New Forest Negligent Discharge

Close range leg wounds are very nasty. Back in 1992 I was visiting a soldier in Musgrave Park Military Wing who had both legs up in metal frames attached by screws into the bones. He had been in the back of a Snatch LR and another member of his brick got in and sat down next to him- with the SA80 slung across his chest but pointing downwards. Apparently the Snatch hit something, jolted the passengers in the back and a trigger got pulled. The 5.56 went through this guy's right thigh, breaking the femur, and went into the left leg, also causing significant tissue damage and breaking the femur. Fortunately he didn't bleed out but it was going to take a long time to repair the lost muscle and bone damage. I suspect he would have been looking at a medical discharge.

The stalking guide was fortunate the Landie door absorbed some of the energy.
 
This thread is a reminder to have Trauma kit - at least trauma dressing, and charged mobile, and know where you are - these days - use “what three word” app or the postcode of the lane your on. Emergency services don’t do grids or third tree from the left etc.
And if your out at night - torch with flashing or signal ability is really useful.
Oh and best thing is go do some training on first aid dealing with major trauma - or at least look at a YouTube video.
 
This thread is a reminder to have Trauma kit - at least trauma dressing, and charged mobile, and know where you are - these days - use “what three word” app or the postcode of the lane your on. Emergency services don’t do grids or third tree from the left etc.
And if your out at night - torch with flashing or signal ability is really useful.
Oh and best thing is go do some training on first aid dealing with major trauma - or at least look at a YouTube video.
And take a basic course in safe firearms handling?

K
 
I have a laminated sign attached to the rear of the passenger seat in my truck. It reads "Clear your firearms AGAIN please."
I have to watch them do it before they get in carrying a rifle. Most of my hunting mates are trained now and come to me before I have to ask to check.
Grant.
 
I should add that the first ND was with a great guy who comes stalking with me every year. The rifle is a Blaser R8 and was locked into a secure tripod. Having just shot a pricket the rifle had been reloaded and was secure in the tripod (one of these new ones costing about £400) The client has reloaded as there was a chance of a second beast.
The first beast dropped to the shot, the second ran without a chance of a second shot. After watching the shot beast for a few seconds the client touched the end of the stock of the Blaser and it discharged into the wood. Scared the crap out of me. This is one of the reasons I dont like Blasers.

The second time was about 6 weeks later with another client. Having finished stalking in one wood for Fallow, I stepped over a low wire fence, the client dropped the floor plate out of the rifle and stepped over also, he then put the mag back in and as I was describing where we were going next pulled the trigger. He had forgotten he had a round in the chamber and ND the weapon about 18inches from my left foot!!

He was mortified, I was not too happy, and glad I still had my foot intact and not blown off with a 30.06.

Having guided all my stalking life, it comes as no surprise that one gets to see all sorts. Its rare that I refuse anyone back. But one needs to have eyes in the back of your head with some people, usually the ones that lay claim to have shot everything and never miss. A mistake with any firearm is usually not going to go well, and quite often I have to tell people to point the barrel at the floor when loading or unloading. And to take the bolt out of the rifle before entering my vehicle. These are basic safety requirements for handling any weapon.
 
20 years spent in a smallbore club before discovering stalking left an automatic safety drill that I never forget to do, I am horrified over here in Germany on druckjagds where wavy wavy has been done often. 200 hours of jagdschein training will give neophytes maybe 25 hours of range time then they are off feeling invincible and reckon they dont need to learn anymore.
Glad you came off safe Malc that's 2 of your cats 9 lives gone.
 
Sad story, and I'm glad the guide is ok.

I'm not a guide myself, but I sympathise hugely. I learnt firearms handling with the cadets and the ranges were run by serving members of the forces. If you weren't safe as houses, they had no problem shouting at you and both scaring you shitless and humiliating you in front of your friends. This certainly built good habits.

I imagine bollocking a client, who is paying a lot of money to go stalking with you, for doing something potentially unsafe, even if nothing bad has happened, isn't common place. Bollocking only after ND's is too late.

Stay safe out there those of you who guide 👍
 
It hurts nobody to be reminded that all of us are fallible. An ND will happen at some point if you're around firearms for long enough. Muzzle awareness at all times and keeping the rifle pointed to a safe area when loading/unloading goes a long, long way to mitigating the outcome of an event . . . .

Some useful food for thought here:


 
And to take the bolt out of the rifle before entering my vehicle. These are basic safety requirements for handling any weapon.

An interesting observation from a paying client - I've not had the pleasure of stalking with Malcolm but plenty of other guides. As a courtesy, I always ask before loading, check if the guide wants me to keep the magazine in my pocket, in the rifle with chamber empty or one up the spout. And I always make a point of showing the guide the rifle is empty (bolt open) before getting in a vehicle.

However, there are some very mixed views from guides as to what they expect. A well known chap I've stalked with a good few times, runs DSC 1 & 2, very knowledgeable but is quite happy to pass a loaded rifle up to you in a highseat (thanks, but I'll have it empty please!), others who are happy with a loaded rifle in the vehicle (muzzle up and not pointing at anything) on the chance of a shot out of the vehicle, some who will hold a loaded rifle while you cross a fence, others who want it empty and others who expect you to climb the fence whilst still carrying it loaded!

But I've never been asked to remove the bolt and whilst I'd have absolutely no issues with this, I'd be on of those clients needing reminding to do it as I've never been asked to do so before.
 
It hurts nobody to be reminded that all of us are fallible. An ND will happen at some point if you're around firearms for long enough. Muzzle awareness at all times and keeping the rifle pointed to a safe area when loading/unloading goes a long, long way to mitigating the outcome of an event . . . .

Some useful food for thought here:


Thank you for posting this...... have had one ND when cold at the end of a long day, clearing an un familiar rifle, safety off and bang...... have cold sweats thinking about this even now, but the rifle muzzle was pointing away - muzzle awareness at all times..... It happens, learn from it and what others do.
 
When I am in the company of someone else I always tell them whoever is in charge of the rifle tells and shows the other one that the bolt is open when we get in the vehicle. The other thing I tell them is if someone hands them a gun and say "it's not loaded" you point it in a safe direction and check for yourself.
 
When I am in the company of someone else I always tell them whoever is in charge of the rifle tells and shows the other one that the bolt is open when we get in the vehicle. The other thing I tell them is if someone hands them a gun and say "it's not loaded" you point it in a safe direction and check for yourself.
Yes indeed though I go one further and refuse to take the gun/rifle until the other person has shown me that is is clear.
Standard procedure.
 
When I am in the company of someone else I always tell them whoever is in charge of the rifle tells and shows the other one that the bolt is open when we get in the vehicle. The other thing I tell them is if someone hands them a gun and say "it's not loaded" you point it in a safe direction and check for yourself.

I've had this at clay shooting grounds before - had a guy pick a shotgun up off the rack, didnt open it and swung it past my legs. I said "whoa whoa, can you open that before you start waving it about, you just pointed that at me!"

His response was "oh its not loaded" and I said "well if you're so sure about that then put it in your mouth and pull the trigger". Needless to say he looked a bit sheepish, didn't take me up on my offer, apologised and moved on pretty quick!
 
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