Your stupidest moment with a firearm?
- Thread starter The Grand Inquisitor
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N.d.
At 15 years old, I was dry-firing an engraved Beretta .25 acp of my parents' that I had found in a cupboard. Being the curious type, I took it completely down to its most basic parts, and it took me a week to put it back together again. (all those little springs and pins!) Finally got it back together, and was dry-firing and thinking that I'd really like to actually shoot it. Loaded it, unloaded it... answered the phone, hung up. One last dry-fire at the corner of the kitchen cabinet, and BANG. I will have to tell you that there is probably nothing louder than a negligent discharge, even from a .25 (which are, BTW, surprisingly loud for their diminuitive size). I ran over to the cabinet, found that I had hit the corner of the trim precisely where it came together, and that the bullet had exited the face of the drawer and entered the frame of the cabinet. These were oak cabinets that had been curing next to the oven and stove for 11 years, so the bullet didn't manage to leave the frame. Good thing, too-- the electric oven with its cheap sheet metal walls was next in line. So what did this honest boy do? I made some putty out of flour and water, filled the holes, stained it dark with Olde English Scratch Remover/Polish, and didn't admit it to my mother for over a decade, after she'd moved.
At 15 years old, I was dry-firing an engraved Beretta .25 acp of my parents' that I had found in a cupboard. Being the curious type, I took it completely down to its most basic parts, and it took me a week to put it back together again. (all those little springs and pins!) Finally got it back together, and was dry-firing and thinking that I'd really like to actually shoot it. Loaded it, unloaded it... answered the phone, hung up. One last dry-fire at the corner of the kitchen cabinet, and BANG. I will have to tell you that there is probably nothing louder than a negligent discharge, even from a .25 (which are, BTW, surprisingly loud for their diminuitive size). I ran over to the cabinet, found that I had hit the corner of the trim precisely where it came together, and that the bullet had exited the face of the drawer and entered the frame of the cabinet. These were oak cabinets that had been curing next to the oven and stove for 11 years, so the bullet didn't manage to leave the frame. Good thing, too-- the electric oven with its cheap sheet metal walls was next in line. So what did this honest boy do? I made some putty out of flour and water, filled the holes, stained it dark with Olde English Scratch Remover/Polish, and didn't admit it to my mother for over a decade, after she'd moved.
Heavy Barrel
Member
15 yrs ago laid the 300WBY across the back of the front seat and out the passenger side rear window of my 75 Town&Country wagon.The muzzle was not outside.
I had a slamfire while testing a .22 rifle's ejector indoors that shot a .22 at my oven. Didn't go through fortunately. Just left a dent (thank G-d for crappy ammo - one of the few times I could say that). Since then, I only do such things outdoors (and I took the rifle apart completely since with the plans to fix it at some point in the future). I also slowly move the slide forward on my handguns now just in case when loading them indoors for home defense readiness. I possibly am too paranoid about slam-fires these days, but I figure I dodged a major disaster once.... so I don't want to push my luck.
The dumbest part about what I did is that while I didn't have my finger on the trigger, I should have had the gun pointed intentionally in a safe direction. It was coincidentally in a semi-safe direction (judging from the fact that nobody was hurt), but I disobeyed one of the fundamental safety rules to always have it intentionally in a safe direction, and that was dumb, dumb, dumb. Lesson learned, fortunately with no harm.
I classify what I had happen as an ND, as the gun didn't shoot itself. My releasing the spring-loaded bolt with the gun loaded in this case was as bad as pulling the trigger.
The dumbest part about what I did is that while I didn't have my finger on the trigger, I should have had the gun pointed intentionally in a safe direction. It was coincidentally in a semi-safe direction (judging from the fact that nobody was hurt), but I disobeyed one of the fundamental safety rules to always have it intentionally in a safe direction, and that was dumb, dumb, dumb. Lesson learned, fortunately with no harm.
I classify what I had happen as an ND, as the gun didn't shoot itself. My releasing the spring-loaded bolt with the gun loaded in this case was as bad as pulling the trigger.
Elza
Member
I was having trouble with the cartridge carrier on a Marlin .22 bolt action. I was working on it in the living room. I did not cam the bolt closed and to this day do not understand how it discharged. Needless to say it did! I couldn’t find where it hit. After a good bit of looking I discovered that it had gone through a hand embroidered clock that my Mother had made. It was her pride and joy. At this point I saw my life flash before my eyes! However it hit dead center of a spiral and was undetectable from the front. So I quickly patched the wall and hoped for the best. I was 16 at the time. My Mother discovered it after a trip to the dry cleaners years after I had left home. She had always blamed the cleaners for damaging it. She finally learned what happened 17 years later. Man, was she pissed!!!!
