My First Accidental Discharge

Danny Bear Claw · December 10, 2005, 06:48:58 PM

I was born and raised in and around NYC, so didn't come from a "gun background". I fired my first firearm at around the age of 12 in the Boy Scouts - it was a 22 rifle. In the US Army at age 17, I was on the pistol team. That was when the love affair with guns really began. I'm 51 years old now which means I've been handling firearms for about 39 years, and up until this morning had a perfect, spotless safety record with guns.

I was trying to figure out how to load and install my new cartridge conversion cylinder in my 1849 Pocket Revolver. As anyone familiar with open-top black powder revolvers knows, you must get that little wedge thingy in there just right in order to place the barrel in just the right position for the proper barrel/cylider gap and still be able to cycle the action. I was having quite a bit of trouble doing this with the conversion cylinder in place. I'd done it a couple of times just fine with an empty conversion cylinder but while attempting to do this with 5 rounds loaded in the cylinder I was experiencing a lot of difficulty getting the cylinder to spin. At one point I removed the barrel assembly and was drawing back the hammer while indexing the cylinder with my off-hand trying to get a "visual index" of just where the cylinder should be in relation to the recoil shield for proper functioning. Well, with my off-hand in front of the cylinder, my thumb slipped off that tiny little hammer and set off a round! BANG! The 88 gr. lead slug passed between my middle finger and my ring finger. I recieved some real nice powder burns on both fingers right near where they're connected to my hand and a large powder burn with a big blood blister on my palm. At the instant the shot went off I felt a burning sensation in my hand and for a second I was afraid to look, thinking I'd see a neat little 32 caliber hole drilled through my hand or perhaps a bloody finger dangling from where it was once connected. I was lucky... very lucky!

At this point I decided to put the black powder cylinder back on the gun, put it and the new conversion cylinder away for another day and not go to the range. I'm glad I decided to practice loading and installing it at home and not at the public range. I spent the rest of today thanking God that I still have 10 fingers and no holes in my hand.

I wanted to share this embarrasment with others to remind you all to always be diligent, careful and mindful of what you are doing with firearms at all times. After 39 years handling and owning countless guns if this can happen to me it can happen to anyone.

BTW - I found the slug mushroomed on the steel frame of my coffee table where it made a cute little half inch dimple. The wife was not pleased. $:-\$

Arcey · December 10, 2005, 07:03:37 PM

Yanno, Danny, mi amigo. I'm thinkin' ya might consider that a Christmas present. Good lesson 'n ya, er nobody else, is hurt bad. Actually, it's a good lesson for all of us. Couldah happened ta any of us. Happy yer ok.

Merry Christmas.

Forty Rod · December 10, 2005, 08:29:34 PM

Very lucky. I'd hate to have you change you alias to Danny Stubby Claw.

Merry Christmas.

Four-Eyed Buck · December 10, 2005, 08:52:51 PM

Glad you're mostly okay, Danny

Guess you did get an early Christmas present of sorts. Hope the wife cools down soon. Try to be more careful..........Buck

Oregon Bill · December 11, 2005, 10:24:30 AM

Owning up to a thing like this indicates the stuff you're made of. Thank gosh you're OK. Hope that was a smokeless load that went off in the living room!

Howdy Doody · December 11, 2005, 10:56:49 AM

DBC, I am so glad to hear that you are basically OK after what could have been so much worse. I agree with Oregon Bill, you have the right stuff.
Since I had a accident reloading this week myownself, all I can say is be careful out there everyone.
I hope these reports of incidents can help other avoid them. Guns aren't the only things that can bite you, either. My worst accident so far in my life was while driving a car. Someone was smiling on me that day.

Will Ketchum · December 11, 2005, 05:08:19 PM

Glad your okay Danny. Perhaps you better consider putting a loading gate in that pistol.

Will Ketchum

Danny Bear Claw · December 12, 2005, 07:57:55 PM

Thanks for all the words of support Pards. I did wrestle with the idea of going public with this little mishap, but in the end decided if it could prevent someone else from making the same mistake it was worth the little bit of extra embarrasment. I am considering going with the full coversion offered by R&D Gunshop but they want $1000 for that job. Can't really afford that right now. Maybe in the future.

Again, I ask all my CAS Pards to be careful, be diligent when it comes to gun safety and may God watch over you like He did me.

deucedaddyj · December 13, 2005, 08:56:07 AM

Boy, it takes a big man to own up to that. My friend had a somewhat similar experience with a henry .22 rifle. I never found out exactly what he was trying to do, but he ended firing off a shot which came close to taking up residence in my foot. After I walked off my temper, we looked around and found the slug in his coffee table book on the beatles. I still get a bit nervous when he holds a loaded gun, and I guess I always will.

Virginia Gentleman · December 27, 2005, 04:30:09 PM

It happens to the best of us, so believe me you are not alone.

I had my first and hopefully last this summer with a match 1911 Colt that had a bad trigger job. It was thankfully pointed in a safe direction and only a ceiling, glass window and dirt in the backyard suffered. The sear needs to be replaced on the gun, but I am a changed gun owner and my safety borderlines on fanatiscism.

