I intentionally avoided using either the words 'accidental' or 'negligent' in an attempt to prevent this thread from getting bogged down in that particular quagmire of an argument. ALSO because I'm interested not just in operator error but also parts breakage etc. If you look at the poll you will see that the range of responses encompasses ALL types of unintentional discharges, not just operator error.
How did your Unintentional Discharge happen?
- Thread starter JohnKSa
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dgax65
Member
I am new to this forum and this is one of the first threads that I read. I always considered myself to be safe with firearms, but I can now see that I may have dodged a bullet (pun intended) or two. It just goes to show that you can always learn from mistakes.....better those of others than your own.
carbuncle
Member
Mine was with a Ruger .45 LC single action while I was shooting at a pit site. cocked the hammer again while the barrel was still tilted up a bit from the recoil of the first shot and my fingertip tagged the trigger and sent a round into a stand of Douglas Firs on top of the berm. No excuses: this was sloppy, negligent shooting technique and entirely my own fault.
ohioshooter
Member
It didn't happen to me but happend to my brother-in-law when shooting my 500 S&W. He got so excited that he turned around to tell me that the gun was awesome while still having his finger on the trigger. Glad that he at least had the gun pointing somewhat down range. He shot into the ceiling of an indoor range.
Niel4
Member
I have not had one yet...only been shooting 1 yr. A lot discussed here to be carefull of.
I am surprised that so many have "Pulled trigger on purpose (thought gun was unloaded)"
I think WeThePeople summed it up well: "In my mind, a chamber is NEVER clear. Even if I just checked it, it is loaded".
I guess the old adage "treat every gun as if it is loaded" may well save your life or someone elses.
I am surprised that so many have "Pulled trigger on purpose (thought gun was unloaded)"
I think WeThePeople summed it up well: "In my mind, a chamber is NEVER clear. Even if I just checked it, it is loaded".
I guess the old adage "treat every gun as if it is loaded" may well save your life or someone elses.
I was deer hunting with a Marlin 336 with a scope mounted and the hammer spur extension installed. I saw a deer and cocked the hammer. The deer turned out to be a doe, and not legal. I lowered the rifle, put my thumb on the hammer, pulled the trigger, and boom. For some reason, the hammer just slipped out from under my thumb. Cold, buck fever, something.
At least it was pointed at the ground a few feet in front of me, and no harm done.
At least it was pointed at the ground a few feet in front of me, and no harm done.
2nd 41
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Slam Fire. A 22LR did not entirely enter the chamber. I pulled the slide back and released it to chamber the round causing an accidental/unintentional discharge. Pistol was pointing down range. The round hit the ground about 20 feet in front of me. Startled me. But no harm done.........(there were shooters on each side of me).
Erik M
Member
Ruger Single Six. Cleaning it and it went off in my hand when I checked the action. To much lube on the trigger when I let the hammer down. It was pointed down range at the backstop so no harm done, other than a sharp increase in blood pressure.
bwsmith2850
Member
I had an AR that fired extra times per trigger pull after sighting in. After a good cleaning the problem went away. Just crud I guess.
longbeard48
Member
Not exactly an AD, but I used to shoot .22 silhouette with a 14" Contender. For some reason I decided to use my 10" barrel one day. Shooting Creedmoor position, I pulled that 10" gun a little too far back and creased myself in the leg. Missed the pig, too. I traded that barrel off at the next gun show.
Texas Gun Person
Member
I have not had one yet, but I was in the same room with a buddy who had one. Cleaning a 30-06 (not sure what make) he pulled the trigger and it seems the gun was still loaded. Bullet went through the wall into the bathroom, through the toilet, and out the wall of the house. Not sure where it ended up.
I've had some double-taps at the range, but here's my story of an AD I witnessed.
I was at a MC shop in Chula Vista. I had become friends with the owner. He kept some guns in the shop, a sweet little MAC8 with a DeSantis rig and a Gold Cup. He's showing me the GC, explaining about the 1911 safeties and that you can't fire it if the slide is pushed back. He had dropped the mag & cleared it. He had the slide back and had put the mag in, let the slide go, then is showing how it won't fire by pushing the slide. Let it go FWD and (here's where the voice in my head says "He forgot its loaded") BANG.
He did have it at a 45degree angle on the counter, pointed up. The place was an old butcher shop with concrete ceiling.
Swore me to silence under penalty of death. Sorry Steve
I was at a MC shop in Chula Vista. I had become friends with the owner. He kept some guns in the shop, a sweet little MAC8 with a DeSantis rig and a Gold Cup. He's showing me the GC, explaining about the 1911 safeties and that you can't fire it if the slide is pushed back. He had dropped the mag & cleared it. He had the slide back and had put the mag in, let the slide go, then is showing how it won't fire by pushing the slide. Let it go FWD and (here's where the voice in my head says "He forgot its loaded") BANG.
