It was a hand shot but a few inches and it could have been a head shot or a gut shot, a few inches the other way and it could have been a complete miss.
False economy, he didn't want to waste a cap so he left his rifle armed. I got over that kind of cheap economy in 1973, no I won't tell the details but I was lucky and it only caused a broken finger which never healed straight so I have my reminder always.