Danny Bear Claw · May 17, 2009, 10:09:38 AM

Just thought I should bump this one back up, even though it is a few years old because it is a lesson well learned. Again I ask all you gunmen out there to be vigilant when it comes to gun safety.

Jamie · May 17, 2009, 07:10:20 PM

Just want to add an Amen to everything else that's been said. Don't feel lonely, for sure, and don't feel any dumber than you need to to maintain an increased level of vigilance for your sake and the sake of those around you, the same as the rest of us who have had a similar experience. Mine came when I was lowering the hammer on a cocked 1890 Winchester pump gun. I was living with some relatives while in college and had cleaned all his guns before going home for Christmas break. By the time I got back they were in Florida, and after playing guitar for a couple of hours, I went into the room the gun cabinet was in and noticed the rifle was cocked. I was certain I hadn't left it like that, and figured that his grandson had found the key and been messing with it. I even assumed it was loaded. I grabbed it with my left hand (I'm right handed) and couldn't work the action without lowering the hammer, so I aimed it at the window (cement walled basement) and lowered the hammer with my sweaty left thumb. Gee. I wonder why it slipped and shot a hole in the window. No bruises or burns, etc. nor any recriminations when he got back from Florida when I told him what happened though I'd had the window fixed already. I knew enough to be careful, and I know I wasn't careful enough. Again, self recrimination has it's sole value in the way that it makes us think, and changes our actions. The beauty of your post is for the wise. Intelligent people learn from their mistakes. Wise people learn from other people's mistakes. You've made a serious offering of self here for us. Redemption waits in someone else's life, which your experience may well save... Thanks!!!

Jamie

Pole Cat Pete · June 26, 2009, 07:49:25 PM

BTW - I found the slug mushroomed on the steel frame of my coffee table where it made a cute little half inch dimple. The wife was not pleased. Women never see any humor in these things.

Gald yer not hurt.

Major 2 · June 27, 2009, 04:56:35 AM

Redemption waits in someone else's life, which your experience may well save

that is a very profound quote , I like it ! may I use it ?

Dr. Bob · June 27, 2009, 08:03:10 PM

Maj.2,

Man, that's a deep and profound thought for someone who gets up in the middle of the night!

Well, the middle of the night for me anyway!!

Dispatch · June 28, 2009, 03:04:27 AM

Quote from: Danny Bear Claw on December 10, 2005, 06:48:58 PM
I was born and raised in and around NYC, so didn't come from a "gun background". I fired my first firearm at around the age of 12 in the Boy Scouts - it was a 22 rifle. In the US Army at age 17, I was on the pistol team. That was when the love affair with guns really began. I'm 51 years old now which means I've been handling firearms for about 39 years, and up until this morning had a perfect, spotless safety record with guns.

I was trying to figure out how to load and install my new cartridge conversion cylinder in my 1849 Pocket Revolver. As anyone familiar with open-top black powder revolvers knows, you must get that little wedge thingy in there just right in order to place the barrel in just the right position for the proper barrel/cylider gap and still be able to cycle the action. I was having quite a bit of trouble doing this with the conversion cylinder in place. I'd done it a couple of times just fine with an empty conversion cylinder but while attempting to do this with 5 rounds loaded in the cylinder I was experiencing a lot of difficulty getting the cylinder to spin. At one point I removed the barrel assembly and was drawing back the hammer while indexing the cylinder with my off-hand trying to get a "visual index" of just where the cylinder should be in relation to the recoil shield for proper functioning. Well, with my off-hand in front of the cylinder, my thumb slipped off that tiny little hammer and set off a round! BANG! The 88 gr. lead slug passed between my middle finger and my ring finger. I recieved some real nice powder burns on both fingers right near where they're connected to my hand and a large powder burn with a big blood blister on my palm. At the instant the shot went off I felt a burning sensation in my hand and for a second I was afraid to look, thinking I'd see a neat little 32 caliber hole drilled through my hand or perhaps a bloody finger dangling from where it was once connected. I was lucky... very lucky!

At this point I decided to put the black powder cylinder back on the gun, put it and the new conversion cylinder away for another day and not go to the range. I'm glad I decided to practice loading and installing it at home and not at the public range. I spent the rest of today thanking God that I still have 10 fingers and no holes in my hand.

I wanted to share this embarrasment with others to remind you all to always be diligent, careful and mindful of what you are doing with firearms at all times. After 39 years handling and owning countless guns if this can happen to me it can happen to anyone.

BTW - I found the slug mushroomed on the steel frame of my coffee table where it made a cute little half inch dimple. The wife was not pleased. $:-\$

Hey ! I was born and raised in NYC AND I came from a "gun background". Unlike alot of New Yorkers I knew and grew up with, I never let those liberal NYC politicians keep me from my 2nd amendment rights. It was worth the 6 months wait from 1 Police Plaza to get my Target license. They made it extremely hard just to apply with intimidiation, outlandish licensing fees and pure aggravation but in the end, I won. You would be suprised at how many ranges there are in NYC. Then you have a whole world of shooting places in upstate NY and Long Island, not to mention the hunting areas. By the way, I'm glad your ok. Don't beat yourself up about it. It could have happened to anyone. We've all had our 'lessons learned'. Just be thankful it wasn't a .45 Long Colt that discharged. Then it might have been a whole different story. Stay safe!