There’s a lot of people who wouldn’t be man enough to admit to a bunch of strangers that they did something so unintentionally careless. A lesson you’ll never forget. Murphy showed up. The good Lord intervened. Very thankful that everyone is ok.
I'm embarrassed. Negligent Discharge.
- Thread starter Orion8472
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plodder
Member
At least you were only violating 1 of the 4 rules. (well, maybe 2) People really get into trouble when they violate 3 or 4 or the rules at once. (not to condone violating even 1!)
Choctaw
Member
Good for you. However, as the OP admitted by starting this post, mistakes do happen and preaching to the choir isn't helpful.
MedWheeler
Member
FL-NC writes:
Nah, I'm sure he didn't.
Nah, I'm sure he didn't.
FROGO207
Member
Well so far I have not had this happen to me. Glad nothing other than a window was a casualty. This could happen to any of us for a variety of reasons so being ever vigilant is the order of the day. I have gotten into the habit of counting rounds when they are shot in the firearm. After making sure ALL the rounds have been ejected I will feel for an empty chamber and then install an empty chamber indicator (piece of heavy orange weed wacker line so the action can't close). The private range I belong to requires an empty chamber indicator to be installed in each firearm on the property that is not actually on the line and being shot when the range is hot. The only exception is your CCW and it should stay in your holster.
Valkman
Member
About 30 yrs ago I went to clean my Bullseye .22, a Ruger MKII bull barrel. I went to take it down and it would not comply so I stupidly pointed it to the left and pulled the trigger. Bang! We shot 5 rounds at a time in BE and I either shot 4 or loaded 6 but one was in the chamber. The round went through a wall and I found the bullet outside in the apartments patio. The sound alone scared the crap out of me and then I waited to see if someone would report but no one did. Bigtime lesson and I've never done anything like it since.
nettlle
Contributing Member
I have been shooting for 54 years now. For those that have never had a negligent discharge my hat is off. Unfortunately I am not one of them.
Old Dog
Member
My only, true ND occurred on the evening of July 3, 1999, when I put a round from the spouse's Walther PPK/S into the bedroom ceiling ... She'd just bought the pistol (Bond fan), she was working nights and wasn't home, and I didn't know she'd loaded the magazine as we hadn't even taken it to the range yet (no excuse, I didn't even check) and I'd had a couple micro-brews ... Was just "trying out the trigger pull" ... Although my German Shepherd Dog was very annoyed with me (his ears probably hurt a lot), the neighborhood kids had already been setting off a lot of firecrackers, so the noise wasn't an issue. I did have to run down to the local Ace Hardware and pick up some lightweight spackle, though. Fortunately no wiring was hit, and I did go up on the roof to ensure the round hadn't penetrated (probably hit a joist).
Rule 1 applied, and I ignored it. Last time ever. Kudos to the OP for admitting he's had one; many folks I know (who carry guns professionally) routinely lie about this subject.
Rule 1 applied, and I ignored it. Last time ever. Kudos to the OP for admitting he's had one; many folks I know (who carry guns professionally) routinely lie about this subject.
Ignition Override
Member
In my gun room I've become very comfortable, but can imagine the routine thinking of getting Too comfortable, trusting my habits will catch a mistake.
All it takes is seeing some guy I haven't seen in a while (at the gun club), while leaving.
There is no fellow crewmember to read a checklist for verification of what is critical, whether with other people or alone.
The type that might scare me the most is that people at Gun Shows act like nothing could be loaded, or go wrong.
All it takes is seeing some guy I haven't seen in a while (at the gun club), while leaving.
There is no fellow crewmember to read a checklist for verification of what is critical, whether with other people or alone.
The type that might scare me the most is that people at Gun Shows act like nothing could be loaded, or go wrong.
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EIB0879
Member
I have been shooting for 53 years and haven't but I had a friend who did when we were in our teens. He blew a good part of his lower left leg off with a 12 ga shotgun..
I remember going with him and his mother to the doctor one time a couple of months after that. They took the bandaging off and his left calf was gone.
I still have that image in my head 46 years later and think of it sometimes when handling firearms. The last time I saw my friend was in our local hospital when I was home several years later. He was a patient on the floor my sister was charge nurse on. He passed word to her and I visited him. He ended up losing the leg. Years later I heard that he had died because of complications because he didn't keep the leg clean.
I remember going with him and his mother to the doctor one time a couple of months after that. They took the bandaging off and his left calf was gone.
I still have that image in my head 46 years later and think of it sometimes when handling firearms. The last time I saw my friend was in our local hospital when I was home several years later. He was a patient on the floor my sister was charge nurse on. He passed word to her and I visited him. He ended up losing the leg. Years later I heard that he had died because of complications because he didn't keep the leg clean.
I've told the story before, but I had a new (to me) M1903 Colt. I was at the indoor range (in the extreme left lane) and had just been looking at the floor and wall and ceiling at the pock marks from bullets, thinking "what kind of idiot does that?"
I racked the slide and had a slam-fire of 7 rounds like a machine pistol (firing pin was stuck forward JUST enough to let the shells feed). I put my own pock marks in the floor and wall about 48" downrange - glad I was paying attention to that. I've never shot another semi-auto the first time without loading ONE round in the magazine the first time I shoot it.
