GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => European/Asian Air Gun Gates => China/Asian AirGun Gate => Topic started by: Ponz on March 25, 2022, 10:35:42 AM
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Though I'd share my horror story. This is a friendly, yet gruesome reminder for anyone new to the hobby.
I've had a Beeman GS1000 since the early 90s. I knew very well that, while cocked, the barrel would swing closed if the trigger was pulled.
Last summer while troubleshooting it, I completely FORGOT that safety concern. My left index finger was in the breech and I pulled the trigger. I didn't find my fingertip until I returned from the ER. It was trapped in the breech. The doctor said he would not have sewn it back on anyway
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Thanks for sharing. I offer the safety tip to everyone that I see when they don’t hold the barrel with the non loading hand.
I go to great lengths to explain what can happen. Children remember and have better habit patterns than adults with respect to this safety practice.
I offered the safety tip to someone shooting his air rifle one day and he thanked me. For the first 5-6 shots after that he held the barrel secure with the non loading hand.
Then he slipped back to his old habit of just holding the stock of the rifle with the non loading hand.
I winced and said that I’d hate to see him lose a finger.
He gave me a dirty look as if to say, “mind you own ____________ business.”
Please don’t think any less of me but after he gave me the dirty look, I kind of hoped the barrel would have slammed shut on his thumb.
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John
Sorry to see that happen!!
Sure looks like more than a finger tip to me.
Excuse me for asking but why would you pull the trigger with the barrel open?
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Like I said. I knew better but had a brain fart.
The rifle wasn't putting out enough air to shoot the pellet, so I thought I'd check.
The absolute most stupid thing I've ever done in my entire life. I wept from stupidity not the pain.
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I once told a couple of guys shooting their air rifle at the gun range that the barrel might snap shut if not held when loading (I was shooting mine also). They said thanks...but kept doing it their way...oh well, they might learn the hard way someday...
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Please pardon me for this but.....
That gives a whole new meaning to "Safety Tip".
We all need to be reminded from time to time.
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That is a great picture to copy and save on your phone as a visual warning to people you see when they don’t hold the barrel with the non loading hand.
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we all make mistakes.. the good news is you still have 9.5 fingers. Be happy you have those , not sad about the lost 1/2.. My dad lost half his pinkie in a conveyor chain in the mid 80s.. When he returned to work weeks later, they bought him gloves with 9.5 fingers on them./
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John
Sorry to see that happen!!
Sure looks like more than a finger tip to me.
Excuse me for asking but why would you pull the trigger with the barrel open?
The entire 1st joint 1/3 is gone.
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John
It takes a big man to own up to his mistakes and post this on a open forum in hopes it will save someone from making the same mistake.
Kudos to you!!!!!!!!!!
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Bad luck John. I lost the tip of the same finger as you in a router accident. Live & learn.
On a positive note, I now get a 10% discount when getting a manicure. ;)
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Some where in this sad story ... Is, a DON'T do that kid you may poke your eye out !
Guessing Nip the poker and less likely ... Don't think so :-\
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WOW. That picture certainly says a thousand words !!
So sorry you had to go through that, but thanks for sharing the experience with everyone. I have no doubt your post will save someone else from such an experience.
Jeff
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I know the feeling. I had a springer that didn’t have a catch and no safety. It was at a timed FT match. I was hurrying and it was raining. The barrel slipped while cocking it. Caught the webbing between my thumb and index finger. I don’t know which was worst, feeling stupid with everyone watching me or trying to pull my hand back out with out recocking the thing first.
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https://youtu.be/zxKJ-REbUlI (https://youtu.be/zxKJ-REbUlI)
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Wow. Well, at least it's the lefty.
So asking for a friend who doesn't hold the barrel when loading... Said friend is super paranoid about sticking a finger in the transfer port area. But he thinks it's pretty safe to simply load a pellet in a break barrel, even if the sear were to let go?
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Wow. Well, at least it's the lefty.
So asking for a friend who doesn't hold the barrel when loading... Said friend is super paranoid about sticking a finger in the transfer port area. But he thinks it's pretty safe to simply load a pellet in a break barrel, even if the sear were to let go?
Ask your friend if he’d want his child to learn to load a break barrel like he does. Would he want to see his child lose a finger?
On a related note, it boggles my mind that we don’t see precautions written into the owner’s manuals on spring guns about this problem.
I’m waiting on lawsuits and more warning labels.
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Well, underlevers are the ones that are typically more dangerous, aren't they? I wouldn't stick my finger in a loading port without holding the barrel. B3 is known as the finger-lopper because it's an underlever.
The geometry of a break barrel appears to make it unlikely to trap a finger, unless you're sticking a finger in the wrong place, down around the transfer port, no?
I thought the most usual thing if a breakbarrel lets go is that the rifle will be damaged/destroyed. Not your finger.
