Was shooting my baby eagle and my new SAR-1. Had my brother and a co-worker there. Also, at one point the couple next to me and I ended up exchanging guns. Well, for some reason I wasn't really paying attention and I had my (unloaded, action open) handgun pointed at myself in my hand while moving the table. I was upset by this. I realized I wasn't really paying attention. Packed up, went home. Scared myself.
I pulled myself off of the range today
- Thread starter MJRW
- Start date
We all get wake up calls from time to time and we all must strive to improve our awareness of what is going on around us. The older I get the more paranoid I become. You are to be commended that you did indeed notice your actions and the danger they could have created. Our local police department range was open to the public today and I made the scene. A friend who I introduced to handloading was next to me on the line shooting his Smith& Wesson revolver. He stopped and said that he had a misfire. We examined his handgun and noticed that a bullet was lodged in the barrel just inside the forcing cone. I believe that he had loaded a round up without any powder in it.Thank goodness he stopped when he noticed something was amiss and did not drive another round down the barrel. We got the bullet out with the help of a ball peen hammer and a screwdriver. I did not hestitate to warn him of what could have happen and to always check the powder level in his cases before he seated a bullet. I was talking to myself as well.
Had a "scared myself" happen the other day, too... Took a revolver out of the range bag (ergo, not my carry piece) and went to load it, only to discover it was already loaded. Apparently I'd loaded it sometime back and never unloaded it. Gave me a cold sweat, I'll tell you! 
Safe gun handling is a Good Thing (tm)! Rule #1, all guns are loaded, all the time!
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Safe gun handling is a Good Thing (tm)! Rule #1, all guns are loaded, all the time!
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Jamie Young
New member
I've pulled myself off the range before, also.
I pulled my Ruger 10/22 out of its case while it was laying on the table. I noticed that there was a leak in the roof that covered the benches and water was coming down on the gun (it was raining pretty hard) so I picked up the gun and pointed it right at the person next to me.
I sat down for awhile.
I pulled my Ruger 10/22 out of its case while it was laying on the table. I noticed that there was a leak in the roof that covered the benches and water was coming down on the gun (it was raining pretty hard) so I picked up the gun and pointed it right at the person next to me.
I sat down for awhile.
Yup, a bullet might have magically materialized into the chamber, the slide release might have given way and the trigger might have pulled all by itself.
Good thing! Better safe than sorry!
Until you've checked and then double checked it's condition. Rack that slide baby and visually inspect the chamber.
Then a gun is as safe as a hammer, if not safer!
For christ sakes, stop demonizing guns!
Good job! Way to stay alert!
Where was your trigger finger?
No one is demonizing the gun. What I think most of us are "demonizing" is the habit. If your habit does not include pointing in a safe direction, then your habit could point a loaded gun at yourself or others. The reason I was scared was that I realized I was not aware of where my muzzle was pointed and this forces one to wonder if this has occurred before or will occur again.
kalibear45
New member
I left the range once when I was shootin' my Mini-14 Ranch rifle and one of the ejected brass hit a guy next to me right above his eye. Gave him a nice half-moon cut and it bled. Felt bad, apologized, guy was nice enough, and went on my way...
I realize the important safety issue of keeping your muzzle pointed in a safe direction. This is perhaps a virtue that i was just born with. I just don't believe sweeping yourself with a unloaded firearm, action open, is enough to send you packing or a trip to the psycologist for therapy sessions.
Accidents happen. If I got a dollar for every time i was hit by ejected brass i'd be bill gate's status. I don't see why you left the range. I swear some ranges were designed for short people, the dividers are not nearly at adaqute height to catch your flying brass. Very little you can do about it.
When i think of a "habit" i think of smoking, drug addiction, etc. When i think of someone who points a muzzle of a gun at others, i think of lack of common sense.
I remember one time when i was at a local gun store, there was a great deal on a hk compact forty. I couldn't pass it up. It was used and i asked permission to field strip and examine the pistol.
The gun was first cleared and chamber inspected by the clerk and after he handed it over to me i repeated the same procedure as i always do. Gun is clear now i proceeded to remove the frame from the slide, placed the frame on the table mat, removed the barrel and recoil spring and placed them on the table mat (clerk was watching me throughout the entire process). I brought the slide up to eye level and was looking at the area where the hammer strikes and the clerk jumped away and shouted at me "don't ever do that again". I asked, "do what again?" he said, "don't ever point a pistol at me."
