfer that was killed by a strike. She was in a shelter, and the strike travelled through the ground to her.

__________________
"I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul."
-- William Ernest Henley: Invictus

Tally XD

Maybe its because shooters have more sense than golfers?

Anyway, run for safe cover, not just a shelter outside. You need to be surrounded my a metal "skeleton" such as a large building.

__________________
"My first priority will be to reinstate the assault weapons ban as soon as I take office. In the first year, I intend to work with Congress on a national no carry law, one gun a month purchase limits, and bans on all semi-automatic guns."
-Barack Obama, VPC Fund Raiser, 2007

Ram Rod

If you're gonna get hit, you're gonna get hit. I got hit seven years ago sitting in a metal lawn chair on concrete. Go ahead and live a little...life is interesting.

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dukalmighty

I'll never forget when my brother found out tweezers will fit in a 110 outlet.You don't have to be holding anything just being outside during lightning can be hazardous,we were waterskiing one day when a T-Storm moved in quick and we got off the lake but there was one boat that had stopped to pick up their skiier and somebody was pulling the tow rope into the boat when lightning struck the water and traveled up the rope killing the person pulling it in

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