Duke of Doubt
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Brian41, what type of pistol was that?
Accidental Discharge Experience
- Thread starter ThrottleJockey
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Polar Express
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I had an AD once. I'm not proud of it, I'm actually quite ashamed. If telling my story can help someone else avoid it, then good can come of it. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, and no damage was done. And, it made one heck of an impression in me. Here's what happened:
My dad (absolutely great with firearm safety, one of the best I have ever seen) and I were cleaning multiple handguns and inventorying the ammo supply for each. (a common event in our home) I think we were getting ready to go for a shoot or something. I was young, I think I was about 8 or 10 so, and we were talking about how different guns feel, different designs, different methods to check chambers of different mfgrs, etc. And I picked up a gun that looked so similar to one I had just been handling, (I had checked the first one) and went to point in a safe direction, to dry fire, and 'BANG!' It was obviously (then) not the gun I had just been handling. It was one of only 2 guns my father kept loaded in the entire house, both kept in his room (the other was a 12 ga.), both for quick access in case of a home-defense need.
In my case I was lucky. It was loaded such the first shot to fire (revolver) was a 'snake shot' round, with the magnums to follow. And, I was pointing it at a window, that was covered by one of those lovely late 70's heavy roll down wood and cloth shades. No damage done at all. Man, it scared the waddin' out of me.
My dad was quite surprised, (as was I) did not get upset, and was able to quickly recognize that was a mistake, a lucky outcome, and an event that would likely make a lifelong impression on me. It did.
To this day, EVERY time I pick up a firearm, even if nobody else is around, and I just set it down, I check it again the FIRST thing when I pick it up. It was an easy mistake to make, given the similarities in the firearms involved, but ultimately, the responsibility lied with me.
There are many rules about safety and firearms. I have taught several people to shoot, (my father has taught many) and the first 3 rules we discuss before any guns get touched are:
1) always treat every gun as if it is loaded
1) never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot
1) when you pick up a firearm, the first thing you do is to confirm it is not loaded, and still treat it like it is.
Notice how they are all labeled #1
- that's not an accident.
For those of us that have had an AD, I think its safe to say that is one of those events in life that is burned into our memory, and certainly underscores the importance of the safety rules.
Best wishes, and be safe.
My dad (absolutely great with firearm safety, one of the best I have ever seen) and I were cleaning multiple handguns and inventorying the ammo supply for each. (a common event in our home) I think we were getting ready to go for a shoot or something. I was young, I think I was about 8 or 10 so, and we were talking about how different guns feel, different designs, different methods to check chambers of different mfgrs, etc. And I picked up a gun that looked so similar to one I had just been handling, (I had checked the first one) and went to point in a safe direction, to dry fire, and 'BANG!' It was obviously (then) not the gun I had just been handling. It was one of only 2 guns my father kept loaded in the entire house, both kept in his room (the other was a 12 ga.), both for quick access in case of a home-defense need.
In my case I was lucky. It was loaded such the first shot to fire (revolver) was a 'snake shot' round, with the magnums to follow. And, I was pointing it at a window, that was covered by one of those lovely late 70's heavy roll down wood and cloth shades. No damage done at all. Man, it scared the waddin' out of me.
My dad was quite surprised, (as was I) did not get upset, and was able to quickly recognize that was a mistake, a lucky outcome, and an event that would likely make a lifelong impression on me. It did. To this day, EVERY time I pick up a firearm, even if nobody else is around, and I just set it down, I check it again the FIRST thing when I pick it up. It was an easy mistake to make, given the similarities in the firearms involved, but ultimately, the responsibility lied with me.
There are many rules about safety and firearms. I have taught several people to shoot, (my father has taught many) and the first 3 rules we discuss before any guns get touched are:
1) always treat every gun as if it is loaded
1) never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot
1) when you pick up a firearm, the first thing you do is to confirm it is not loaded, and still treat it like it is.
Notice how they are all labeled #1
- that's not an accident.For those of us that have had an AD, I think its safe to say that is one of those events in life that is burned into our memory, and certainly underscores the importance of the safety rules.
Best wishes, and be safe.
Duke of Doubt
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Regen, because the revolver will not fire spontaneously if one of several internal parts fails. Most autoloading pistols are subject to that risk when a round is in the chamber and the spring is set. The risk in most cases is very small, but for certain designs is statistically significant.
More significantly, the double-action trigger pull on a revolver is far heavier than on an autoloader, making accidental pulls less likely, and a DAO revolver has no hammer which can become snagged, cocking it. That can happen with any exposed hammer pistol or revolver.
