I had an ND

[BRTCP88]

No one was hurt. I just felt I should tell someone. I know I fluffed up big time. Let the flaming commence, I deserve it.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[ccw9mm]

If you'd care to elaborate, what was the "negligence" part ... and, hence, the lesson(s) to be learned?

[BRTCP88]

If you'd care to elaborate, what was the "negligence" part ... and, hence, the lesson(s) to be learned?

I cocked the hammer on my revolver to inspect the firing pin. When lowering the hammer, my thumb slipped and the gun went off. Now I know that the wall I was pointing at is not safe and to unload the gun before doing that again. I'd done it a hundred times and got complacent.

[svgheartland]

If I had had one in my life, and only one, which I have but I'm not admitting that I did.....then I wouldn't look down on you for your honesty.....and I'm not. It scared the hell out of me once I realized that I was the one who did it. I was stunned at my own simple stupidity. I'm not suggesting that you share that trait. Thank God I was alone, if it really happened, but of course it didn't.

[buckeye .45]

IF you wanted to inspect the firing pin, why didn't you unload it prior to pulling the hammer back?

[Brad426]

IF you wanted to inspect the hammer, why didn't you unload it prior to pulling the hammer back?

Yes, the negligent part here (in my opinion) is that you've done that enough times that you got complacent.

[OldVet]

Been there, done that. Tried to lower the hammer on a thutty-thutty after letting a deer pass and bang! Had done it a hundred times, but it only takes once.

[oneshot]

Well, at least you wern't showing your friends at 2:30 in the morning that your pistol was empty by pointing it at your temple and pulling the trigger.

Lesson learned and should be duly noted by all.
Do not inspect, fool with try to fix/maintain or otherwise clean any firearm while its loaded, and about all the harm it might do to you is get a sore foot, should you happen to drop it.

[ccw9mm]

Every time I touch my gun, particularly anytime when testing, loading/unloading or cleaning, I try to remember and recite the basic gun safety rules. I've found a simple acronym to help me: LMFT (Loaded, Muzzle, Finger, Trigger). It ain't fool-proof, but I feel that the simple regimen has helped.

Another thing that helps (me): whenever unholstering, first ensure that the gun is cleared/unloaded. THEN, and only then, move on to whatever procedure (ie, cleaning) was intended. Except, of course, in a defensive situation. It forces an opportunity to first validate that the weapon is clear, and reinforces the basic gun safety rules.

Glad you (and those around you) weren't injured.

[Harryball]

I cocked the hammer on my revolver to inspect the firing pin. When lowering the hammer, my thumb slipped and the gun went off. Now I know that the wall I was pointing at is not safe and to unload the gun before doing that again. I'd done it a hundred times and got complacent.

What is bad is that you had done it a hundred times before. Not only did you have an ND, you are practicing poor gun handling. You need to change that.

[BRTCP88]

IF you wanted to inspect the firing pin, why didn't you unload it prior to pulling the hammer back?

Yes, the negligent part here (in my opinion) is that you've done that enough times that you got complacent.

I agree with y'all. I heard that it's a part that can get damaged easily, so I inspect it every now and then. I used to unload it, but I got used to doing it. I was going to the grocery store and was going to carry it (I left it home.) I won't be handling loaded guns anymore though.

[Doodle]

I had a ND back as a teenager... Don't beat yourself up, everyone's alive, you learned a loud lesson and now have a hole to patch. I bet your much safer with firearms now.

[billstaf]

There are a lot of us (maybe a lot more than we would admit to) who have who have had an ND while fooling with some type of gun. I have done it too.

The thing is that nobody was hurt. I would bet that you'll remember this incident a lot more often than all of the times you never had an ND. Sometimes a very loud reminder of gun handling safety can keep us on track.

[buckeye .45]

I agree with y'all. I heard that it's a part that can get damaged easily, so I inspect it every now and then. I used to unload it, but I got used to doing it. I was going to the grocery store and was going to carry it (I left it home.) I won't be handling loaded guns anymore though.

Complacency kills.

I don't mean to sound overly harsh, but it is a harsh truth. And it applies to more than just firearms. It also applies to driving, operating machinery, scuba diving, parachuting, or basically any other activity with inherent risk.

Out of curiosity, how would the firing pin on a revolver get damaged? When it isn't hitting the primer, like it should be, or being cycled with the action, it is just sitting there, protected by metal on all sides.

[GeorgiaDawg]

For someone who takes firearms seriously, a having one ND should be a guarantee that it will be the only one you'll have. You remember it every time you handle your firearms going forward and will keep you from becoming complacent again.