travellingJeff
Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2007
- Messages
- 169
Just got a call from a friend of mine, typing this up as he tells me.
So, I feel for the guy and I appreciate his honesty. Of course, I'd have seen the hole anyway so he'd eventually have to 'fess up ;-)
I do all of those things he says, leaving the sidearm with the slide locked back, inspecting numerous times and feeling the loaded chamber indicator just before shooting. He's a very safe gun owner who's never once violated any of the "Big 4" at the range. He's a NRA certified RSO as well. I don't want to say enough to give up who he might be, just in case. Regardless, even the best make mistakes at some time. Of course, since he was obeying the "Big 4" (I suppose he wasn't WILLING to destroy his wall, but at least it wasn't a person), he only has a hole in his wall and now years of ribbing from his friends. If he can do this, anyone can. I'm going to be extra, extra, extra careful from now on. I enjoy dry-fire, especially in these pricey ammo days, and I always make sure to do it towards an underground wall for this exact purpose. I suppose I might make the four hour drive to see him this weekend, maybe patch the wall up before his girlfriend comes over and see's it.
We're still on the phone, he's a bit shaken but is able to appreciate the fact that much worse things have happened. A wall is replaceable, a family member isn't. He doesn't even allow his dog into his "dry-fire room" and I'm glad of that.
Other than some ringing ears, a bruised ego and a wall, nothing is damaged. It's really driven the point home, though, and I'm sure that he learned his lesson. I also have to give him credit for being able to man up and tell others of his experience so that we can learn from it.
So, that's that. I don't think he'll be taking pictures, but I might convince him to do so.
Hope this helps us all remember those four rules and CHECK THE CHAMBER when you're doing your dry-fire.
I frequently dry-fire practice with my SIG P229 (.357SIG). I do this practice in the below-ground basement towards a wall that aims into the back yard. Today, somehow, I goofed up and didn't clear the live round out of the chamber when I went to dry fire. To analyze this more specifically, I removed the mag, thought I pulled the chambered round, set the sidearm down and went to get some coffee. I came back, picked up the "unloaded" pistol (didn't check because I "knew" it was unloaded, the magazine was right there, so I thought). I aimed at the target, pulled the trigger and got the "bang" instead of a "click". I was QUITE surprised, needless to say. I placed the gun down, slide locked back, and inspected the hole. Deep, through the wall and the concrete. Bad. Called the neighbors and told them I had an "accident" (although it was obviously negligence, not accidental) and that I was OK, none of them even heard the shot. The police received no report, fortunately.
My ears are still ringing. No one was hurt, probably gotta do some work to the basement wall.
If someone asked what the culprit was, I'd say complacency. I usually make it a practice to leave the slide locked back on the sidearm I'm dry firing, thus ensuring I can inspect the chamber when I pick it up. Then, I'd drop the slide and rack it one or two more times "just to be safe", I'd also feel for the loaded chamber indicator. This time, I did none of those things.
So, I feel for the guy and I appreciate his honesty. Of course, I'd have seen the hole anyway so he'd eventually have to 'fess up ;-)
I do all of those things he says, leaving the sidearm with the slide locked back, inspecting numerous times and feeling the loaded chamber indicator just before shooting. He's a very safe gun owner who's never once violated any of the "Big 4" at the range. He's a NRA certified RSO as well. I don't want to say enough to give up who he might be, just in case. Regardless, even the best make mistakes at some time. Of course, since he was obeying the "Big 4" (I suppose he wasn't WILLING to destroy his wall, but at least it wasn't a person), he only has a hole in his wall and now years of ribbing from his friends. If he can do this, anyone can. I'm going to be extra, extra, extra careful from now on. I enjoy dry-fire, especially in these pricey ammo days, and I always make sure to do it towards an underground wall for this exact purpose. I suppose I might make the four hour drive to see him this weekend, maybe patch the wall up before his girlfriend comes over and see's it.
We're still on the phone, he's a bit shaken but is able to appreciate the fact that much worse things have happened. A wall is replaceable, a family member isn't. He doesn't even allow his dog into his "dry-fire room" and I'm glad of that.
Other than some ringing ears, a bruised ego and a wall, nothing is damaged. It's really driven the point home, though, and I'm sure that he learned his lesson. I also have to give him credit for being able to man up and tell others of his experience so that we can learn from it.
So, that's that. I don't think he'll be taking pictures, but I might convince him to do so.
Hope this helps us all remember those four rules and CHECK THE CHAMBER when you're doing your dry-fire.