I had my first negligent discharge today. - The Firearms Forum

ilovenxstage · 10-03-2012, 03:00 PM

I was reloading my Charter .38 after touching up the bluing on it and I violated one of the basic laws of firearm safety

I snapped the cylinder closed, and I had my finger inside the trigger guard. I STUPIDLY wasn't paying attention, and BOOM! I now have a .38 bullet hole in my bedroom ceiling. I feel like the stupidest idiot in the world now. I always told myself "it'll never happen to me!" Guess I was wrong. But at least no one was hurt because I make sure the gun never points toward where someone else would be when I'm handling it. I guess all that was hurt was my pride, my ceiling, and my hearing (a snub nose .38 going off in a tiny bedroom is LOUD!). I thank GOD that's all that was hurt!

aa1911 · 10-03-2012, 03:09 PM

I've only had one, was screwing around with my GP100 walking down the hallway in my rental house; I was reloading rounds for it at the time and wanted to test out a primed case for some reason in it. I went and retrieved it from the living room from it's hiding spot and as I strolled down the hall towards the reloader, I thumbed the hammer to rotate the cylinder like a freakin' cowboy idiot. My hands being sweaty, the hammer slipped out from under my thumb and BOOM! sent a round throught the floor!

nobody was home so like you said, only my pride was damaged. never found the bullet hole either, thick carpet concealed it.

Never had one since and I'm not ever planning on it again, I consider it a huge error of the greatest magnitude. I go to great lengths to ensure I don't have an ND ever again. Where I work, an ND/AD means finding a new job!

CampingJosh · 10-03-2012, 03:10 PM

That's why there is redundancy in the Four Rules.

Glad no one was hurt, and glad you learned from it.

JUNKKING · 10-03-2012, 03:36 PM

I did it in my garage after leaving the range late one night not knowing my wife left a loaded magazine in the ruger mkIII I went to tear it down to clean it and bang then bang again. Not once but twice. It was my own fault for not checking the gun I just assumed and we all know what assuming does. Nice dent in my riding mower and my pride as well. Just glad nobody was hurt in my assuming.

ryan42 · 10-03-2012, 03:38 PM

Oh dont feel bad I had a brain fart in missouri.we were trap shooting and the instructor told us to drop a shell in and keep the action open while we were waiting our turn to shoot.I lost count of how many shots we had shot.I was the 1st shooter so when the guy to my left shot the fifth time we were told to rotate and I knew it was a foul to rotate loaded so I racked the pump to eject the shell I had my finger on the trigger.Kaboom scared the begeepers out of me.The good thing was I had it pointed down range and down so I just blew a hole in the ground and my pride.I was mad at myself for a long time.You definitely learn from it.

firefighter1635 · 10-03-2012, 04:45 PM

Glad no one was hurt and hopefully a learning experience.

gvw3 · 10-03-2012, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan42

Oh dont feel bad I had a brain fart in missouri.we were trap shooting and the instructor told us to drop a shell in and keep the action open while we were waiting our turn to shoot.I lost count of how many shots we had shot.I was the 1st shooter so when the guy to my left shot the fifth time we were told to rotate and I knew it was a foul to rotate loaded so I racked the pump to eject the shell I had my finger on the trigger.Kaboom scared the begeepers out of me.The good thing was I had it pointed down range and down so I just blew a hole in the ground and my pride.I was mad at myself for a long time.You definitely learn from it.

Scared me to Ryan.

gvw3 · 10-03-2012, 05:25 PM

I was at a range and was putting my 10-22 away. It was in the case and I noticed I left the mag in. I went to pull the mad and some how I hit the trigger. It went click. It was empty but I couldn't help but think if there was still a round in there I could have killed some one.

From that day on I always verify the gun is empty and the safety is on before I move from the shooting area. I have been around guns all my life and that is the closest I have come to a negligent discharge. You can never be to careful.

jack404 · 10-03-2012, 05:36 PM

my first got me 48 hours on the track in full pack and rifle ..

JUNKKING · 10-03-2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack404

my first got me 48 hours on the track in full pack and rifle ..

Bet that was your last too!

BETH · 10-03-2012, 06:06 PM

glad no one was hurt it will be something u will never forget.