Momma has been gone for 19 years now. The clock is hanging on our living room wall. I often look at it and smile…………
Momma has been gone for 19 years now. The clock is hanging on our living room wall. I often look at it and smile…………
target1911
Member
Shot my Tarus revolver..3" ported brl without ears...only took one shot to learn THAT lesson...(on that gun) few days later shot smae gun (ported remember) from the hip....that lesson only took ONE shot to
shot friends 300 mag MUZ BRK without ears...yes once again, only once
shot friends 300 mag MUZ BRK without ears...yes once again, only once
My great Aunt was sweeping the kitchen floor. Uncles' M1 leaning in the corner, fully loaded, one in the chamber, safety off.Waiting for chicken house predator. Auntie looks for place to move rifle to, sees a nail hanging out of the wall. Hangs rifle on the nail, barrel down, by the trigger. Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Ping. She had to sweep floor again, he had to sleep with chickens.
heypete
Member
That sounds exciting...
Mine was dropping three 30-round magazines through an M4A1 on "AUTO"...with no hearing protection. It's not so bad when you're outdoors, but when everyone else is doing the same thing...yeah, you can't hear for a while. That's one of the reasons I later bought a silencer -- it gets hot in Arizona, and one sweats with earmuffs. Better to contain the noise from the shot, rather than muffle it on your head.
I ND'ed my 1919A4 once at the range, sending a round over the berm and into the forest beyond. That'll teach me to be careful when handling guns without trigger guards.
cold dead hands
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Funny how stupid equals dangerous at the worst time. I decided the best time polish a hair trigger on my old H & R 929 (.22 LR) was cocked and loaded.
Three LAYERS of drywall, a lamp shade and a ricochet later I realized that I did one of the biggest F ups of my life. The worst part is "seeing" the holes long after the were fixed. No one but me knows where the holes are, but I will always see them.
Three LAYERS of drywall, a lamp shade and a ricochet later I realized that I did one of the biggest F ups of my life. The worst part is "seeing" the holes long after the were fixed. No one but me knows where the holes are, but I will always see them.
Jersey Devil
Member
When I was a kid I shot a Springfield Trapdoor 45-70 at a knot in a telephone pole. Knots are real hard! The bullet bounced back and hit me in the neck. Just a scratch but it scared the s**t out of me.
Next recent dumbest was I just loaded about 200 rds. of .38's. First shot went 'puff'. I forgot to engage the powder dispenser.
Next recent dumbest was I just loaded about 200 rds. of .38's. First shot went 'puff'. I forgot to engage the powder dispenser.
tegemu
Member
When I stupidly but intentionaly (Not concentrating on what I was doing and thinking the gun was empty) fired a 1911 in my hobby/gun room. I still have a .45 cal hole in the wall and the front of my house but I have replaced my neighbor's $1360.00 air conditioner. Expensive stupidity and lesson. The scary part was that, if I had been pointing the gun in a slightly different angle, instead of the air conditioner, my bullet would have gone into their house with enough energy to kill.
ScotZ
Member
When I was a child about 10 years old. My father was showing me how to prime and fire a flintlock muzzleloader that he had built. My father,Uncle and I went into the woods . Set everything up. Placed a target on a tree(yeah I know) and my father showed me everything and he was going to take the first shot, I was just to watch. Well he started talking to my uncle and forgot to take the ramrod out. He fired it dead center into a tree. Yes the ramrod went about 8 inched into the tree before it split. I thought my uncle was going to pee himself telling my father "yeah yeah thats the way to show the kid Bill". We got 40 years of laughing out of that one before my father passed away.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
The couple times I have sold one.
TheArchDuke
Member
I was shooting my mosin M38 when I spotted one of those metal plates that people shoot with pistols. It was laying on the ground up against an embankment. I remember that my brother was able to shoot through a manhole cover with his mosin so I figured I'd give this a try. The only thing is, it was getting dark and I was getting ready to leave. "Well this will be my last shot."
Since it was dark I moved to within about 20 feet of the plate, took aim, and fired. Not only did the czech silver-tip bullet NOT penatrate, it exploded and sent flaming hot, glowing shards of metal in all directions for atleast 40-50 feet (well beyond me). Not one piece hit me. I am lucky. Oh yeah and it didn't even dent the plate. The red paint scratched off a bit but that was it.
Since it was dark I moved to within about 20 feet of the plate, took aim, and fired. Not only did the czech silver-tip bullet NOT penatrate, it exploded and sent flaming hot, glowing shards of metal in all directions for atleast 40-50 feet (well beyond me). Not one piece hit me. I am lucky. Oh yeah and it didn't even dent the plate. The red paint scratched off a bit but that was it.
