Leverguns-Be careful!!!!!!

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Axis II

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I went deer hunting yesterday with my Marlin 1895 and threw a round at a brute. I racked another round and put the safety on, thank god! I make my climb down the ladder sticks with the rifle on my back because I forgot my pull rope. My buddy downs a doe so I'm walking back to the truck to get the ATV and as I climb over the cattle gate I hear click!!!!! My heart sank! When I racked another round the hammer was back and thank god I put the safety back on! My clothing must have depressed the trigger as I was climbing over the gate! I'm not one to keep the hammer back when walking even with the crossbar safety on and just tell myself I need to pay better attention.

Now before anyone tares me apart for this let me mention I've been doing this for 16yrs or so and taken my hunter safety class. I never ever carry a rifle across my back, or carry it over a fence. I had 100 things running through my head last night and just became complacent.
 
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ohihunter2014 said:
I went deer hunting yesterday with my Marlin 1895 and threw a round at a brute. I racked another round and put the safety on, thank god! I make my climb down the ladder sticks with the rifle on my back because I forgot my pull rope. My buddy downs a doe so I'm walking back to the truck to get the ATV and as I climb over the cattle gate I hear click!!!!! My heart sank! When I racked another round the hammer was back and thank god I put the safety back on! My clothing must have depressed the trigger as I was climbing over the gate! I'm not one to keep the hammer back when walking even with the crossbar safety on and just tell myself I need to pay better attention.

Now before anyone tares me apart for this let me mention I've been doing this for 16yrs or so and taken my hunter safety class. I never ever carry a rifle across my back, or carry it over a fence. I had 100 things running through my head last night and just became complacent.
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Pick up a sa revolver and carry it around frequently, ear the hammer back at trees, sticks, bunnies, dirt clods, etc, after a couple days, the muscle memory will be so ingrained, it'll be automatic. Grew up with revolvers, pumps and levers, all with exposed hammers. First time I handled a bolt, I reached for a hammer that wasn't there, but the Enfield and krag had decockers that I utitilize equally autonomously, and I'll tell you, reaching for nonexistent decockers may look goofy the first couple times, but it beats not reaching for them when you should.
I sure am glad all you got out of the situation was a drawers check, stay safe and shoot straight my friend!
 
Too often, I catch myself getting complacent. When you do something often enough, you do it out of habit. Accidents will happen due to circumstances that are out of your control. Safety cannot be muscle memory, it must be a conscious effort. I once made a $2,400 mistake relying on habit to engage a safety. Thankfully, I still have my job. I hope this anecdote proves the point that I am not berating you, but backing up what you shared, including to myself.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
I had 100 things running through my head last night and just became complacent.
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Ohihunter2014, you mentioned in your other post how you've gone back to school 24 hours per week, and working 48 hours per week. And you barely scraped enough time together to go deer hunting.
Slow down, my friend. I'm not scolding, I'm just advising. I've been where you are, and when I was there, I made mistakes that could have cost me my life, or the life of a loved one. By the grace of God, the mistakes I made didn't cost me anything more than the crap scared out of me a few times, and some money.
But I'm 70 now, and my wife is not that far behind. And one thing we have learned is that when life gets hectic, you have to be extra careful. I'm glad you're okay.:)
 
.308 Norma said:
Ohihunter2014, you mentioned in your other post how you've gone back to school 24 hours per week, and working 48 hours per week. And you barely scraped enough time together to go deer hunting.
Slow down, my friend. I'm not scolding, I'm just advising. I've been where you are, and when I was there, I made mistakes that could have cost me my life, or the life of a loved one. By the grace of God, the mistakes I made didn't cost me anything more than the crap scared out of me a few times, and some money.
But I'm 70 now, and my wife is not that far behind. And one thing we have learned is that when life gets hectic, you have to be extra careful. I'm glad you're okay.:)
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Thank you!