JLA · 10-03-2012, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovenxstage

I was reloading my Charter .38 after touching up the bluing on it and I violated one of the basic laws of firearm safety

I snapped the cylinder closed, and I had my finger inside the trigger guard. I STUPIDLY wasn't paying attention, and BOOM! I now have a .38 bullet hole in my bedroom ceiling. I feel like the stupidest idiot in the world now. I always told myself "it'll never happen to me!" Guess I was wrong. But at least no one was hurt because I make sure the gun never points toward where someone else would be when I'm handling it. I guess all that was hurt was my pride, my ceiling, and my hearing (a snub nose .38 going off in a tiny bedroom is LOUD!). I thank GOD that's all that was hurt!

How in the world did the cartridges stay in the cylinder with the muzzle up long enough for you to snap it shut? and how did you touch off a DA trigger without knowing?

76Highboy · 10-03-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovenxstage

I was reloading my Charter .38 after touching up the bluing on it and I violated one of the basic laws of firearm safety

I snapped the cylinder closed, and I had my finger inside the trigger guard. I STUPIDLY wasn't paying attention, and BOOM! I now have a .38 bullet hole in my bedroom ceiling. I feel like the stupidest idiot in the world now. I always told myself "it'll never happen to me!" Guess I was wrong. But at least no one was hurt because I make sure the gun never points toward where someone else would be when I'm handling it. I guess all that was hurt was my pride, my ceiling, and my hearing (a snub nose .38 going off in a tiny bedroom is LOUD!). I thank GOD that's all that was hurt!

How can you load a double action revolver that has the muzzle pointed upward without the cartridges falling out? Also, did you uncontrollably cock the hammer and pull the trigger or was it a double action mistake? IMO it would be kind of difficult to identically pull the trigger on a double action. I don't know if I missed something on this.

JLA · 10-03-2012, 07:20 PM

I had the same initial thought Jim. All DA revolvers are designed so they wont cock manually with the cylinder open. nor will the cylinder latch disengage if the hammer is cocked. And gravity will yank a loaded round right out of the cylinder of any revolver if the cylinder is turned up. closing one without dropping a round or 3 is next to impossible. So the cylinder had to have been closed with the muzzle down and the hammer then thumbed with the muzzle up and the trigger pulled.

76Highboy · 10-03-2012, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLA

I had the same initial thought Jim. All DA revolvers are designed so they wont cock manually with the cylinder open. nor will the cylinder latch disengage if the hammer is cocked. And gravity will yank a loaded round right out of the cylinder of any revolver if the cylinder is turned up. closing one without dropping a round or 3 is next to impossible. So the cylinder had to have been closed with the muzzle down and the hammer then thumbed with the muzzle up and the trigger pulled.

I agree JLA. As a matter of fact you can't even load a SA revolver upside down. It just won't work. Also, you are right about the DA not being able to cock with the cylinder open. I am sure the op is being truthful, I am just thinking the percussion of the round going off scrambled his memory. I think he loaded it muzzle down, closed the cylinder, and then out of habit pulled the trigger DA and got a surprise.

My brother has had multiple misfires and I stay away from him. One misfire that he had was because he always dry fired every DA revolver he held and it became such a habit that that is what he did one day when he knew the gun was loaded while he was holding it.

I am glad the op is OK but remember this. If you are going to dry fire a firearm of any kind, be aware of the muzzle direction before you place the index finger on the trigger. Also, when practicing dry firing, always be aware of when you are doing it. Don't just start pulling away on the trigger. There are stories of grown men who have been sitting in their recliner at home and night after night they practice dry firing their hand gun. Then one night they are on the phone talking to a friend and not paying attention and decide to grab their revolver and practice dry firing without engaging their brain and end up blowing their family jewels off, or may be a middle toe.

Engage brain, then pick up gun, check the gun, and watch your muzzle and your trigger finger. Be careful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am glad you and everyone is OK op.

Awtoman · 10-03-2012, 08:21 PM

I rode motorcycles for 40+ years. There was an old saying, "There are two kinds of riders, those that have been down, and those that haven't been down yet." Well, after 40+ years of relatively safe riding, a 16 year old girl figured out a way to circumvent my efforts to remain safe and upright. As much as we talk about and practice safety around firearms, I suspect we will all experience an accidental discharge at some point in our lives.

