One of the most important rules when handling a gun is never point it at anyone.Yet one American firearm fanatic forgot one possible unwritten rule - never look down the barrel of a loaded shotgun!
After firing a couple of shots at what appear to be tin cans no more than a few feet away, the weapon appears to jam.
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Aim: The gunman is seen firing at what appear to be tin cans only a few feet away
Following a few clicks of the trigger, the hapless gunman decides to place the gun on its side, and take a closer look as to what could be causing the problem.
This is probably the part where viewers will begin to wince.
No more than a couple of seconds after peering into the barrel, the gun clicks back into action - and comes within an inch or so of deadly consequences.
It is only the kickback of the gun upon firing that saves the man, and the bullet flies through the peak of his cap.
The shock of the episode sees the gunman put the gun down, jump into the air before crouching down and feeling to make sure his forehead is intact.
The video finishes with the gun enthusiast holding up the holey cap, and then we are treated to a slow-motion replay of the near-death accident.
So far the video has attracted over 10,000 hits, and was uploaded by hunter Michael Gibson, although it is not known if he is the lucky-to-be-alive man featured in the shocking scenario.
