LVSteve
Member
I'l refer y'all to an earlier post on the subject. http://smith-wessonforum.com/138710642-post8.html
Your worst day at the range?
- Thread starter Retired LTC USAR
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I have forgotten to bring ammo for a gun, brought the wrong ammo and forgotten targets (or the stand for them) a couple times over the years. Had a bad reload shove a bullet into the forcing cone locking up a revolver once. Not sure what caused that, there was powder in the case but it didn't ignite, possibly got contaminated somehow.
I have also had a sight fall off, the lug for the loading lever on a cap & ball revolver vanish and a ramrod on a muzzle loading rifle break. On the plus side while policing up brass in front of the firing line I have found a couple muzzle brakes. The worst experience was a CETME rifle self destructing with surplus Indian 308 ammo. I would describe it as the gun had a convulsion, mag blew out, smoke came out of every crevice and the bolt was left jammed halfway back..... the extractor disappeared, probably went into low earth orbit. Both gun and ammo had just been purchased from Century Arms and after some discussion back and forth they had me return the gun to them (didn't ask for the ammo but I sent the ones that were left jammed in the mag). They did replace the rifle and gave me a credit for the ammo.
I have also had a sight fall off, the lug for the loading lever on a cap & ball revolver vanish and a ramrod on a muzzle loading rifle break. On the plus side while policing up brass in front of the firing line I have found a couple muzzle brakes. The worst experience was a CETME rifle self destructing with surplus Indian 308 ammo. I would describe it as the gun had a convulsion, mag blew out, smoke came out of every crevice and the bolt was left jammed halfway back..... the extractor disappeared, probably went into low earth orbit. Both gun and ammo had just been purchased from Century Arms and after some discussion back and forth they had me return the gun to them (didn't ask for the ammo but I sent the ones that were left jammed in the mag). They did replace the rifle and gave me a credit for the ammo.
The Norseman
Member
Basic
Worst day Shooting, March 1982, Basic Training Qualification. Long
march to the Range, Rain, Sleet, Snow, everyone/everything
wet, cold.
Targets would not work correctly, not falling when hit. I couldn't tell if
I Qualified or not.
I think they gave me the Qualification because they knew I could
operate and make the M16 work, they knew I could shoot and they
knew I was from South Dakota.
Worst day Shooting, March 1982, Basic Training Qualification. Long
march to the Range, Rain, Sleet, Snow, everyone/everything
wet, cold.
Targets would not work correctly, not falling when hit. I couldn't tell if
I Qualified or not.
I think they gave me the Qualification because they knew I could
operate and make the M16 work, they knew I could shoot and they
knew I was from South Dakota.
Attachments
mmb617
Member
I pulled the trigger on my Security 9 and the magazine blew out the bottom of the gun. It turned out that my balance beam scale had slowly lost it's zero and I hadn't noticed. Since I wasn't sure exactly how far back the problem started I pulled all 900 rounds I had loaded at the time.
All that got broke on the gun was the magazine baseplate, and I didn't get injured so a reasonably easy but important lesson was learned.
All that got broke on the gun was the magazine baseplate, and I didn't get injured so a reasonably easy but important lesson was learned.
Texas Star
US Veteran
M-49 S&W snub wouldn't group at 25 yards. Other guns shot normally that day, so it wasn't me.
I returned the gun for a M-36 that shot fine. Yes, I could shoot snub .38's pretty well at that range.
In the USAF, I was handed a vintage Colt Official Police that didn't shoot to the sights and wouldn't have qualified, but changed to a S&W Victory Model and coped.
Colt barrels often need turning a bit. Askins told me he had to turn most bought for the USBP when he was firearms chief there.
We got some Colts and many Victory Models from the Navy until enough Combat Masterpieces were available.
I returned the gun for a M-36 that shot fine. Yes, I could shoot snub .38's pretty well at that range.
In the USAF, I was handed a vintage Colt Official Police that didn't shoot to the sights and wouldn't have qualified, but changed to a S&W Victory Model and coped.
Colt barrels often need turning a bit. Askins told me he had to turn most bought for the USBP when he was firearms chief there.
We got some Colts and many Victory Models from the Navy until enough Combat Masterpieces were available.
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5-Shot
Member
Last Thursday. A group of us very old guys go to the range and shoot a while, retire to the comfy seating area and lie to each other and then head out for a fast food lunch. We've been doing this every Thursday for years. But last Thursday we discovered when we arrived that the range at Buds gunshop in Sevierville was closed! and will likely remain locked up for the remainder of the month. You'll be pleased and proud to know we maintained a stiff upper lip and headed to the lounge area.
