Possible for Slide to Cause AD?

[brockgl]

I don't make a habit of man handling loaded firearms in my house. I always keep a loaded one on my person in a holster, but the others are in my safe. However, last night I was loading my Sig P229 prior to putting it into the safe (I keep all my guns that are locked in my safe loaded and chambered) when I had a FTF. I reload, and I was loading a cartridge into the gun that I had never tried before with this gun just to make sure it chambered okay. They are Semi-Wad cutter lead bullets set to the exact same depth as the hollowpoints I normally shoot. When I released the slide the gun jammed. I had to remove the mag, and pull back the slide to remove the jammed cartridge. This was the first and only time I have ever had my Sig jam, so a side question would be (has anyone ever had a problem loading a Sig with lead SWC's?), but my main question is this:

Is it possible that a bullet could misfire if there is a failure to feed while the slide is slamming forward? I have always been afraid of this in the house while loading an autoloader, but have never researched the chances of it happening... Anyone have any ideas?

 

[The Bushmaster]

If you have a very worn or broken part...I guess it could happen, but it would be the fault of the sear, disconnect or booger hook not outside the trigger guard.

I've been charging my autos in the house for years and have not sent a round through the floor yet (operative word being "YET"). Just make sure it is pointed in a safe direction and rack away...

 

[wally]

Probably the most common ND when chambering a round is from having the finger on the trigger and reflexively tightening the grip when the slide slams home thereby pulling the trigger.

If your booger hook is off the bang switch, chambering a round will not fire unless the gun is seriously broken in which case it will often empty the mag ful uncontrolled auto.

Visually check that the firing pin is not protruding when you pull the slide back and verify the hammer doesn't follow the slide when chambering a dummy round or snap cap and I wouldn't worry about the gun, concentrate on the operator.

--wally.

 

[sqlbullet]

I believe the OP's question is not regarding AD/ND while chambering a round, but AD/ND while FAILING to chamber a round. As in the round get's hung up (FTF) and some surface of the gun (not the firing pin) impacts the primer with enough force to cause ignition.

I tend to be an absolutist. So the answer is yes, it is possible. Usually, though, when people ask if something is possible, they mean "Is the probability statistically significant enough that I should worry?". I would say definitely not. I have studying pistol shooting to one degree or another for 25 years. I have never heard or read about such an event.

I did read in a respectable publication (I take several and don't recall which) about a round sitting on the shooting bench being set off by an ejected case falling on the primer just so. Describe my normal bench set up perfectly...open ammo box to the left on the bench while I shoot. I now make it a point to close the ammo box.

The same rules apply. Keep the weapon pointed only at things you are willing to destroy, and wear appropriate protection when handling a firearm.

 

[Tribal]

I'd think the risk for a centerfire round is negligible, but a rimfire round might stand a chance of getting a fluke strike. That's not a risk with the OP's gun, but something like a P22 or a Buckmark might run the risk.

Then again, I've never heard of a rimfire pistol or rifle having this happen.

 

[CountGlockula]

Wad cutters, stay away from them.

 

[rcmodel]

The only ones I ever heard of were caused by some nimrod manually dropping a loose round into the ejection port and dropping the slide on it.
In that case, the round is not being controlled by the mag feed lips, and something pointy, like the extractor hook hit the primer.

Anyway, an unchambered round going off would not be the end of the world.
Unless it is in a chamber to support the case, the bullet would not go anywhere.

There would basically be no pressure to speak of, and the case would pop and release it.

Might make you soil your drawers, but the chance of injury would be pretty slim as the slide would retain, redirect, or otherwise keep the fireworks pointed away from you.

rcmodel

 

[wally]

If an un-chambered round goes off from a jam or while clearing (both very rare, but I've heard of them happening), the risk from the bullet is minimal as its unlikely to even leave the bore as the unsupported case ruptures and hot gasses blow out the ejection port and mag well. As long as your hand is not covering the ejection port, the main risk would be debris to the eyes.

--wally.

 

[Scratchshooter40]

Last month at the range where I am a member a retired police officer lost the end of a finger due to weapon malfunction. He was with a group and the most knowledgeable there and a safe shooter. ONE mistake is all it takes. A member of his group had brought an old .380 and wanted him to check it out, he loaded a mag and inserted it in the well and hit the slide stop to release. Didn't check the firing pin which was frozen in the protruding position. Rock and roll time per the range master. He didn't have a great grip on the weapon and in trying to stop the slide got his finger in front of the loud hole, lost the end of the finger. Moral, check every function, every time when dealing with a strange weapon, especially, check all of them for safety every time. Shoot safe and have a great weekend!