He did have it at a 45degree angle on the counter, pointed up. The place was an old butcher shop with concrete ceiling.
Swore me to silence under penalty of death. Sorry Steve
BHP FAN
Member
Dreaded SKS slam fire. Still love those,but I'm a lot more carefull around them.
nwilliams
Member
Most people will have on in their lifetime, no matter how safety conscious you think you are.
I was at an outdoor range with my Dad several years back. I had his .22 rifle pointed up and downrange. Dummy me with finger on the trigger. :banghead
His rifle's trigger is lighter than mine. With ear protection and the caliber, I barely even noticed the weapon had fired. Score +1 for muzzle discipline. Score -1 for finger discipline. I still get physically anxious
remembering it, and my finger is NEVER on the trigger until it's time to hit the target.
Safety belongs in the department of redundancy department.
His rifle's trigger is lighter than mine. With ear protection and the caliber, I barely even noticed the weapon had fired. Score +1 for muzzle discipline. Score -1 for finger discipline. I still get physically anxious
remembering it, and my finger is NEVER on the trigger until it's time to hit the target. Safety belongs in the department of redundancy department.
HuntAndFish
Member
If we are calling trigger doubles at the range an AD, then I've had that happen several times with several different guns over the 35 years I've been shooting. AFAIK they were all my fault due to faulty trigger technique. All happened with the gun pointed downrange.
I think these are being under counted in your poll.
I think these are being under counted in your poll.
DarkswordDX
Member
My first ever striker fired pistol. I didn't know they relied on the magazine spring pressure for positive ejection.
Dropped mag.
Racked slide (nothing came out).
Dry fired, pointed straight up. BANG!! New fanblade and patched ceiling later...
Developed a habit of checking all chambers by feel before dry firing anything.
Dropped mag.
Racked slide (nothing came out).
Dry fired, pointed straight up. BANG!! New fanblade and patched ceiling later...
Developed a habit of checking all chambers by feel before dry firing anything.
Geezer59
Member
Had two negligent discharges in my early life. The first, at age eleven, occurred when I snuck Mom's .25acp out of the bedroom and took it out to the playhouse. I proceeded to eject the round out of the chamber, then remove the magazine, and thinking the gun was empty pointed it at the floor and pulled the trigger. The resulting BANG!! was quite a surprise to me - thankfully I'd learned to keep the muzzle in a safe direction. Since that time I've been extremely conscientious about dropping the mag first, then ejecting the live round from the chamber. 
At thirteen, I was shooting in an indoor range with a rented K-Frame .38 Special. I'd watched too many westerns on TV, and was emulating the "hold gun muzzle-up, then extend arm to aim at the bad guy" technique. Unfortunately for the range light fixture, the revolver had a very nice single-action trigger pull and I'd not left my finger off the bang switch.
They were very understanding back at the sales counter when I admitted my boo-boo. Looking back at the (pockmarked) ceiling of my lane later on, I realized I wasn't their first customer to have a stray shot.
At thirteen, I was shooting in an indoor range with a rented K-Frame .38 Special. I'd watched too many westerns on TV, and was emulating the "hold gun muzzle-up, then extend arm to aim at the bad guy" technique. Unfortunately for the range light fixture, the revolver had a very nice single-action trigger pull and I'd not left my finger off the bang switch.
They were very understanding back at the sales counter when I admitted my boo-boo. Looking back at the (pockmarked) ceiling of my lane later on, I realized I wasn't their first customer to have a stray shot.
ColeK
Member
In also 50 years of shooting firearms I've had 3 AD's.
I for one do not object to crossbolt safeties on lever actions or exposed hammer single shot rifles.
Two of my AD's happened while I was lowing the hammer on pre-crossbolt safeties on these type of rifles.
The last AD was a slam fire on a Model 700. The cause was a high set primer.
I for one do not object to crossbolt safeties on lever actions or exposed hammer single shot rifles.
Two of my AD's happened while I was lowing the hammer on pre-crossbolt safeties on these type of rifles.
The last AD was a slam fire on a Model 700. The cause was a high set primer.
HuntAndFish
Member
Well, like others in the thread I just think it happens a lot more often than your poll will report. In my case alone, you could multiple by 3. Not that I think your poll is bad or anything. Just mentioning it.
I see now. You are correct; if one person has had multiple unintentional discharges that fit under the same category then there's no way to accurately account for that because of the way vbulletin handles polls. You can select multiple options but you can only vote once for any given option.
I mention that limitation in the initial post but I still haven't figured out a way around it.
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