Safety - Horror stories and near misses

[Tony Wells]

Well, on the gun safety front, I'm fortunate to be alive. Many years ago, I was sitting on the floor along with a cousin and a good friend, just in a semi-circle watching TV. I had, at the time an 8 x 57 Mauser in a Iranian tanker's carbine barrel build. In my house, at the time, I kept all the guns loaded. My cousin, sitting just to my right, was handling the carbine. I told him it was loaded, just to make sure he knew. He pulled the bolt back, I suppose to make sure I didn't mean loaded and chambered. It was not.....until he cycled the bolt back in. Now it is chambered. I didn't catch it. A few minutes later, he pulls the trigger, and the muzzle was pointing in my direction and the bullet missed my head by less than a foot. My right ear never recovered it's proper hearing. The bullet hit and went through a nearby door facing, both sides of that wall, up through the ceiling, and out through the roof. I was about 2 feet away from the muzzle end. After the shock of what had happened lessened a bit, I gave him the chewing out of a lifetime. He never handled another of my firearms.


I've got lots of machine shop stuff, but nothing came close to killing me.

Another time, my hat was blown off by the muzzle blast from a 12g carried by a fellow hunter walking behind he as he stumbled.....but that's another story.

 

[ScrapMetal]

Both stories are enough to make one hyper-aware of muzzle control (as well as allowing anyone to handle your firearms). As a matter of fact, you've just helped to add to the training I'm giving my kids (and wife, but that's a whole 'nother issue :biggrin. To this point I've always instructed the kids, "Whenever you pick up a gun, are handed one, etc. the very first thing you should do is to remove the magazine (if applicable) and to see if there is anything in the chamber." In your case there was nothing in the chamber but a check of it would have enabled a round to go in the chamber so now I'll be adding something like, "and clear the round".

I'll be thinking on that one a bit harder as guns with fixed/internal mags will have to be "cycle through and clear all rounds" or "leave action open with no round in the chamber" or some such. Some food for though anyway.

Thanks,

-Ron

 

[irishwoodsman]

had my boy and girl in the woods when they still had pampers on, my girl shoots a 6.5x55 swede my son a 303 british i prefer the mauser in a 7 mag, they can break their rifles down and put back together in no time, if you teach your kids about guns and how to respect them your going to have no misshaps but as a parent you have to teach them:biggrin:

 

[bobbyjim]

When in the Vietnam with the 1st U.S. Cavelry Regiment. I was issued a .45 and of course never carried a round chambered. One day we were on the way from Chu Lai to Tam Ky. Serveral of us were riding on top of a track when a shot was fired. Directly behind me was a guy wearing a .45 strapped to his hip. It discharged and went threw the bottom of his holster and bounced off the steel deck right behind me. All he had to say was "That's the 2nd time that has happened, guess I will have to stopped carrying a round in the chamber".

You don't carry those old .45's with a round in the chamber. The slightist jar and the firing pin hits the primer.

 

[pjf134]

Being a firearm instructor for the NRA and Game Commission I have some stories, but one sticks with me. While putting on a home firearm course a old lady about 80 came in the room with a paper bag and I asked her what was in it, she said 3 hand guns to get advice on. I opened the bag and 3 hand guns were all cocked, as I froze for a moment the other instructors came over to look in the bag and we just stood there for a moment trying to decide what to do next. We took the bag (gently) outside and cut the bag off the guns and yes they were all loaded. After that we advised all classes to not bring firearms or ammo to the class and we check at the door before they come in. We use class guns with dummy ammo for the talks and hands on work and the live fire is on the range after that. We all spent extra time with that lady to make sure she was trained well for her sake. I was sure glad to go home that day with nothing bad to report or say about the course.
Paul

 

[george wilson]

In high school,I went to the machine shop to use a 9" South Bend lathe to turn a piece for a science project. The stupid teacher was most often gone,and was eventually fired. Plenty of dangerous behavior went on in that class. Boys throwing files at each other and making welding torches sound like machine guns to name a few. Eventually,they made a still,and were making whiskey when the principal found out!! He was fired.

Of course,he wasn't there to see this kid standing behind me right against my lathe.

I was turning a steel bar about 4" long. For some reason,I looked behind me. A student was just behind me. He had on one of those super hairy sweaters that were popular back then (1958). His sweater was wrapping around the leadscrew. His sweater's arm had gotten caught in it. His neck was quickly approaching the leadscrew,and was only about 4" from it when I saw him. Fortunately,I had the presence of mind to throw the lathe in reverse instantly. I was a novice with the lathe at the time,so lucky for him I didn't panic,or go blank. He had never said anything to alert me. Just kept trying to pull loose. His thoroughly mangled,greasy sweater unwound,freeing him. He walked away,and never did say a single word. I still wonder if he knew how close he came to getting his neck broken.

 

[jworman]

Being a firearm instructor for the NRA and Game Commission I have some stories, but one sticks with me. (snip)
Paul

My Brother-in-Law and I were out at the range many years ago. We were shooting pistols off the shooting bench when a car load of young guys (20-25ish) came up. They asked if we minded if they shot their pistols along with us? We told them sure, and we started shooting.

I looked over and one of the guys had a .357 and he was about to shoot. He had his left hand wrapped around the front of the frame and the cylinder. I frowned a bit as I had never seen anyone shoot that way. I too was pretty much a novice, so I didn't say anything, but it made me uncomfortable.

He tripped the round off and immediately I knew why I had never seen that shooting position before. It cut his fingers to the bone! I felt bad for him, but I didn't know better at the time. I've seen it attempted a few times since, but this time I do speak up.

 

[Kennyd]

How NOT to unscrew a Lathe Chuck

Not mine thank God...this kid is lucky: [video]http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d27_1291395628[/video]

 

[ScrapMetal]

Re: How NOT to unscrew a Lathe Chuck

I worked with a guy who took a ride on his lathe.
In wasn't on purpose.
Anybody interested in that one?

You've definitely piqued my curiosity. Let's hear it.

Not mine thank God...this kid is lucky: [video]http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d27_1291395628[/video]

You know... there are just some people that you wonder just how they are still alive. What a twit.

-Ron

 

[flutedchamber]

When in the Vietnam with the 1st U.S. Cavelry Regiment. I was issued a .45 and of course never carried a round chambered. One day we were on the way from Chu Lai to Tam Ky. Serveral of us were riding on top of a track when a shot was fired. Directly behind me was a guy wearing a .45 strapped to his hip. It discharged and went threw the bottom of his holster and bounced off the steel deck right behind me. All he had to say was "That's the 2nd time that has happened, guess I will have to stopped carrying a round in the chamber".

You don't carry those old .45's with a round in the chamber. The slightist jar and the firing pin hits the primer.

Was the pistol cocked and locked, or just a round in the chamber with the hammer down? I assume the latter, as I have never seen a 1911 in correct order that would fire from a jar if it was cocked and locked.