Caught myself doing something unsafe again.

[Drail]

In every gun shop I worked at (or in my own shop) Rule NO. 1 was always - there will be NO live ammo in the shop at any time. Anywhere in the shop. Ever. It's just too easy for someone to grab what they "think" is a snap cap to check a function and shoot someone. It has happened many more times than you would think. If tools and guns in are the same room - unload it BEFORE you even enter the work area. There are a number of handguns in fairly common use that have linkage parts for the trigger on the outside of the frame. (Beretta for one) Just bumping it with a screwdriver or punch in a specific place can release the sear. If the gun is loaded it will fire.

 

[Krogen]

Similar to working on a loaded gun: photos of loaded guns. People offering guns for sale or posting photos in various forums often show the guns or magazines loaded. It "seems" unsafe. Quite possibly they're arranging the gun for photos, neglecting safety and concentrating on photography. It's likely they're covering themselves with the muzzle. For me, a loaded gun needs my full concentrated attention or needs to be stowed safely. Photographs of loaded guns just reek of sloppy, amateurish gun handling.

 

[Romeo 33 Delta]

Drail ... my reloading/workshop rules is that NO LIVE AMMO IN ANY FIREARM!

I have dummys for all the calibers I load, with all the different bullets I currently use. They are what I use for checking function (or setting up a die if I've changed it).

Now I don't see how I could have an accident if I'm being careful with live ammo ... but it takes only once and it's just not worth the risk.

 

[balderclev]

+1 to a lot of these posts.

Always check a weapon when it is in my hands regardless if it is mine or someone else's.

Tubular mags are notorious. Take out the rod and empty, put rod back in, close the action, BETTER open and make sure you see the lead on the rod spring and no chambered round! You cannot depend on the spring in a tubular magazine to always clear the magazine.

 

[Flopsweat]

It's usually the unloaded gun that negligently discharges.

This is exactly what I tell my students. I also tell them the next time they read about one of these instances, count how many rules were broken. It's almost always more than one, or it wouldn't have made the news. Often it's all of them.

 

[xxjumbojimboxx]

Kind of.

I'm almost kind of shocked at the level of which poeple wont admit theyve made mistakes... I understand. Firearms are amazingly dangerous, and should be treated as such, but the original poster asked, in different words, who else has made a stupid mistake? I find it hard to believe that were all boy scouts in here... I know I'm not. I ABSOLUTLY make sure to follow one rule. And that is to make sure the barrel of any gun is always pointed in a safe direction. Ive never had any AD's either... I think if you ALWAYS follow that specific rule, as well as locking up idle firearms... the rest is just , well, boy scout-ish...

Oh jeez, im probably going to get some flak for this one.