Mine was not an AD, nor an ND. New term: UD (Unexpected Discharge).

At the range, I got into the habit of pointing an empty gun at the backstop and pulling the trigger before holstering, to confirm that it is empty. Long-standing habit, I just do it without even thinking about it.

And then there was the day that I thought the pistol was empty. Pointed it at the backstop area, pulled the trigger, and BANG went the safe, but Unexpected, Discharge.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:


And then there was the day that I thought the pistol was empty. Pointed it at the backstop area, pulled the trigger, and BANG went the safe, but Unexpected, Discharge.

That's still negligence.

If you had dropped the magazine and racked it half a dozen times, that would not have happened. That should be as habitual as breathing IMO

I've had two. Both on the range, and both with the gun pointed in an entirely safe direction. In both cases, I allowed something to distract me. Once in a three gun match, I left a round chambered in my shotgun after a complicated stage and forgot/didn't realize I had chambered a new round. I pulled the trigger, and bang.

The other was a Ruger MkII. I don't really remember how I left a round in the chamber, but pulled the trigger when a round was in the gun I didn't remember was there.

In each case, something distracted me. Following the other rules - namely having the gun pointed in a safe direction saved the day.

Well, since this is morphing into a "Hi, my name is <name here> and I've had an ND" thread

I've had one, and it was truly embarrassing.

There was a couple Official Old Guys having trouble with their pistol at this one public range one day. I asked them what seemed to be the problem. They described it to me. "Hmmm... let me see."

So, pistol loaded and pointed safely down-range, I tried the thing. Sure enough: It was doing precisely what they claimed it was doing.

So there I was, pistol pointed safely down-range, turned to tell them "Yeah, this isn't right. I'd contact <manufacturer> about it," meanwhile idly continuing to test the trigger , and...

*BANG*!.

There was nothing wrong with the pistol at all. It just had a really unconscionably long take-up and an unbelievably stiff trigger pull. Like nothing I'd ever experienced with any semi-auto ever before.

(I think it was a Taurus something-or-other.)

I thank my lucky stars: 1. There are four rules of gun safety and 2. I learned my lesson in a manner that was merely embarrassing.

My name’s Wayne and I’m a negligent discharger…

(crowd murmurs “Hi Wayne”)


I won’t go into all the embarrassing details, but short story is a full power .357 Mag going off unexpectedly 10” from your ear is probably a helluva lot louder than a 9mm at arms link.


NEVER become complacent, no matter how much experience. One brain fart moment can destroy lives.

It's already been beat to death, but the bottom line is this is 100 percent attributable to your son's poor gun handling technique. The proper way to clear a semi-auto is to drop the magazine first, then rack the slide to check the chamber is clear. This is done for the exact reason you experienced, so the person handling the gun doesn't inadvertently load it while trying to clear it. Hopefully he learned that lesson and at least the consequences weren't tragic.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Had somewhat similar years ago, but it was an XDS racked then mag ejected, then 'dry-fired' the chambered round into the floor.
Scariest part was that we were upstairs & my wife/kids were downstairs almost directly below us.
Floor joist took the round, I'm assuming.

9mm in a large bedroom wasn't nearly as loud as I thought it would be. Carpet, curtains & furniture soaks up some sound I guess.

Unfinished basement is especially loud.

Good lord that kinda thing puts me into PTSD. He picks up the gun, I would have been anxiety level 10. He racks the slide I'd have stood up experiencing panic.

I don't like anyone helping themselves to my guns, for this exact reason. 2nd to just making an ass out of themselves with my empty gun. It's not a toy.

Good thing no one got hurt.

"Put the gun down."

Well the ringing in my right ear has gone away. I knew I would get flamed by some.
My son has had access to my firearms since he was a teenager, never touched them
unless I was present. I never saw him pick up a pistol without taking the mag out
and checking the chamber. When he saw the glock 27 I told him there were rounds in
the mag. It was about two hours later he picked it up and racked the slide.
Now I have a .40 round under the most heavily traveled part of my family room.
I tried that flexible tool with the plunger on one end and a claw comes out the other.
It just bunched up the padding and made it worse.

Glad it wasn't a 10mm. It could have cracked your foundation.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:
Glad it wasn't a 10mm. It could have cracked your foundation.

Beat me to it. Was gonna say a .45 ACP round might have tilted the world's axis.

I was 13 y.o.
In an indoor range
Loaded my .22 LR semi auto rifle for the 4th time.

The R.O. had his back to me .

Muzzle was pointed down range

While picking up the gun to shoot.
I sent a round in to the concrete floor 60 ft. Down range, 10 feet in front of the back stop.

No previous gun lessons or courses or training.

I had my ND when I was 11 or 12. I shot my mother's Kenmore dishwasher with a .357 revolver. IIRC, it was a Remington 158 grain softpoint.

Since that time almost 50 years ago, I've handled loaded firearms countless times, and daily since I was old enough to buy my own guns. That one in '73 has been it, and I'd say that that dishwasher did not die in vain.

I'd also say that the age of 27 is too far along to not know better. It's not my intention to be harsh, but it's the truth.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:


I'd also say that the age of 27 is too far along to not know better. It's not my intention to be harsh, but it's the truth.

Agree. When it went off he looked at me, I shook my head and the only thing I said was "you beat everything".
He came over today and I didn't say a word about it. He feels bad enough already.
I'm 62 and have never had an ND, hopefully he will never have another.

My first one was when I was about 4 years old. I had a Daisy BB gun, shook it hard, hearing no BB's rattling around, shot a game show host on the neighbor's color TV. Could'a been Allen Funt or Art Linkletter, don't remember.

Not many homes had a color TV in those days, then there was one fewer.

Had one other, but would take me too long to type it out.

If you shoot USPSA, IDPA, 3-Gun etc long enough, you'll see some pretty weird sh*t every once in awhile. Not often but perhaps once a year. Doesn't matter if they are novice's or Master level folks. Stuff happens and ND's can happen to the Pro's during a course of fire on a stage. Yes, distraction can be a big contributor. I DQ'd a guy a few weeks ago for showing up at the firing line with a chambered round. It was the first stage of the match and his first time shooting a match and he attended all the safety briefs etc. before the match.

In my case, I have a Sand bucket in my garage where I load and unload. Knock on wood, I haven't had a ND.

We're there witnesses to the dishwasher hit?

Nope, just me

Sweet,
The 4th worst thing that could happen with an ND is to have witnesses.