As with any undesirable event, learn from it, be glad you are here to tell the tale, and forgive yourself.
Tom

jack404 · 10-03-2012, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLA

How in the world did the cartridges stay in the cylinder with the muzzle up long enough for you to snap it shut? and how did you touch off a DA trigger without knowing?

its called clinching

took me 4 months to get my daughter to not do it

a few reasons it happens to folks

sometimes its a reaction to movement and folks grab hard

something like pre empting recoil , folks will death grip the gun and miss what they aim at last second

you just gotta be aware and train yourself out of bad habits

trigger finger ( all fingers) outside the guard when working or cleaning weapons being the top one

working on crap guns over the years i've had a few since my army expeience but they've all been pointed where they should in case ..

you get that on old guns

ilovenxstage · 10-03-2012, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLA

How in the world did the cartridges stay in the cylinder with the muzzle up long enough for you to snap it shut? and how did you touch off a DA trigger without knowing?

The gun was level when I snapped the cylinder shut, then I raised the muzzle, then I guess I just squeezed. Like Highboy said, the noise and concussion scrambled my circuits and I don't remember actually doing it. All I really remember is raising the muzzle toward the ceiling, then I saw a flash, heard what sounded like a muffled pop and instantly I couldn't hear anything but ringing. It took me several seconds to realize the gun had gone off. I obviously squeezed the trigger, I just don't know why. The biggest cause of the accident was that I simply wasn't paying attention to what I was doing.

Gabob · 10-03-2012, 10:04 PM

I once made a statement that there are two kinds of people. Those who have had an AD and those who will. I got badly flamed. Quite a few said it would never happen to them. In well over 60 years of shooting I have had three. Two were broken sear springs and one was 15 year old stupidity but the pistol was pointed in a safe direction. Glad no one was hurt in your AD

jack404 · 10-03-2012, 10:09 PM

they happen to the best of us , but the best of us are mindfull were we point them so if...

then nothing is upset besides who does the washing

76Highboy · 10-03-2012, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabob

I once made a statement that there are two kinds of people. Those who have had an AD and those who will. I got badly flamed. Quite a few said it would never happen to them. In well over 60 years of shooting I have had three. Two were broken sear springs and one was 15 year old stupidity but the pistol was pointed in a safe direction. Glad no one was hurt in your AD

I never have and I hope I never will, but, I am always aware that I could. I am as clumsy as the next guy.

stumpjumper · 10-03-2012, 10:15 PM

thinking you better check the roof for a hole

armedandsafe · 10-03-2012, 10:37 PM

I was sitting on a large rock, overlooking a tree-grown gully when Dad called that we were moving on. I started unloading my 03A3 prior to climbing down that rock and one round went off. Trigger finger in the wrong place while working the action.

Had one in the middle of the night when somebody came in through the locked front door. Grabbed the pistol, slammed in the magazine and tripped the slide lock. I don't know how scared the intruder was by the report, because I never saw him. He made almost as much noise going out the broken door as coming in. Sheriff said he used to live in that house until his wife locked him out.

Pops

jstgsn · 10-03-2012, 10:43 PM

I've been in a few small rooms when small arms went off. REALLY gets your attention. I had just bought a .22 rifle, can't remember the brand, but it was an auto loader. Wanted to see how many the tube would hold, so with my sons all around me, we dropped in 16 long rifle rounds. I aimed it at the living room floor and chambered "one". The round, along with the other 15 emptied full auto. My oldest son looked at me and asked if there was a quieter way to count them. I explained that wasn't suposed to happen. Luckly no wires or pipes hit in the basement, not to mention, no children shot full of holes. Gave me many a nightmare.
Years before that, in college, we had a house trailer off campus (in Kansas) and everyone had guns sitting around. Bunch of guys sitting on the couch watching a western and one of them grabs a marlin 30-30 lever action from the corner and aims at the tv to shoot the bad guy. We all chipped in to buy a new tv. (that one was really loud).
Anyway, keep your finger off the trigger.

mogunner · 10-03-2012, 11:20 PM

12, and playing with the .22 bolt action rifle that I was NOT supposed to touch... best way to get a kid to mess with something is tell them NOT to. The parents and siblings were gone and I had found a loose .22 round, so was sitting in the stairwell going upstairs where Dad kept the rifle, chambering and ejecting the cartridge, at some point pulled the trigger. I found a nice neat little hole in the upstairs ceiling, right at the corner of the ceiling and wall. Patched it with bubble gum and a little dab of paint...

