Sand Bucket for ND's

[esquare]

If you are loading or cycling a semiauto, if it becomes damaged, when the slide drops, it can cause a ND. I was taught that with any semiauto, when cycling the gun you MUST point it in a SAFE direction because of this. In many homes, offices, apartments, there AREN'T any safe directions except for a bullet trap.

Also, how do you practice dry firing without a safe backstop? A wall, even an exterior one doesn't cut it for me, and a concrete slab doesn't either (ricochet). I don't have a bucket of sand at home, but I do have a safe backstop for the above mentioned activities.

 

[X-Rap]

Call me a rebel but when I clear my pistol or revolver and put the ammo/loaded mag in another room I am fairly content to shoot the guts out of my TV. I am also lucky enough to have a clear field outside behind my TV.
Dryfire is an important part of maintaining shooting skills, I agree with the loading unloading idea and think I may get a bucket and put in my bedroom closet when I load and clear my carry gun.

 

[lonegunman]

A bucket of sand will stop almost anything you can carry and it makes a great fire fighting device. When the neighbors and occasional visitor asks why you have a bucket of sand just tell them.

a. When they steps are icy it is environmentally better than de-icer.
b. It puts out fires and is far more ozone friendly than halon.
c. Your grandpa got it for you in Normandy during the war.


If you live in an apartment building or crowded neighborhood they may not be any safe directions.

 

[Marshall]

Hey, if it takes a bucket of sand to remind someone "hey maybe I should make sure the gun is unloaded", then maybe they need it.

You would think considering pulling the trigger would make that brain connection. But if it's a bucket of sand, so be it, I guess.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I have something similar to this by my gun safe. A welder friend of mine made it but it's the same general idea, has baffles inside and is made of proper material.

Many police departments have them around their buildings. Could probably find one used somewhere. New I think they are pretty expensive.

 

[mcdonl]

I have a use for it... when I am loading a new load I do not always make a magazine full of dummy rounds, to check and make sure the OAL will cycle properly in any given gun. I also do not always have the time or desire to go to the range to do this... so having the ability to have a safe bullet stop in my den where I do my reloading is very helpful...

It would be a lot easier to just not have a round in the gun.... and make triple sure.

Well, this works if you do not keep a gun for SD... I have a loaded gun in the house right now. If I choose to clean it, well... I will have to go through the process of clearing it.

 

[hso]

I'm just curious if anyone has tested it: Would a 5 gallon bucket full of sand be sufficient to stop a bullet at close range? In .45? 9mm? How 'bout .357?

Yes to all of the above.

As pointed out not everyone lives where they can point a weapon where a negligent discharge won't be guaranteed of not hitting something valuable so a sand bucket or bullet trap of more compact design is a very smart accessory.

 

[mcdonl]

I have something similar to this by my gun safe. A welder friend of mine made it but it's the same general idea, has baffles inside and is made of proper material.

I would love to see the baffle design.

 

[Packman]

Wow, this thread took off!

Personally, I think a bucket of sand is a good idea, and really cheap insurance. I live in an apartment. The only "safe" spot, should a round accidentally go off, is a 2 foot concrete beam on my porch. I always aim there if I'm going to pull the trigger.

Knowing that a sand bucket is capable of stopping everything I would have occasion to pull a trigger on inside, I think I'm going to get one. Why not? I can think of good reasons to have one, but I can't think of just one single reason not to have one around!

 

[mcdonl]

I can think of good reasons to have one, but I can't think of just one single reason not to have one around!

Sorry to wonder... it has never happened to my sandbox, but it has happened to my dry media in the process of sorting out a .45/9mm mess that took me a couple of days...

What is "it" I a referring to?

Well, lets just say my cat was involved and I got to purchase some new media.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Yes the Gun shop I worked at in College used a 6 inch steel pipe 6 foot long with a heavy Metal Box 30x45x30 with a screw in fill hole for Sand.

 

[S. Hill]

Yes, I think that anyone who has a ND should be required to carry a bucket of sand wherever they go!

 

[ActionJax]

Cooper's 1st rule is that all guns are always loaded.

I never quite understood this one.... If all guns are always loaded, you could NEVER dry-fire (the gun is loaded), nor should you bother to check to see if the gun is loaded (it is as stated).

You could never go to a range that requires guns to be unloaded (it can't be), nor could you "Unload and show clear" at a shooting match (the gun is always loaded).

I think what they really mean is to handle all guns AS IF they were loaded until you verify that they are not. Even afterwards, they still should be handled with respect (do not spin around your finger on the trigger like an old cowboy...).

Perhaps I'm being too literalist, but I like the Wisconsin DNR wording (one of the few things I like about the DNR!) :


Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. Never assume a firearm is unloaded and never treat it that way, even if you watch as it is unloaded. Make it a habit to treat guns like they are loaded all the time.

 

[stevelyn]

The military or at least the Army when I was in had a clearing barrel full of sand at every range and every building that had an arms room or critical facility where weapons had to be unloaded and cleared.

Yes sand stops 5.56 rounds.

 

[Owen Sparks]

If you use the bucket of sand be sure to put a towel over it so that if you do accidentaly fire it will not blow sand back into your face and eyes.

 

[wally]

If one is too absentminded to remember to check the chamber, what makes them think they will remember to point it at the sand??

Bingo! About sums it up.

 

[dcdub]

A big bucket of sand on the floor next to your safe would serve as an excellent visual reminder for those who are too absentminded to remember to check the chamber if nothing else.

Simply put, you can never, ever be too safe. THAT sums it up

 

[El Mariachi]

Glad I caught this thread----just gave me one more reason to buy a beach house....

 

[clutch]

Well if you are the type that needs a bucket of sand, you better wear ear muffs also. A ND inside the house is really hard on your hearing.

Clutch

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I currently don't have one and aim my guns down at the outside deck to load/unload. But I will be building a gun room/reloading center in my garage when it gets built at the new house. I will also have a sand bucket in it, as I am a firm believer in it's safety properties.

 

[SSN Vet]

Well, lets just say my cat was involved and I got to purchase some new media.

Now that's a good excuse for new brass too, as all that amonia is sure to embrittle your cases

 

[ny32182]

My first "click" during a dryfire session is aimed at a steep angle into the slab under my house. If I lived in an apartment I would have a sand bucket or something similar.

 

[CZguy]

The military or at least the Army when I was in had a clearing barrel full of sand at every range and every building that had an arms room or critical facility where weapons had to be unloaded and cleared.

We had the same type barrel in the Air Force. Every so ofter you would hear a neglect discharge.

A system that has worked for me for decades is to look at the empty chamber and also stick my finger into it. We used the same type of system inspecting Aircraft, where you are looking at the same thing over and over again. If you use two senses, visual and sensory, you are much less likely to make a mistake.

 

[ny32182]

Ymmv I guess but I don't make a habit of sticking my fingers into locked open autoloading actions: 1) I guess I have fat fingers; I wouldn't be able to feel anything in there even if I wanted to, and 2) If the action decides to let go right then, your finger will not be working correctly for a quite a while.

 

[MtnCreek]

Well if you are the type that needs a bucket of sand, you better wear ear muffs also. A ND inside the house is really hard on your hearing.

Clutch

Depending on the house, it may not be as loud as you think (carpet w/ thick padding, suspended ceiling….).