Negligent Discharge: A Sobering Reminder

[Devonai]

I should start of by saying that nobody was injured. My pride stings, though.

I was alone at the public range this morning working with my H&R 12 gauge. It had been giving me ejection problems with aluminum-based shells, so far the only kind I'd tried since I bought it. This morning I came prepared with two different brands of ammo, both with brass bases.

My first order of business was to see how some 3" buckshot would pattern. Well, it patterned great, with all fifteen pellets striking a 12" area at fifteen yards. But two rounds of that was enough to convince me to move on. I switched to some Winchester #7 1/2 shot. I was thrilled to discover that there were no ejection problems with it.

However, on the ninth round... I loaded the shell, cocked the hammer, and BOOM! I put the shot right into the ground two feet in front of me.

At first I thought the hammer hadn't caught the sear, but as I replayed my actions in my mind the only possible cause was my finger being on the trigger. Since I thought that my four cardinal firearms safety rules were firmly in place, this served as a stark reminder of what happens when you get sloppy.

I am very embarassed, so chide me if you want to add to that. I'm just glad that neither myself or anyone else got hurt.

 

[Greg L]

Given the regular stories around here about something similar the old saying that you've either had one or you are going to seems to apply.

You can usually violate one of the rules without catastrophic results. When you get to two or more that the results get ugly. You violated the trigger rule but were ok on the safe direction. Certainly not a "no harm, no foul" but not a life changing event either. More of a not so gentle reminder that the tools we practice with can bite you hard if you don't pay attention to them.

Greg

 

[foghornl]

As the thread title says...A sobering reminder of exactly how quickly things can go face first into the speed bump.

Always better that pride and ego take the damage rather than flesh.

 

[El Tejon]

And people think I make too big a deal about The Four Rules.

RULE #3=THE GOLDEN RULE

Glad you are O.K. Now go and tell others that education is life.

 

[uglymofo]

What are the 'four rules' of safe gun handling?

I don't think I've seen them listed, but I've seen it referred to in several posts, that there are the "Four Rules".

1. Every gun is a loaded gun
2. 180 rule (aka 'safe direction')
3. Finger on the trigger only when you are on your target

The only thing I can think of for a fourth rule is "confirm your target" but that seems too elementary to be included, like, for the brain-dead--a rule for those who should never hold a gun; I'd put this one between #2 and #3 as I've listed them.

 

[foghornl]

I don't have them right here in front of me, but 4 Rules are something like this:

1. EVERY gun is loaded.

2. NEVER cover anything with the muzzle that you are not willing to destroy.

3. Keep your finger away from the trigger untill ready to fire.

4. Know your target and what is around/behind it.

 

[stevelyn]

Had one of those this week myself except my muzzle control was lacking and I NDd a round on something I did not wish to destroy. Namely the rear window of a friend's pickup.
You see I built a 1 1/2 bore Idaho howitzer....potato gun. Problems arose from unknowingly flooding the firing chamber with too much ether. This caused the gun not to fire on the first several tries and the resulting frustration I was feeling at drying out the chamber and attempting to refire, I disregarded my muzzle control while still hitting the striker.
Suddenly THOOMP-WHAP instant mashed potatoes, while pointing at the corner of the rear window from 3 feet away. Fortunately there was no damage or injury. The only indication the window was hit was the wet, starchy, smear where the potato impacted and small chunks of potato on the cab, hood, windshield, and bed.
Anyways, we eventually managed to get the ether ratio correct for reliable firing.
Ether........er either way I should have been as careful with the potato gun malfunction I as any other gun and remembered my muzzle control.

 

[El Tejon]

My weapon is loaded, yes it is.
These weapons are Kirk's and so are his.

I'll never point it at nothing at all;
except my target or a dirt wall.

When I handle my weapon, the finger is straight,
NOT on the trigger, I don't miscommunicate.

You may shoot and be remiss.
I.D. your target and in back in case you miss.

These rules you will ALWAYS obey.
If you do not, you will have an additional hole one day!

 

[Atticus]

Yo Et dat be phat.

 

[Atticus]

oops

 

[Bigjake]

You idiot!! do you know how serious that is?? you are too dumb to own guns! send me your picture so when i see you at the range i can recognise you and leave..... / self righteous THR member voice from another ND thread...

 

[Futo Inu]

Yikes

I hereby chide you.

PS. How do you know it wasn't failure to fully cock?

 

[Devonai]

It's possible the hammer didn't catch the sear, and flew right back down onto the pin as soon as I let go. Either way the cause is operator error, since I tested the sear over and over again after this happened and it appears to work fine.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Devonai, here is your punishment:

Good to see you're okay but remember this: the deadliest part of the gun is not the bullet (just a fancy lump of lead with a copper coating). It's the action of pulling the trigger.

 

[New_comer]

2. NEVER cover anything with the muzzle that you are not willing to destroy.

There's a reason why this was placed second, not third. In my book , you're still ok


Don't sweat it. Happens to the best of us...


Just DON"T do it again, ya hear?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I put the shot right into the ground two feet in front of me.

Whew! I'm glad neither you nor anyone else was injured.

 

[Navy joe]

Mine:
-AD Browning HP went full auto. Oopsie.
-ND practicing retarded IDPA reloads, brought the fresh mag to the gun, went to release old mag with closest available button, which happened to be the trigger. Cause was me thinking about a non-standard reload instead of doing what comes natural which is to remove trigger finger from trigger to actuate mag release. That there is a lefty only ND.

Both went downrange by design. Learn and move on.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Consider yourself chided.

Now go away, or I will taunt you a second time!

 

[4v50 Gary]

A couple of weeks ago I was at the LE range shooting my S & W 45 acp revolver. While in the process of reloading my clips, I glanced to the side and saw there was somebody downrange. No one had said anything to advise me that someone was going downrange and a deputy was down there changing targets. I was embarassed that I was handling a firearm on the line while someone was downrange. I was also perturbed by the deputy's nonchalant approach towards the range.

 

[aerod1]

I am not the one to point fingers. You are obviously punishing yourself.

Jim Hall

 

[Ironbarr]

4 rules? Check my sig

There because I need reminding - my rote is slower these days.

-Andy

 

[AZTOY]

Want about.....................
RULE #5

WonderNine


I have a new 5th rule. DO NOT TOUCH FIREARMS WHILE INTOXICATED.

I think this should be add to the list!!