I Shot Myself Yesterday I have spent so much time reading about accidental/negligant discharges, thinking about gun safety. I've been cautioning my wife and son, stressing to them how careful we must be with firearms, because all it takes is one lapse in attrention.
Can't believe I shot myself yesterday.
I had my XD-40 with me in a company vehicle yesterday. It was about 4:30, time to go home. I had been field stripping (playing with) it several times during the day. studying it's mechanisms. Thought I'd do it one more time before heading home.
I dropped the mag, failed to clear the chamber. STUPID! Racked the slide, pulled the trigger to release it. BOOM!
In an instant, my ears are ringing, blood is everywhere. Meat was hanging from the side of my hand, blood dripping. Knew instantly I was shot in my leg, too. OMG! knew I had to get to the hospital, started the van, started driving. I then realized, "where's the gun"? Turned around, saw it in the parking lot, knew I had to get it. Went back, threw it in park, stepped out, got it. Started driving.
Didn't know how bad I was hurt. I was mainly worried about my leg, wondering if I had hit an artery. Didn't want to wait for an ambulance, wasn't sure it would arrive before I bled out. Traffic was heavy, waited for a couple of lights, but then turned on my flashers, started to weave in and out, jumping curbs.
Made it, pulled up to the wrong entrance. Backed out, went to where the ambulances come in. Thew it in park, leaned on my horn. No one came, leaned on it again. Female security guard came around the corner, "are you alright"? I said "No, I've been shot, I need help"! She seemed to be reacting in slow motion, trying to process it. She started heading that way, I yelled for her to please hurry.
They came scrambling out with a gurney, rushed me inside. IV"s are being stuck in me, sissors are cutting my pants off.
Moving along...I have to have surgery on my hand Tuesday. I was able to move my fingers, which is a good sign, but I'm going to have a bite missing from the lower side of my hand. They're going to use a skin graft from my leg to cover it.
The bullet went clean through my leg. Amazing, it missed the bone, didn't hit any major veins/arterys, didn't even hit any major muscles. Entry/exit wounds are about 8-9 inches apart, but the bullet kept to the surface, going through fatty tissue. It left some fragments in my leg (it was a hollow point), which are going to stay in there. Doctor says they shouldn't cause me any trouble, and may actually work their way out eventually.
Cops showed up, asking for details. They had to confiscate the gun, but they say I'll get it back. One commented "it's a good gun". Asked how long I'd had it, I said not quite two weeks. I can't use unfamaliarity as an excuse, though, I've had an XD-9 for a couple of months, same mechanism.
I feel so stupid. My ears are still ringing some, hope I haven't done any permanent damage to my hearing.
I'm actually able to walk on my leg if I move slowly. My hand hurts the most, going every day for wound dressing till my surgery Tuesday.
I'm definetely going to get wrote up, but I think my job is safe. No workers comp, since I was in violation of company policy having the gun. I'm hoping I can get back to work later part of next week.
I'm posting this as part confession, part warning. It...can...happen...be careful.
mistergus75
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Glad you're still here to tell the tale. One thing that I was always taught though was that if something like this happens call 911 and wait for the ambulance. If you had passed out while driving to the hospital you'd have made a bad situation worse. Any word on how your company will view this incident? Any repercussions?
Look at it this way - you now have a permanent reminder to make d#mn sure you follow the gun safety rules.
Glad no life threatening injury. Sounds like you kept your head.
I've only had one ND, no injury on a Mini-14 I had just finished cleaning when I put the mag in, admiring the action and how clean it was, pulled the trigger, and BAM! No ammo around when cleaning, or beer :)
We had an accidental injury at a USPSA competition, when a finger slipped and discharged the weapon prematurely while being drawn. Pays to be careful.
Glad is sounds like you're going to be ok. Wiser and a little more worn for the wear. Praying for you!
I'm glad you are not hurt worst than you are. Glad no one else was hurt - from the ND or your driving.
I'm not going to beat on you. You know you violated multiple of the rules and lived to tell the tale.
You have to do it right - EVERY TIME.
P.S. I am curious about one thing. You said you racked the slide, why did this not eject the unspent shell?
A great reminder for all of us. It takes just one minor lapse. Glad to hear you are alright. Thanks for the post
Your Airborne Daddy
Glad you are ok. You are right- it only takes 1 second of complacency. When I was in Afghanistan back in '03, We had someone accidentally shoot themself. Every morning we cleaned our weapons. The guy in question cleaned his and assembled it. Unfortunately, without thinking, he put the magazine in before he did the functions check and ended up shooting himself in the foot. The real kick in the ass was he was told to walk to the aid station about 1/4 mile away haha.
I always stress the basics in my Hunter Ed classes. Never point a firearm at anything you don't intend to destroy and always treat them as if they are loaded. I have had one or both of those save me in the field several times with young relatives I was mentoring. Thanks for being up front about the discharge and your actions. It helps when folks know it happens easily and fast.
I suspect that I thought the mag had already been dropped and wasn't in there, so I didn't drop it. Nothing else makes sense.Originally Posted by Babarock
There are so many things to harp on in the OP that I won't even start. I am just glad that you are alive to tell your story of stupidity so we all can learn from it. For all of you (us) out there claiming that it can't happen to me it can and probably will. The whole argument over AD vs. ND doesn't mean a thing to someone in a grave and is just symantics although it does make good Internet fodder. As pointed out the OP will have a permanent reminder of the rules of gun safety but not all of us have a similar reminder and I do not want one. Any gun owner who has never had a ND just hasn't played with guns enough and any gun shop that doesn't have a bullet hole in the wall hasn't been in business very long. Dangit there aren't but four rules that you have to follow for gun safety so anyone should be able to remember and follow them. However there is one more rule that we can throw in there for good measure, "Don't ever PLAY with guns" unless they are made by Mattel or some other toy company.
I commend you for telling this story and not keeping it to yourself. This should be passed along to all shooters (new and experienced.) I'm glad you're alive.
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