Who Done This?

[TexasMLer]

Great answer Vic! My dad always taught me that there are no accidents when it comes to guns and shooting - only mistakes that lead to dangerous situations and/or injuries/death.

I have made several stupid mistakes in my life with guns that could have ended in my death or, at least, injury. The most recent happened only a couple years ago, and I knew better. I was pulling my UNLOADED single-shot .410 (squirrel gitter!) out of my vehicle by the barrel end and the hammer hanged on the seatbelt. I heard a loud "click" when the hammer slammed home. When I realized what had just happened, my whole body went cold and my knees became weak very quickly. The most stupid part of this mistake: My dad taught me specifically about this bone-headed move and even tanned my hide when I was a young boy for doing the same stupid thing with the same .410.
Yes, that was completely idiotic of me to do, and I can't claim that I didn't know any better. I think the "It won't happen to me (arrogance, denial, etc.)" attitude is responsible for most of the so-called accidents with guns.

 

[vradin]

Great answer Vic! My dad always taught me that there are no accidents when it comes to guns and shooting - only mistakes that lead to dangerous situations and/or injuries/death.

Thanks, I wish I could take credit for it, but it's almost a direct quote form my Camp School instructor, and it stuck home pretty hard I even made a poster that hangs at the entrance to my range at camp: "There are NO accidents, only unintentional negligence". Another of my favorites is on a card in my range bag- "Keep your brain where your butt is". Reminds me that I need to be aware of the HERE and NOW, and not be off daydreaming about anything else.

I think we all have moments of being complacent with our skills and confidence which can lead to sometimes allowing a lapse in our usual good practices. Lord knows I've grabbed a muzzle or two, and in one instance, it was a loaded .22 with a finger on the trigger. It's not a frontstuffer story, so won't hit details, but suffice to say the rifle was taken from the person holding it, and I have no new stigmata to worry about. Negligent and careless, but unfortunately required at the time.

vic

 

[Slowpoke]

That reminds me of a story my brother like to tell, don't know if its true or not because he lies about the size of the fish he catches.
Anyway, my brother's friend was trying to get permission to hunt on this farmers lands. Farmer is reluctant and only agrees to let him hunt if he dosn't bring his chewing tobacco because deer can smell it and he didn't want to mess up his stand. Well friend agrees, shows up the next morning, and he and the farmer go to their stand on opposite side of a sweet potato field. Friend figures noones around might as well have a little chew. Lunch time come and the friend and farmer meet back at the house and the farmer tells him that he can't hunt anymore on his land because he was chewing tobacco in his stand, and he told him not to. Friend finally admits it and ask how'd you know? Do I still have some in my teeth? No I saw you chewing it when I was looking through my scope.......

SP

 

[wilded]

I had a 100 yard shot at a really nice hill country buck and quietly cocked the hammer. Next I set the rear trigger and started to bring the rifle up to the deer when I just put my finger on the front trigger and it fired. The ball hit about 25 yards in front of the buck and he took off never to be seen again. Do not touch the trigger until you are ready to fire. :crackup:

 

[shmrck1]

BLAHMAN,
now you got it!!!!! :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
snake-eyes eace: :thumbsup:

 

[GobblerKnob]

I've never done it, but have hunted with two people who have had an unintended discharge. Both times it was caused by walking around with the hammer at full-cock. Fortunately, no one was hurt. I just hope both took advantage of the very valuable lesson opportunity...

 

[hobbles]

not black powder, but somethin to think bout,,,

Was ridin with a buddy once, He had his sidearm on his side ( fast draw style ) ,, Chamber was empty,, only 5 shots in his six shooter,, went though some brush,, brush grabbed the hammer and it fired as he went forward,, after the talkin was done and every one rode on,, he let me know it went through his calf, missed his horse ,, patched it up and kept ridin,, no one else knew,, Ya he was / is tough,, but was more worried bout bein picked on,, He now keeps the leather on the hammer,,

 

[Protrucker]

I had it happen last fall.......twice!
I was deer hunting & it was very cold (single digit temp) so I had a pair of heavy gloves on. A buck walked out in front of me. I cocked the hammer & set the trigger on my Renegade. As I raised the gun to my shoulder I must have bumped the trigger & it went off. As near as I could tell, the load probably went several feet over the bucks back. He disappeared of course. After cursing at myself I thought about what to do now. I decided to reload & see if anything else would come by. about a half hour later I was getting cold & decided to work my way up toward where the buck had been to make sure that I hadn't really hit him. I got about half way there & out stepped the buck again. I cocked the gun again & tried to get a shot, but he got behind some brush too quick. I waited for several minutes & didn't see him again so I decided to lower the hammer. (heavy gloves still on) Hammer slipped....BANG! Off runs the buck from behind the brush. @#$%^!!!! :curse: :curse: :curse:

Didn't get a buck this year. :cry:
I hate wearing heavy gloves!!!

 

[B.Habermehl]

My daughter and I had this happen. And I use this example in every one of the hunter ed courses I teach. When she was 12 we were out hunting deer, having been out sitting on stand for a while she was getting a bit frozen so I sugested we call it a morning and go for lunch. Before we climbed the rather steep hill back to the trail I told her we better uncap her rifle. With her being a really tiny 12 year old, I was helping her hold the rifle while she pulled the hammer back to allow the cap to be removed. Frozen fingers being what they are....... Since we were keeping the muzzle in a safe direction the only casulty was a hole in the ground. And some tears from a verry frightened young lady. Once she calmed down a bit. I gave her a hug and said by keeping the muzzle under control at all times even though we had a accidental discharge no harm was done. Sure drove the lession home to both of us!

