Blowing Down Barrel After Firing

[Sunkmanitu Tanka]

I totaly agree with your point ... negligence, dangerous habits, just not paying attention for a brief moment, fanatical smokers, weapons with mechanical problems, there are a lot of possibilities to create disaster on a range...

 

[Joe Sullivan]

So.. smoking one like a bong is out of the question, I guess.

 

[MSW]

Over here blowing down the barrel is forbidden on our range. I sometimes see people bypass this rule by using a plyable plastic tube that fits neatly into the barrel... They nevr have to put theit face nearby the barrel...

i like the tube thing, and as far as using it for a bong, it makes a lousy bong and the residue trashes your groups ... try using an Army style flashlight (you know, the L shaped tan gadget that GIs use to store dead batteries) i actually found one doing a wall locker inspection: I was going through wall lockers on what we called "Health & Welfare" (a search in sheep's clothing) and i turned on all the flashlights to make sure the troops had batteries and their gear was in proper working order - not just there on the inventory sheet. this guy's was flat, so i started opening it up, and as soon as i grabbed it his face hit the floor... i unscrewed the bottom, and two tar/slime covered batteries slid out, with the unmistakable smell of hash ... he had taken a small bit of screen, removed the bulb and put the screen in the hole and drilled a very small hole at the top of the flashlight (just at the break of the L), so the whole thing make a really efficient field expedient hash pipe. hated to do it, but i pulled out my Article 31 card and read him his rights right there while the First Sargeant went to get the Company Commander.

i last smoked pot in May of 1977 ... this happened in about 1980.

mea maxima culpa ff

 

[D Sanders]

Always been meaning to ask this.

I always had been blowing down barrel after firing. This was to "moisten residue and kill embers".
I had an old timer muzzleloader (actually I'm one too) flip out when he saw me do it.
Swore that he saw a guy blow his head off doing it.

I just don't see how this could happen.
Maybe a hangfire? Well didn't you just shoot it?

Hard to miss that recoil and big puff of smoke out the bore.

I have seen video of a gun flashing upon pouring powder down bore during rapid fire.
I'm not talking about that.

Has anyone found any verifiable instance of someone killing (or even injuring) themselves in this way?
Above mentioned incident supposedly happened in the Northern California area.

PS I get it about the seeming idiocy of sticking the muzzle into your mouth. But put that aside for now. Many think we are crazy just hovering near the muzzle during the loading process.

I swab between every shot. A fairly snug bore swab is the same as blowing down the bore. I like to keep as many body parts away from the muzzle as possible, especially the face. :nono: I see a lot of shooters in my club do this and they also tell me the exact same thing "It cant go off, its not loaded" I know that us MLers are at a bit of a disadvantage here when loading but looking down the barrel of any firearm, even an unloaded one, gives me a sort of sick feeling! Its not a good habit to get into, and there are other ways of taking care of that situation without putting yourself in front of the muzzle. I know that you may need to look down the bore from time to time with a bore light to check for bore imperfections. I get all that. Remember... treat every firearm as if it were loaded.

HH 60

 

[Hawgeye]

The fourth topic in this section is locked and contains 6 pages of arguments for and against this practice. It also contain accusations, recriminations and insulting insinuations of diminished mental capacities on both sides of the issue. It's interesting reading. We're beating a dead horse with this discussion. I will say that if there is anyone who has not at one time or another put some part of their anatomy over the muzzle, they've not shot many rounds. :surrender: