Range accident

[RugerFan]

I went to shoot at the local range today on my lunch hour, but my plans changed quickly. When I got to the range the only other people present was an old couple I see there quite a bit (got to be in their 80s). While I was setting up, a friend of mine dropped by and we were just talking when the old lady came up to us and said “We need some help down here. He shot himself in the hand.” The old guy was shooting a Ruger Mark II .22 and had shot his left index finger dead center and blew out the knuckle. He was sitting at his table with a stunned look on his face and I could see exposed bone and cartilage. My buddy got a clean rag for him to wrap it in while I called 911. While waiting for the EMTs to show, he related what had happened (I wasn’t watching him when he did it). He said the pistol jammed and while trying to clear it, the slide went forward and the gun fired. Obviously, his finger was in a bad position at the time. We got his finger gently wrapped and kept the old guy seated until the EMTs arrived. I cleared the pistol and helped load gear into their truck. An ambulance took him away (that finger will NEVER be the same) and police got a statement from me. Fortunately it was just his finger. Could have been much worse.

[ph4570]

YIKES -- glad it was just a finger and that you and your bud were there to help.

[9.3X62AL]

Poor guy. Good on ya for taking care of him like you did.

These toys and tools we enjoy so much can BITE in a moment of lax or divided attention.

[Dale53]

I was a Major Case Claims Rep for an insurance company (I'm retired after thirty years). I came to one conclusion during that time. NONE of us is above having an accident. ANY of us can have a momentary lapse (just look at all of the auto accidents if you need proof). It just takes a fraction of a second for a real screw up to occur.

Eternal vigilance, folks, eternal vigilance...

Dale53

[casterofboolits]

Good for you Dale!

Fred

[lwknight]

I can imagine a lot of ways to screw up but , finger in front of the barrel is not one of them. I don't even understand how you do that without intent.

[gray wolf]

Pat on the back for helping the gent out.

Sam

[JRMTactical]

Yes sir, you deserve an 'attaboy' for helping the fellow out! I've had several close calls through my years of shooting, and they all change your perspective. No matter how much of an "expert" you may be, if you don't respect that firearm you can end up a casualty...or worse, hurt someone else. Good job, brother!

[frankenfab]

Poor guy. Good on ya for taking care of him like you did.

These toys and tools we enjoy so much can BITE in a moment of lax or divided attention.

+1. Good on you.

If you look at the roof over the benches at my local AG&FC range, it will sober you.

[Echo]

+1 for the 'Attaboy'. But I would expect no less from any of the members of this forum.

[missionary5155]

Greetings and Well Done ! God certainly can put help in the right place when needed.

[RSOJim]

As a range officer for many years, I have never seen anyone so far have that kind of accident. I have on occasion shouted out verbal commands to lay down the firearm immediately. Then I help unload, unjam or whatever. I have 4 ranges plus the back action ranges to patrol on my shift and over the years I have seen some stupid stuff. Mostly the stupid stuff is guests that the members bring on the property. For instance, the member walks down range on a cold range to set targets and I catch the guest loading high powered rifles and pointing them down range at the member. I go plum bananas, usually the guest and member leaves the range, I make out a report and the board of directors deals with the member. Members go thru a 4 hour orientation before becoming a full fledged member and can bring guests after that, however when guests are brought the member is held responsible for the actions of that guest. As of last month we had 1,070 members. Central Florida Rifle and Pistol Club near Orlando. We have a webb site.

[cajun shooter]

I was a Narcotics Officer for over 6 years. I was involved with running (kicking doors in) 5 or more warrants a day. After leaving Narcotics and going to the FBI Firearms Instructor School and becoming a POST instructor I was shot on two different occassions. I was hit by bullet schrapnel after a officer did something stupid. One female turned towards me with her finger on the trigger of a model 65 S&W cocked into single action. This is not taught nor allowed by anyone on the range. We only teach double action firing with revolvers. I bent forward a pushed the barrel of the gun down just as she pulled the trigger.Had I not done so I would have taken a hit in my mid section. The bullet hit the concrete and sent the fragments into my face and both eyes. I could not see and was rushed to the hospital where a eye surgeron removed the slivers of lead. I had both eyes covered for three weeks. I was lucky as I only lost some vison. It can happen so fast that you can do nothing about it. It is good that you were at that range as the older couple could have lost it and not got help. Thanks for being a good person.

