A Lesson Learned At The Range

[HootmonSccy]

I know we have a lot of very experienced people on the is forum, but there are a few with less experience and sometimes it is good for ALL of us to be reminded of some of the dangers with firearms..
This was a good reminder for me, and thought I would pass it along in hopes it will educate/remind others...

This is not MY story, I picked it off of another forum I frequent and firmly believe it is 1st hand and a real story. This happened in Arkansas this past week end...


"My brother and I went to the range today to sling some lead. While there another guy set up to fire his new Bersa .380 for the first time. He was set up in the stall next to my brother; two stalls down from me.

The guy pulled the trigger on the first round and it sounded really weak and I heard my brother ask the guy "What was that?" I immediately stepped over behind the guy and told him to hold his fire and do NOT pull the trigger again.

I then asked him if it had chambered another round after he fired the first and he said it did. I asked him if he had ever cleared a hang fire in an auto pistol and he stated that he had never heard of one, much less know what to do next.

So, I dropped the magazine and cleared the chambered round for him and using a small screw driver showed him how far the round had gone before stopping in his barrel and informed him what could have happened, had he decided to pull the trigger again.

I cleared the round from the barrel and asked him about the ammo he was using. He stated that he had picked up a bag of reloads at a pawn shop for a bargain. He then turned white as a ghost as he told us that he had been carrying the .380 as his every day carry defense weapon, with that magazine and ammo in it and this was the first time he had fired the new pistol.

He learned a couple of lessons today and came very close to injuring at least himself and maybe some others nearby, had he pulled the trigger on the next round. We told him that his life is worth more than reloaded ammo bought from a pawn shop and had he needed that weapon in a real world defensive situation, he would of been in a real mess. I'm real glad to have been there when that went down."

This guy owes the story teller a lot.. How much does it cost today to re-attach a couple of fingers???

The guy obviously doesn't realize just how lucky he really was to have him nearby and to recognize what happened, and for him to take immediate action!!

I know about squib loads, but have never experienced one myself..

I now know (thanx to him) what to listen for, and to do like he did, take immediate action (assuming it is someone else with the issue) so my wife or I (or others) don't become collateral damage...

 

[AvidshooterTX]

Make rapid-fire kinda scary.

 

[KimberPB]

The only thing that sounds kinda funny about that story is the fact that he called it a hang fire. A hang fire is when there is a delay from the time the firing pin hits the primer and the round actually goes off. What's described in this story is a squib. Either way it's a good reminder that if a round feels weak take a second and make sure it's not a squib.

 

[Glock Fan]

Many lessons to be learned from this story:

1) Know the difference between a "hangfire", "misfire" and "squib load". Of the three, the "squib load" would be the most dangerous.

2) Get your ammunition from a reputable source. If you shoot reloads, know the person who reloaded the ammo and be sure that the reloads were made by a competent person using quality materials and proper equipment.

3) If you're going to carry a gun for SD, be sure that you fire it and sight it in BEFORE carrying it. This ensures that the firearm will function properly.

4) Test fire the ammo you will be using for SD. This ensures that it will function properly and flawlessly in your firearm. You can't prevent malfunctions from happening, though you can minimize the probability by inspecting your equipment and ammunition ahead of time.

5) Last but not least, keep your eyes and ears open while at the range. Be aware of what's going on around you. Safety on the range is EVERYBODY'S business.

Glad nobody was hurt on the range.



gf

 

[ricbak]

Many lessons to be learned from this story:

1) Know the difference between a "hangfire", "misfire" and "squib load". Of the three, the "squib load" would be the most dangerous.

2) Get your ammunition from a reputable source. If you shoot reloads, know the person who reloaded the ammo and be sure that the reloads were made by a competent person using quality materials and proper equipment.

3) If you're going to carry a gun for SD, be sure that you fire it and sight it in BEFORE carrying it. This ensures that the firearm will function properly.

4) Test fire the ammo you will be using for SD. This ensures that it will function properly and flawlessly in your firearm. You can't prevent malfunctions from happening, though you can minimize the probability by inspecting your equipment and ammunition ahead of time.

5) Last but not least, keep your eyes and ears open while at the range. Be aware of what's going on around you. Safety on the range is EVERYBODY'S business.

Glad nobody was hurt on the range.



gf

Wise Words GF

Thanks Hoot.....Great post

 

[AvidshooterTX]

I was shooting trap one day at my gun club when this happened to another guy's shotgun. There was an order to cease fire from one of the other shooters and we checked his gun. Sure enough, there was a plastic shot cup halfway up the barrel. I hate to think what would have happened with the next shot.

 

[Unfettered Might]

Many lessons to be learned from this story:

1) Know the difference between a "hangfire", "misfire" and "squib load". Of the three, the "squib load" would be the most dangerous.

2) Get your ammunition from a reputable source. If you shoot reloads, know the person who reloaded the ammo and be sure that the reloads were made by a competent person using quality materials and proper equipment.

3) If you're going to carry a gun for SD, be sure that you fire it and sight it in BEFORE carrying it. This ensures that the firearm will function properly.

4) Test fire the ammo you will be using for SD. This ensures that it will function properly and flawlessly in your firearm. You can't prevent malfunctions from happening, though you can minimize the probability by inspecting your equipment and ammunition ahead of time.

5) Last but not least, keep your eyes and ears open while at the range. Be aware of what's going on around you. Safety on the range is EVERYBODY'S business.

Glad nobody was hurt on the range.



gf

+1

Good advice. Especially at the range, I've seen some stupid moves. The range master where I shoot at is pretty strict and I've seen him kick more than one guy off the range for breaking any rule even once.