I didn't think I was going to be able to go this year so I didn't check guns or practice like i usually do. Usually the deer rifles have a hundred rounds or so through them by opening day but this year I went from 48hrs every week to 1 week a month and the rest 40. So, when someone calls and invites me to hunt his whitetail oasis farm I'm on it. :) My emotions got me last night. I usually don't shake bad anymore when deer come around and I am selective. I come close to shooting a 4pt last night just due to the limited time. Not being able to find the buck, my buddy shooting one, having chores to do at home when its late and getting him home for work on time just overwhelmed me. No excuse though! I figured I would share so others would use a little more caution.
 
I do not EVER walk with a levergun cocked. It’s just a preference. But only one of my levers has a crossbolt safety. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve had a twig hang up in the trigger while walking through thick brush. Mr. Murphy is on individual I do my damndest to avoid encountering. Second place goes to Karma.

3 years ago a friend and I were hunting together on the same piece of property. Not 5 minutes after walking from the truck I heard him shoot. He’s lucky like that. So I text him and asked what he got. His reply isn’t allowed on this forum. But he got a hole in his hat from his rifle hanging on a branch and tilting it towards his head before it went off.
 
For bad things to happen the user has to make multiple mistakes. You only made 2 and did other things right, that prevented a serious injury or death.

I like traditional lever guns with a hammer and without the safety, but rarely hunt with one. And I do not think they are a good choice for young or novice hunters. These rifles are for experienced hunters. Even with the hammer down it is not at all uncommon for a hammer to come in contact with clothing or brush and end up being cocked without the knowledge of the person carrying it. And unloading them is more dangerous than any other type of rifle.

While I don't like the safety, I understand why manufacturers put them on newer rifles. I have 2 out of the dozen levers that I own that do have safeties. The only time I use them is when unloading them.
 
I'm very glad you lived to tell this story. It definitely could've went different. Thank You for sharing as I reminder to yourself and to us that we NEVER need to take firearm safety out of our mind, it just takes one mess up to change your life forever.

Happy Hunting and most importantly SAFE Hunting Everyone.
 
Thanks for the heads up, WTTW.

I decided long ago with my levers to leave the hammer down. It's a design advantage to have that option.
If I miss an animal, because the hammer wasn't cocked, so be it.
 
IMG_20181217_202209.jpg IMG_20181217_202209.jpg Glad to hear your OK.

Two years ago during ml season had a buck and doe come in cocked hammer on my musketoon and the wind shifted they caught my scent and left the area. While lowering the hammer it slipped off my thumb. Never happened before and hasn't since. Sure is an eyeopener.
 

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Glad to hear your unharmed. I Dont hunt very often with a lever gun, but I've seen 2 fired by accident. One on unloading, the other I'm not exactly sure what happened.
The gun fired about 4 ft from us leaning on a tree. Only thing i can think of was my buddy left it cocked after shooting a spike, and reloading, and it slipped while leaning on the tree. Neither of us thought to check to make sure the gun was safe before starting on cleaning.
 
How many times do you think that happens with a bolt gun? The only difference is you don't realize it because there is no hammer to fall and alert you too the fact the trigger was pulled.
I'm glad you are safe.
Like some others, it has become habit to lower the hammer. I only use the safety for unloading.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
I went deer hunting yesterday with my Marlin 1895 and threw a round at a brute. I racked another round and put the safety on, thank god! I make my climb down the ladder sticks with the rifle on my back because I forgot my pull rope. My buddy downs a doe so I'm walking back to the truck to get the ATV and as I climb over the cattle gate I hear click!!!!! My heart sank! When I racked another round the hammer was back and thank god I put the safety back on! My clothing must have depressed the trigger as I was climbing over the gate! I'm not one to keep the hammer back when walking even with the crossbar safety on and just tell myself I need to pay better attention.

Now before anyone tares me apart for this let me mention I've been doing this for 16yrs or so and taken my hunter safety class. I never ever carry a rifle across my back, or carry it over a fence. I had 100 things running through my head last night and just became complacent.
Click to expand...

The first 2 things they teach in Hunter Safety (Beyond the Four Rules) are:
  1. Never climb up/down a tree with a gun. Use a rope.
  2. Never cross a fence with a loaded gun. Hand the gun to another hunter. If alone, unload it first.
You violated both. You were lucky. The Marlin's safety worked as it should. Glad your reminder was merely embarrassing instead of tragic.