10-03-2012, 03:00 PM	#1
ilovenxstage V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 147	I had my first negligent discharge today. I was reloading my Charter .38 after touching up the bluing on it and I violated one of the basic laws of firearm safety I snapped the cylinder closed, and I had my finger inside the trigger guard. I STUPIDLY wasn't paying attention, and BOOM! I now have a .38 bullet hole in my bedroom ceiling. I feel like the stupidest idiot in the world now. I always told myself "it'll never happen to me!" Guess I was wrong. But at least no one was hurt because I make sure the gun never points toward where someone else would be when I'm handling it. I guess all that was hurt was my pride, my ceiling, and my hearing (a snub nose .38 going off in a tiny bedroom is LOUD!). I thank GOD that's all that was hurt! __________________ 1938 Mosin Nagant 91/30 H. Schmidt 22 revolver Heritage Rough Rider .22 revolver Marlin 25 .22 rifle NEF Pardner 12ga shotgun Winchester 1200 12ga shotgun CVA Buckhorn .50 muzzleloader "A gun is not a weapon, Marge. It's a tool. Like a butcher knife...or a harpoon, or......an alligator!" -Homer Simpson "Don't push it under the rug, don't forget it, because it's going to happen again." -Josephine Harris, 9/11 survivor -->

10-03-2012, 03:09 PM	#2
aa1911 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 3,122	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. I've only had one, was screwing around with my GP100 walking down the hallway in my rental house; I was reloading rounds for it at the time and wanted to test out a primed case for some reason in it. I went and retrieved it from the living room from it's hiding spot and as I strolled down the hall towards the reloader, I thumbed the hammer to rotate the cylinder like a freakin' cowboy idiot. My hands being sweaty, the hammer slipped out from under my thumb and BOOM! sent a round throught the floor! nobody was home so like you said, only my pride was damaged. never found the bullet hole either, thick carpet concealed it. Never had one since and I'm not ever planning on it again, I consider it a huge error of the greatest magnitude. I go to great lengths to ensure I don't have an ND ever again. Where I work, an ND/AD means finding a new job! __________________ "Loud noises don't end gunfights.... well placed shots do."

10-03-2012, 03:10 PM	#3
CampingJosh TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 4,799	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. That's why there is redundancy in the Four Rules. Glad no one was hurt, and glad you learned from it. __________________ Nothing posted on TheFirearmsForum.com constitutes legal, accounting, gunsmithing, or other professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals for real advice. Your life is lived at your own risk. Don't blame me for the dumb things you do.

10-03-2012, 03:36 PM	#4
JUNKKING Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Just East of Pittsburgh PA Contributor Posts: 1,817	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. I did it in my garage after leaving the range late one night not knowing my wife left a loaded magazine in the ruger mkIII I went to tear it down to clean it and bang then bang again. Not once but twice. It was my own fault for not checking the gun I just assumed and we all know what assuming does. Nice dent in my riding mower and my pride as well. Just glad nobody was hurt in my assuming. __________________ Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and again!

10-03-2012, 03:38 PM	#5
ryan42 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: marion indiana Contributor Posts: 1,589	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. Oh dont feel bad I had a brain fart in missouri.we were trap shooting and the instructor told us to drop a shell in and keep the action open while we were waiting our turn to shoot.I lost count of how many shots we had shot.I was the 1st shooter so when the guy to my left shot the fifth time we were told to rotate and I knew it was a foul to rotate loaded so I racked the pump to eject the shell I had my finger on the trigger.Kaboom scared the begeepers out of me.The good thing was I had it pointed down range and down so I just blew a hole in the ground and my pride.I was mad at myself for a long time.You definitely learn from it. __________________ Tommorrow is promised to know one! Ryan Stevens

10-03-2012, 04:45 PM	#6
firefighter1635 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US of A Contributor Posts: 1,838	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. Glad no one was hurt and hopefully a learning experience.

10-03-2012, 05:25 PM	#8
gvw3 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chicago IL Area Contributor Posts: 3,463	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. I was at a range and was putting my 10-22 away. It was in the case and I noticed I left the mag in. I went to pull the mad and some how I hit the trigger. It went click. It was empty but I couldn't help but think if there was still a round in there I could have killed some one. From that day on I always verify the gun is empty and the safety is on before I move from the shooting area. I have been around guns all my life and that is the closest I have come to a negligent discharge. You can never be to careful. __________________ Criminals advocate stronger gun laws to foster a safer work environment. This limits their exposure to risk.