More significantly, the double-action trigger pull on a revolver is far heavier than on an autoloader, making accidental pulls less likely, and a DAO revolver has no hammer which can become snagged, cocking it. That can happen with any exposed hammer pistol or revolver.
expvideo
Member
I've needed a gun before. Usually when you need a gun, you need a gun NOW. But to each his own; I'm not going to tell you how to carry.
Welcome to 2009. You are wrong. I don't mean that in an offensive way, but nearly all modern pistols (if not all) have a bar through the firing pin that locks it in place unless there is pressure on the trigger. The bar is released by pressing on the trigger, and then the firing pin can be moved by either releasing it (striker fired) or by hitting it with the hammer. Much like the safety on modern revolvers. Basically, unless you're using some ring of fire cheap piece of junk (Jennings, Jiminez, Bryco, etc), a striker fired pistol is not a ticking time bomb, because even if there was a problem and the striker was released, it wouldn't go anywhere because of the internal safety. And for the record, "Most autoloading pistols" aren't striker fired.
Duke of Doubt
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Many internal parts failures may result in a discharge. The risk is not unique to striker-fired pistols. I admit the risk is small. Insignificant, in fact, for most pistols.
Rezin
Member
A very good friend and I had that discussion often. He swore he'd be "fast enough" when the time came. We went to the range one day, and I suggested a way to test his theory. We stood side by side and sent our targets downrange.
We decided that I'd play the bad guy, and he'd have to react to my gun.
I told him I was "threatening him with a gun" when I say GUN.
So when I say GUN, he sees the "bad guy's" gun it and needs to react. (we were shooting at the targets downrange, not at each other.... just thought I clarify for some in this crowd, lol)
He swore he could defend against it using the famed "Israeli draw" that he practiced often.
I said GUN, and we both drew. I put 4 well aimed rounds in my target before he fired one........... How fast can you fire off 3-4 rounds once on target?
He carries in the pipe now.
CAPTAIN MIKE
Member
Learn from this Mistake
Like others here - I too had a ND - years ago. We all need to review the fundamentals and keep them in mind when we pick up a firearm. Since my ND, I have double-checked and sometimes triple-checked, just to be sure it never happens again.
Learn from your mistakes. If no one was hurt, count your blessing and renew your personal internal pledge to never let it happen again. Then move on with a renewed respect for safe practices.
Like others here - I too had a ND - years ago. We all need to review the fundamentals and keep them in mind when we pick up a firearm. Since my ND, I have double-checked and sometimes triple-checked, just to be sure it never happens again.
Learn from your mistakes. If no one was hurt, count your blessing and renew your personal internal pledge to never let it happen again. Then move on with a renewed respect for safe practices.
whitefeather
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Drill it into yourself.....
It's loaded. It's loaded until you make safe.
Every time you pick up a gun. It's loaded until you make safe.
Every time I handle a firearm, this is my mindset. Even ones I *know* are not loaded/chambered.
It's loaded. It's loaded until you make safe.
Every time you pick up a gun. It's loaded until you make safe.
Every time I handle a firearm, this is my mindset. Even ones I *know* are not loaded/chambered.
DHJenkins
Member
For a second, I thought this was a medical question...
ThrottleJockey
member
DHJenkins, ROFLMAO!
shiftyer1
Member
It was an accident AND noone got hurt. I try to make it a practice to always check weapons twice, i'm not perfect at it but I think with making myself think of this everytime that it will become second nature someday. I hope I never pull the trigger without knowing it's empty, but it could happen. I would bet everything thing I have that you won't make this mistake again. I keep all my loaded weapons without one in the chamber. My reason for this is because I have kids in the house and it makes me feel a little safer. Buttons to push to operate the slide may discourage kids and I think the extra second it will take to put a round in the chamber is worth it. Although I feel diffently about guns in the safe.
