Just dropped my handgun! - Page 2

FM12 · March 18, 2009, 04:41 PM

I work as a plain clothes (most of the time) leo. I was on a trip with one of my co-workers, so we stopped for lunch. I had forgotten I had put my BUG (.38 revolver) in my waist band, mexican style. I get up to go to the men's room and the revolver slides down my pants leg, onto the floor and I kick it forward with the next step. I pick it up, never miss a stride, keep going, like it had it planned!

Do it cool if you're going to drop it!

Another time, in another job (uniformed LEO) I had a S&W m39 pop out of a holster after I improperly holstered it, then had to give foot chase. It Fell on the ground, muzzle first. Pretty nasty, but we arrested the guy and everything cleaned up nicely.

Lolgasm · March 18, 2009, 11:25 PM

my uncle, a retired detective, was off duty at a baseball game and his .38 in his ankle holster came loose and bounced all the way down the stadium stairs. luckily it didnt go off, im not sure, but in those days i think the firing pin was attached to the hammer for a lot of their guns

Rocked · March 19, 2009, 12:31 AM

I dropped a S&W 66 once. It was full of snap caps, but it hit the floor on my friends training mats, and did a little football bounce landing on the rear sight on tile. It dented it but it was the outside of the sight. Coulda been alot worse.

jgcoastie · March 19, 2009, 02:02 AM

I dropped my G20 out of a cheap Uncle Mikes thumb break hip holster in a river while salmon fishing last summer... I finally found it about 50ft downriver... I now have a pistol lanyard that I attach when I'm in the field or in the river open carrying. I've also invested in better gear, I bought a chest holster for fishing that has a better retention strap and closure.

#18indycolts · March 19, 2009, 12:24 PM

ouch

Daugherty16 · March 19, 2009, 02:02 PM

Talk about embarassing. On my very first day of CCW, with my state permit still warm from the laminator, i bought a Beretta and a IWB holster which i placed in the small of my back. Later that same morning, after cleaning and loading the pistol, i went to the restroom (thank god this was at home), and no sooner had my belt been unbuckled, because of the sudden slack in the belt the holster sagged a bit and the darn pistol dropped straight into the toilet bowl. Fortunately, my wife is a neatnik and the thing was sparkling clean.

Of course, it didn't go off. Good thing. I fished my brand spanking new pistol out of the water and ran to the workshop cussing a blue streak the whole way, broke it down, hosed it out with blast after blast of RemOil, dried and cleaned it, and it's good as new. No rust, no damage, just a permanent psychological scar and something to laugh about once in a while. And a valuable lesson learned about small of the back carry!

curt.45 · March 19, 2009, 02:41 PM

I hate to admit this but I've dropped just about every gun I've ever carried for any length of time. it happens, the one that scared me the most was my smith 66 watched it in slow motion as it fell while I looked directly down the barrel.

KnightZero · March 19, 2009, 03:06 PM

When I first got my XD, I managed to send it flipping and spinning down the staircase in my apartment. Turns out the screw on the XDGear holster wasn't quite tight enough, and it slipped out quite easily. Luckily, I was the only one present, so no one saw my drop, or my graceful leap* behind my mattress for cover as the gun bounced away.

*If you consider the movements of a rhinoceros graceful, that is.

isanchez2008 · March 19, 2009, 04:47 PM

Had my xd fall out of a shoulder holster when I hoped out of my truck and it fell out. Landed square on the sights. No damage. I work at a hardware store and had just finished ringing a customer who I know is an avid marksman. He dropped some change, when he bent down to pick it up out came his .44 mag from his inside vest pocket. Clunk clunk on the mat in front of me. He turned bright red but quickly put it back in his vest. Mumbled something about needing to get a holster. Just glad it didn't go off.

ZeSpectre · March 19, 2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

It happened in slow motion and I just stared until it hit, and for a while afterward.

You had an accident but you were SMART about your response.

Never, EVER, try to catch a falling firearm, just let it go! No damage to a gun is ever going to be as bad as accidentally hooking a finger through the trigger while the gun is spinning through the air!