1KPerDay
Member
Yep. I then load two in case it doubles.
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Orion8472
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Thanks guys. No,...not easy to admit. I know many people have experienced on....probably most haven't. I don't know why I didn't do what I normally do with my Henry's [when I pull them out to do things with them]...working the lever several times. As I said, just a "perfect storm"/"Murphy' Law" in action...and it WAS a bit of a "wake up call", though I already know how to handle them. Just spaced on this one.
My Henry's are always kept unloaded since they're only a range rifle, but I guess I didn't know that [about the Henry] that it will hold one even if you dump the rest. Lesson learned #1. Also, it is my bad that I don't have the hammer thumb extension on this rifle. Just recently put the scope on and haven't gotten one. Lesson learned...#2.
Thanks for those who were understanding. May you never hear such a story from me again!
My Henry's are always kept unloaded since they're only a range rifle, but I guess I didn't know that [about the Henry] that it will hold one even if you dump the rest. Lesson learned #1. Also, it is my bad that I don't have the hammer thumb extension on this rifle. Just recently put the scope on and haven't gotten one. Lesson learned...#2.
Thanks for those who were understanding. May you never hear such a story from me again!
Ironicaintit
Member
Sometimes we need a wake up call to realize the seriousness of a thing.
When I was a kid my dad hammered the 4 rules into me, but I'm like, "yeah yeah I know I know, heard this 100 times"
It wasn't until I had a ND that I realized how quickly it all can get real. Nobody hurt thankfully. Since it happened, I've never slipped back into the complacency I used to have.
You bought wisdom and humility for the cost of a door. Not too shabby.
When I was a kid my dad hammered the 4 rules into me, but I'm like, "yeah yeah I know I know, heard this 100 times"
It wasn't until I had a ND that I realized how quickly it all can get real. Nobody hurt thankfully. Since it happened, I've never slipped back into the complacency I used to have.
You bought wisdom and humility for the cost of a door. Not too shabby.
FROGO207
Member
I have probably cursed myself now. But having something in the chamber/action to stop it from going into battery seems the best way to store a firearm if not needing it for SD use. That and keeping your finger off the trigger unless ready to fire will go a long way towards keeping everyone safe. I won't say I have never done something stupid with a firearm but so far no unintended dishharges or shooting something that was not the intended target ---YET.
But having something in the chamber/action to stop it from going into battery seems the best way to store a firearm if not needing it for SD use. That and keeping your finger off the trigger unless ready to fire will go a long way towards keeping everyone safe. I won't say I have never done something stupid with a firearm but so far no unintended dishharges or shooting something that was not the intended target ---YET.
danez71
Member
I consider it a PSA so thanks for bringing it up.
Sure, you didn't realize there was a round still in there but because you did treat it as if it was loaded, nothing was harmed except for that pesky window.
The hammer slipped off your thumb. Personally, I would say this is more of a AD than a ND.
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Orion8472
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Yeah, the Henry,...putting the hammer back down,....with a scope in the way,....isn't a good mix. I have always followed the 4 rules. It's been a practice of mine,...even with pistols that I know I leave unloaded,...if I'm going to get them out and mess with them, I still drop the magazine and cycle it/check chamber.
After it happened, I stood there in disbelief,....obviously shocked,....and with an increasing outflow of fowl language. It was surreal on some level.
Oddly, 22lr didn't leave my ears ringing or did it seemingly affect my hearing. Glad it wasn't a large caliber.
After it happened, I stood there in disbelief,....obviously shocked,....and with an increasing outflow of fowl language. It was surreal on some level.
Oddly, 22lr didn't leave my ears ringing or did it seemingly affect my hearing. Glad it wasn't a large caliber.
Scooter22
Member
"Thanks for those who were understanding. May you never hear such a story from me again!"
Mount a piece of the glass over the fireplace or gun bench as a reminder.
Mount a piece of the glass over the fireplace or gun bench as a reminder.
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Orion8472
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Well, danez,....I guess AD is actually a better qualifier than ND. You're right. I WAS trying to do it safely/correctly, because I don't dry fire my 22lr firearms. I should change the title of this thread!
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Orion8472
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I know this is a bit of an off topic, but are the newer Winchesters in the same boat in this case? I was thinking about getting an 1873, but was wondering how I would handle a "cease fire" call at the gun range and I had just loaded up the tube. :-/
RetiredUSNChief
Member
You know what?
Personal embarrassment is a powerful tool in getting oneself fixed. You lived...nobody was hurt or killed...and you OBVIOUSLY have taken the lesson offered by this experience to heart.
As Jesus himself once said, "Go forth and negligent discharge no more."
Or something like that. I might not have got the words exactly right...
Personal embarrassment is a powerful tool in getting oneself fixed. You lived...nobody was hurt or killed...and you OBVIOUSLY have taken the lesson offered by this experience to heart.
As Jesus himself once said, "Go forth and negligent discharge no more."
Or something like that. I might not have got the words exactly right...
danez71
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