Hokkmike
Member
Shooting a rock I thought was a groundhog. Well, it had the perfect shape and coloring!!!
pcosmar
member
I have the top of the list for stupid.
In 1980 I used a firearm in a crime. The safety was on, I had NO intention of harming anyone.
I was sentenced to 25 years. Served time, completed parole, still paying for it.
Very STUPID!!
In 1980 I used a firearm in a crime. The safety was on, I had NO intention of harming anyone.
I was sentenced to 25 years. Served time, completed parole, still paying for it.
Very STUPID!!
axeman_g
Member
scary dumb
discovering while carrying my s&w m19 .357 that while getting out of my car, I had somehow cocked the hammer!!!!!!!!!!!! Still dont know how, but it convinced me to get a holster with a hammer strap for that gun ASAP.
discovering while carrying my s&w m19 .357 that while getting out of my car, I had somehow cocked the hammer!!!!!!!!!!!! Still dont know how, but it convinced me to get a holster with a hammer strap for that gun ASAP.
crowbuster77
Member
in the infinate wisdom of an 11 yr old who had only a few days ago been allowed to shoot the savage 755 autoloader 12ga for the first time i went and got a shell. cut it open and poured out the shot. now it's a dead round, right? retrieved shotgun to saftey of my room and chambered the 'dead' round. messed around aiming at various things. picked out the window facing the road of our then 1yr old house, pulled trigger and proceded to blow a huge hole in my window. of course it ejected the shell and when my mom came in i said it wasn't me, see no shell in gun. learned alot that day that i believe has made me alot more aware and safe. also learned how to sit very gingerly for a couple days after my dad got a hold of me. lesson learned.
silverking
Member
I'm still a little pi$$ed at myself but it got a few laughs from the guys and gals at the club. We were having a rather dull meeting with no new business to discuss when someone suggested we adjourn to our little range at the back of the property. After setting up the targets and doing all the checks in the background, we commenced to fire at the targets. there were four of us carrying our usual choices and a couple of the guys brought their rifles of various sizes. When I stepped to the line, I announced that I was going to rapid fire the 15 round mag. When finished and with no great results from the line, I realized and remembered that I had loaded the mag the previous day with my Hydra Shoks and not the practice rounds. Now I'm known as the guy who spends big bucks to throw at paper plates. Just plain dumb!:banghead: :banghead:
Duh. Duhduhduhduhduhduh... You get the point.
Wheeler44:
Jeeze. Bumpfiring with a nail. Now the BATF can call a nail a machine gun, like with the well-documented shoelace.
http://www.jpfo.org/shoestring.jpg
I wonder what she thought of the ejected clip pinging around the kitchen.
My stupidest thing? Ruined a desk with a .380 round. Make up your own story as to how come. They're all the same. Begin with "duh." End with "duh."
Next stupidest thing was selling a gun.
Come to think of it, that comprises the next twenty stupidest things.
Duhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduh
duhduhduhduhduhduh.
Wheeler44:
Jeeze. Bumpfiring with a nail. Now the BATF can call a nail a machine gun, like with the well-documented shoelace.
http://www.jpfo.org/shoestring.jpg
I wonder what she thought of the ejected clip pinging around the kitchen.
My stupidest thing? Ruined a desk with a .380 round. Make up your own story as to how come. They're all the same. Begin with "duh." End with "duh."
Next stupidest thing was selling a gun.
Come to think of it, that comprises the next twenty stupidest things.
Duhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduhduh
duhduhduhduhduhduh.
VegasEgo
Member.
I was cleaning my XD-9 V10 one night after shooting, after i got done cleaning it, I put the mag back in i used for the range, and didnt reliezed it as loaded, and pulled the trigger, missed my hand by about a mm i was bleeding from the wrist because the bullet skinned it. Thats the last time i have ever done anything stupid.
Someone else doing something stupid. I was shooting in the Desert one day with my friends. We kept hearing bullets go byand seeing little puffs of dirt all around us , we thought we were getting richochets, so we moved 3 different times. Same thing happening. Wat we didnt relize was some guy was shooting straight up in the air, because he wanted to see how far his ammo would travel and how long it would take for them to land, he gave up when none of his rounds were landing on his side of the mesa, and they were on our side...
Someone else doing something stupid. I was shooting in the Desert one day with my friends. We kept hearing bullets go byand seeing little puffs of dirt all around us , we thought we were getting richochets, so we moved 3 different times. Same thing happening. Wat we didnt relize was some guy was shooting straight up in the air, because he wanted to see how far his ammo would travel and how long it would take for them to land, he gave up when none of his rounds were landing on his side of the mesa, and they were on our side...
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