Falling with a gun

[Tim the student]

I've fallen quite a bit carrying rifles for Uncle Sugar. It happens. Trigger discipline and muzzle awareness are key. Another key is letting yourself fall, and not trying to fight it too hard - worse stuff can happen when you try to reach out and grab something etc etc.

 

[joshk-k]

I was hunting in ORegon's Coast Range in the fall of 2009. I was descending into a steep ravine, carrying a .30-30 lever action with two hands. There was around chambered and the safety was on. The ground cover were 2'-3' high ferns that obscured the actual terrain. I misstepped and fell head over heels tumbling down the hillside. I went maybe ten feet or so before some vegetation stopped me. It was a big wake-up call for me: When I am out in the woods by myself, I need to be sure of every step I take. I was glad that the gun didn't discharge (or get banged up, for that matter).

Josh

 

[Ala Dan]

Just recently I fell approximately 3 feet to a wooden floor at work, from a
ladder while retrieving an empty long gun box. I landed directly on my right
hip pocket, where my KEL-TEC P3AT .380 was stored. Needless to say, I was
more worried a'bout damaging the weapon; than hurting myself. As it turned
out, we both survived the fall too live another day. The P3AT still functions
as good as new~!

 

[Ringer]

Just for the record, the banana survived and was consumed upon arriving at work.

 

[VT Deer Hunter]

WOW that was a close one but its good that your muscles remember to stay off the trigger.

 

[Kim]

My most favorite Chemistry teacher in college (very tall guy) was out hunting with a shotgun and had another professor with him. He tripped fell and shot himself in the upper chest area and died. It was horrible.

 

[Mags]

Here is a story in which a SWAT team member falls during a raid and kills someone.

http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1307685&srvc=home&position=active

 

[jkittle99]

Glad I'm not the only one who's had this experience. A few weeks ago I slipped on some nasty ice, coming right down on my holstered firearm. Left a nice bruise, but the little plastic LCP survived Luckily I wasn't in midst of a 'situation' with weapon in hand. Brings up a good point about basic safety procedures we learn early on (hopefully!). I wouldn't have done anything differently (except maybe choosing not to go near the ice..)

 

[M91/30]

An unfortunate event glad there was no firearm related accident, Bet youll remember this and forever use trigger discipline. But can you imagine if someone had a video or picture of you tangled up in a chair holding a glock and a flash light? Im still convinced though that lawn chairs are actually a device used to catch people in the dark, ive seen many people wrapped up like you were and even more who had a late night trip over one.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Anyone who has hunted in foul weather (mud, snow, ice, rain, etc) or hunted for a long period of time has stumbled or taken a fall.

Trigger disciplne saves lives.

 

[ants]

Glad you're not hurt, d-bogey.

So I sneak out my back door, flashlight in one hand and Glock in the other hand...

I am curious what the flashlight was for?

 

[leadcounsel]

Great job with finger discipline.

I too had a funny Chevy Chase moment in mind!

Need some work on perimeter defense and home defense training. If you can so easily be tackled and taken out of commission by a lawn chair, how would you have been able to resist a real assailant!?

The other lesson here is situational awareness. By going outside you expose yourself in a fatal funnel. Someone setting up an ambush, or even observing your 'react to contact' drills, sees you're an easy target. And what happens when you are subdued in your backyard? Now your whole family is at risk...

Reconsider your tactics.

 

[double bogey]

Need some work on perimeter defense and home defense training. If you can so easily be tackled and taken out of commission by a lawn chair, how would you have been able to resist a real assailant!?



I was thinking about this while laying on the ground trying to figure out if anything was broke. I also knew it was a lawn chair immediatly, but still couldn't do anything about it and rode it down.

 

[sm]

I am in the camp of changing your user name, to Chevy Chase.

*all-in-good-fun-of-course*

 

[double bogey]

For some critical of my tactics, remember I had my dog outside, and he had been there 10 mins or so. He's not a guard dog, but he is a Brittany. He has better night vision, smells better, and hears far better than me. I was pretty sure no one was in my yard, the way he runs the whole yard, It would suprise me if anyone could hide from him.

In any event, I am glad I can laugh about it now, and provide a little comic relief for all here. I am definately looking at my tactics. Thanks for all of the encouraging words all.

 

[ShroomFish]

was hunting with my granddad in Va one time with a Winchester 25 12GA.. Tripped bit the dust, fingers were not near the trigger thought

 

[DammitBoy]

Step one: Leave the outdoor floods on

Step two: Don't get out of the boat

 

[Owen Sparks]

I took my Mom to the local orthopedic specialist for a rotator cuff problem a while back and there was a guy in the waiting room in a wheel chair. We were talking to pass the time and he said that he was deer hunting with his
.30-06 and chasing a wounded buck. it somehow got snaged in brush by the trigger guard and it yanked it out of his hand. It discharged shooting him in the back bend of the leg and blew his knee OFF. At the time he still did not know if he was going to be able to keep his leg.

 

[NMGonzo]

Yep, I learned a long time ago that when you stay in the foxhole you live. When you get aggressive and get out of the foxhole you can get shot.

I am going to let them come to the bedroom door.

I have 2 .380's by the bedside so If I shoot I will be able to hear again.

 

[rfwobbly]

Mr Bogey -
I feel for you, brother. Falls after 50 yo are no fun, and the bumps and scars on shins take forever to heal. Your going to carry a small reminder for about a year.

All the best.

 

[pbearperry]

Pretty much most of us including myself have done something we wish we did different.I am glad you survived this and learned something from it.Flood the backyard with light before exiting or maybe stay inside where it's safe.I have nothing in my back yard worth getting hurt bad or killed over.

 

[gym]

Stuff happens, I have fallen, running after the mailman etc. It is more embarrasing than nanything else. All the times I fell I was armed. No time did I feel that I had a "close call". I hurt myself and that was more the object of my anger. Bad back equals occasional trip down memory lane, or Avenue. I did make sure that the weapons didn't suffer any damage or problems afterwards. I advise a thouough check after an incident dropping or falling on a weapon. Sometimes even a little fall can dislodge something. Hope you are ok.