Accidental Discharge question

[Rossi357]

I agree, there are certain rare occasions that I would classify as 'accidental' instead of negligent; such as your experience. It was a mechanical malfunction, with no negligence from the operator.

I had a similiar experience with an old SKS. The previous owner didn't take good care of it, and probably never cleaned it. I was demonstrating the action to a friend of mine, using live rounds, with the muzzle ponting in a safe direction. When I let the bolt go forward, the rifle slam-fired on it's own. Scared the crap out of both of us, but no harm was done. I didn't even know what a slam fire was at the time, I had my finger away from the trigger, but the gun malfunctioned. Although, I could have used dummy rounds if I had any.

I think one more catagory should be added to the quote, besides negligent and intentional...mechanical malfunction.

SKS has a free floating firing pin. It's not held back with a spring. If it was dirty and jammed, it could cause it to fire when the action went into battery.

[bboston]

Accidental discharges happen every day. That still leaves no reason for anyone to get hurt.. Ive had several unintentional discharges for different reasons and never came near hurting anyone. Several times I had the hammer cocked and the sight on the target. As soon as my finger touched the trigger the revolver fired before I intended too. All things considered no one woukld have even known I fired unintentionally however I did. Embarassing as it is sometimes its avoidable. People do make mistakes but if you follow all of the safety rules only your pride should be injured.Just be carefull and follow ALL of the rules and no one will get hurt.

[JSDinTexas]

According to Wikipedia - "An accident is a specific, unidentifiable, unexpected, unusual and unintended external action which occurs in a particular time and place, with no apparent and deliberate cause but with marked effects."

Sounds like you qualify for accident. On the other hand, I had just started cleaning a .357 revolver about 30 years ago and pulled the trigger - shot a hole in my living room ceiling. That, brother, is pure negligence! And I remember it vividly - I have never had another "unintentional discharge" since, and hope I never do.

And I am still embarrassed by it, but maybe confession is good for the soul.

[wuzfuz]

Recently, MSNBC had a program called Remington Under Fire, about the design flaw in the Remington 700 series of bolt action rifles. While Remington denies it, there is a piece in the trigger/sear assembly that sometimes allows the rifle to fire when the safet y is released or if the rifle is bumped. A number of years ago, the designer responsible for the 700 designed another piece to go into the assembly that would lock the firing pin. This piece, whcih would have stopped the 700 series rifle from firing apparently by itself would have cost, in those days, 5.5 cents per rifle. Remington decided not to go that route, claiming that it was too expensive. Today, the same part would run $75 to $100 per gun, which would cost more than Remington's annual income. Normally, I don't accept accidental discharges, but with a 700, I would be leery of it.

[maybejim]

Recently, MSNBC had a program called Remington Under Fire, about the design flaw in the Remington 700 series of bolt action rifles. While Remington denies it, there is a piece in the trigger/sear assembly that sometimes allows the rifle to fire when the safet y is released or if the rifle is bumped. A number of years ago, the designer responsible for the 700 designed another piece to go into the assembly that would lock the firing pin. This piece, whcih would have stopped the 700 series rifle from firing apparently by itself would have cost, in those days, 5.5 cents per rifle. Remington decided not to go that route, claiming that it was too expensive. Today, the same part would run $75 to $100 per gun, which would cost more than Remington's annual income. Normally, I don't accept accidental discharges, but with a 700, I would be leery of it.

I saw this posted somewhere else. Wasn't this an old problem and wasn't there a recall? It seems to me that it happened a couple of years or so ago. Or do I have this confused with another gun?

[OldOwl]

Took out his refrigerator.

I can't stop laughing.

Oh ya. I'm laughing so hard, I forgot... that's what I looked at this thread for. I just saw a rerun of that program tonight on the Remington 700 malfunction. Pretty scary.

[S&W645]

Didn't know that they made any semi-auto handguns that used "clips". Thought they were restricted to revolvers.


Semi-auto handgun with a "clip"

Difference between a "clip" and "magazine"



gf

I always love this arguement as magazines are where powder, shells, ammo, clips are stored while a clip is what goes in the gun. Magazines existed before clips did. HMS Hood blew up because a shell hit the magazine. The USS Maine sank because the magazine exploded.

To be a magazine in the terms used here it has to have another word in front of it to be correct such as a box magazine, a tubular magazine, a rotary magazine, drum magazine, fixed magazine, etc....


So far in 40+ years of handling guns, no accidental or unintentional discharges of any firearms and I hope it stays that way for atleast another 30+. I do have a shotgun that will slamfire but if you know it will, you take precautions not to accidentally do it.