I really started getting into guns when I joined the Army in 1972. I remember, as part of a safety briefing, being warned to listen to our rounds going off. They showed us a picture of a M16 that had blown up. It had fired a round that only had a primer, no powder. The bullet stuck in the barrel. The next round fired could not dislodge the bullet. The third one blew up the receiver. We were warned that if all we heard was a "pop" when we fired, we were to stop and have a range officer run a rod down the barrel to check for obstructions.
I always had this somewhere in the back of my mind, but had never experienced it or knew personally anyone who had. I have been an avid shooter for years. I spent four years as a U.S. Army Drill Sargent. I’m also a member of SASS, and I was on my battalion’s pistol team when I joined the Army Reserves. I have fired or heard fired a lot of rounds through the years.
Sunday, I took my extended clan to a friend’s farm for a day of shooting watermelons and canned orange soda. My wife’s sister has just moved from a gun unfriendly state, to a gun friendly state. Her and her husband work with a lot of hunters and shooters, and they want to start shooting too. So far, so good.
Sister-in-law was shooting my 6" barreled S&W 586. She was shooting 158gr semi wadcutters that I had loaded. I had six or seven hundred rounds loaded. Also, in one box, were five rounds that I have had laying around for twenty years. They were all that was left of a box of 148gr wadcutters that a coworker had loaded and given me. Everything was going great. She’s shooting the gun single action, and I am standing to her left. "Bang", "Bang", "Bang", "pop".
As she cocked the revolver again, I reached up and put my hand around the cylinder and told her not to pull the trigger. She was already hesitating, knowing that it did not sound right. I took the revolver, opened the cylinder and unloaded it. Shining a light in the barrel, I could tell it was obstructed. I took a rod and without too much effort, pushed the bullet back out of the barrel. It was only in about two inches.
I showed everyone there what had happened and what could have been a disaster was turned into a learning experience. Reminded them all, why I harp on safety glasses. I’m just glad that I was standing next to her when it happened.
I admit, I was glad it was not one of my reloads. I threw the remaining round away. I don’t think the bad round had any powder in it at all, as there was no big amount of residue in the barrel.
So you can draw your own lessons here. Safety first and stay alert, because it can and does happen.
I always had this somewhere in the back of my mind, but had never experienced it or knew personally anyone who had. I have been an avid shooter for years. I spent four years as a U.S. Army Drill Sargent. I’m also a member of SASS, and I was on my battalion’s pistol team when I joined the Army Reserves. I have fired or heard fired a lot of rounds through the years.
Sunday, I took my extended clan to a friend’s farm for a day of shooting watermelons and canned orange soda. My wife’s sister has just moved from a gun unfriendly state, to a gun friendly state. Her and her husband work with a lot of hunters and shooters, and they want to start shooting too. So far, so good.
Sister-in-law was shooting my 6" barreled S&W 586. She was shooting 158gr semi wadcutters that I had loaded. I had six or seven hundred rounds loaded. Also, in one box, were five rounds that I have had laying around for twenty years. They were all that was left of a box of 148gr wadcutters that a coworker had loaded and given me. Everything was going great. She’s shooting the gun single action, and I am standing to her left. "Bang", "Bang", "Bang", "pop".
As she cocked the revolver again, I reached up and put my hand around the cylinder and told her not to pull the trigger. She was already hesitating, knowing that it did not sound right. I took the revolver, opened the cylinder and unloaded it. Shining a light in the barrel, I could tell it was obstructed. I took a rod and without too much effort, pushed the bullet back out of the barrel. It was only in about two inches.
I showed everyone there what had happened and what could have been a disaster was turned into a learning experience. Reminded them all, why I harp on safety glasses. I’m just glad that I was standing next to her when it happened.
I admit, I was glad it was not one of my reloads. I threw the remaining round away. I don’t think the bad round had any powder in it at all, as there was no big amount of residue in the barrel.
So you can draw your own lessons here. Safety first and stay alert, because it can and does happen.
If it don't sound right.....STOP.