 

[Rabbit]

I had my flintlock go off (into the ground) once. I had primed and was pulling the hammer to full cock. I heard the distinct "click" of the lock going into full cock. As soon as I let go of the hammer it fell and went off. It seems that my set triggers had rusted (from cleaning with water over the years, etc) and were hung up. Now every time I clean I am sure to put a drop of oil on the triggers. When this happened the shot went in a safe direction but I did get a burn from the pan went it went off.
I also had a very long hang fire once. I always hold after a hammer fall when it doesn't go off. I held for at least 10 seconds (this is my curse out the flintlock time) before lowering. When I lowered it I got to about waist level and it went off (in a safe direction).
Safety is always the most important thing when shooting and I have always been a stickler for it. I have seen two people shot with muzzleloaders (one a psitol, one a flintlock) and ever since I always make sure to keep an eye on people around me (and myself). Some people take it to heart but I just tell them about the two I saw shoot themselves and that usually does it.

 

[BLAHMAN]

BLAHMAN,
now you got it!!!!! :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
snake-eyes eace: :thumbsup:

From now on, I'll pay close attention :thumbsup: Thanks Snake-eyes!

 

Once, many moons ago (326 moons ago actually) I was just starting my muzzleloader experience, I went to cock the hammer to full cock and my thumb slipped off before it reached the full-cock notch...

Well, the hammer fell and shot by the half notch and fired the gun before it was aimed, luckily it was pointing towards the target area...

Just wondering, who else had an accidental firing and what was the conditions that caused it?

A school mate back in high school died in a shotgun accident. He was out with his Dad and Uncle, he laid his shotgun against the fender of the pick up, Uncle opens door on other side of the truck, gun starts to slide, he grabs for it. Boom. A bit of a smart ass, but he was fun to have around.

:sorry:

 

[musketman]

A school mate back in high school died in a shotgun accident. He was out with his Dad and Uncle, he laid his shotgun against the fender of the pick up, Uncle opens door on other side of the truck, gun starts to slide, he grabs for it. Boom. A bit of a smart ass, but he was fun to have around.

It is human nature to try to catch things that fall, these things happen...

What everyone should do is learn from this so it will be minimized in the future...

Even the most experienced gun user can't afford to slack on gun safety, lessons don't come cheap, many of us were lucky (from the examples posted above), again, it could have ended in death to ourselves or others...

We have all had some close calls (or know someone who has), what we do with this knowledge will reflect on the future shooters of this sport...

 

[BLAHMAN]

A school mate back in high school died in a shotgun accident. He was out with his Dad and Uncle, he laid his shotgun against the fender of the pick up, Uncle opens door on other side of the truck, gun starts to slide, he grabs for it. Boom. A bit of a smart ass, but he was fun to have around.

It is human nature to try to catch things that fall, these things happen...

What everyone should do is learn from this so it will be minimized in the future...

Even the most experienced gun user can't afford to slack on gun safety, lessons don't come cheap, many of us were lucky (from the examples posted above), again, it could have ended in death to ourselves or others...

We have all had some close calls (or know someone who has), what we do with this knowledge will reflect on the future shooters of this sport...

Sobering and well said...this is a serious sport, thanks MM.

 

While this incident didn't result in an unintentional discharge, it still bears mentioning.

When I was a pup (heck... I couldn't have been 10 or 11 I guess), I was taken on my first jack-rabbit hunt near Grantsville, Utah with some neighbor friends. I took my father's little Marlin .22 semi-auto. Not many rabbits, I hunted most of the day without seeing any. Late in the afternoon, I finally kick one out, and shoot it. It falls, in my excitement I run up to it, and it's laying there in the snow kicking and thrashing (your standard nerve and muscle twitching on death type stuff). Since I had never killed one before this, I panic, go to shoot it again, and the gun has jammed, so I take the rifle by the barrel and start clubbing this poor dead rabbit with it. One of the nearby adults notices this and starts running over to me screaming, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING! STOP!!" Just about the time his words penetrate the fog of panic, confusion, and excitement, the stock of the Marlin breaks into about 4 pieces. He reaches me and snatches the gun out of my hand, and gives me the absolutely proper and needed scolding. I had not even considered the gun going off... I just knew I wanted that rabbit to stop thrashing around. I think I nearly gave the neighbor a frickin' heart attack. Today I can only imagine the image running through his head of that gun going off and sending a bullet through my head while he's running over trying to stop me.

Needless to say, I learned my lesson about clubbing dead rabbits with a rifle. In the interest of not ending my hunting career before it began, the story my father got when I returned home was slightly adjusted. I glued the stock back together with some Elmer's wood glue, filled in one crack along the bottom with same said glue and some sawdust mixed in with it, and I still have the rifle to this day, and it still shoots as good as it did then. (That gun has always been a tack-driver.) I also learned that before I take any green kids hunting, I'm going to explain to them about the "death thrashing" BEFORE they kill any animals to prevent this sort of thing in the future.

 

[unionjack]

Let It Fall!!!! In everyday life we are all guilty of this! A few years back my aunt tried to CATCH a butcher knife that fell from the dish drain on the counter , 10 stiches to the palm of her hand and a hard lesson learned. While working at the plant one day a co-worker tried to CATCH a 500# valve body that had slipped of the platform it was resting on! We all knew how much it wieghed in at and he was a smart guy , but human instinct let him think he was going to stop this thing from falling. It CRUSHED his hand on the hand rail pinning his hand and wrist between the valve and the railing. Now he has lost all mobility in his wrist and three fingers , and suffers daily all from one split second reaction! Lets all Keep our fingers and toes , and go home to our families at the end of the day!!!

 

[Bluegrass]

The weight adjustment screw on my rifle tends to get shot loose.

NOT GOOD!!! :shocking:

A little dab of loctite fixed that frustrating/scarry little problem.