Mechanical safeties are not always 100% reliable also. My Dad, my Uncle and I were walking single file down a trail, rifles shouldered, when my dad's .300 Win. Mag.went off. The two of them were deaf the rest of the day; I was about 15 feet behind my uncle-my hearing came back in about an hour. The hammer on my Dad's S&W M29 Mountain Gun had bumped the safety of the Sako bolt gun off, then bumped the trigger enough to set it off. I explained to them both that that was just one of the reasons I carried a rifle "African Carry" (Muzzle down on off shoulder) for movement while not actually hunting.
 
entropy said:
The first 2 things they teach in Hunter Safety (Beyond the Four Rules) are:
  1. Never climb up/down a tree with a gun. Use a rope.
  2. Never cross a fence with a loaded gun. Hand the gun to another hunter. If alone, unload it first.
You violated both. You were lucky. The Marlin's safety worked as it should. Glad your reminder was merely embarrassing instead of tragic.

Mechanical safeties are not always 100% reliable also. My Dad, my Uncle and I were walking single file down a trail, rifles shouldered, when my dad's .300 Win. Mag.went off. The two of them were deaf the rest of the day; I was about 15 feet behind my uncle-my hearing came back in about an hour. The hammer on my Dad's S&W M29 Mountain Gun had bumped the safety of the Sako bolt gun off, then bumped the trigger enough to set it off. I explained to them both that that was just one of the reasons I carried a rifle "African Carry" (Muzzle down on off shoulder) for movement while not actually hunting.
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I am fully aware that I violated rules 1 & 2. :) I have sat through 2 hunter safety classes and countless firearms classes. Not meant to be sarcastic.

I shared my story because I realized after all these years I became complacent and thought I knew what I was doing. No matter how many times or how long we do it we need to keep in mind the basics. I went through an academy class last night and one of the steps was WIN. What's Important Now! Don't let your mind get clouded by other stuff and worry about what's going on at that moment. 99% of the time I don't even use a sling because I prefer cradle carry or field carry. I'm also not one to carry the gun loaded until close to the stand or sat down. I also always use a pull rope but seeing how it was a last ditch effort to hunt our last day of firearms I forgot to check my fanny pack for a rope.
 
stillquietvoice said:
View attachment 816748 View attachment 816748 Glad to hear your OK.

Two years ago during ml season had a buck and doe come in cocked hammer on my musketoon and the wind shifted they caught my scent and left the area. While lowering the hammer it slipped off my thumb. Never happened before and hasn't since. Sure is an eyeopener.
Click to expand...

Use a nipple protector and you have no worries.
 
BigBore44 said:
I think there’s a lot to be said for a man that would admit his hastened mistake, for the world to see, to hopefully protect someone from leaving loved ones behind. That’s VERY High Road in my book.
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Sunday night I thought about it a few times, but Monday morning it hit me pretty good! I thought long and hard if I wanted to share the story for fear of being "ripped on" and after much thought I said I need to share this to help someone else. I have several single shots that i hunt with and I'm just glad i had the Marlin Sunday night and not the 44mag Handi rifle which would have sent a 240gr bullet into the back of my head for sure or into my shoulder blade had the hammer been back.

Now would anyone like to take a crack at how in the world the trigger was pressed with the gun being on my back? I was wearing a hooded sweat shirt with an orange zip up vest over top and a bino harness over that. I'm surprised it took me climbing the first run of the fence to fire and not me slipping and sliding around the freshly plowed/cut field.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
Now would anyone like to take a crack at how in the world the trigger was pressed with the gun being on my back?
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That’s easy. Mr. Murphy pulled it with his middle finger. It’s the same one he always uses to give people a hard time.

I’m guessing it got hung on the bino strap. Or if the vest was mesh, the trigger could have gotten hung up in the mesh. But those seem like pretty logical choices.
 
Climbing or crossing obstacles, empty the chamber.
Wonder how many cross bolt safety lever gun people will still have tragedy.
 
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