Gutted about ND due to my own carelessness

[Fangio]

Good evening all,
I am a long time CZ owner of many types, and an owner of pistols going back 30+ years. I am so sorry to say that this evening I had my first and God willing only negligent discharge.  I am not looking for anything that would absolve me of my stupidity, I just wanted to voice it in someway to be cathartic to let it out. My brother was borrowing two different CZs, an SP01 tactical, and a Rami BD to take to the range. I have a P01 that I’ve done significant Cajun Gun Works modifications to the trigger. I had the Rami and the SP01 unloaded and checked multiple times, and ejected dummy rounds in front of my brother.  I also had the P01 Sitting on the table next to the others just to show how nice the trigger is after it’s had a bit of work done to it. After I packed everything back up and handed him the Rami and the SP01, I in complete stupidity racked they P01 while I was looking at one of the ejected dummy rounds sitting on the table. I pointed the pistol in a safe direction and pulled the trigger. Thank God no one was in the line of fire when the round went off. It was jacketed hollow point, and it hit the concrete floor and pieces of it lodged in the cabinet doors. I literally was shaking and completely gutted that I made such a complete utter careless error. I checked to make sure everyone was all right upstairs and downstairs and thank goodness other than some ringing ears there was no physical damage to any people.
This was absolutely and totally, a completely negligent discharge and 1000% my fault. I am so gutted and angry at myself for being so careless. I know I have not posted, maybe ever on the forum, but I felt like if there was ever a time to do it, it was to talk about how safety is of the utmost importance and how I completely failed to address this properly. Again thankfully no one was injured but I felt like this was the right forum to address my stupidity more so than I already did to my brother. I have enjoyed all aspects of my pistols and rifles over the years but it is amazing how one instance of terrible decision making or lack of attention could have been a life altering experience. We are fortunate enough that it was some ringing ears and dented cabinetry being the only damage. But I do have to say that there is damage beyond this in that it has reinforced that administratively handling any firearm is just as dangerous as God forbid taking it out to protect you and those you love. To the entire CZ community and the gun community, I want to say a sincere apology as it is negligence like this that paints law abiding, sensible, responsible gun owners in a bad light. 

[Grendel]

We live and learn. No one died.

[AZ_CZ]

Been in a similar situation when my friend did the same thing. It was amazing now simply it happened. No one was hurt, but it wasn’t just luck. He had a target setup on the wall that he used for dry fire practice and it was his default spot for anyone pulling a trigger. He placed it there because even if the unthinkable happened it was an outside wall with a berm behind it. It was, and is, a great idea. The FMJ 9mm round went right through the wall, insulation, outside stucco, 3 empty 5 gallon plastic buckets, and buried into the firewood pile. For awhile we never talked about it like some CIA top secret information. Now I tell him that he couldn’t hit a bullseye from 3’. Personally I think everyone should have to experience an unexpected discharge in a small room with no hearing protection. There are a lot of lessons to be learned, not just about safety.

[HollowDawg]

Happened to me at 16 yrs old. Was cycling live .22 rds through a balky feed bolt action rifle to see if I fixed the problem. Safety on. NO trigger contact and still went off. Shot into bookshelf and nailed biography of Teddy Roosevelt. Now 60+. Still don't trust or even use safeties(trust issues ya know) . Every time I pick up a gun that ND is with me. Keeps me from stupidity I hope. Kept the book I shot too. As a reminder.

[AZ_GunGuy]

If I'm function checking anything at home I use snap caps.

If I'm understanding correctly, you had both dummy and live rounds in the same mag.  Maybe next time have a designated dummy round mag.

[Fangio]

Thanks for all of your insights and experiences. I’ve been processing it all day and as it happened I will use it as a learning experience to be even more safety conscientious than I historically have always been. Until a moment of not paying attention changed all that. I’m so thankful no one was injured and a lesson learned to be sure. As for the snap caps, I had them in two of the three pistols and those two were empty as I checked the mags to be sure there was nothing in them. The third pistol did not have a snap cap in it. I failed to check the magazine on that one as I was not one that was going to be loaned to my brother.  Stupidly pulled the slide and that’s where my mistake was made. No excuse.

[M1A4ME]

At least you realize the mistake you made and own up to it.

That's the only way to learn from it.

I know a guy who has had at least two that I know of.  The first one he put a bullet through his arm from his palm almost to his elbow.  He blamed it on the gun and sold a rare pistol (one of the CZ made for Colt .40's that was DAO).

