Revolver double-firing?!

[programmatore]

I bought some (used) MP5 magazines from a guy on the Internet and went to the range to test them out. I was about 45 minutes in to my session when a guy took up the lane next to me. I was taking a breather so I watched the guy set up. He had a HUGE revolver. It looked like a .44 magnum (I kept thinking it looked like Dirty Harry's gun that I just saw at the NRA Firearms Museum.) He loaded the revolver, set it up on a rest and got ready to shoot from the bench.

Anyway, I was ready to continue shooting so I picked up the MP5, loaded it and was aiming at my target when all of a sudden there was a really loud BOOM from the lane next to me! Next thing I saw was shattered glass and dust everywhere (from the flourescent overhead light that he shot) and a big @ss hole on the ceiling! It scared the hell out of me and I was amazed the guy didn't sh*t his pants!

The RSOs came out and the guy told them that the revolver double-fired. Now, I admit I don't have a lot of experience with revolvers -- the last time I shot a revolver was over 25 years ago when I shot my dad's .357 magnum. So my question is: is it possible for a revolver to double-fire? I didn't see what went down since I was aiming at my target but I suspect it was user error -- I think the guy got freaked out by the recoil and the muzzle rose off the rest and he accidentally squeezed off another round thus hitting the ceiling.

Anyway, the RSO cleared the firearm and escorted him out of the range, probably to ask him some questions. I am just glad no one got hurt. Would the plexiglass separating the lanes have stopped that bullet? I think I just used up 1 of my 9 lives!

[Yarddawg]

WOW! I'm glad no one got hurt!

You gotta love it though when someone buys a gun that they just gotta have because it's the biggest, baddest one in the shop. (pure speculation on my part, I know, but sounds very plausible from your description of the events)

[programmatore]

I am considering wearing a helmet and bullet proof vest on my next range outing!

[wally626]

Double fired no.

Most likely problem, he cocked it and went to line up on the target with his finger on the trigger and it went off before he had it lowered. Some revolvers have very light triggers in single action mode. I shot a friends 44 Mag and every other sentence was, keep the finger off the trigger until you are on target, that particular gun had a very light trigger. Very easy to hit the target with, there was no way to flinch, as soon as you thought about squeezing the trigger, boom.

You could fire then re-pull the trigger if the recoil was a really big shock, but most double action revolvers do take a lot of pull to fire. If he did this you should have heard two booms.

[programmatore]

Double fired no.

Most likely problem, he cocked it and went to line up on the target with his finger on the trigger and it went off before he had it lowered. Some revolvers have very light triggers in single action mode. I shot a friends 44 Mag and every other sentence was, keep the finger off the trigger until you are on target, that particular gun had a very light trigger. Very easy to hit the target with, there was no way to flinch, as soon as you thought about squeezing the trigger, boom.

You could fire then re-pull the trigger if the recoil was a really big shock, but most double action revolvers do take a lot of pull to fire. If he did this you should have heard two booms.

Good points. I remember hearing only one boom. I should've have counted the spent cartridges after the RSO cleared the gun -- I was still in a bit of a shock that it didn't occur to me at the time. I'll ask the RSO about it next time I go back to the range.

[programmatore]

Hmmm. Interesting. It was just like this with the second round hitting the overhead fluorescent lamp and ceiling!

[Pumbaa]

I'm thinking he did a Dirty Hairy thumb cock with his gun hand thumb. Finger on the trigger, and as he thumb cocked, the gun canted upwards and his trigger finger pressed as soon as he finished his thumb cock.

Bang...

[AlanM]

Hmmm, that would definitely make double tapping a goblin a lot easier.

[Pumbaa]

Okay now this is more like it!


Note: edited by dk...just use the youtube address in between the tags...that is that funky looking string at the end of the URL...

[wally626]

Well the video look convincing and it was two really short booms. If the gun goes back fast enough then the trigger finger is going to go forward (actually stay in place) and when trying to regain control of the pistol the person might grip with the trigger finger firing the gun again. Good idea to load one round when letting a person fire an unfamiliar gun.

[Jakeiscrazy]

Well the video look convincing and it was two really short booms. If the gun goes back fast enough then the trigger finger is going to go forward (actually stay in place) and when trying to regain control of the pistol the person might grip with the trigger finger firing the gun again. Good idea to load one round when letting a person fire an unfamiliar gun.

+1 I've seen a couple videos like this.

[Diomed]

Yeah, the flinch response on the bigger cannons in the hands of inexperienced shooters. I think there's footage of a guy shooting himself in the head with a .500 or similar - fired a shot, the recoil brought it back into his temple and he jerked the trigger again. Another very good reason not to hand the heavy handguns to newbies.

[Pumbaa]

Also why I only put ONE round in, the first couple of times a person shoots (larger gun) that I am training. Not just for their safety, not just for mine... but those around us too!

Generally, I start them off with a 22, for fundamentals of shooting and work up to larger guns...

[mongo]

Probably a form of a bump fire. Happened at my range a couple weeks ago with a S&W 500.

[AppleaDay]

I had a guy do the same sort of thing with a Makarov when I let him shoot mine. He double-fired the second round into the ceiling. Easier with a semi- but it can be done with a revolver too.

[jdonovan]

The double squeeze, double fire problem is one of the reasons I'll only put one round into the big guys if someone wants to try it out. Usually one round is enough to put their desire to rest.

Also if someone has asked to try them out, usually we start out at the .454 and move up until they've had enough fun.

[greener]

Double trigger pull.

If the RSO bought double fire revolver, I'd feel safer without that RSO

[VAman]

That's what I'd think too, but really there is no way of knowing without being there.

This is one reason why ranges scare me and I prefer to shoot on our property, but at the same time ranges do have benefits.