Any ND with a revolver

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I'm only aware of one accidental (not negligent) discharge of a modern double-action revolver. It is hard to believe, but a heavy DA revolver can actually recoil so hard that the shooter unintentionally doubles it. I believe there is video of this event.

I've also heard the story of a fatality aboard a WWII naval vessel when an S&W 'victory' revolver discharged after being dropped to the deck. This precipitated the design of an improved safety system for these guns.
 
My uncle had an ND about 40 years ago and shot himself in the leg. But I don't know of anyone that has data for those types of things. Perhaps you could get the CDC to sponsor a grant to research? Just tell them it's to protect the children and I'm sure they'd pony up some money.
 
I'm only aware of one accidental (not negligent) discharge of a modern double-action revolver. It is hard to believe, but a heavy DA revolver can actually recoil so hard that the shooter unintentionally doubles it. I believe there is video of this event.
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He didn't ask about ADs.
He asked about NDs.
It seems as if you know the difference...so why muddy the waters intentionally?:banghead:
 
If memory serves there was a recent thread on a ND at Academy with a guy carrying a revolver. I tried to search and can't find it. I'll see if I can find a link.
 
I'm trying to help folks choose the safest handgun.
I'm mostly a revolver guy, just can't believe the number of Nds with semiautos, so this is sort of revolver/semi ND comparison.

Should have noted that older "pre" hammer safety revolvers will not be recommended. :D
 
I am aware of a number of instances where someone cocked an "unloaded" revolver and pulled the trigger... :uhoh:

I would say that was negligent, and I could use a few additional terms. :banghead:

However, a discharge caused by a mechanical failure in a revolver that hasn't been tampered with is very rare.
 
i have tried to find something along these lines in the past. the problem is, when trying to find something with easily verifiable credibility (such as police reports, data gathered on court cases etc) they group all handguns as one. a mechanically related AD is rare in and of itself. NDs (everything outside of mechanical failure) are from user error, and little to no training, and no mind to safety. the way to find the best revolver to carry, is to know how to safely handle and holster one.
 
I've seen (personally) several and read about more when I was in LE...unfortunately when that data is collected, it is all lumped together with other action types.

1. The most common are folks who cock a revolver to SA and decide they don't want/need to fire the shot. Then they decide to decock it and lose control of the hammer. The numbers would be even higher, except some folks have the peace of mind to call LE to de-cock it for them...yes, we used to get this regularly
2. The next most common are folks who reholster with their finger on the trigger
3. Then there are the people who walk around with their finger on the trigger and trip
4. An interesting one is folks who pull the trigger because they think the gun is loaded
5. The saddest are the ones who drop their revolvers and try to catch it
 
Removed.

I was going to post an article from NC from August but I don't know if it was ever confirmed to be a revolver.
 
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About 20 years ago, I shot and killed a wicker chair with a Rossi .38 revolver.

I was sitting in the living room, watching TV, and playing with the pistol.

I cocked it, and then the hammer slipped off my thumb as I decocked it.

Fortunately for me the hardwood in the wicker chair slowed the bullet enough that it only went through one wall and stopped in a closet.

I learned a serious lesson that day.

I am very fortunate indeed that all I killed was a chair. Playing with loaded guns isn't something I do any more.
 
As Old Fuff said it doesnt matter semi auto or revolver, someone can forget a gun is loaded and dry fire. I'm sure it happens with revolvers too, most people just wouldnt admit it.
 
Add another "tried to decock but the hammer slipped" to the pile. I witnessed one such incident at a local indoor shooting range. Everybody stopped and stared as a new hole was added to the ceiling. :uhoh:

content said:
I'm trying to help folks choose the safest handgun.
I'm mostly a revolver guy, just can't believe the number of Nds with semiautos, so this is sort of revolver/semi ND comparison.
Click to expand...

As we all should know by now, safety is ultimately between our ears, but where that seemingly fails the most frequently is knowing the loaded/unloaded state of the firearm. Obviously semiautos with their separate magazines and chambers are a bit more complex in this respect--not so much that even a rank beginner couldn't fully operate one, but enough so that even more experienced shooters stand a greater chance of committing NDs. This is compounded by the unfortunate propensity of many to decock their hammerless semiauto handguns by pulling the trigger when they don't even need to, which can develop into a habit (if you're going to develop habits--and we all eventually do--develop only the safe ones). Controversially, many such incidents could be prevented by magazine disconnects; of course, there are tradeoffs involved, but then again there are various tradeoffs to be considered between semiautos and revolvers, too.
 
Here's an initial report of a local one from last week: http://newportplaintalk.com/story/41144 . I'd personally be surprised if she were not guilty of murder, but I won't be surprised if this ends up on the books as an ND/AD. It's not as bad as it used to be, but this is still Cocke County TN :uhoh:.

The wife has since been arrested on unrelated warrants.
 
Isn't this why NYPD and others mandated that their revolvers be Double Action Only? In an attempt to prevent such occurrences and subsequent lawsuits.
 
Most modern revolvers will not fire in single action mode unless the trigger is held back, otherwise the hammer block or hammer transfer bar will not be in the appropriate position to allow the hammer/ firing pin to strike the primer. To decock a cocked revolver one must control the hammer as the trigger is pulled and then the trigger is released as the hammer is lowered. Don't practice this with a loaded firearm! This is also the appropriate method to lower the hammer on rifles with exposed hammers such as Winchester or Marlin type lever action rifles.

Be safe and double check that your firearm is empty before manipulating it as the hammer can very easily get away from you!
 
I seem to remember a story about a TSA agent checking to see if a revolver was empty by pulling the trigger toward a wall. If that doesn't count as an ND, I am not sure what is.
 
Using a DAO revolver reduces the likelihood of an AD, and I would think an ND as well. But people do stupid and careless things with guns so there is no way to totally ensure that a ND will not occur.
 
Most people don't understand the difference between a ND and AD. Virtually all of the ND's described on the internet are AD's. A true ND is extremely rare with any type of gun and the shooter almost always ends up in jail.

For it to rise to the level of negligence the shooter has to know he is doing something dangerous and still do it anyway. That type of thing is going to be just as common with any type of gun.
 
I really don't understand the miss belief that revolvers are safer. The only difference between a revolver and double action/striker fired pistols is a revolving cylinder on one of them. Striker fired guns have the same long trigger pull and no external safety and double action pistols have a long first pull. If anything, the double action with decocker is safer as there is less chance of the thumb slip when changing from single to double action as mentioned above in a few posts.

The reason you hear about more ND's with pistols than revolvers is because there are more pistols than revolvers in general use. This is also why there are more car accidents involving Toyota's or Nissan's than there are involving 57 Chevy's or Ford model A's.
 
In my youth, I dropped a loaded S&W 686 revolver while moving it from a holster to a safe. I was not yet schooled in how to handle dropped guns and knives, and I attempted to catch it as it fell.

<BLAM!>

Fortunately, nobody was hurt. I dang sure haven't made that mistake again.
 
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