His second was standing with a foot of so of me.  He put another .40 grain bullet through the floor of his SUV right at the sill area that stayed inside the rocker panel.  His comment?  "Well, this pistol is unsafe.  I'm gonna have to get rid of it." 

Not sure what happened that first time except he was racking the slide with the pistol horizontal across his chest holding the grip in his right hand and pushing the slide back with his left hand (with the palm in front of the muzzle.)  Told him to quit that stuff more than once.  Demonstrated a better way to do it.  He kept doing it his way.

The second time I told him not to pull the trigger twice before he pulled it and was in the process of telling him a third time went the gun fired.  Each time I was yelling louder and again, he did it his way.

I no long go shooting with that guy.

His approach leaves him incapable of learning from either mistake.

You're handling this a better way.

[Fangio]

Thanks MIA4ME. I’m sorry your friend did not want to address his unsafe methods and a round through the arm would seem like a good time to take stock in such.  Glad you were not impacted. I do hope my brother will still go to the range with me. To his credit, he handled very well and kept reiterating that we learn from our mistakes.

[CowboyIlija97]

bet you wont be doing that again lmao.

[JMWalker]

OP, thanks for sharing your story.  I firmly believe one of the best lessons in life is to learn from other's mistakes.  Know that a lot of people who read your story will learn from it just as you have. 

[Laufer]

Fangio: It's very easy to do, but while being complacent in my 'hobby room' I've been lucky.

I've even watched an HK factory technician on Youtube fire a select-fire, "Real" G3 rifle. Lookup "Sofielein G3"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrLvJ_L1Uvo


HK Example 1) At :31 Technician Jesse only removes the mag, while the actual Chamber opening is almost impossible to see. I use my pinky to Feel It....

He gives the camera a thumbs up and walks out of view - but did he then poke his Finger or a chamber flag into the chamber opening? No idea.

I've watched World Champion Jerry Miculek ... appear....to do the same thing with an HK-91, at least with the camera on him.
You Must Charge the Rifle to check the chamber, but again, the chamber is very difficult to see - even with your eye close to the port.

HK Example 2) Jerry charges the gun and at 6:08, with a brief glance on a bright day, says "And we're clear!". 

I've probably Never seen an HK rifle owner poke their pinky etc towards the chamber.   ???Maybe they don't want to be seen doing so on camera?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds3zqUCduTM

[M1A4ME]

But you might get a dirty finger.

[RSR]

One hack I saw on the interwebs is to fill an orange 5 gallon home depot bucket with dry sand and tape a target and label that says "safe direction."  Effectively a cheapo gun clearing bullet trap that you can install in any room of your home where you clean or clear weapons or dry fire -- your garage, your office, your bedroom, etc.  Unlike metal bullet catches/traps it also doesn't vaporize lead.
You can put targets on sides or top (install lids on them once filled, not leaving open sand) or both.

I always remove the mag, inspect visually to ensure the mag well is clear as well as the chamber and bolt face.  If you can't see then check manually with your fingers, or even better, do both.

It's also why I try to keep slide locked back and magazine out after doing this whenever transferring guns between individuals.  Or even when just displaying a gun in front of another individual.  And then for new gun folks, I encourage them to do the same inspection before any further handling of a gun.  It's not about lacking trust in the previous person, but taking responsibility for their own safety/safe handling of firearms since they're on the hook for their mistakes with a firearm, not the person who handed it to them.

I don't like folks "showing off" their guns around me while loaded, and if for personal protection sidearm or concealed carry, I think it's rude to ask them to disarm and clear their weapon so that I can have a look...

When dry firing at home, I also try not to have live ammunition in the same room, or at least keep loaded those mags out of the work and practice space secured in mag pouches, gun pouches, etc.

Accidents and accidental negligence happen.  Murphy's law. 
That's why following the 4 rules of gun safety are so important.  You have to violate more than one of them for life-ending accidental bad things to happen.

Count your blessings.  Move forward.  And use your experience to educate others on the utmost importance of gun safety, just like you're doing here.

Especially these days, it takes a big man to admit to a mistake.

[Fangio]

Thanks everyone for your constructive words and examples. I greatly appreciate them and hope that I never do anything like this again. I will take all that you have presented, plus what I already know and have been practicing safe handling all my life and drill in the mantra over and over again. Not a great way to learn a lesson, but certainly one learned. Thanks all and stay safe.
Best,
Fangio