There's almost nothing more important for gun enthusiasts than firearm safety. It is something that we're taught very early on in our lives as gun carriers, and is something that we practice each day of the week.
When I started learning how to shoot, I was taught all of the proper firearm safety procedures that, in turn, led to being a safe and responsible gun owner. But there are some things that you can't prepare for, even if you are a firearms safety expert.
Firearm Safety: What Would You Do if Your Rifle Blew Up in Your Face?
What would you do if a firearm blew up in your face?
A good friend of mine, who is actually a proficient firearms instructor, recently had a catastrophic failure after a round blew up in the chamber of the rifle he was shooting at the range that day. Thankfully, aside from soiling his drawers and being covered in soot, he was okay.
I asked him what, if anything, the gun and or ammo manufacturer was going to do about it, because this obviously could have been devastating. He told me that they were going to “look into it.” Later on, we found out that it was armorer error, and that the rifle wasn't “put together properly.”
So, this brings me back to my first question: What would you do in this situation?
Would you look the other way, and just be thankful that you're still alive?
Pick up another rifle and start shooting?
Or, would you sue their asses for everything they're worth, claiming mental and emotional hardships? After all, that is the American way…
Me? I'd shake it off, likely for a few days, and get to shooting again. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
I don't know the person in the video, and I'm only showing it to you as a reference. I do apologize for the shoddy video quality, but, once again, this is just a reference.
Here is the video:
Have had a pistol blow up in my hand however the ammo was FACTORY ammo, not reloads. Luckily it was a Ruger LCP, .380 caliber however if it was any larger I would have probably lost my hand or at least a few fingers. see https://youtu.be/ZURyxaSdL3g
I kept the gun pointed down range but it blew out of my hand and pieces went everywhere. I am lucky a piece did not lodge in my neck. The ammo(Remington) blamed the gun(Ruger) and Ruger blamed Remington. I got a replacement gun which I told Ruger I did not want another LCP(I do not trust them) and Remington replaced all the ammo(from the same batch) I had plus a little extra. Even though I have a Kel Tec P3AT I feel it is a stronger material than the Ruger LCP. Kel Tec was the first to come out with their P3AT then a year or two later, Ruger came out with basically the same gun. Even though the Ruger looks like it is made better, I feel the polymer is thinner and cheaper than the material/polymer used by Kel Tec. I may be wrong but I will never shoot another LCP. I still have Rugers and like their guns but just not the LCP. My LCP literally blew up in my hand.
I had a Browning 20 gauge chamber fire while reloading. Got lucky and it only took off part of a knuckle. I found out later it was a broken firing pin. I always inspect my weapons now on a more regular basis to lessen the chance of malfunctions.
Even so, I imagine it could happen regardless of how well one keeps their firearms.
You want to know what we’d do? It all depends. If I was shooting factory rounds, and the gun exploded, I would want it investigated to see which was at fault….if no injury occurred, I’d be satisfied with a replacement. But if there was serious injury, someone would be paying. Now, if I was shooting reloads, I’d be more apt to thank my guardian angel and check the other loads to see how I screwed up.
I had an EX-wife who shot her pistol after a sqib with predictable results. I contacted the ammo manufacturer, and they didn’t give me any stress at all. They had me ship the gun and remainder of the box of ammo to them, which they completely rebuilt plus they reimbursed me the MSRP of the entire box of ammo. No need for ugliness . . . stuff happens.
Several years ago, I was hunting at night with friends. One of them shot at a rabbit with a Remington 870. I saw flame jet out of the side of the barrel (just behind the barrel mounting lug). I stopped him from chambering and firing the next round. There was a one inch long split, lengthwise, along the barrel. Ammo manufacturer blamed the firearm. Remington would not even look at the barrel, saying the wad got hung in the barrel (blaming the ammo).
My friend got the rabbit.