When I was a kid, my dad kept a loaded pistol under his bed. Except I didnt know it was loaded. Being a kid I was curious and pulled it out one time. Luckily for me, my dad had at least taught me to always point a gun in a safe direction. Not knowing it was loaded, I pointed it at the ground and squeezed the trigger. I should have known better, it was stupid. Luckily nothing happened other than a bump under the carpet. I am embarrassed to admit this, but I was a teenager when that happened, and had even taken a gun safety course. I tell that story just to say that I think it is important to say you can never be too careful. I was educated, and still did something dumb. When I carried a glock .40 cal for a brief time, I felt most comfortable NOT having a round in the chamber. My buddy who is a gunsmith told me this was no way to carry. For me personally, I am a person who is a bit obsessive compulsive, and it was the only way I could carry, and simultaneously feel comfortable that there was no way possible an accidental discharge could occur. My line of thought was this: What is more likely to happen, an accidental discharge, or someone sneaking up on me so quick and so forcefully that I dont have the one second available to pull the slide back and load the shell? Living in a town of 100,000 where the annual average murder rate is probably 2-3 people, I didnt feel like I needed to have one chambered. If I was nearing a situation I felt uncomfortable in (as I realtor I often go in low rent abandoned houses) I could chamber a round before I went into the situation. I get a little frustrated with people who talk down to people like me who err on the side of caution for our own piece of mind. As for the argument that my family is at risk by not having a round chambered, I mainly only carried when I was by myself and in situations I wanted the piece of mind of a firearm. When my boy turned old enough to open drawers, pull levers, and push buttons, the glock ended up in the safe anyways, and stopped carrying. Everyone has the right to make the choice they feel most comfortable with, and everyone has to make a choice based on what is the MOST safe option for them and their family. No matter whether you carry, dont carry, own a firearm or hate em, life is full of risk, and we all must be responsible and decide in our own heart which risks are worth taking.
Oh and one other thing, I never forgot the accidental discharge, and the embarrassment from it. I hope I never do. The worst thing that could happen for me is to be responsible for the injury of another person. In that regards, the AD was probably a blessing in disguise. I am really glad this forum is occurring, it is a GREAT reminder for all of us. Thanks for manning up to your mistake and giving us a good reminder.
jackdanson
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Thank God everyone was OK. The only way I keep "one in the chamber" is if the firearm is on me... the moment it is out of my immediate control it is unloaded and the chamber cleared, and the firearm locked in the safe. Despite naysayers I like a manual safety too (beretta), it's an extra security layer and I've shot with it forever so switching it off is second nature. Glocks scare me... XD's less so b/c the grip safety, but I still traded my XD for a px4 for this specific reason.
rainbowbob
Member
Not much difference at all when you put it that way. Neither go bang sponteaneaously. Either will fire immediatley when the trigger is pulled (assuming the semi has one in the pipe and the safety off).
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GregGry
Member
Why does it matter how easy you can check if its loaded or not? Any time you have guns that you treat as unloaded your setting yourself up for a ND. Its not like clearing a semi takes 2 minutes. Its so easy and quick it doesn't make sense to me how people don't do it every time.
Last time I checked semiautos don't require you to pull the trigger before stripping the mag and racking the slide inorder to eject a round.
Last time I checked semiautos don't require you to pull the trigger before stripping the mag and racking the slide inorder to eject a round.
busdriver72
Member
I was a kid...not even 13 yet. I was at a buddy's house in his garage. He was showing me his Dad's .22 lever action. We had it pointed toward the garage door which was closed. I never dreamed it would have been loaded.
I, being a little goof, pulled the trigger. I heard the 'bang' and I cringed. I'll never forget the way we looked at each other. The shock in his face. We looked at the garage door. In the darkened garage we could see a tiny hole with light coming in from the outside. We went outside. His parents were not home, but one of their cars was parked in the drive. We looked and looked....no damage to the car. The bullet must have broken up after it hit the garage door. We filled in the hole and painted the spot.
That one incident taught a young, dumb kid a hard lesson. From that time on, there was no such thing as an unloaded gun.
I am amazed though at the number of grown men that exercise no common sense safety at all. A member of our church lost her brother. He had a rifle behind his pickup seat. It was loaded, had one in the chamber, and the safety was not on. He reached in to get it. The barrel was pointing at his chest. He pulled it by the barrel toward him. Yep, the trigger snagged on something and it went off. So, so, sooooo preventable. So sad.
This brings to mind something an elderly gentleman in church used to say quite often "Ya know.....grown folks oughta know better."
My wife often says that as long as there are men, insurance companies will always have a reason for existence.
I, being a little goof, pulled the trigger. I heard the 'bang' and I cringed. I'll never forget the way we looked at each other. The shock in his face. We looked at the garage door. In the darkened garage we could see a tiny hole with light coming in from the outside. We went outside. His parents were not home, but one of their cars was parked in the drive. We looked and looked....no damage to the car. The bullet must have broken up after it hit the garage door. We filled in the hole and painted the spot.
That one incident taught a young, dumb kid a hard lesson. From that time on, there was no such thing as an unloaded gun.
I am amazed though at the number of grown men that exercise no common sense safety at all. A member of our church lost her brother. He had a rifle behind his pickup seat. It was loaded, had one in the chamber, and the safety was not on. He reached in to get it. The barrel was pointing at his chest. He pulled it by the barrel toward him. Yep, the trigger snagged on something and it went off. So, so, sooooo preventable. So sad.
This brings to mind something an elderly gentleman in church used to say quite often "Ya know.....grown folks oughta know better."
