Avoided a disaster at the range this weekend

[Deaf Smith]

Yes good job. And folks, never ever be afraid to yell, "STOP", when you see something is not right.

Apologies are cheap, AD/ND/accidents are not!

Deaf

 

[jlpskydive]

As I was taught in the Army, anyone of any rank can call a ceasefire on the range at anytime for any safety reason. Good on you for doing so.

 

[Jim K]

Unfortunately, unless you are an official range officer, a common response to such concerns is often "MYODB", usually from some teen ager or yuppie who thinks he knows everything about guns. It is true that a stuck bullet in a handgun will normally cause no damage except to the gun, but it is never a bad idea to be aware of what is going on around you that could result in a serious problem for you or others.

Jim

 

[edmo01]

I've had two squib rounds in my many years of shooting. One was in a S&W 357 Magnum revolver and the other in a Colt 1911 Government Model.

Both times the gun went "click" instead of "bang". I expected a complete unfired dud round with a dented primer to come out. Instead both were brass only along with a sprinkling of unburnt powder. The primers had generated enough gas to push the bullets into the bore, yet the powder didn't light.

I've been an avid handloader for 32+ years with many, many safe rounds and both were my personal handloads... I say that because you are not immune - It can happen to us all.

If I had pulled the trigger again on the revolver or completed the tap-rack-shoot routine in my 1911, things could have gone bad.

Edmo

 

[Waveski]

Good work ,OP.
Btw , I carry a section of aluminum cleaning rod in my range bag for clearing squib rounds. Handy , simple device. Needed it twice in the last 4 years. It happens.

 

[WYO]

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.

I tend to pack up and move or leave at that point, especially when I have someone with me who needs a part of my laser lock attention. I have gotten the MYOB treatment before with these types when I have said something, so I don't bother anymore.

 

[Newtosavage]

I was getting very close to that point, and it would have been a good lesson for my student - to do just that - pack up and move when someone is making you uncomfortable. But it happened pretty quick, and he did get things together and was firing normally just before the incident. So I had gone back at that point to turn my attention to my shooter. It was the sound of the squib that caught my attention, and I looked up just in time to see him eject the empty brass.

 

[Hardtarget]

Great Save! I'll add, he was lucky that YOU were there...and paying attention! You save his gun, his hand, his sight ...possibly all the above...because you were observant and quick. Attaboy!

Mark

 

[tuj]

good save. so many people don't pay attention to the fundamentals and essentials when they are shooting.

 

[Newtosavage]

This experience really made me appreciate the quality ammo and handguns that I trained with (and around) for all LEO years. We were lucky. When I think about all the rounds of hangun ammo I've been around in the past 20 years... Tens of thousands of rounds... and I can't ever recall a major malfunction that wasn't easily cleared, or that resulted in a real accident.

That old handgun and cheap surplus ammo was an accident in the making, for sure.

 

[straightshooterjake]

Newtosavage, congratulations on doing a good job at the range. You showed excellent situational awareness, and it really paid off.

Your story reminds me of two important safety points. First, everyone at the range should know about squibs, misfires, and hangfires. These issues are discussed in beginner classes, but I am still surprised how many shooters are not familiar with them.

And second, no one should be near the firing line without eye protection. I am a range safety officer, and I spend a fair bit of time telling people to keep their glasses on. But when there is a little more time, I sometimes tell a little story. I say "If you forgot your glasses, I'll bet you've never seen a gun blow up." Invariably, they do not know what I am talking about, so I tell them about the two times I have seen it. One of those times was caused by an overcharged factory load. So the can't claim these issues are always due to user error. My hope is that the story makes safety gear more memorable.

 

[SC Shooter]

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.

As a reloader, I have on occasion experienced firing a squib. However, this is not something that most shooters even think about when buying commercial ammo. Had you not stopped him, it would have really messed up his day.

 

[bersaguy]

Good job, that could have turned ugly, or at the very least turned a fun day at the range into a bad experience. I've had one squib ever... from a handload. I learned three things that day:
-Never shoot someone else's reloads
-Always stop and make sure the weapon
is clear if anything sounds/feels abnormal
-Always carry some type of rod and hammer
in my range bag
Now I keep a peice of hardwood dowel and a little brass hammer in my bag
If I'm taking someone shooting, I'll give them my factory loads and shoot my reloads myself
As far as the MYOB types, I've run into them, and when I do, that's my que to pack it in for the day.
Good job...stay safe out there