IIRC, when I was in the service, we were to keep the gun on target if a misfire or hangfire occurred for ONE minute, before clearing the round from the chamber (unless it was combat and then it was -F it! clear it)

seemed crazy amount of time until I see this kinda thing...

glad he is going to be OK

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
IIRC, when I was in the service, we were to keep the gun on target if a misfire or hangfire occurred for ONE minute, before clearing the round from the chamber (unless it was combat and then it was -F it! clear it)

seemed crazy amount of time until I see this kinda thing...

glad he is going to be OK

I'm glad to hear it wasn't worse. But 30 seconds? Wow! I've never had a hang fire, but now I'll know to wait an extra long time.

Glad to see all’s well, your kids injuries scare the hell out of you.

I started by shooting muzzleloading rifles. Hang fires were so common it’s second nature now to just relax if the gun doesn’t fire.

If any of you haven't seen that old Mythbusters episode of what damage a revolver cylinder gap can do to your hand you need to watch it. That is some scary stuff.

How's he doing today, darthfuster?

Ready for another round? Of pizza, shooting?

I've heard some rookies that shoot semi's try to hold them thumb beside the cylinder. Low calibers they survive with burns. 357 and above they lose meat and blood.

quote:

Originally posted by jehzsa:
How's he doing today, darthfuster?

Ready for another round? Of pizza, shooting?

He's fine. His girlfriend spend the evening with him making sure he was comfortable. lol. They built a fire and I could tell it was time for me to make myself scarce. Today he is slightly favoring the finger. There was bachelor pizza for breakfast.

Interestingly, had some difficulty servicing the gun. It is an S&W 686-4 Silhouette gun. Seems the round showed pressure signs. The primer was bulged enough that I couldn't swing the cylinder out until I fiddled with it enough to loosen something. I haven't put calipers on the casing, but it looks bulged at the base too. Who knows what went wrong with that round...

DF #3 is undaunted. He is already planning the next trip out. I am proud of him for maintaining good safety discipline. The hangfire was a complete surprise. Had he not maintained proper discipline, someone could have been shot. His injury is the result of forgetting about the gap. It could easily have happened to me or anyone looking to extract a dud. Of course I try to wear gloves when I shoot, but I'm not convinced they would have saved me completely. Seems like a hang fire round in any revolver is potentially a trip to the ER.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Originally posted by jehzsa:
He's fine. His girlfriend spend the evening with him making sure he was comfortable.

I heard a fast fixer upper was to soak it in cider...

Good to know he was/is comfortable, darthfuster.

Btw, upon KMitch200's suggestion...Ballistol. Not kidding. Great antiseptic and promotes tissue regeneration.

Really.

ETA: It might leave scarring. Use it in a pinch. Wrap the wound in a clean cloth, tape down and keep it wrapped for a couple of days. Not kidding.

However, a scar can always bring him closer to his girlfriend. Great excuse---"Sweetheart, look at that!"

OWWWWWEEEEE!

quote:

Originally posted by fiasconva:
If any of you haven't seen that old Mythbusters episode of what damage a revolver cylinder gap can do to your hand you need to watch it. That is some scary stuff.

I can't remember if they used a .460 S&W Magnum or .500 S&W Magnum, but those are particularly dangerous revolvers, requiring careful attention to avoid losing a hand.

I put a towel under my .460 and MAN does it just EXPLODE!!! Fingers beware!!

What if he had ignored the hangfire and simply pulled the trigger to fire the next round? What would happen (how much damage would result) if the hangfire fired NOT in line with the barrel?

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
What if he had ignored the hangfire and simply pulled the trigger to fire the next round? What would happen (how much damage would result) if the hangfire fired NOT in line with the barrel?

Yeah, think about that. Would have been so much worse. The more I think about it, the more the combo of hang fire and revolver is a no bueno scenario. I tried opening the cylinder crane such that my fingers did not breech the plane of the gap. It is difficult to do. What if the hang fire discharges while the cylinder is out and one is naturally looking down at the back of it? What if it discharges while ejecting the round with the plunger? Look at where your hand/finger naturally go? No bueno....

rh, I thought I remembered a 357 but it was a few years ago and I could be wrong. He made a hand out of chicken bones complete with skin and everything. I think it took a couple of fingers off or worse.

quote:

Originally posted by fiasconva:
rh, I thought I remembered a 357 but it was a few years ago and I could be wrong. He made a hand out of chicken bones complete with skin and everything. I think it took a couple of fingers off or worse.

I was watching TV in SD, but I'm pretty sure that Mythbusters used a S&W Model 460V Revolver . (I own one and recognized it.) Their findings were "Holding a hunting revolver improperly can cause a person's fingers to be blown off by the escaping gases emitted when the bullets are fired. CONFIRMED (as seen in Thermite vs. Ice)" http://www.discovery.com/tv-sh...yth-results/weapons/

I think the Mythbusters episodes are on Hulu, for those who didn't see the episode.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rh,

I read an article in Petersen's Handguns (as it was known then) in the 1990s about firing revolvers through pockets. The most interesting part was that the shot blew three holes in the pockets. Obviously one was where the bullet exited, but there was also a long rip or tear on either side of the bullet hole, not just through the pocket itself, but the entire coat, from the cylinder blast.