What was the biggest surprise you've ever had when you pulled the trigger?

[Politically Incorrect]

I loaded my SA 1911A1 and racked the slide. The first round sounded like a squib, so I drop the mag, rack the slide, and then look down the barrel to see if a bullet was obstructing it.

My friend picked up a casing that was belled out to the .45 caliber size. It was a .40 S&W that somehow got mixed up in my .45 ammo box and seated itself inside the magazine feed lips.

 

[Zach S]

ND

The biggest surprise I've ever had when pulling the trigger, was, well, the fact I pulled the trigger. I was digging aound in the top of my closet for something and my Kimber slid off the shelf, started towards the floor. I caught it, and put a rather large hole in a 12" subwoofer and speakerbox that was about to go in the trunk of my car.

 

[4v50 Gary]

A double from a Garand. That's not suppose to happen.

 

[JDSlack]

I was working as an instructor at the police range. Fellow officer brought in a CZ75 clone (I think it was a Tanfoglio, but won't swear to it). His neighbor had bought it and wanted it checked out. We loaded it up, after a visual check, and field strip, and I aimed and fired at the target....and it went full auto. BOY! was that exciting.

Turns out the previous owner had worked on the trigger (by filing the sear no doubt) just a little too much.

 

[Mark IV Series 80]

Originally posted by Zach S:

.... my Kimber slid off the shelf, started towards the floor. I caught it, and put a rather large hole in a 12" subwoofer and speakerbox...

Hello Zach,

Was your Kimber cocked and un-locked, or did you hit the safety as you were making the catch?

 

[femoralis]

When my Makarov doubled...

 

[wanderinwalker]

The best surprise ever was the first time I shot a .44 Magnum. (I was 13 mind you, and about 110 lbs.) It didn't kick too bad, and I actually outshot the guy that owned it! I was impressed by the way that thing took out an entire shelf of soda cans with one shot.

Worst was first time shooting a different .44 Magnum. Dad had just gotten a SuperBlackhawk with the square-backed trigger gaurd. My knuckles still have a scar from that experience.

And then there is always the did-I-shoot-5-or-six? through the revolvers. Many a good group has been spoiled this way!

 

[MoNsTeR]

A much bigger surprise than getting one 2-round burst, was getting 3 more, after I'd fixed what I thought was the problem, during a match. My heart rate didn't come down for about 10 minutes after that one.

 

[Zach S]

Was your Kimber cocked and un-locked, or did you hit the safety as you were making the catch?

To be perfectly honest, I have no idea. I dont know if it got swiped off while sliding off of the shelf, or if I hit it while catching it, but it was C&Led when I put it in the closet.

Two habits came out of that day, one without me realizing it. One, I started using the $10 nylon holster when putting the gun up for the day (I'm half vampire, and therfore work graveyard shift). Two, whenever I catch something that falls, my trigger finger stays straight. I probably would've never noticed if my uncle didnt see me catch a ratchet and point it out to me.

 

[NC Shooter]

I was shooting a Ruger 357 with a friend in West Virginia. Next to us was a couple of guys shooting skeet. I had just reloaded and was getting ready to shoot when the skeet shooter next to me missed two shots at the clay. Thinking WTH, I leveled the 357 at the clay, aimed and fired. The clay disappeared in a puff.

The skeet shooter was only a little less surprised than I was. Needless to say I did not attempt to repeat this feat.