I stood there, speachless for a few seconds, i'm holding a stripped upper, no barrel..
I called him... i think i said "douchebag".. laughed and left the store.
Accidents happen. If I got a dollar for every time i was hit by ejected brass i'd be bill gate's status. I don't see why you left the range. I swear some ranges were designed for short people, the dividers are not nearly at adaqute height to catch your flying brass. Very little you can do about it.
When i think of a "habit" i think of smoking, drug addiction, etc. When i think of someone who points a muzzle of a gun at others, i think of lack of common sense.
I remember one time when i was at a local gun store, there was a great deal on a hk compact forty. I couldn't pass it up. It was used and i asked permission to field strip and examine the pistol.
The gun was first cleared and chamber inspected by the clerk and after he handed it over to me i repeated the same procedure as i always do. Gun is clear now i proceeded to remove the frame from the slide, placed the frame on the table mat, removed the barrel and recoil spring and placed them on the table mat (clerk was watching me throughout the entire process). I brought the slide up to eye level and was looking at the area where the hammer strikes and the clerk jumped away and shouted at me "don't ever do that again". I asked, "do what again?" he said, "don't ever point a pistol at me."
I stood there, speachless for a few seconds, i'm holding a stripped upper, no barrel..
I called him... i think i said "douchebag".. laughed and left the store.
The idea of the Four Rules is that they are a redundant safety system. Even if You goof up rule 1, you're OK as long as you're obeying rule #2. Even if you goof up 1 and 2, you're ok as long as you're following rule #3. Etc etc etc.
However, just because its a triple-redunant safety system doesn't mean that violating one or two of the Rules is bright idea. Sure, in the situations mentioned above nothing bad is going to happen, but it builds complacency. One day you'll violate one of the rules and not notice. And then a few weeks later you'll do it again. And then one day you'll violate two rules together and maybe put a hole in something. maybe you'll learn from it, maybe you won't. Eventually you'll end up putting a hole in something important.
The key was this...he recognized that he wasn't paying attention. He wasn't scared by his own empty gun, he was scared that he was being inattentive and next time the gun might not be unloaded. Inattention when messing with any tool is a bad idea. Inattention with a hammer can get you a sore thumb. Inattention with a car can get someone killed. Inattention with a gun can get someone killed too.
[/soapbox][/rant]
Mike
However, just because its a triple-redunant safety system doesn't mean that violating one or two of the Rules is bright idea. Sure, in the situations mentioned above nothing bad is going to happen, but it builds complacency. One day you'll violate one of the rules and not notice. And then a few weeks later you'll do it again. And then one day you'll violate two rules together and maybe put a hole in something. maybe you'll learn from it, maybe you won't. Eventually you'll end up putting a hole in something important.
The key was this...he recognized that he wasn't paying attention. He wasn't scared by his own empty gun, he was scared that he was being inattentive and next time the gun might not be unloaded. Inattention when messing with any tool is a bad idea. Inattention with a hammer can get you a sore thumb. Inattention with a car can get someone killed. Inattention with a gun can get someone killed too.
[/soapbox][/rant]
Mike
George Hill
Staff Alumnus
Good move.
Take some Ginko and some St Johns Wort next time before you go out shooting. Bring your brain.
Kudos to you gents for having the wisdom to realize your not up to shooting that day.
I've done that in the past. I've also told my self "I'll just be more carefull now" and been foolish enough to continue. Nothing very bad happened, but I wasn't shooting very well either. Pretty much wasted ammo.
Take some Ginko and some St Johns Wort next time before you go out shooting. Bring your brain.
Kudos to you gents for having the wisdom to realize your not up to shooting that day.
I've done that in the past. I've also told my self "I'll just be more carefull now" and been foolish enough to continue. Nothing very bad happened, but I wasn't shooting very well either. Pretty much wasted ammo.
Double Naught Spy
New member
Okay, so you pulled yourself off the range because you were unable to pay attention to what you were doing and violated safe gun handling rules. So then you decided it was a good idea to go drive your car home? So you replaced handling one type of dangerous tool with another. 
Good thread!
I've also packed it up and left the range. Probably twice that I can recall. I view it as a form of punishment for me not being fully aware of what I'm doing. If my head is up my arse I don't need to be playing with firearms!
I've also left due to others lax attitude, but usually I mention something about firearm safety before I leave.
Me: So I guess you didn't get much sleep last night.
Them: Huh?
Me: Yep I'm guessin that or you don't understand the basic rules of firearm safety cause you just swept me with your 1911 and I see the mag is still in!