And just to be fair, I've dropped a couple in my lifetime, the worst being a Smith 686 that popped out of a holster while riding horseback. Landed perfectly barrel down right in the mud. No damage to the gun but I had a hell of a cleanup job as that gritty soup got into everything.

alienbogey · March 19, 2009, 05:59 PM

I was chukar hunting in Nevada and going down a steep loose shale slope when my feet went out from under me in about half a nanosecond. My shotgun went flying out of my hands before I was even conscious of the fall and I watched as my precious over/under went about 15' before landing and clattering amidst the rocks.

All in all I was really lucky, and although it cracked the stock at the wrist it didn't dent or bend either tube. I shot it with the crack slowly growing for a couple years before a gunsmith did a great repair - now the crack and other dings are part of the personality of the shotgun.

plissken · March 20, 2009, 12:09 AM

First Post comes as my confession....

I too have dropped my gun. My first handgun was a Smith 681 4". The day after I bought it, I decided to practice some quick draws in front of the full length mirror. Being safety conscious, I made sure the weapon was unloaded. I then proceeded to admire my speed and ferocity as I repeatedly drew and reholstered from the hip. Man, I was beautiful. Right up to the point I threw my brand new gun down on the concrete floor. There were no witnesses, just the reflection of an idiot staring back at me.

That was almost 20 years ago. So far, that is my only drop. But it was more of a throw...

djohn · March 20, 2009, 12:59 AM

guilty,I dropped a beauty colt 45 government model mrk4 down the wood basement stairs of an unfinished basement and there was open wall No sheet rock between the stairs and basement and of course it had to bounce off the edge and drop straight down to concrete floor. It was unloaded thank goodness but the gun got banged up,scuffed up.I got the blues every time I looked at it.

Erik · March 20, 2009, 09:13 AM

Drops happen.

"Never, EVER, try to catch a falling firearm, just let it go!"

This cannot be over-stressed.

Little Silas · March 30, 2009, 11:18 PM

I once dropped my Model 60 from a pocket holster on my concrete driveway.
It took a while to buff the scratches off the stainless steel.
Also, the front sight had to be smoothed out and reblued.
The model 60 now doesn't leave my pocket until it's over it's storage drawer in the bedroom.
That scared the crap out of me!

Lost Sheep · March 31, 2009, 12:29 AM

Not my story, and against all odds, but true, nonetheless.

It took 1.5 Teslas to do it, but even a modern Colt (with the firing pin block) can be made to fire.

http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/content/full/178/5/1092

Interesting story. If anyone wants to check furthur, I have more information.

Lost Sheep

DCXD45 · March 31, 2009, 01:45 AM

if there is nothing noticeably damaged you should be safe. only suggestion would be to take it to a gun smith for a once over to make sure everything internal is intact. You can purchase a disassembly video and do it yourself but if you are that worried than you should spend a few bucks to make sure everything is hunky-dorie!

DC

Bartholomew Roberts · March 31, 2009, 12:17 PM

Had a friend who had almost the exact same thing happen to him... he was carrying an older pistol in a nylon shoulder holster and had removed the retaining strap because it wouldn't fit around the pistol. His slid out just the same except it discharged when it hit the ground. No injuries luckily.

This is why I am a big fan of buying a quality kydex, composite, or leather holster designed for a specific pistol and do not like "one-size-fits-all" solutions for holsters.

alistaire · March 31, 2009, 05:04 PM

Lost Sheep,
Do you know if the primer of the 45 case was marked by the firing pin?

tnx

Little Silas · March 31, 2009, 10:10 PM

That is the greatest piece of Bull S_ _ t that I have ever read!!
Whoever did that should get a Pulitzer.

March 18, 2009, 11:25 PM	#27
Lolgasm Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2009 Posts: 247	my uncle, a retired detective, was off duty at a baseball game and his .38 in his ankle holster came loose and bounced all the way down the stadium stairs. luckily it didnt go off, im not sure, but in those days i think the firing pin was attached to the hammer for a lot of their guns __________________ Liberal Newscaster Katie Couric, while interviewing a Marine sniper, asked: 'What do you feel.....when you shoot a Terrorist?' The Marine shrugged and replied, "A Slight Recoil."

