My First Negligent Discharge

So that others may learn.

Moderators: carlson1, Keith B, Charles L. Cotton


Topic author
beefmobile
Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:06 pm

My First Negligent Discharge

#1

Post by beefmobile »

No, this isn't a "i shot a hole in my wall" story, but i have had a, technically, negligent discharge story.

I have long preferred Glock as my carry and competition weapons. However, some time ago, i acquired a Kimber Tactical Custom II from a close friend of mine. I made him a deal he couldn't refuse and owned my first 1911. I am also into offroading, meaning i find myself in some of the most remote places. Out with another friend, we began casually target shooting into a berm somewhere in the back country of the North Carolina coast. We brought many weapons from rifles, pistols, and shotguns. I had recently had a catastrophic oil leak in my Jeep and had to replace my oil pan....therefore creating an impromptu shooting target (the old oil pan). As i was firing my Glock model 22, i ran through several magazines, as i always do. I took out the Kimber and took aim. After several shots, i noticed the severe deference between striker fired actions vs single action style trigger pulls (obviously). Halfway though a magazine, i presented the weapon and took aim. As i placed my finger on the trigger, i slowly applied pressure........BOOM!......without intent. Though i was aiming at my target, i had no idea the weapon was going to fire so quickly. Though a surprise trigger break is ideal, i had no intention of firing the weapon, thus fulfilling the definition of a negligent discharge. At that time, i suddenly realized how placing our finger meant your inevitable intent of firing the weapon. Thankfully, it had been while aiming at a desired target.
Last edited by beefmobile on Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
-Bill of Rights-
(Must be 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Not available in all states. Some restrictions apply)

US Marine Corps
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are....

GLOCK

RPB
Banned
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 8697
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:17 pm

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#2

Post by RPB »

i suddenly realized how placing our finger meant your inevitable intent of firing the weapon.
:tiphat:
I wish everyone had that realization without any tragedy/or startling event illustrating it to them.
There's a house in Pasadena with a hole in a king-sized bed, and the floor below it from a Kimber UC2 . (Wasn't me, it was a friend-no injuries sustained)
I'm no lawyer

"Never show your hole card" "Always have something in reserve"
User avatar

ffemt300
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 358
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:42 am
Location: Friendswood, Tx

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#3

Post by ffemt300 »

I had a foolish ND years back. A friend had been over at my house and he left his AR-15 when he left(how nice,right?) We had been looking at it and talking shop and were planning on going to the range the next day. I called him and told him he left it and that I would bring it with me to the range the next day. Well I was a stupid 22 year-old and had never been exposed to AR's. I thought I would check it out for myself and cycle the action a few times to get used to it. I removed the mag, which was full and went to "dry fire" it....oops. Forgot the round in the chamber.... BANG. Fortunately, I had it pointed at the floor when it fired but just seconds earlier it had been leveled at my TV and my neighbors house beyond that! I felt so stupid. It took alot for me to tell my buddy how foolish I had been. :banghead:
User avatar

baldeagle
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 5240
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 8:26 pm
Location: Richardson, TX

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#4

Post by baldeagle »

ffemt300 wrote:I had a foolish ND years back. A friend had been over at my house and he left his AR-15 when he left(how nice,right?) We had been looking at it and talking shop and were planning on going to the range the next day. I called him and told him he left it and that I would bring it with me to the range the next day. Well I was a stupid 22 year-old and had never been exposed to AR's. I thought I would check it out for myself and cycle the action a few times to get used to it. I removed the mag, which was full and went to "dry fire" it....oops. Forgot the round in the chamber.... BANG. Fortunately, I had it pointed at the floor when it fired but just seconds earlier it had been leveled at my TV and my neighbors house beyond that! I felt so stupid. It took alot for me to tell my buddy how foolish I had been. :banghead:
Hopefully you weren't in a second story apartment. :evil2:
The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. James Madison
NRA Life Member Texas Firearms Coalition member
User avatar

Jumping Frog
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 5488
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 9:13 am
Location: Klein, TX (Houston NW suburb)

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#5

Post by Jumping Frog »

beefmobile wrote:As i placed my finger on the trigger, i slowly applied pressure........BOOM!......without intent.
That is an example of why Cooper's Four Rules are actually so wise.

Although your discharge was unintentional, note that it did not violate any of Cooper's Four Rules:

RULE 1: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
RULE 2: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY
RULE 3: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER TIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
RULE 4: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

Cooper's Rules are not meant to distinguish between intentional, unintentional, negligent, or accidental. They are merely meant to ensure no one gets hurt.

One of the things interesting about Cooper's Four Rules is you have to violate multiple rules for someone to get hurt.

In your case, regardless of your intentions, your actions were safe.
-Just call me Bob . . . Texas Firearms Coalition, NRA Life member, TSRA Life member, and OFCC Patron member

This froggie ain't boiling! Shall not be infringed! Μολών Λαβέ
User avatar

ffemt300
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 358
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:42 am
Location: Friendswood, Tx

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#6

Post by ffemt300 »

baldeagle wrote:
ffemt300 wrote:I had a foolish ND years back. A friend had been over at my house and he left his AR-15 when he left(how nice,right?) We had been looking at it and talking shop and were planning on going to the range the next day. I called him and told him he left it and that I would bring it with me to the range the next day. Well I was a stupid 22 year-old and had never been exposed to AR's. I thought I would check it out for myself and cycle the action a few times to get used to it. I removed the mag, which was full and went to "dry fire" it....oops. Forgot the round in the chamber.... BANG. Fortunately, I had it pointed at the floor when it fired but just seconds earlier it had been leveled at my TV and my neighbors house beyond that! I felt so stupid. It took alot for me to tell my buddy how foolish I had been. :banghead:
Hopefully you weren't in a second story apartment. :evil2:
No thankfully it was a rent house. I really couldn't even see a hole in the floor where it went through. It was a high shag carpet and you couldnt tell by looking. Now the floor decking underneath may have been a different story. Probably a nice big exit wound... :shock: :oops:
User avatar

