Pay Attention. Had a Run Away to day

[ratski]

I guess the big thing I want to say is "Pay attention to your weapon for the little things."

I was out at the range today and a perfectly functioning firearm was giving me a few problems.

Failure to feed
Failure of the bolt to engage
Failure to eject

Then, I had a problem firing. I'd pull the trigger and nothing.
Then the bolt would finish engaging and it would fire.
Figured that I'd need to give it a good cleaning.

I thought it was the magazine, even though I'd never had this problem before.

Swapped magazines, pulled the bolt and released.
half a mag fired off before I could drop the mag out.
No, my finger was not on the trigger.

Popped it open and found a 1/2 busted hammer pin was the culprit.
One side was still in place, but the other side was missing.

Fortunately, the firearm was pointed in a safe direction, but it could have been a very bad scene.

So, the moral of my story is when a firearm that has never given you ANY problems in the past starts giving you a problem, it might be a good idea to stop and give it a thorough inspection. Not sure I would have found the broken hammer pin if it hadn't fallen out, but...

Second, always have the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, you NEVER know what is going to go wrong or when.

Dave

 

[MrShooter]

Glad no one was hurt.

 

[colb]

Safety wins again. Glad everyone is alright.

 

[mugsy]

Glad to hear you (and the other shooters) are ok Dave. Was this at the SCRAP range?

 

[CAR-AR-M16]

Let me guess. This was on a 9mm M16, right? They are known to be hard on hammer pins. A ramped bolt and some KNS pins will help.

 

[bsmith918]

Let me guess. This was on a 9mm M16, right? They are known to be hard on hammer pins. A ramped bolt and some KNS pins will help.

This would be my guess. I have never heard of a broken trigger pin on any other AR caliber.

 

[SPDguns]

That could have been fun if it was on purpose!!!! Glad no one was hurt

 

[djcorrell]

Good thing no one at a gun range reported it. Someone was prosecuted by the atf for that exact thing...
Of course it was a stretch to repeat it, but they had all the time in the world.

 

[ratski]

Good thing no one at a gun range reported it. Someone was prosecuted by the atf for that exact thing...
Of course it was a stretch to repeat it, but they had all the time in the world.

Not sure what they would have prosecuted for other than an accidental discharge.
The gun involved is fitted with a RDIAS.

That's why I posted it in the NFA section

Dave