Thanks to everyone for their well wishes, concern, thoughts and prayers.
I'm doing fine on my recovery - my stiches are out and I'm getting less sore and more strong each day. It'll still be a while before I'm out cutting wood or walking the woods but, I'll get there.
Per the questions that I've been asked by boardmember, here's the answer -

1) Yes, you guessed correctly,I was too close to my 1/2 inch thick steel target. Since this was the first time I'd fired my new rifle, I wanted to make sure I hit the target so, I was only 25 - 30 feet from the target - stupid me.

2) You were right again in that my target was static, not a swinging plate. I don't know if the plate flexed on impact or not but, the geometry of the bullet returning almost exactly from where it came still amazes me.

Again, thanks to everyone for you best wishes and kind words. You are a wonderful bunch of guys (gals?).

-Vlad