When things go "clunk" in the night

[hoosiertraps]

While employed by a mid western state police department I became involved in the
apprehension of 2 subjects suspected of the murder of a gas station attendant
during the course of an armed robbery. These individuals were occupying an automobile
stopped by another Trooper in a rural area at about 1AM. I arrived to assist and exited
my patrol car armed with a newly acquired M1 Carbine equipped with a 30 round magazine. As I approached
the left rear quarter of the suspect vehicle there was a sudden flurry of activity on the part
of the occupants causing an adrenalin surge and developing the sudden urge to release the safety on
my weapon in anticipation of violent action. Imagine the sound of that 30 round magazine impacting
the highway as a result of my activating the MAGAZINE RELEASE instead of the swing type safety!
From this distance,(its a long ways from 1964) I am able to smile at the memory, but at the time
it was more than a memorable experience. Fortunately fo all concerned the subjects were less than
willing to face armed resistance and surrendered without a fight, even though they were armed with a
12 gauge shotgun. Both were latter convicted of their crime and housed in the State Prison.

 

[StrawHat]

Glad things worked out in your favor. One of the reasons I carry a revolver rather than a selfloader is because I can do revolver drils in my sleep. I have to think how to use a selfloader.

 

[feralmerril]

I had a cop friend tell me about the time his younger brother came and stayed with him. That night he made a felon stop that had a stolen car. When it was over he later found his revolver empty! His kid brother admitted he had unloaded and toyed with it!

 

[jlrhiner]

Had a similar experience with a Thompson. I don't think I released it, I think I didn't have it seated. Sobering.

 

[sigp220.45]

I did a similar thing with a MP5/10mm. I hopped out the car and threw down on some corner boys. The magazine must not have been seated all the way because when my foot hit the ground the magazine followed shortly thereafter. Rounds popped out and everything - I wish I had something cool, but all I could come up with was "oh ****".

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I read an account by a Marine in the Pusan Perimeter Campaign, one time he wondered why his M-1 Carbine wasn't firing
, realized he'd engaged the safety instead of releasing it. I recall reading an article by one of the top handgun instructors, he emphasized checking your firearms before clearing a building, etc. Like safety, checking one's firearm for setup and functioning must become an ingrained habit.

 

[m1gunner]

I drop the mag on an AR15 all the time reaching to release the safety. The mag release feels just like a push button safety, and I have fired tens of thousands of rounds from a rifle with a push button safety forward of the trigger.

 

[Cyrano]

The carbine safty originally was a push (crossbolt) type. It was changed to the swing safety because it was too close to the push type magazine release, and sometimes soldiers got on the wrong button during combat.