Woman Shoots Herself While Trying to Kill Mice

[Sweetbriar]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,378142,00.html

It's the last line that placed it in this forum.

[The Reaper]

Bullshit story, IMHO.

The .44 Mag is a relatively new round, and there are relatively few revolvers chambered for it. Those that are, are big, heavy, and expensive, with hammer block firing pins and transfer bars.

This ND would have been possible with an older Colt SAA or the like dropped on the hammer with a round in the chamber under it, but it does not come in a .44 Magnum version, AFAIK.

I think the crazy bitch fired it, intentionally, or otherwise, and is making excuses to cover her ass.

Just my .02, YMMV.

TR

[tom kelly]

Iam left to wonder if alcohol or drugs had a part to play in this tale? A California trailer park...Not your dream vacation destination...Regard's, tom kelly

[Chris Cram]

Sir TR,

This was a popular fishermans friend when fishing Alaska rivers where the Brown Bears may be about...
These were available in the PX @ Ft Richardson, and not expensive in 1978.

http://www.gunblast.com/Hamm_44-Flattop.htm

The September 1, 1956 Distributor price sheets listed the new Blackhawk .44 Magnum with a suggested retail price of $96.00

RUGER .44 Cal. BLACKHAWK “FLATTOP”

The four major types of the Ruger Blackhawk .44 Magnum “Flattop” are listed below:

Type 1 - Standard “dull” polish blue finish, long throw offset-slot ejector rod housing, small square serrated ejector rod button, checkered black hard rubber or varnished smooth walnut grips, and 6-1/2” barrel. Estimated about 100 made.

Type 2 – The ejector rod button was changed to a large concave faced or “dimpled” button. A very few early guns had checkered black hard rubber grips but the very large majority had varnished smooth walnut grips. About 10,500 made (includes about 2,500 estimated sub-Type 2a guns with the wide land Single-Six type cylinder base pin tip).

Type 3 – The cylinder base pin had a “collar” added to keep it from exiting the gun from recoil when firing. About 5,000 made.

Type 4 – The ejector rod housing slot was straightened. Also the ejector rod button was changed to a flat faced button early in this type’s production. The 7-1/2” and 10” barrels were also introduced as Type 4s. About 14,000 total Type 4s made

[The Reaper]

Chris:

Those were made from '56-'63 in low numbers, and are collector's items.

Do you have info that she was using an original Blackhawk?

I have a Super Blackhawk, which is has been in production since '59, and models made since '73 cannot fire as described. There is a transfer bar to prevent it.

TR

[Chris Cram]

TR

No I don't... and I thought about that right after I logged off.
Perhaps, with a less than well maintained weapon,
trigger pulled back... heavy and bulky... small hands...
drop the weapon and bang.

Remember... she's shooting mice with a 44 mag. Sounds like
someone is self medicated.

If it happend that way, she is lucky the round didn't hit her under the chin.
Big mess..

[The Reaper]

TR

No I don't... and I thought about that right after I logged off.
Perhaps, with a less than well maintained weapon,
trigger pulled back... heavy and bulky... small hands...
drop the weapon and bang.

Remember... she's shooting mice with a 44 mag. Sounds like
someone is self medicated.

If it happend that way, she is lucky the round didn't hit her under the chin.
Big mess..

Lack of maintenance makes it even less likely to fire.

Trigger pulled back requires a finger on it providing pressure.

If you mean hammer pulled back, the sear locks into the hammer and holds it in place until the trigger releases it. The only way for the weapon to fire is to break the sear, or the hammer, and a fall to a floor, even directly on the hammer, is not adequate to do that on a modern pistol.

This cannot happen with pretty much any .44 magnum revolver made since the early '70s because of litigation.

Do you own a single action revolver or any .44 Magnum?

Round under the chin is chlorine in the gene pool.

TR

[Chris Cram]

Do you own a single action revolver or any .44 Magnum?

Round under the chin is chlorine in the gene pool.

TR

No, I never purchased my own.
And I've been uncomfortable with having them in the house with females in therapy.

The Alaska hand guns were the Super Blackhock, not the older.

Is it possable that she was trying to lower the hammer and it got away from her? Clearly there are more safety features than I was aware of.

