Negligent Discharges

[Wind]

Hey all - I was responding to a thread on another forum and thought I'd get in my over-achiever mode and pass the information along here too. I’m a Range Officer for several different shooting venues. Last year I witnessed THREE negligent discharges at different events. One bullet entered the unloading table within 12 inches of my left elbow. The common factor in all three discharges was the shooters hand position with regard to the lever. Picture one shows a hand in the normal loading or unloading position. If the lever is griped as in picture two, the thumb WILL contact the trigger, moving it towards the rear and discharging the firearm. I hope this helps. Best regards. Wind

Click on the photos to enlarge

[Blaine]

I've had a couple not-planned-for double taps, but the muzzle is always downrange in preperation for the the second shot (that came early). Some just get excited and don't control the muzzle. At the range, I find myself loading them one at a time. That conserves ammo and makes it a bit more controled and safe.

[Doc Hudson]

You are right about the handgrip in photo #2. I learned that the hard way.

I was unloading my Marlin Golden Model 39-A once.. I'd pulled the magazine tube and dumped the cartridges on the bed, and returned the follower to the magazine, Just to be cetain, i worked the lever a couple of times in the makker illustrated in photo #2. The second time I worked the lever, the rifle went off and sent a bullet through the ceiling. It was a rather religious experience, it scarred the devil out of me.

[NonPCnraRN]

I was guilty of that myself I am sorry to report. My thumb was in the same position as the second photo. I sent a 170 gr Win Silvertip through a coffe mug, then a sheetrock interior wall and stucco of the outside wall. I was upstairs and the bullet angled downward into the dirt in the backyard. I had some 'splainin to do, not to mention patching sheetrock, stucco and painting.

[Pete44ru]

I'm glad to hear that yore elbow - and you - survived the experience, wind.

That's one of the reasons I'm glad not to be a gun club Range Officer & running public sighting-in days, any more.

.

[AJMD429]

It was a rather religious experience, it scarred the devil out of me.

THAT is a quote I'm going to have to remember...!

Such experiences also often illustrate how adrenaline facilitates 'weight loss' via accelerated evacuation of bladder and bowels.

[J Miller]

I have been shooting lever actions since 1966 or thereabouts. In all that time I have never placed my hand with my thumb like picture #2. Only an idiot would do that.
I have emptied my rifles countless times by levering the ammo through the chamber without so much as a hiccup, let alone an ND. I keep my trigger finger WAY AWAY from the trigger guard part of the lever and my thumb stays out of the way as well. Something like picture #1.
Nobody taught me that, it's just plain common sense.

I'm afraid if I saw someone handling a lever action as pic #2 shows I'd ream him a new orifice.

Joe