Ed
Ed
Roger that. I like to load as many mags as I can the night before. I carry the extras in my shooting tackle box. But I still always leave an empty bag in each gun in the safe in case I leave those loaded mags laying on the floor in the office.
Today. While testing my Ruger Black Mamba I started getting failures to fire again. The LLV 4 Barrel just came back from Volquartsen after being tested and no problems found except for the Guide Rod being bent.
Today I started getting FTFs using Mini Mags, Blazers and Aguilas.
On my last shot I noticed there was a gap between upper and lower.
I called Volquartsen and was told "I've never seen that before" but they will look into it.
Today I started getting FTFs using Mini Mags, Blazers and Aguilas.
On my last shot I noticed there was a gap between upper and lower.
I called Volquartsen and was told "I've never seen that before" but they will look into it.
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A nice spring day and I'm getting ready to plink with my Ruger Blackhawk .41 Magnum on a hillside.
Reclined in such a way that when I supported my wrists with my legs, the barrel/cylinder gap was between my knees.
Felt like I got smacked with a couple of 2"X4"s at the same time!
Hobbled back to the car and I was done shooting for that day.
Reclined in such a way that when I supported my wrists with my legs, the barrel/cylinder gap was between my knees.
Felt like I got smacked with a couple of 2"X4"s at the same time!
Hobbled back to the car and I was done shooting for that day.
Protocall_Design
Vendor
File that one under "Things you only do once". Experience is what you get right after you need it. Sounds painful.
Kenny, I bet your daughters distracted any other shooters! Hopefully none of them got a piece of hot brass "down their front" That hurts.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWPfQdzTgqM[/ame]
Here's my daughter shooting my 640-1 loaded with .357 Magnums.
Honestly, I only had one bad day at the range - the rest were, as usual, enjoyable.
I had brought a newly-acquired Winchester Model 9422 chambered for .22 Magnum Rimfire to the range, which was about 20 miles from my home. Opening my range bag, I discovered that I had brought .22LR ammo by mistake.
So I returned home to get the proper ammo, resulting in miles traveled to and from the range that day as about 80. When I finally got the rifle sighted in, though, the results were very satisfactory. It was one of those days you resolve not to repeat for sure, though.
John
I had brought a newly-acquired Winchester Model 9422 chambered for .22 Magnum Rimfire to the range, which was about 20 miles from my home. Opening my range bag, I discovered that I had brought .22LR ammo by mistake.
So I returned home to get the proper ammo, resulting in miles traveled to and from the range that day as about 80. When I finally got the rifle sighted in, though, the results were very satisfactory. It was one of those days you resolve not to repeat for sure, though.
John
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Neversink n Klapperthal
Member
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in 1974 I was shooting a pre 64 243 with a stainless target barrel,and tight chamber. A fired case was being stubborn,so i gave the bolt handle a very light and gently bump. Off came the bolt handle,as if it was made of pot metal
dscampbell
Member
Non LE related 1974 I got a used Mauser 8 mm and some surplus Israeli rounds. Fired three rounds and realized they were tracer rounds as my target was on fire.
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pantannojack
US Veteran
My worst day at the range happened quite recently this year. At a govt agency controlled range where you sign in, pay the five bucks, then hopefully obey the safety rules, I went out with the gang to hang targets then walking back to the line where a nut case with three teen aged sons was uncasing a few rifles. Major violation and a lesson for the boys that safety rules just don't matter. Once my Adrenalin stabilized I retired to the pistol range hoping for better luck. There I saw a first timer to my right load and immediately carelessly pointed his auto pistol right at my midsection so he could read what is stamped on the slide. I retreated to the office where the yellow vested RSO's hang out to complain. One official remarked: "On a public range you have to accept that." I want to go higher up but I know that will do no good other than to get full range closure.
I've never had a really bad day at the range. My range is very well run, as it is owned and staffed by former LEOs. I always take two pistols and shoot at least 100 rounds each. That way, even on a not-so-good day, I'll have at least one good target to admire. 
Papa32129
Member
Two weeks ago!
I was at the club Range and the RSO.
Called me out for pointing a firearm at the 10' high side Berm.
Slide was back on the pistol.
Gave me warning for not keeping the firearm pointed down range.
No shooters to my left.
I packed up and left early.
Papa
I was at the club Range and the RSO.
Called me out for pointing a firearm at the 10' high side Berm.
Slide was back on the pistol.
Gave me warning for not keeping the firearm pointed down range.
No shooters to my left.
I packed up and left early.
Papa
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