Accidental discharge 1911.....Help...Killed the stuffed bear on the bed.

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First (and I pray only) ND

Thanks to all of you on the High Road. My hands are steady now. First ND this afternoon (1911). Got lazy/forgetful after cleaning and lubing my pistol. Nice hole in the basement wall and yes it was very loud. Ears aren't ringing any more. Thanked God many times. I didn't keep the full magazine in the other room and I absentmindedly inserted the mag and racked the slide. Next thing-- BOOM! God does look after idiots.
Thanks for my confession. A lesson learned that I hope to never forget (or repeat).
 
At least we know that the .45acp is adequate for defense against bear of the stuffed variety.

In all seriousness though I'm glad nobody got hurt. I'm sure you'll be much more careful in the future.
 
Lots of good answers here. Here is how I handle a 1911.

  • I carry it cocked and locked. When I draw the weapon, or perform routine handling, I get a good grip on the handle, lock my finger into that spot where the trigger guard meets the frame and push my thumb UP into the underside of the safety lever.
  • If I'm pointing the gun at something, anything, that I haven't decided to shoot, my finger is outside the trigger guard and my thumb is pushed UP against the bottom of the safety.
  • If I ever have to hold someone at gunpoint, or move with the gun out in a public place or at a match, I hold the gun with my finger out of the trigger guard and my thumb pushed up against the bottom of the safety.

If I need to or choose to fire the weapon, I push the safety down and put my finger on the trigger. There is plenty of time to do that while bringing the gun on target. If I were to hold someone at gun point, I can take off the safety and put my finger on the trigger in about the same time it would take me to just put my finger on the trigger. I gain a considerable amount of safety and confidence in handling the weapon, and loose virtually NOTHING in terms of speed. Try it yourself at the range and see if it works for you.
 
awfulkanawful
my finger and thumb slipped !

Im beginning to think maybe cocked and locked would actually be much safer as lowering the hammer on a chambered round just may be asking for trouble at some point even if its been done millions of times ?
Glad you did not have your thumb ripped open or off.

Your experience should illustrate why many chose not to carry a 1911 in condition two; as it requires the lowering of the hammer on a live round. Sometimes we make mistakes or our nerves do not function in a optimal manner . . . oops!

I have been carrying a 1911 in condition one for the last thirty years. No negligent discharges . . . . . yet (knock on wood). That is pretty close to 100,000 hours of carry and tens of thousands of round of practice. Safe enough?
 
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I shoot 1911's in competition in 9mm, 40 S&W and 45ACP but I would never carry one for self defense. For that I want a pistol wthout any external hammers or safeties.
 
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