AD at a indoor range

[Soybomb]

I don't find it that hard to believe he's one of the more experienced shooters. Humans have a tendency to start to gloss over things when it gets routine. How many times have you been driving and realized you don't even remember the last 15 minutes. I can easily see autopilot happening to shooters. I'm still new enough to be extra paranoid, I hope in 20 years that comfort level hasn't changed.

mzmtg whats your name on OT? I'm flattered to be quoted

 

[Ovid]

Am I understanding this correctly; the gentleman did not try to manually decock the pistol by slowly lowering the hammer with his thumb - he simply pulled the trigger and assumed that the chamber was empty?

 

[rbernie]

However, by having it pointed into the floor, he was following "Rule #2" (Always keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction./Never point the firearm at something you aren't willing to destroy.) and it saved everyone lots of grief.

That was the mitigator that led me to believe that being banned for life would be a bit over the top. He was foolish but not totally stoooopid.

While an ND is very serious, "zero tolerance" is as foolish at a range as it is anywhere else in life.

+1.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

NDs happen, they just do. That's why the 4 rules are in place as mentioned before in this thread. Finger in the chamber was taught to me as a 16 year old back in the 70s, don't trust your eyes. NDs have happened to a lot of people and have been discussed in this forum. Happened to me. I'll be darned to the best of my ability if it will ever happen again.

 

[bnelson2943]

Ovid

As I understood it he did have his thumb on the hammer but didn't really have enough pressure on it to restrict the fall. I think it was a case of a routine clearing drill; check the chamber, point in safe direction. drop hammer on empty chamber. The problems were; not in safe direction, not an empty chamber, not a drill that should be performed off the firing line. I think there have been some really great comments that I will incorporate into my safety habits. Why was I taught to drop the hammer upon clearing? Empty is empty. Good points Dave P and Bill2k1.

 

[offthepaper]

I think that IF the guy is allowed back onto the range he should immediatly be issued a flourecent orange "tin foil " type of headgear and be required to wear it any time he sets foot on club prpoerty for the next 6 months or so, also they might consider posting his picture near the club entrance (along with anyone else who has experienced a ND/AD at the range) sort of their own ND/AD alert postings, for a period of time also. Nothing like a little shame mixed with peer pressure to stay focused on safety at the range.

 

[rbernie]

It's a Deal

Please post the name and location of your gun club so I can be sure to never ever ever shoot there or even set foot inside the door.

If you ever find yourself in the DFW area, lemme know and I'll tell you where you can find me. I wouldn't want you to subject yourself to being in the same place as my poor imperfect self.

 

[Technosavant]

Yeouch.

I hope the guy with the ND at least covered medical bills for the guy who caught the shrapnel (and kicked in a few boxes of his choice of ammo).

For the record, I disagree with the saying "There are two types of shooters... those who have had a ND and those who will." Proper caution, always exercised, can prevent it. Never go into anything saying screwing up is inevitable. If a person believes that they cannot be perfectly safe with a firearm, they should rethink possession of one.

And yes, I have violated the four rules, but never more than one at any time, and still have yet to have a ND. I might have one one day, and I will be mortified should that happen, and I don't jump mercilessly on those who have had them. But they aren't inevitable.

 

[Rockstar]

Let me be the first to point out the obvious: Glocks don't have hammers, and, since we all know that only Glocks go off by themselves, the event could not have happened as reported. Of course, if he DIDN'T have a Glock, then SURELY that thumb safety and grip safety prevented the pistol from firing?

 

[WayneConrad]

... Glocks don't have hammers ...

Glock?

I'm missing a joke of some kind, ain't I.

 

[thorazine]

How does what you refer to work in terms of "gun store etiquete? Say you are at the range looking at some pistols and you wanna try a different one in your carry holster on a whim. I was at the store and did this. I asked the clerk if I could pull out my carry piece and try the new gun in my holster. He said no prob, so I carefully pulled the gun, always pointing in a safe direction, finger away from trigger, ejected the magazine, cleared the chambered round. Handed pistol to clerk so he could check the chamber. Satisfied, he put mine on the counter and I holstered the piece that was for sale.

Any problem with this? Even if it is OK with the clerk, is this a bad idea? What are people's takes on this?

Sounds perfectly fine with me. I have done it before and even asked for permission to rechamber. Done with extreme care and caution with "what direction is my muzzle pointing" in mind.

If I were another customer in the store I would probably watch you out of the corner of my eye. Satisified that you can handle your firearm safely I would put my focus back on what I was there for.

Guns are not demons. Demons sometimes use guns and people demonize the gun(s).

 

[Nashmack]

The way I clear my automatics is as follows:

Muzzle pointing in a safe direction and finger on the frame of the gun, I eject the mag, then pull the slide back 3 times and lock it back.

Does anyone find fault with this, or can anyone suggest a better way to clear the weapon?

 

[thorazine]

The way I clear my automatics is as follows:

Muzzle pointing in a safe direction and finger on the frame of the gun, I eject the mag, then pull the slide back 3 times and lock it back.

Does anyone find fault with this, or can anyone suggest a better way to clear the weapon?

Sounds perfect to me.

Only time I generally unload (or unchamber) my firearms is at the range.

Drop mag.
Eject chambered round.
Lock or draw back.
Visually and physically inspect (finger the chamber - ooohhh baby).
Slide foward.
Put on pants.

Process only takes a matter of seconds but it's worth it.