[rubberneck]

Smith & Wesson made a number of model 29's that had the hammer mounted firing pin and no drop safeties. If she had a S&W made in the 70's or late 80's it is possible but it could discharge (not that probable) when dropped. Her story might be influenced by the idea that she might have a golden opportunity to make millions off of a civil suit.

[The Reaper]

Smith & Wesson made a number of model 29's that had the hammer mounted firing pin and no drop safeties. If she had a S&W made in the 70's or late 80's it is possible but it could discharge (not that probable) when dropped. Her story might be influenced by the idea that she might have a golden opportunity to make millions off of a civil suit.

I have a pair of 29s, the older is a nickel 6.5", I bought it in the early 80s. It has a hammer mounted firing pin, but my understanding is that the design precludes hammer impact NDs.

I do know that I have never heard of a double action firing when dropped, or needing to have a chamber in the cylinder left unloaded for safety.

TR

[Chris Cram]

TR:

I brought the question of ‘discharge when dropped’ up with an associate who manages range safety for Boy Scouts. He replied that he has had boys bring out Gran-Dads revolvers that were mechanically worn out.
Case 1: Pull the hammer back ready to fire… touch the trigger & the hammer dropped.
Case 2: Pull the hammer back ready to fire… and the hammer dropped when the thumb came off the hammer.

Both cases he gave the revolvers back to the boys w/o the cylinders… not to be returned until he dropped the boys at their homes.

He also commented on the Asian knockoffs and their fine quality

[The Reaper]

TR:

I brought the question of ‘discharge when dropped’ up with an associate who manages range safety for Boy Scouts. He replied that he has had boys bring out Gran-Dads revolvers that were mechanically worn out.
Case 1: Pull the hammer back ready to fire… touch the trigger & the hammer dropped.
Case 2: Pull the hammer back ready to fire… and the hammer dropped when the thumb came off the hammer.

Both cases he gave the revolvers back to the boys w/o the cylinders… not to be returned until he dropped the boys at their homes.

He also commented on the Asian knockoffs and their fine quality

I guess a Boy Scout range manager knows more about guns than I do.

First, there are no Asian handgun manufacturers importing to the US that I am aware of.

Second, most modern revolver cylinders require tools to remove them. Cap and ball revolvers do not, but do not fire modern cartridges.

I have seen old revolvers that had the problem you describe, which is typically a worn sear or worn hammer notches.

You may not make enough money per year to wear out a modern .44 Magnum revolver action by shooting it.

Finally, ask him how many of those guns of Granddads were .44 Magnums.

TR

[rubberneck]

I have a pair of 29s, the older is a nickel 6.5", I bought it in the early 80s. It has a hammer mounted firing pin, but my understanding is that the design precludes hammer impact NDs.

I do know that I have never heard of a double action firing when dropped, or needing to have a chamber in the cylinder left unloaded for safety.

TR

A 6.5 inch polished nickel model 29. Nice.:cool: After reading your posts for the past five years I can only imagine what other lovelies you have tucked away in your gun safe.

I haven't personally witnessed an older S&W discharging while being dropped but I do know two retired Corrections officers who witnessed it when a model 10 was dropped during qualification.

I just pulled my model 15-4 apart to see if it were mechanically possible and it looks like it would be very difficult but possible given the right set of circumstances. The chances of it being possible go way up if some idiot decided to perform their own action work. Having said that, if I were a betting man I'd bet that her tale would fit nicely in the fiction section of Borders right next to Joe Wilson's book.

In any event I am sure she has already retained Counsel. Even if her tale was true she is a total moron for trying to draw down on a mouse with a 44 mag.

[Chris Cram]

I guess a Boy Scout range manager knows more about guns than I do...

TR

TR, no one was questioning your expertise or superior knowledge.
But with respect to Boy Scout range managers… I would not be at
all surprised to find that you were active in your Sons Boy Scout
activities, and would there by make a great instructor of our Sons,
and parents would feel confident in your judgment w.r.t. range safety.

This was just a response to the question of ‘have you ever heard of revolver discharge when dropped’

Edit: and not one of the Scouts ever brought a 44 to the range.