Has this happened to anyone else?

J

justplainpossum

New member
Before I got my .45 last week, I mainly used my Ruger Security Six .357 magnum. I had been practicing firing at a target, and I swear I counted six shots. I did a dry fire at the ground, and it was a live shot.

I then shot it again, and the same thing happened; I miscounted. To say that was unnerving is an understatement. Is this something that happens frequently? Should one always fire until they hear a couple of empty clicks?
 
I never count worth a darn, and always make sure I hear a couple of clicks at the end of shooting a cylinder of ammo. The dry fires are pointed at my target, not the ground.
 
Should one always fire until they hear a couple of empty clicks?
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eh...no. Learn to count to 6. And do not "check" by dry firing into the ground - open the gun & visually check instead. Or just empty the gun and reload if necessary.
 
That wasn't very nice, Mr. Borland. I've been able to count to six since at least the eighth grade. :cool:

Thank you, Rainbow, I thought the same thing! :)
 
Is this something that happens frequently?
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Only if you load more than six... and/or don't count higher...

Yup, learn to count past six; or only load six.

There is a reason that all of my carry guns have the same basic manual of arms. In the heat of the moment, when that charging rapid rhino with glasses is barreling down snorting fire and brimstone I want to not be confused as to the how's, why's, which's or whatevers.

But, at the range, I just count. (Or on a 1911, one can just wait for the slide to lock back.)
YMMV
 
Happens from time to time. I only load five with a revolver, but even then I'll dump a live round onto the bench sometimes. Doesn't bother me too much, because I've never been one to wave the gun around assuring everybody "It's OK. It's unloaded....SEE!"

I just load six the next time.
 
Am I doing it wrong?

I just shoot till it clicks, open the cylinder and check each primer has a dent, then I eject the cases into my hand...

Is there a safety consideration I am over looking here?
 
You could always check for flinching with the last dry fire or two if accurate counting is not happening. Becomes a win/win sorta in that fashion. Like shooting a 10/22 in that regard.
 
Am I doing it wrong?

I just shoot till it clicks, open the cylinder and check each primer has a dent, then I eject the cases into my hand...

Is there a safety consideration I am over looking here?
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I see nothing wrong with that procedure Mr Pond, It's better to be concentrating on the sights and target more than counting shots.


I don't believe pulling the trigger is how you're supposed to see if it's loaded
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Carmady, You are exactly right on.
 
There are better ways to check round count than firing into the ground.

If in doubt, and even then, swing the cylinder open and check your rounds.
 
um perhaps im forgetting something here....


doesnt the manual say "always consider it loaded"

and

"dont pull trigger to see if its loaded or not, OPEN THE ACTION"
 
That wasn't very nice, Mr. Borland. I've been able to count to six since at least the eighth grade.
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It's not uncommon for people to click away. NDs aside, it's just loss of style point if it's done at the range. But more importantly, in a serious situation, time spent clicking is precious time that should've been spent shooting or reloading.
 
If you shoot as practice for some future encounter, know that, "...how one practices/trains is how one fights...", and as such, we do not fire six shoots slowly. We double tap, therefore, only have to count as high as two, three times. 1,2 assess target or move to the next one, 1,2, assess target or move to the next one, 1,2, reload or run. Firing five or six slow shots had no utility in self-defense or any other realistic scenario.
 
do not "check" by dry firing into the ground - open the gun & visually check instead.
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No matter how good you are at counting, a gun, any gun is always considered loaded and should be visibly checked. Then you can dry-fire.
 
Only if you load more than six... and/or don't count higher...

Yup, learn to count past six; or only load six.
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Just checking cause the OP seemed confusing to me as written.

justplainpossum, was this with your .357 or your new .45, and is you .45 a revolver or a semiauto ?
 
Icpiper, this was with my .357 Ruger revolver. I have made a couple of safety mistakes (this being one of them), and I was really mad at myself. One of the safety things I did was count, and it was unnerving that that didn't work (I must lose count when I'm thinking about the target, or recoil, or something). From now on I will either fire at the target if I'm not sure, or open and check the revolver.

I did something dumb with my .45 semi yesterday -- it was on my hip, and I sat down in the dirt to videotape a woodpecker, and forgot the gun and got dirt in it! :o Well, at least that gave me another reason to practice field-stripping...
 
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