[82nd airborne]

I was testing a magazine yesterday in an AR. I slapped the bolt release on a round that I had chambered probably 20 times. That free floating firing pin finaly hit hard enough to set it off and put a nice indention in my garage floor. My ears also rang. No one got hurt but my dog was not happy with me since he was sitting by me.

[nicholst55]

I was a Small Arms Repairman (and Armament Maintenance NCO) for the Army for 20 years and have done a lot of defense contracting since then, plus I've owned guns for my entire life. I have personally only had one (1) negligent discharge in 55 years (no, it was NOT an accident), and have been around several others. Fortunately, nobody has been injured on my watch ~ but that isn't necessarily my fault!

I now live by two rules involving firearms:

1. Don't do STUPID stuff!
2. When in doubt, refer to rule #1!

It only takes an instant to make a life-altering (or life-ending) mistake.

[82nd airborne]

2007 FOB Loyalty, Baghdad, A soldier in our phone booth was in an argument with his wife via webcam. He slammed the butt of his weapon on the floor. The M4 discharged, sending the bullet under his chin, through the top of his head, killing him instantly, with his wife and several other soldiers looking on. It pays to be safety oriented at all times. I pray that me and mine never have something like this happen.

[azcruiser]

ALWAYS -ALWAYS remember their are two kind of people in the world those who have had and accidental discharge and those who will .Always have the muzzle of your weapon pointed in a safe direction , Think the biggest problem for re-loaders are guys who rush their production rounds per hour and end up with high primers that slam fire on the ar type guns or auto loader pistols OR revolver shooter where the high primer detonated from recoil with the frame .
People should slow down enjoy the process it's not a race.

[HeavyMetal]

First let me give RF a big pat on the back for being a stand up guy.

Now let me ask how this guy got his finger over the muzzle? From the description it look like the guy hit the second joint on his left index finger??

Even with sloppy gun handling and a little age thrown in I don't see how anyone could get thier finger in that position to clear a Ruger 22 auto pistol.

Seriously pull out your Ruger 22 auto, unload it, and they put your left finger over the muzzle and try to work the bolt.

Ungainly doesn't even begin to describe how this feels let alone even suggest this is a natural "grasp" of the gun to clear it.

I am sadden to say living in L.A. has made be a bit skeptical of all things accidental in the shooting world.

Hope to hear from Rugerfan on a little more of this incident in the near future and, I am seriously hoping, nothing more comes of it.

However I wonder when the other shoe will fall?

[Lee]

Yup, gotta agree with Heavy Metal. Need more info.
As a victim/perp(?) of an acidental discharge I have to agree.
1. Point it safe
2. Finger off the trigger
3. See Rule #2.

Might I hazard a guess that the majority of AD's occur with semi/auto's????
Don't seem to se many posts involving revolvers.
Maybe time for the general wake-up call on the difference between autos and revolvers????

[Suo Gan]

When I was a kid I was told to always relieve pressure on the firing pin spring on a bolt action by pulling the trigger as you close the bolt. Of course you need to make sure the gun is empty FIRST. If I said that I thought I cleared the action one day and did my thing and my high powered rifle went off harmlessly into the ground a few feet from my tire, that would embarrass me. I don't like to be embarrassed so I guess I will say it was my cousin that did that, what an idiot! Then there was the time when I took my daddy's Colt and was finger twirling it like a fancy cowboy, if I told you it went off into the livingroom floor a few feet away from sis, that would be embarrassing too, so I guess I will say I once knew this complete idiot that did that. I am glad I am smart enough to learn lessons by others examples, and always do the right thing. MmmmmmHmmmm. At least I have not done something that stupid since puberty.

Probably why I am so completely anal retentive about shooting and firearms safety these days. Hard lessons learned. But not as hard as that old gents lesson was! I can just hear his kids now!