March 19, 2009, 02:02 AM	#29
jgcoastie Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Location: Kodiak, Alaska Posts: 2,118	I dropped my G20 out of a cheap Uncle Mikes thumb break hip holster in a river while salmon fishing last summer... I finally found it about 50ft downriver... I now have a pistol lanyard that I attach when I'm in the field or in the river open carrying. I've also invested in better gear, I bought a chest holster for fishing that has a better retention strap and closure. __________________ "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." -Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, initiator of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the first Senate, which passed the Bill of Rights.

March 19, 2009, 02:02 PM	#31
Daugherty16 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2008 Location: Live Free or Die state Posts: 259	The Worst Drop Talk about embarassing. On my very first day of CCW, with my state permit still warm from the laminator, i bought a Beretta and a IWB holster which i placed in the small of my back. Later that same morning, after cleaning and loading the pistol, i went to the restroom (thank god this was at home), and no sooner had my belt been unbuckled, because of the sudden slack in the belt the holster sagged a bit and the darn pistol dropped straight into the toilet bowl. Fortunately, my wife is a neatnik and the thing was sparkling clean. Of course, it didn't go off. Good thing. I fished my brand spanking new pistol out of the water and ran to the workshop cussing a blue streak the whole way, broke it down, hosed it out with blast after blast of RemOil, dried and cleaned it, and it's good as new. No rust, no damage, just a permanent psychological scar and something to laugh about once in a while. And a valuable lesson learned about small of the back carry! __________________ "To my mind it is wholly irresponsible to go into the world incapable of preventing violence, injury, crime, and death. How feeble is the mindset to accept defenselessness... How pathetic." - - Ted Nugent "Cogito, Ergo Armitum Sum" - (I Think, Therefore I Am Armed)- - anon.

March 19, 2009, 03:06 PM	#33
KnightZero Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2008 Location: Paoli, PA (for now) Posts: 100	When I first got my XD, I managed to send it flipping and spinning down the staircase in my apartment. Turns out the screw on the XDGear holster wasn't quite tight enough, and it slipped out quite easily. Luckily, I was the only one present, so no one saw my drop, or my graceful leap* behind my mattress for cover as the gun bounced away. *If you consider the movements of a rhinoceros graceful, that is. __________________ KnightZero - Zombie Killing Mercenary Watchman for hire. Will work for food.

March 20, 2009, 12:59 AM	#38
djohn Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2009 Location: CT Posts: 507	guilty,I dropped a beauty colt 45 government model mrk4 down the wood basement stairs of an unfinished basement and there was open wall No sheet rock between the stairs and basement and of course it had to bounce off the edge and drop straight down to concrete floor. It was unloaded thank goodness but the gun got banged up,scuffed up.I got the blues every time I looked at it. Last edited by djohn; March 20, 2009 at 01:16 AM.

March 18, 2009, 04:41 PM	#26
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	I work as a plain clothes (most of the time) leo. I was on a trip with one of my co-workers, so we stopped for lunch. I had forgotten I had put my BUG (.38 revolver) in my waist band, mexican style. I get up to go to the men's room and the revolver slides down my pants leg, onto the floor and I kick it forward with the next step. I pick it up, never miss a stride, keep going, like it had it planned! Do it cool if you're going to drop it! Another time, in another job (uniformed LEO) I had a S&W m39 pop out of a holster after I improperly holstered it, then had to give foot chase. It Fell on the ground, muzzle first. Pretty nasty, but we arrested the guy and everything cleaned up nicely.

March 19, 2009, 12:31 AM	#28
Rocked Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2006 Location: North Florida Posts: 152	I dropped a S&W 66 once. It was full of snap caps, but it hit the floor on my friends training mats, and did a little football bounce landing on the rear sight on tile. It dented it but it was the outside of the sight. Coulda been alot worse.

March 19, 2009, 12:24 PM	#30
#18indycolts Junior member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Indpls Posts: 1,159	ouch

March 19, 2009, 02:41 PM	#32
curt.45 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2008 Location: Fort Wayne Ind. Posts: 866	I hate to admit this but I've dropped just about every gun I've ever carried for any length of time. it happens, the one that scared me the most was my smith 66 watched it in slow motion as it fell while I looked directly down the barrel.