77346
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 569
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2012 5:49 pm
Location: Atascocita, TX

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#7

Post by 77346 »

My shooting buddy was showing me his new M&P 45... he said "and when the safety is on, there is no way the gun will fire" as he pulled the trigger. After the loud boom I reminded him he bought the model that does not has the safety :shock:

Good thing that we were at the range and the gun was safely pointed at the target; I reminded him of the 4 rules.

Safeties give a false sense of safety... "keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot" is the best safety.
Alex
NRA Benefactor Life & TSRA Life Member
Bay Area Shooting Club Member
CHL since 7/12 | 28 days mailbox-to-mailbox
User avatar

GeekwithaGun
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 1001
Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:30 am
Location: Hickory Creek

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#8

Post by GeekwithaGun »

:iagree:
NRA Life Member

steve817
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 543
Joined: Sun May 16, 2010 1:44 pm
Location: Arlington

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#9

Post by steve817 »

I don't remember if I told this story or not. I shot several hundred rounds out of my Dad's old PT99 and due to improperly holding the gun had managed to wear a blister on the inside of my thumb. Went to go shoot with my wife a few days later and she suggested wearing some kind of glove and it sounded like a good idea. The older model Taurus doesn't have a de-cocker on it, so after inserting the magazine and hitting the slide release I wanted to de-cock it by pulling the trigger while holding the hammer and slowly letting the hammer down like I had done many times before without incident.

Well the gloves caused a significant loss of dexterity and the hammer got away from me. I shot the concrete floor about 10 feet in front of me (downrange) and the spent brass that was already there went flying everywhere. The slide came back and my thumb stopped it. Despite what everyone says, no it won't tear your thumb off but I still don't suggest it. I decided then and there that my next pistol was gonna have a de-cocking lever on it.

I still get a sick feeling when trying to de-cock the Taurus but I sure don't try and do it with gloves on either.
Last edited by steve817 on Sat Sep 29, 2012 3:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.."
-- Ronald Reagan

tonzofphun
Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 79
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:34 pm

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#10

Post by tonzofphun »

I had the same thing happen all the time when I first started shooting. All rounds were pointed in the intended direction but they were not even close to making it on paper.

Now... that is why I always try to dry fire a gun that I am not accustomed to before I actually load and make ready. I make my friends dry fire my stuff too when they are trying out something of mine they have not shot before as well.
User avatar

tbrown
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 1685
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:47 pm

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#11

Post by tbrown »

Oh. I clicked to find out how your fist had a negligent discharge.
sent to you from my safe space in the hill country
User avatar

The Annoyed Man
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 26790
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:59 pm
Location: North Richland Hills, Texas
Contact:

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#12

Post by The Annoyed Man »

Gun: 5" Model 29 S&W, .44 magnum
Ammo: American Eagle 240 grain JHP, 1280 fps/800 ft lb
Victim: My bedroom ceiling..........and my left ear.

I've told the story enough times, but long story short, I thought I had dumped all 6 unfired cartridges into my hand. As it turned out......I had not.

The muzzle blast occurred just a few inches away from my left ear as I held the gun pointed toward the ceiling and kept cocking the hammer an then feeling for the single action letoff (which is amazing even without the muzzle blast in your ear). Having seen the fireball that erupts from the muzzle in low light and the accompanying sheets of flame that shoot out the sides from the cylinder gap, I am still amazed today that I did not set my own head on fire.

Still partially deaf in that ear today. This happened in 1996.

Tell you what though, I've been a paranoid freak about gun safety ever since.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"

#TINVOWOOT
User avatar

Jasonw560
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 1294
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:45 pm
Location: Harlingen, TX

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#13

Post by Jasonw560 »

I've told mine, but I'll nutshell it...

My dad's old .22, was checking it to make sure it was unloaded, didn't see the round in the chamber, bump fired it, and there's a hole in the bedroom wall.

Luckily, I had sent my kids to the other side of the house before I did that.

My wife was none too pleased.
NRA EPL pending life member

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government"- Patrick Henry

Topic author
beefmobile
Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:06 pm

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#14

Post by beefmobile »

tbrown wrote:Oh. I clicked to find out how your fist had a negligent discharge.
haha...i didn't even catch that until now. When i titled the post, i had too much blood in my alcohol system..... :cool:
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
-Bill of Rights-
(Must be 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Not available in all states. Some restrictions apply)

US Marine Corps
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are....

GLOCK

mlawler
Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 77
Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:14 pm

Re: My Fist Negligent Discharge

#15

Post by mlawler »

Since we're all 'sharing' out tales of woe..... Mine was when I was 16 shooting a Marlin Model 60 22LR in the back yard. Because the gun had no bolt hold open after the last round, I usually pointed it at the ground next to my right foot and pulled the trigger to 'de-cock' the hammer. I miscounted once and instead of click got a bang!! Missed my foot, but I was standing next to our pool and the round hit an buried pipe; water sprayed 5-6 feet up!! My scream allerted my Dad, who looked out the door, shook his head and said 'You know were the shovel's at." & closed the door!!! :shock:
Post Reply

Return to “Never Again!!”