Avoided a disaster at the range this weekend

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Newtosavage

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Spent some time at my usual small-town range Saturday with a young shooter, teaching them proper safety and shooting skill. There was an older gentleman already there when we pulled up. I've seen him there several times. Friendly man. He was shooting a .223 rifle and switched to what appeared to be an older Russian semi-auto handgun of some kind, shooting a .380-sized round (didn't ask).

He had a bit of trouble getting around and his hearing wasn't so great, but nothing you don't often see at a gun range really. I noticed he was struggling quite a bit with his little handgun, and he had moved to the bench right beside me and my young charge, to fire at the 25-yard target. After some rough handling (I was keeping a lazer lock on the muzzle of that handgun, to be sure he didn't point it in our direction) he finally got it loaded and pointed downrange. He touched off a few shots, remarking on it's accuracy, and then I heard a little "pop" and could tell the round was a dud.

I figured he knew that too, but when he ejected that round I noticed only the brass was ejected (again, I was watching this guy like a hawk because of his fumbling around). When he cycled the action, he put a live round in the chamber. He started to aim the next round and that's when I yelled "STOP". He looked at me, took off an earmuff and asked "what?" I said "that bullet is stuck in the barrel!" He looked confused, dropped the mag and ejected the live round, then looked in the end of his barrel. Sure enough, the bullet was still in there. He must have had a round that didn't have powder - only the primer. Regardless, he was "that" close to touching off a live round with a bullet stuck in the barrel, and that gun looked as if it was WWII vintage.

I have no idea what would have happened, but I'm very grateful I heard that dud and caught him in time.

Please be safe out there folks. Not just with your weapons, but those around you.
 
GREAT SAVE, that was a mighty good thing you did there.

Be very proud of yourself for watching AND saying what needed said.

GOODONYAMATE.
 
I had my first squib this weekend as well. However I was halfway expecting it as it was a minimum load of Hp38 with a light crimp. Bullet jumped into the throat and gas farted out the cylinder gap.

I was a little amused but the other shooters were horrified! They stepped back and I had the range to myself.

HB
 
Thanks. Frankly it was pretty scary when I thought about what might have just happened to one of us. All of us were within 6 feet of each other at that point. He was so embarrassed afterward but I assured him it could have happened to any of us.

Damn thing is this guy earned a purple heart in Vietnam. The idea that something would happen to him at a gun range on his own time at his age... unthinkable. I feel so grateful that I was able to catch that at that moment. Said a little prayer and thanked God.
 
Seen quite a few wrecked bbls due to squibs not detected.
On a public range it's easy to not hear your shot (due to all the other boomers).
But one should feel the diff, and stop and check.........lack of cycle in autos is a good clue.
Maybe all the noise distracts them? I dunno.

DA revolvers, that's where it's easier to miss the dud............speed stuff, you are indexed to the next in DA without a stoppage (if it gets past the forcing cone).

The fun ones are the guys that double charge stuff or use wrong powder...........where chunks o' metal go flying.
 
Newtosavage

Good job in handling what could have been a disastrous situation. Like having eyes in the back of your head, you aware of a potentially dangerous mishap and prevented it. Well done!
 
Newtosavage, great instinct and courage to make it happen. It's always been my experience that "range guys" always help each other out, regardless if they know each other, and this is no exception.
 
Milt1 said:
Newtosavage, great instinct and courage to make it happen. It's always been my experience that "range guys" always help each other out, regardless if they know each other, and this is no exception.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I'm not sure if that was courage or just self-preservation though! :D
 
BobWright said:
There is a sign at my range "Every shooter is a safety officer."

Bob Wright
Click to expand...
Absolutely. Every day, every time. Range safety was drilled into me by my uncles when I was a kid, then again by every FI I had for my LEO career. It's just second nature now.
 
Good job. Seems I always end up as RO and gunsmith on the line. I've knocked a squib or two out for others before-then when I had one this summer (some one else's reloads), I forgot my range rod....:oops:
 
Newtosavage, Shared years of firearms experience when he observed the pending danger. Had a novice shooter been present the elderly gentleman would have lost a favorite handgun.
When you share your knowledge it is difficult to put a price on it. Maybe just saying thanks is enough.:)
 
entropy said:
Good job. Seems I always end up as RO and gunsmith on the line. I've knocked a squib or two out for others before-then when I had one this summer (some one else's reloads), I forgot my range rod....:oops:
Click to expand...
This gentleman did as well. That's when I showed him the radio antenna trick. ;)

Some experience is well, just earned through forgetfulness and stupidity. ha, ha.
 
I've been looked at funny, but when ever I see or hear a round that clearly wasn't right, I (and make others) stop, unload, show clear, and run a chamber flag down the barrel to ensure it's not obstructed. While I haven't caught a lodged bullet yet, I'd rather be safe(r) than sorry.
 
Good working that guys gun. As for what would have happened, with a small cartridge probably only a ruined barrel but you never know. I saw pictures of a .38 Special revolver with 6 bullets stuck in the barrel and only the barrel had to be replaced. Still, you never know. Good catch.
 
Yes, because the gas will vent safely out the cylinder gap. Autos don't have that luxury. I did have a CZ-82 that had a ringed barrel, probably from a stuck bullet. It had it when I bought it. (had a friend with an 03FFL.) Shot just fine despite that, but I wouldn't have wanted to be the guy it happened to.
 
I was with someone who just got a PA-63, and the 40lb da/16lb sa trigger (yes, for real) had been cut to a reasonable 9lbs da/6lb sa. Fired the first round, stuck in the barrel. There was about 1/2 grain of powder in the case. Factory loaded 9mak
 
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