My Stupid Dangerous Discharge Lesson. Even the best make mistakes

[MRM]

I don't mean to come across odd.
Thanks for sharing OP.
I just don't subscribe to the reasoning that in the course of concealed carry or otherwise how a man can just accept the inevitability of "fiddling" or otherwise ND of a firearm.
I prefer to maintain control of my "guns".
My grandpa (all of them) would be rolling over in their graves.
Ho hum oh well.

 

[biker_bill]

I don't mean to come across odd.
Thanks for sharing OP.
I just don't subscribe to the reasoning that in the course of concealed carry or otherwise how a man can just accept the inevitability of "fiddling" or otherwise ND of a firearm.
I prefer to maintain control of my "guns".
My grandpa (all of them) would be rolling over in their graves.
Ho hum oh well.

I agree, but I like the word inevitable here for a different reason.
Like you, I don't think it is inevitable, but if you consider it is, you'll be that much safer and you can never have too much of that!

Having an accident with a firearm is a lot like having an accident in an airplane.
When I was flying they always talked about the "Chain" of events that led to the accident.
The chain being made of links and if any of the links are busted the accident doesn't happen.

Had I saw that round in the cylinder, the ND wouldn't have happened.
Had I counted correctly the rounds in my hand, the ND wouldn't have happened.
Had the cylinder been indexed to a different spot, the ND wouldn't have happened.
Like you, I always thought it couldn't happen to me, it's a very humbling experience that will last my lifetime....
I screwed up one time, fortunately no one got hurt, it's still very hard to swallow.....

 

[palmettomoon]

I consider my own murder of a sliding glass door a "DD", dumbass discharge. The fellow at last year's gunshow at the Expo Center that shot the round into the wall which ricocheted into the next man's leg? That's a negligent discharge.

 

[Freshly Minted Georgian!]

Having read this entire thread it seems we should all agree on a couple of core elements.

1) That cat is badass
2) If you are around guns long enough either you or someone near you is going to put a hole in something that wasn't supposed to have a hole in it
3) 1911's and revolvers are good guns for defense to buy you enough time to get to the PROPER home defense implement known as a 12g pump shotgun

Awesome comments guys!

 

[grabbin' asphalt]

I know it's all about training and the critical procedures whenever there is a NEW Gun Design, or Unfamiliar with anything you've ever owned, I find it hard to rely on something that has No History of Training in a critical environment.
That being said, it's basically the Inexperienced "NEW TO YOU GUN" that typically gets you in the lapse of operation related to an ND.
The 1911 just isn't designed to have the hammer dropped on a live round. Obviously the revolver requires the complete Opposite operation of a 1911 to make safe.
Thats why Rule #1 always point it in a "SAFE direction" until needed will save your butt in most circumstances with Cross Referencing Firearm Operations to a NEW to you Design.

On a side note, I've seen 1 ND with a guy who mixed up his order of operation on an AR pistol, Instead of Dropping the mag, Pull charging handle to clear then Dry fire.
He Pulled the charging handle, Dropped the mag then "Wet Fired" one into the Ceiling....LMAO!!!!
Rule #1 saved his butt, it was loud as crap too Hahaha

 

[BLIP]

Many can claim "this would never happen to me". Until. That fateful moment when a small error causes a big boom. I am probably a little more cautious now and my cat doesn't hang around the front door as much... be safe, be smart, it could happen to anyone...

 

[Psilloh1]

At 16 in the Adirondak mountains. My dad offered me a 30-30 that he never used... I had never shot it growing up in the southern zone which is Shotgun only country with slugs.

We are on the middle of a frozen road 10 miles from anywhere... he loads it and has an ND... it's 2 degrees outside, I watch a piece of the road with ice and snow about the size of hub cab disappear... The flash and report was unbelievable... We looked at each other for about 5 seconds.. both realizing what really could have happened if he wasn't always harping on me about gun barrel management... He then say's calmly.. "you probably shouldn't tell your mother"...

That will be coming up on 40 years ago... Dad is long gone... I was fortunate to receive his gun collection along with that 30-30 and cherish them... However, the 30-30 was sold when my first born son was about a year old..

Both my boys have killed several nice bucks with thier Grandfathers guns, which are now theirs... I know he was watching above supporting me in selling that..

I couldn't in good conscious pass that down to my boys, and have that in the back of my mind....

A common theme I hear in this thread is:

1. An unfamiliar weapon.
2. A high degree of confidence
3. Recognizing or doing a "Post Mortem" or reflection on the event.
4. Learning and developing a plan going forward to reconfirm a clear firearm


I remember that day outside of Big Moose Lake like it was yesterday....

 

[Dogwood]

Squirrel hunting with my trusty single barrel Stevens 410 when I was around 9 years old. Had a shot at a big fox squirrel with white face but he got away before I could shoot. About five minutes later I had to climb over a really large log. I leaned the 410 against the log, crawled over, and then grabbed the barrel. I recall the muzzle blast to my face and falling back flat on my back. For a few seconds I wasn't sure if I was dead or alive but luckily for me I missed my head but a couple of inches. I had failed to let the hammer down after attempting to take the old fox squirrel. I suppose a stick or twig stuck in the trigger or just the grabbing caused it to fire. I remember thinking how sad my mother would have been finding me next to the log with my head blown off. That was many decades ago and a valuable lesson I never forgot. I still have the 410 and it took many raccoons,ducks, quail, squirrels, and 2 bobcats and a deer. Then it was laid to rest until my son took his first deer with it. He was told the story and long graduated to fancy bolt guns but the lesson remains the same.

 

[Ex313]

I went to a range with a group of guys from my squadron. I'd just traded one of them for a Sears "Ted Williams" 30-30. My first personally owned firearm.
We're all making brass and I hear someone say "Cease Fire" because they wanted to change targets.
I had a round in the chamber and for some I thought I could lower the hammer into a "half-cock" position. The hammer slipped out from under my thumb and went downrange, I was still pointing it in a safe direction.
My buddies had just removed their ear-pro and I got the edge of the hammer jammed into my thumb.So a lot of pain all around.
So yeah, familiarity with the gun your handling is as important as following all of the other safety rules.

 

[BLIP]

There are some guys here being honest with themselves and honest with you the reader. The point of this thread was for me to admit to my mistake, share it with you in the hope others would learn from it. We have had some others share similar experiences to mine which are actually helpful to me.
I find it rather funny when someone chimes in "this would never happen to me because... blah, blah, blah training, brains, fortitude", when it does happen the only training that really counts is keeping it pointed in a safe direction... Remember, a firearm IS ALWAYS loaded when it's in your hand...