My wife often says that as long as there are men, insurance companies will always have a reason for existence.
drgrenthum
Member
i had a unintentional discharge the week before last and at first decided not to post it but perhaps it will help.
I had an xd40 thar i slapped a mag in and put back in its case. I got to range with a friend who just got a new kahr in 9mm. I put me gear down and was learning about his new gun and i mentioned that he should oil it. Even though he told me no, i got the bright idea i should oil mine. So i pill the slide back and put the slide lock on. I then hear me fried cussing as he could not get the Kahr to chamber a round i go help him for a minute and i come back to my gun with the slide locked back. I pick it up turn the disassembly lever release the slide and pull the trigger so that the slide will continue on forward. What i got was a Bang into the ground 10 feet in front of the table. RSO comes over and starts yelling at me about firing into the ground. I calmly try to expalin to him what happened as i am trying to figure out myself what what happened.
I was shaken for a few minutes but then realized that it happens (though it shouldnt) I am just glad i always practice good muzzle discipline. I will also now recheck the condition of the weapon anytime i leave it and come back and not assume i left it safe.
I had an xd40 thar i slapped a mag in and put back in its case. I got to range with a friend who just got a new kahr in 9mm. I put me gear down and was learning about his new gun and i mentioned that he should oil it. Even though he told me no, i got the bright idea i should oil mine. So i pill the slide back and put the slide lock on. I then hear me fried cussing as he could not get the Kahr to chamber a round i go help him for a minute and i come back to my gun with the slide locked back. I pick it up turn the disassembly lever release the slide and pull the trigger so that the slide will continue on forward. What i got was a Bang into the ground 10 feet in front of the table. RSO comes over and starts yelling at me about firing into the ground. I calmly try to expalin to him what happened as i am trying to figure out myself what what happened.
I was shaken for a few minutes but then realized that it happens (though it shouldnt) I am just glad i always practice good muzzle discipline. I will also now recheck the condition of the weapon anytime i leave it and come back and not assume i left it safe.
busdriver72
Member
At least you had it pointed in a safe direction. Accidents happen, and having a gun pointed in a safe direction helps with damage control.
logjam
Member
I came home from sighting in my Weatherby XXII. Sat in my chair in front of the TV. Picked up the rifle...."bam" a hole in the ceiling.
My wife was at the grocery store.
It's funny how much smell one round fired in a living room can make. I opened all of the doors windows, turned on a fan. I walked outside, looked at the roof. Yep, a nickle sized hole. I got the ladder, a spare shingle, went up there and glued in the patch. Put the ladder way, closed the doors and windows. Put Fix All on the little hole in the ceiling.
Was back in my chair when my wife came home.
I got away with it.
But, I'll never, ever do that again!
My wife was at the grocery store.
It's funny how much smell one round fired in a living room can make. I opened all of the doors windows, turned on a fan. I walked outside, looked at the roof. Yep, a nickle sized hole. I got the ladder, a spare shingle, went up there and glued in the patch. Put the ladder way, closed the doors and windows. Put Fix All on the little hole in the ceiling.
Was back in my chair when my wife came home.
I got away with it.
But, I'll never, ever do that again!
Duke of Doubt
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I'm glad to see the responses here. Of all gun safety practices, I consider muzzle discipline most important. And it's so easy! Even at the gun stores, I'm extremely careful where even obviously unloaded, opened-up guns point. This is based on longstanding habit and training, and a few "incidents" not involving discharge.
The plain fact is that accidents happen, parts fail, bizarre coincidences come together, and while guns don't just "go off", they do sometimes discharge without clearly obvious cause, and often discharge accidentally. Where they happen to be pointed at the time suddenly becomes the most important question in your life. Know the answer!
The plain fact is that accidents happen, parts fail, bizarre coincidences come together, and while guns don't just "go off", they do sometimes discharge without clearly obvious cause, and often discharge accidentally. Where they happen to be pointed at the time suddenly becomes the most important question in your life. Know the answer!
mljdeckard
Member
You cannot assume that you will have both hands free to chamber a round when you need to draw. Your other hand may be disabled from a wound, on the steering wheel, held by an attacker, or pushing back an attacker.
If you ever have to use your defensive handgun, it's because a whole lot of things have gone wrong all at once. You can't possibly assume that this thing will go RIGHT. You must know how to draw, fire, reload, and clear a stoppage with both hands, or EITHER hand alone.
If you ever have to use your defensive handgun, it's because a whole lot of things have gone wrong all at once. You can't possibly assume that this thing will go RIGHT. You must know how to draw, fire, reload, and clear a stoppage with both hands, or EITHER hand alone.
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