March 19, 2009, 04:47 PM	#34
isanchez2008 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2008 Location: WA Posts: 344	Had my xd fall out of a shoulder holster when I hoped out of my truck and it fell out. Landed square on the sights. No damage. I work at a hardware store and had just finished ringing a customer who I know is an avid marksman. He dropped some change, when he bent down to pick it up out came his .44 mag from his inside vest pocket. Clunk clunk on the mat in front of me. He turned bright red but quickly put it back in his vest. Mumbled something about needing to get a holster. Just glad it didn't go off.

March 19, 2009, 05:59 PM	#36
alienbogey Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Area Posts: 269	I was chukar hunting in Nevada and going down a steep loose shale slope when my feet went out from under me in about half a nanosecond. My shotgun went flying out of my hands before I was even conscious of the fall and I watched as my precious over/under went about 15' before landing and clattering amidst the rocks. All in all I was really lucky, and although it cracked the stock at the wrist it didn't dent or bend either tube. I shot it with the crack slowly growing for a couple years before a gunsmith did a great repair - now the crack and other dings are part of the personality of the shotgun.

March 20, 2009, 12:09 AM	#37
plissken Junior Member Join Date: March 19, 2009 Posts: 3	First Post comes as my confession.... I too have dropped my gun. My first handgun was a Smith 681 4". The day after I bought it, I decided to practice some quick draws in front of the full length mirror. Being safety conscious, I made sure the weapon was unloaded. I then proceeded to admire my speed and ferocity as I repeatedly drew and reholstered from the hip. Man, I was beautiful. Right up to the point I threw my brand new gun down on the concrete floor. There were no witnesses, just the reflection of an idiot staring back at me. That was almost 20 years ago. So far, that is my only drop. But it was more of a throw...

March 20, 2009, 09:13 AM	#39
Erik Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Location: America Posts: 3,479	Drops happen. "Never, EVER, try to catch a falling firearm, just let it go!" This cannot be over-stressed. __________________ Meriam Webster's: Main Entry: ci·vil·ian Pronunciation: \sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən\, Function: noun, Date: 14th century, 1: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law, 2 a: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force b: outsider 1, — civilian adjective

March 30, 2009, 11:18 PM	#40
Little Silas Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2005 Location: Hendersonville, Tennessee Posts: 183	Dropped Model 60 I once dropped my Model 60 from a pocket holster on my concrete driveway. It took a while to buff the scratches off the stainless steel. Also, the front sight had to be smoothed out and reblued. The model 60 now doesn't leave my pocket until it's over it's storage drawer in the bedroom. That scared the crap out of me! __________________ Smokestack Lightnin'

March 31, 2009, 12:29 AM	#41
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	Not my story, and against all odds, but true, nonetheless Not my story, and against all odds, but true, nonetheless. It took 1.5 Teslas to do it, but even a modern Colt (with the firing pin block) can be made to fire. http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/content/full/178/5/1092 Interesting story. If anyone wants to check furthur, I have more information. Lost Sheep

March 31, 2009, 01:45 AM	#42
DCXD45 Junior Member Join Date: March 25, 2009 Posts: 13	droped firearm if there is nothing noticeably damaged you should be safe. only suggestion would be to take it to a gun smith for a once over to make sure everything internal is intact. You can purchase a disassembly video and do it yourself but if you are that worried than you should spend a few bucks to make sure everything is hunky-dorie! DC

March 31, 2009, 12:17 PM	#43
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	Had a friend who had almost the exact same thing happen to him... he was carrying an older pistol in a nylon shoulder holster and had removed the retaining strap because it wouldn't fit around the pistol. His slid out just the same except it discharged when it hit the ground. No injuries luckily. This is why I am a big fan of buying a quality kydex, composite, or leather holster designed for a specific pistol and do not like "one-size-fits-all" solutions for holsters.

March 31, 2009, 05:04 PM	#44
alistaire Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2008 Posts: 191	Lost Sheep, Do you know if the primer of the 45 case was marked by the firing pin? tnx

March 31, 2009, 10:10 PM	#45
Little Silas Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2005 Location: Hendersonville, Tennessee Posts: 183	That is the greatest piece of Bull S_ _ t that I have ever read!! Whoever did that should get a Pulitzer. __________________ Smokestack Lightnin' Last edited by Little Silas; April 2, 2009 at 08:13 PM.