Or, "why I check everything today."
I had a Ruger .45 Blackhawk I was customizing. I cut the angles off the grip frame and made a modified Bird's head out of it. This was before Ruger had the Birds Head. I say modified because I left the backstrap relatively straight instead of curving inward. This allowed a better brace against full recoil loads.
I was always holding this weapon, testing it, finding the right balance for the new grips I'd carved to fit. Perhaps they needed just a little more wood removed. In this way I slowly carved it to perfection for my hand.
Trouble ensued one night before turning in. I grabbed the weapon one last time before sleep to test the balance. I aimed at a Lyman case tumbler and dry fired to feel the thumb reach. The gun went off and my Lyman had a neat hole in it's side. There was also a hole in the wall. The load was approx 800 fps with a 250 gr cast so it didn't exit.
To say I was stunned is an understatement. I simply could not believe what had just happened. It was my fault all the way. I'd loaded the weapon because I was turning in- but forgot and tested it.
I ran across the house to assure my wife all was well, if not safe. She'd only heard a bang and thought a primer went off.
This happened in Summer and a window was open to the alley. That alley was bad place of feral cats and gangbangers. It was behind a burger stand and the cats loved it.
I knew the neighbors must have heard something. I turned out all the lights. Who knew what reaction the local cops might have? This was California- could I lose my 'right' to keep arms with an accidental discharge? How much money would this cost?
A police Cruser pulled up across the street. Two cops got out and searched the alley briefly. The sound had hit the wall of buildings and rebounded; the neighbor who called it in probably thought it was from the alley- just another gang banging incident. We had shots fired frequently in the hell hole of Fontana, Ca.
Never reload or shoot when tired. I added another rule- any gun I was working on could not be at the bedside for home protection- I kept the projects seperate from defense weapons after this.
I'm not proud of this. Perhaps this will remind some to be more carefull where I was not.
The modified Ruger- one of my two favorite packing guns, a SS 4.5/8" 45 colt.
The hole in the wall? I rented the house from the owner of the gun shop I managed. It needed some work. But all the hole needed was some crayony type goo the same color as the wall paper. I haven't seen this stuff since in Home supply but it worked great- you could not see the hole. I figure someday that bullet will be found and they'll wonder who was murdered. It was my Lyman case tumbler- never breathed again.
munk
I had a Ruger .45 Blackhawk I was customizing. I cut the angles off the grip frame and made a modified Bird's head out of it. This was before Ruger had the Birds Head. I say modified because I left the backstrap relatively straight instead of curving inward. This allowed a better brace against full recoil loads.
I was always holding this weapon, testing it, finding the right balance for the new grips I'd carved to fit. Perhaps they needed just a little more wood removed. In this way I slowly carved it to perfection for my hand.
Trouble ensued one night before turning in. I grabbed the weapon one last time before sleep to test the balance. I aimed at a Lyman case tumbler and dry fired to feel the thumb reach. The gun went off and my Lyman had a neat hole in it's side. There was also a hole in the wall. The load was approx 800 fps with a 250 gr cast so it didn't exit.
To say I was stunned is an understatement. I simply could not believe what had just happened. It was my fault all the way. I'd loaded the weapon because I was turning in- but forgot and tested it.
I ran across the house to assure my wife all was well, if not safe. She'd only heard a bang and thought a primer went off.
This happened in Summer and a window was open to the alley. That alley was bad place of feral cats and gangbangers. It was behind a burger stand and the cats loved it.
I knew the neighbors must have heard something. I turned out all the lights. Who knew what reaction the local cops might have? This was California- could I lose my 'right' to keep arms with an accidental discharge? How much money would this cost?
A police Cruser pulled up across the street. Two cops got out and searched the alley briefly. The sound had hit the wall of buildings and rebounded; the neighbor who called it in probably thought it was from the alley- just another gang banging incident. We had shots fired frequently in the hell hole of Fontana, Ca.
Never reload or shoot when tired. I added another rule- any gun I was working on could not be at the bedside for home protection- I kept the projects seperate from defense weapons after this.
I'm not proud of this. Perhaps this will remind some to be more carefull where I was not.
The modified Ruger- one of my two favorite packing guns, a SS 4.5/8" 45 colt.
The hole in the wall? I rented the house from the owner of the gun shop I managed. It needed some work. But all the hole needed was some crayony type goo the same color as the wall paper. I haven't seen this stuff since in Home supply but it worked great- you could not see the hole. I figure someday that bullet will be found and they'll wonder who was murdered. It was my Lyman case tumbler- never breathed again.
munk
who put a round of birdshot into a wall at a distance of 6" when they were looking at Gpaa's guns one night.