belercous
Member
I have always maintained that there is no such thing as an "accidental" discharge. (in my younger days I would have argued the converse, except that such discharge did not involve a firearm.) Anyhow, a fellow at the range last year said that he has experienced a couple accidental discharges (of firearms, get your mind out of the gutter) not due to human error (cold weather, grease & firing pin and a sear that just let loose.) I still maintain that it as it was known that the firearm was loaded, and as such, there was no "accidental" discharge. Carelessness or negilgence perhaps, but it wasn't an accident.
I've had two unintended disharges (again, of firearms, not of a hormonal nature), both with my Soviet SKS. As I knew the rifle was loaded and it didn't go "Bang" when the trigger was pulled, I kept the muzzle pointed down range and waited 15 seconds. It could have been a hang-fire. Then I tapped the bolt forward. "Bang." No problem, the muzzle was pointed down range.
The second time it happened, well I knew not to tap the bolt forward, so, pointing the muzzle down-range I jacked the bolt back to eject the unfired round. The bolt closed, chambering a fresh round. "Bang."
I learned something. If an SKS does fire not when the trigger is pulled, still wait 15 seconds, but then don't piss with it. Point the muzzle toward the ground and unload the magazine, then jack the round out. In this order.
Those were my only unintended discharges (of a firearm) in over 30 years of gun ownership (my mother had issues with guns so I was a late starter.) Please keep in mind that I still maintain that there is no such thing as an "accidental" discharge. If the gun is loaded, an accidental discharge is rare (a sear letting loose counts as accidental, but where the muzzle is pointed is not an accident) any damage done is not an accident.
Now, I've always been fairly saftey consciuos with guns, espescially so when others are around. I've found rounds chambered in guns handed to me that the owner forgot about as I always check the chamber upon being handed a weapon. Even when the person handing me the gun has just unloaded it.
Well, lemme tell ya, don't trust yourself. I've dry-fired my S&W Model 36 snubbie which I keep next to my computer hundereds of times, just to keep up on my skill. Last night I tilted it up and to the right, released the chamber then tilted it straight up. The cartidges dropped out as they always had. Two problems here. I got complacent. First, I didn't count the rounds that dropped. Second, I didn't double check the cylinder. You can see where this is going.
I leveled off, and using one hand, cocked the pistol. I took aim at a guitar about 7 feet away (I didn't have my glasses on), focused on the toggle switch, and slowly pulled the trigger. I then heard a satisfying click and saw that I was still on target. (hey, this dry-firing ain't for nuthin')
I then re-cocked the pistol and took aim at the same switch on the guitar. Slowly I pulled the trigger. Well, the pick-up selector switch won't bother anyone on this Earth anymore. I liked to jump out of my skin when I heard the Bang, saw the flash, etc. Certain of my bodily products did however seem fit to proclaim their liberation upon this event, and did so in a big hurry.
My ears are still ringing. This was in not an "accidental" disharge. It was a discharge due to Stoopid, or as I prefer to phrase it, due to carelessness or laxity. But on my behalf to be sure.
Now pardon me for saying this, but "carelessness or laxity," while not accidental, is however, stupid. Distracted also counts as stupid. A little matter of personal responsiblity here. Guns ain't nothing to be lax or casual around. The weird thing is, the projectile was never found (Hornaday .38 SPCL 125 gr XTP). It only went thru about 1/2" of wood, 3/16" of plastic pickgaurd and 1/4 of the metal selector switch. No mark could be found on the wall behind the guitar (although the projectile exited) and I cannot find the copper jacket or whatever was inside it. It wasn't in the guitar or on the floor. Weird.
Why I'm telling the world about my stupidity is not intelligible, nor to my benefit. However, it happened to me. Someone I would have never thought could happen to. Now, I shoot about 4,000 rounds a year, pistol & rifle.