Thats when I leave....
I've also packed it up and left the range. Probably twice that I can recall. I view it as a form of punishment for me not being fully aware of what I'm doing. If my head is up my arse I don't need to be playing with firearms!
I've also left due to others lax attitude, but usually I mention something about firearm safety before I leave.
Me: So I guess you didn't get much sleep last night.
Them: Huh?
Me: Yep I'm guessin that or you don't understand the basic rules of firearm safety cause you just swept me with your 1911 and I see the mag is still in!
Thats when I leave....
John Ringo
New member
Wow....good call. At least you got home safe.
guntotin_fool
New member
I had an occasion to scream at a store employee once at a large national chain when for the third time after he pulled a pistol from the showcase and then swept me with the barrel and then after racking the slide without really looking to check the weapon, he dry snapped the hammer down.
I lost it and said " My son is here, and I want him to live at least till I get out of the store," The clerk looked at me with the universal look of stupidity and said "huh?" I asked to speak the manager on duty and asked him if he understood why I was so upset. His response was all the guns in the cabinet were empty and I was overstating the fear I felt.
I explained to him the rules of safe gunhandling and he repeated himself "but all the guns are unloaded."
I decided then and there I would not return to the store.
The other instance that was so scary was while at a old timey gun shop in the old part of time I found an Ithaca Deerslayer that i was looking for and when I racked the action a 2 3/4 inch OO buckshot round fell to the floor.
None of the firearms had a triggerlock on them. After the manager got everyone out they walked around and found four more loaded 12 guage shotgun and an empty box from the buckshot. They figured either some looney or someone had an axe to grind. Either way the incident really scared the manager. And nearly caused me to wet my pants...
I lost it and said " My son is here, and I want him to live at least till I get out of the store," The clerk looked at me with the universal look of stupidity and said "huh?" I asked to speak the manager on duty and asked him if he understood why I was so upset. His response was all the guns in the cabinet were empty and I was overstating the fear I felt.
I explained to him the rules of safe gunhandling and he repeated himself "but all the guns are unloaded."
I decided then and there I would not return to the store.
The other instance that was so scary was while at a old timey gun shop in the old part of time I found an Ithaca Deerslayer that i was looking for and when I racked the action a 2 3/4 inch OO buckshot round fell to the floor.
None of the firearms had a triggerlock on them. After the manager got everyone out they walked around and found four more loaded 12 guage shotgun and an empty box from the buckshot. They figured either some looney or someone had an axe to grind. Either way the incident really scared the manager. And nearly caused me to wet my pants...
I've never left the range for botching a rule, but I have simply corrected myself and stopped for a bit to collect my wits before continuing.
Along the lines with what guntotin_fool just said; The guys at my favorite local shop do something I notice and take to high regards. Every single time they pull a firearm out of the case to show a customer, they point it at the floor next to them and inspect it. Then, upon receiving the firearm back from the customer, they do it again.
Along the lines with what guntotin_fool just said; The guys at my favorite local shop do something I notice and take to high regards. Every single time they pull a firearm out of the case to show a customer, they point it at the floor next to them and inspect it. Then, upon receiving the firearm back from the customer, they do it again.
You did good...
I've known 2 people that were shot with "UNLOADED" guns(luckily not seriously)...So I'm paranoid about rule #1...I've beaten this into my kids heads, too, and I'm proud to say they are just as paranoid...And as to lack of attention, I'm missing the whole tip of my index (trigger) finger, from a brief moment fo inattention when using a table saw...I've worked with all kinds of "dangerous" machinery, since I was quite young (my Dad was a machinist, use to let me run all sorts of stuff when I was 9-10 years old)...It only takes a split second...I, of course, still use the table saw, but only when I'm able to concentrate TOTALLY to the job at hand...Ditto, goes for shooting....
I've known 2 people that were shot with "UNLOADED" guns(luckily not seriously)...So I'm paranoid about rule #1...I've beaten this into my kids heads, too, and I'm proud to say they are just as paranoid...And as to lack of attention, I'm missing the whole tip of my index (trigger) finger, from a brief moment fo inattention when using a table saw...I've worked with all kinds of "dangerous" machinery, since I was quite young (my Dad was a machinist, use to let me run all sorts of stuff when I was 9-10 years old)...It only takes a split second...I, of course, still use the table saw, but only when I'm able to concentrate TOTALLY to the job at hand...Ditto, goes for shooting....