10-03-2012, 05:36 PM	#9
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. my first got me 48 hours on the track in full pack and rifle ..

10-03-2012, 06:06 PM	#11
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,686	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. glad no one was hurt it will be something u will never forget.

10-03-2012, 07:20 PM	#14
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. I had the same initial thought Jim. All DA revolvers are designed so they wont cock manually with the cylinder open. nor will the cylinder latch disengage if the hammer is cocked. And gravity will yank a loaded round right out of the cylinder of any revolver if the cylinder is turned up. closing one without dropping a round or 3 is next to impossible. So the cylinder had to have been closed with the muzzle down and the hammer then thumbed with the muzzle up and the trigger pulled. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-03-2012, 08:21 PM	#16
Awtoman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Middle Tennessee Posts: 367	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. I rode motorcycles for 40+ years. There was an old saying, "There are two kinds of riders, those that have been down, and those that haven't been down yet." Well, after 40+ years of relatively safe riding, a 16 year old girl figured out a way to circumvent my efforts to remain safe and upright. As much as we talk about and practice safety around firearms, I suspect we will all experience an accidental discharge at some point in our lives. As with any undesirable event, learn from it, be glad you are here to tell the tale, and forgive yourself. Tom __________________ Tom's Garage Last edited by Awtoman; 10-03-2012 at 08:23 PM..

10-03-2012, 10:04 PM	#19
Gabob Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW GA CSA Posts: 1,162	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. I once made a statement that there are two kinds of people. Those who have had an AD and those who will. I got badly flamed. Quite a few said it would never happen to them. In well over 60 years of shooting I have had three. Two were broken sear springs and one was 15 year old stupidity but the pistol was pointed in a safe direction. Glad no one was hurt in your AD __________________ NRA Endowment Member Keep Your Powder Dry

10-03-2012, 10:09 PM	#20
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. they happen to the best of us , but the best of us are mindfull were we point them so if... then nothing is upset besides who does the washing

10-03-2012, 10:15 PM	#22
stumpjumper Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: swflorida Contributor Posts: 660	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. thinking you better check the roof for a hole __________________ after three rounds you're just making noise Guns have only two enemies rust and politicians

10-03-2012, 10:37 PM	#23
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. I was sitting on a large rock, overlooking a tree-grown gully when Dad called that we were moving on. I started unloading my 03A3 prior to climbing down that rock and one round went off. Trigger finger in the wrong place while working the action. Had one in the middle of the night when somebody came in through the locked front door. Grabbed the pistol, slammed in the magazine and tripped the slide lock. I don't know how scared the intruder was by the report, because I never saw him. He made almost as much noise going out the broken door as coming in. Sheriff said he used to live in that house until his wife locked him out. Pops

10-03-2012, 10:43 PM	#24
jstgsn Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Milford, Delaware Contributor Posts: 1,314	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. I've been in a few small rooms when small arms went off. REALLY gets your attention. I had just bought a .22 rifle, can't remember the brand, but it was an auto loader. Wanted to see how many the tube would hold, so with my sons all around me, we dropped in 16 long rifle rounds. I aimed it at the living room floor and chambered "one". The round, along with the other 15 emptied full auto. My oldest son looked at me and asked if there was a quieter way to count them. I explained that wasn't suposed to happen. Luckly no wires or pipes hit in the basement, not to mention, no children shot full of holes. Gave me many a nightmare. Years before that, in college, we had a house trailer off campus (in Kansas) and everyone had guns sitting around. Bunch of guys sitting on the couch watching a western and one of them grabs a marlin 30-30 lever action from the corner and aims at the tv to shoot the bad guy. We all chipped in to buy a new tv. (that one was really loud). Anyway, keep your finger off the trigger. __________________ Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he will just kill you.

10-03-2012, 11:20 PM	#25
mogunner Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Eastern Missouri Posts: 1,049	Re: I had my first negligent discharge today. 12, and playing with the .22 bolt action rifle that I was NOT supposed to touch... best way to get a kid to mess with something is tell them NOT to. The parents and siblings were gone and I had found a loose .22 round, so was sitting in the stairwell going upstairs where Dad kept the rifle, chambering and ejecting the cartridge, at some point pulled the trigger. I found a nice neat little hole in the upstairs ceiling, right at the corner of the ceiling and wall. Patched it with bubble gum and a little dab of paint...