When I was an A&P (aircraft mechanic) I've had many pilots tell me that there are two kinds of pilots. Those that have landed with the gear-up, and those that will. I thought that was b.s. as I always used the checklist when I flew. But then again I quit flying after I got lost once. But still, their point applies here; Do something long enough and your rote actions or laxity could bite you.
The gist of this post is, don't get complacent; you are not above making a mistake.
I've had two unintended disharges (again, of firearms, not of a hormonal nature), both with my Soviet SKS. As I knew the rifle was loaded and it didn't go "Bang" when the trigger was pulled, I kept the muzzle pointed down range and waited 15 seconds. It could have been a hang-fire. Then I tapped the bolt forward. "Bang." No problem, the muzzle was pointed down range.
The second time it happened, well I knew not to tap the bolt forward, so, pointing the muzzle down-range I jacked the bolt back to eject the unfired round. The bolt closed, chambering a fresh round. "Bang."
I learned something. If an SKS does fire not when the trigger is pulled, still wait 15 seconds, but then don't piss with it. Point the muzzle toward the ground and unload the magazine, then jack the round out. In this order.
Those were my only unintended discharges (of a firearm) in over 30 years of gun ownership (my mother had issues with guns so I was a late starter.) Please keep in mind that I still maintain that there is no such thing as an "accidental" discharge. If the gun is loaded, an accidental discharge is rare (a sear letting loose counts as accidental, but where the muzzle is pointed is not an accident) any damage done is not an accident.
Now, I've always been fairly saftey consciuos with guns, espescially so when others are around. I've found rounds chambered in guns handed to me that the owner forgot about as I always check the chamber upon being handed a weapon. Even when the person handing me the gun has just unloaded it.
Well, lemme tell ya, don't trust yourself. I've dry-fired my S&W Model 36 snubbie which I keep next to my computer hundereds of times, just to keep up on my skill. Last night I tilted it up and to the right, released the chamber then tilted it straight up. The cartidges dropped out as they always had. Two problems here. I got complacent. First, I didn't count the rounds that dropped. Second, I didn't double check the cylinder. You can see where this is going.
I leveled off, and using one hand, cocked the pistol. I took aim at a guitar about 7 feet away (I didn't have my glasses on), focused on the toggle switch, and slowly pulled the trigger. I then heard a satisfying click and saw that I was still on target. (hey, this dry-firing ain't for nuthin')
I then re-cocked the pistol and took aim at the same switch on the guitar. Slowly I pulled the trigger. Well, the pick-up selector switch won't bother anyone on this Earth anymore. I liked to jump out of my skin when I heard the Bang, saw the flash, etc. Certain of my bodily products did however seem fit to proclaim their liberation upon this event, and did so in a big hurry.
My ears are still ringing. This was in not an "accidental" disharge. It was a discharge due to Stoopid, or as I prefer to phrase it, due to carelessness or laxity. But on my behalf to be sure.
Now pardon me for saying this, but "carelessness or laxity," while not accidental, is however, stupid. Distracted also counts as stupid. A little matter of personal responsiblity here. Guns ain't nothing to be lax or casual around. The weird thing is, the projectile was never found (Hornaday .38 SPCL 125 gr XTP). It only went thru about 1/2" of wood, 3/16" of plastic pickgaurd and 1/4 of the metal selector switch. No mark could be found on the wall behind the guitar (although the projectile exited) and I cannot find the copper jacket or whatever was inside it. It wasn't in the guitar or on the floor. Weird.
Why I'm telling the world about my stupidity is not intelligible, nor to my benefit. However, it happened to me. Someone I would have never thought could happen to. Now, I shoot about 4,000 rounds a year, pistol & rifle.
When I was an A&P (aircraft mechanic) I've had many pilots tell me that there are two kinds of pilots. Those that have landed with the gear-up, and those that will. I thought that was b.s. as I always used the checklist when I flew. But then again I quit flying after I got lost once. But still, their point applies here; Do something long enough and your rote actions or laxity could bite you.
The gist of this post is, don't get complacent; you are not above making a mistake.
