Even the very best of us.
OldNFO had an ND.
I've shot with NFO. I've been RSO on a shooting line with NFO as a shooter. I cannot say enough good things about the man's professionalism with a firearm (nor his prowess as a shooter). If it can happen to him, it can happen to any of us. Go read his account - it's something that folks might not consider; I know I certainly wouldn't, not given the kind of rifle shooting I normally do. I will typically re-chamber ejected rounds and such - in a handgun. It wouldn't necessarily occur to me that a rifle might be different.
FWIW, I've posted about my own ND before. There's a saying about motorcycle riders: There's two types of bikers, those that have crashed and those that are going to crash. It's applicable to shooters as well - if you haven't already had your ND, you will. Handle enough guns enough times and something is quite likely to come up that results in an ND - which is precisely why there are four rules. Obey at least two of them and the ND will only result in ringing ears and wounded pride.
And mad props to NFO for sharing this story.
That is all.
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3 comments:
I too have had the honor of sharing the firing line with OldNFO, and never once did I question his safety. I still don't. I know he will accept it as a ND, but it sure sounds like it's damn close to a real live AD in my book. I don't hunt (need to change that!) so I've never run into his exact problem, but it sounds a lot like the issues you get when you use standard primers while reloading or using commercial ammo for military semi-autos. There is a reason they make special military primers, and this is it.
PS: I've had the bike accident, in close to 40yrs of shooting I've never had a ND. Please don't jinx me!
Honestly, from the description this situation sounds like one of those rare cases of a genuine _accidental_ discharge which didn't involve any real negligence.
I'm glad he was prudent enough to be following all four of the rules, and thus experienced only shock and embarrassment, rather than death, injury, or serious property damage either to himself or to an innocent third party.
And good on him especially, for posting the story.
Jay, if ONE person learns from it, then it's worth the post. As we discussed, I'm a retired Naval Aviator, and the culture in aviation is to ADMIT and OWN UP TO YOUR MISTAKES... I can do no less here. And thanks for linking so the word gets out.
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