Bad habit = ND

"Why do you pull the trigger? I'm not familiar with this gun. You pull the trigger so the hammer isn't cocked?"

DAO auto.
Bad habit developed at the range.After shooting, whether to pack up, or switch guns, I pointed down and pulled the trigger, to make sure it was clear. I would never intentionally do that in the house, but.......well, for whatever reason, i just did it...Thats why I posted this... you should have the same handling routine for anyplace you are with a gun. I screwed up, and hoped I could maybe prevent someone else from doing the same. I really appreciate all the support from the folks on this forum...
Anyway,I now leave the slide open, and visually check it,every time,... revolvers are as before, left with cylinder open.
 
This happens more often than many are willing to admit. I've done something similar. Once. Using the same routine everytime helps. I've developed the habit of clearing the action of each gun and bringing it into the house only if the action/cylinder is open.

The good news is that you did not have the gun pointed in a direction where anyone could be injured, only property damage. Most of the time injuries of deaths occour is when several safety rules have been broken.
 
As an "explosives expert" retired with 10 fingers, 10 toes faacilities and organs intact, I have learned a great deal over the last 40 years of handling dangerous materials.

1) When you are rushed accidents happen. Take a deep breath and step back.
2) If you don't feel well don't work with dangerous materials
3) When ever the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, stop and reassess.
4) allways double check, triple check.

Lastly I hope you took your wife in your arms and hugged her for all that you are worth.

Thank you for causing myself and everyone who read this post to pause and review our practices.
 
Can I make a suggestion? Join your local Action Shooting League. IDPA, USPSA, etc. Volunteer to learn to be a Range Offgicer once you get your feet under you. Why? You'll get the kata of "Clear and Show Clear" drilled into your head.
 
"The day you get comfortable is the day you get careless"




I have had, and relayed here on TFL, a ND in my house as well. Something I will never forget, like you, I was traumatized :D It's a stern reminder for me, every time I pick up a gun, now.

What's that saying about motorcycle riders?


PRICELESS learning lesson. For the record, I clear, check, and point and pull the trigger too. I can't stand to have it 'cocked and locked'. With an outside hammer sure, decock it, but with internal striker fired?
 
The Four Rules of Firearms Safety

RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

I'm not beating you up, glad no one was hurt. However, your mishap involved violating all four of the above rules.

You have conceded that pulling the trigger to see if the weapon was unloaded is a bad idea. A visual inspection is what is required.

Some people go so far as to have a bucket of sand to aim at when charging or clearing their weapons. Others only dry fire at a solid back stop, such as a concrete, or brick wall, bullet resistant vest, etc.

In short, you can't ever be too careful with a deadly weapon.
 
"The Four Rules of Firearms Safety

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

I'm not beating you up, glad no one was hurt. However, your mishap involved violating all four of the above rules.

You have conceded that pulling the trigger to see if the weapon was unloaded is a bad idea. A visual inspection is what is required.

Some people go so far as to have a bucket of sand to aim at when charging or clearing their weapons. Others only dry fire at a solid back stop, such as a concrete, or brick wall, bullet resistant vest, etc.

In short, you can't ever be too careful with a deadly weapon. "

You are correct. I plead guilty as charged . I have learned my lesson.
 
Glad no one was hurt. I personally would not have a round in the chamber while in the house. I was in a friends house once when a neighbour came in messing about with a pistol he had being issued for personal protection. He pulled the trigger and a 9mm round went through my jeans, grazed my knee and logged in the floor. Maybe that's why i am a bit wary of people carrying with a round in the chamber. I am sure their are a lot more ND-S than people admit to.
 
Good hear no one was hurt in this last incident.

What I make a habit of doing after unloading the mag and round in the chamber is to rack the slide a few times (at least 3 or 4 times) to clear any round in the chamber. Visual inspection is also a good practice.
 
You made it sound like you were at the range when this happened.

I know this is only for striker fired, but when I finish at the range with my Glock I lock the slide back, take an empty mag and put 1 SnapCap in it, then I load the SnapCap and dry fire it it.

That way, in addition to it having an inert round, I also have a dead trigger.

But my Glocks are just range guns...

WOuldn't apply to a carry gun.
 
And Nate 45 posts;
The Four Rules of Firearms Safety
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
Click to expand...
And the author of those rules also had a ND,
Just saying.

I am deathly afraid of anyone who says that "IT" can't happen to them!
Thank you for the lessons.
We were drilled at the range to do the same thing (drop the hammer after clearing weapon)and I was never comfortable with dropping the hammer as a practice.
However I do have a habit of dry firing the Ruger LCP and carry it with an empty chamber. That practice is going to be changed.
And now starts the hard part.
I also thank you for the post.
 
Jeff Cooper had an ND? I wasn't aware of it, or may have forgotten it.

Anyway, it could happen to the best of us, don't ask me how I know. :o

About +/- 25 years ago I shot my refelection in an antique mirror, with a fast draw and a 115 grain Silver-Tip from a Beretta 951. :o On the bright side it was a very fast draw and the bullet hit right in my reflections wishbone. :)

I had been practicing drawing and dry firing at the mirror. I finished and loaded my 951. About that time I got a phone call from a young lady, we talked for quite a while. I went back to my bedroom, placed my cocked and locked 951 in its holster. Turned toward the mirror and absentmindedly drew and fired. Whoops. Luckily there was a stucco wall behind the mirror. After it went through the lead glass mirror, it flattened against the wall and that was the extent of the damage.

Needless to say I've been a strong adherent and advocate of the four rules ever since. I also preach it in the hopes that other people don't have to learn the hard way.
 
bad habit

dry firing is something this old man has never done inside a home. just a habit my dad taught me years ago. i always visually verify my weapons are unloaded and then check it again.
 
As everyone has pointed out, these kinds of things happen (I would guess usually only ONCE) with many gun owners.

I was once manually decocking my tokarev (only way to do it, no safety on mine) into my belly and my thumb slipped because I wasn't pressing hard enough/taking my time. I was lucky enough to only get a graze, a couple of burned holes in my shirt, and a wave of relief that I wasn't going to have to walk the block away to the hospital.

Haste makes waste, and might even get you shot!
 
Slope;
This will be hard to get over -- will be years as you think upon this from time to time to time...

Was a bad habit for all the oft repeated rules, yes.

Thank goodness no-one was hurt. And thanks for sharing this.

Done your mea culpa. You're forgiven.

Happy New Year
 
You said you were in a hurry. Being in a hurry and handling a gun, unless your life is threatened...you'd agree, not a good idea, right?

Anyway, I had an ND indoors also, so I feel for you, my friend. In my case, the room was dimly lit.

You were lucky and I doubt you will let it happen again.
 
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Many years ago, I chambered a round in a .22, and it slam fired sending the bullet through a closet wall, down a row of hanging shirts and into the opposite wall where it stopped. Virtually every long sleeved shirt I owned had two holes through the left sleeve.
 
Thanks for the reminder

There's a chance that telling your story may save a life down the road. As a newbie, I'm still trying to make safe handling a reflex. Every time I pick up a firearm I think about the safest direction to point it. Stories like yours reinforce the importance of doing so.

Thank you, and I'm very glad no harm was done.
 
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