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Well, underlevers are the ones that are typically more dangerous, aren't they? I wouldn't stick my finger in a loading port without holding the barrel. B3 is known as the finger-lopper because it's an underlever.
The geometry of a break barrel appears to make it unlikely to trap a finger, unless you're sticking a finger in the wrong place, down around the transfer port, no?
I thought the most usual thing if a breakbarrel lets go is that the rifle will be damaged/destroyed. Not your finger.
yea, but his finger was in there at the transfer port..I bent a barrel on a springer with it firing in the cocked position , the barrel comes up violently
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Well, that's one vote to support my view.
If I taught my kids to shoot a break barrel, I would make sure they don't stick a finger under the bottom edge of the breech block or down over the face of the cylinder. If my rifle (and a pair of shorts) gets ruined, I won't really care. I mean, yeah. I'll care. But it will be worth the 1 in a million chance of the sear randomly letting off, IMO.
I wouldn't go around telling strangers at a shooting range that they need to hold the barrel while loading. If they want to risk their rifle, that's on them. If they're doing it with an underlever, I might risk their wrath to say something.
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Wow. Well, at least it's the lefty.
So asking for a friend who doesn't hold the barrel when loading... Said friend is super paranoid about sticking a finger in the transfer port area. But he thinks it's pretty safe to simply load a pellet in a break barrel, even if the sear were to let go?
Ask your friend if he’d want his child to learn to load a break barrel like he does. Would he want to see his child lose a finger?
On a related note, it boggles my mind that we don’t see precautions written into the owner’s manuals on spring guns about this problem.
I’m waiting on lawsuits and more warning labels.
yea, other items sold online generally have warnings for appendage loss.
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It's probably in the instruction manual, somewhere.
example from the first one I picked up: "Do not fire with the barrel cracked open. This may result in injury, bent barrel and/or cracked stock, and will void your warranty."
Somewhere on the gun will be some precaution to read the manual before operating, and that death or injury can result from improper use.
But now I'm curious what other things are people buying online that come with warnings about appendage loss. Are we talking about table saws?
There are thousands of police officers and other people legally carrying a concealed firearm. And at some point, while standing in line at a grocery store, it's pointing at someone else's foot. If it's a horizontal shoulder holster, it's probably occasionally sweeping someone else's head or heart. Let's not get crazy about the danger of a break barrel airgun's ability to amputate a digit if it is defective (or misused).
I've had a range officer tell me I shouldn't cock a Glock by pinching the slide right at the muzzle end. If I can't trust the gun to not fire while I'm controlling it (combined with poor enough coordination to actually put my finger over the muzzle), then I should not have a Glock. And possibly no one else should, either, if it is likely to fire itself.
That's a pretty good analogy, I think. Loading a breakbarrel is like charging a pistol near the muzzle end. As long as you don't actually sweep your finger (put it where it will get caught), you're close but still ok. I'm extra careful to overcock my springers, ever since I had a couple shots go off when letting off the safety on my latest acquisition. A crunchy pivot that needs oil might stick/stop right as the sear just starts to catch! But I feel safe as long as I mind my fingers.
OP is a hero to post this pic. It's a great reminder to people who tinker with their guns. But shooting it normally, I don't consider a breakbarrel all that dangerous.
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Ooouuch. I had know idea that could happen. I'd be really embarrassed if that happened to me. I work in a machine shop and everything wants to eat you. Thanks for sharing that. I'm going to get a break barrel soon so that's good info for me. Hold barrel with non loading hand, got it.
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I had the same thing happen years ago while loading and old springer that was supposed to have an anti-beartrap safety that released as I was transitioning hand position to close the barrel after loading. That sucker came up and took about 3/8" of my left index finger tip CLEAN OFF. I feel your pain. Every since I make sure that my non-loading hand is well clear of the breech and treat it like going up/down a ladder where you always want 3 points of contact. Always continuous contact with both hands until the barrel is closed
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Man, bet that started throbbing a little while later! :-\
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I mostly shoot break barrels myself. I appreciate the tip and info I'm going to try really hard to make holding the barrel a habit.
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Very sorry for the loss of your finger tip, and thank you for sharing your experience so other people might not make the same mistake. I never had a break barrel rifle and I was not aware of that safety concern. I guess that what you said about the Beman rifle is true for most break barrel rifles. In closing, I venture to say that we all make mistakes and sometimes we are lucky and other times not. Following good safety practices is not 100% accidents free assurance but increases the odds that you will not have an accident. Any mechanical device, any tool, has the potential to do harm if not used correctly. Hope this accidents will not deter you for enjoyment with air guns.
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Much appreciated that you share that.
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Anyone ever ask you what happened to your finger? I always tell them, “ I have no idea, pretty sure my surgeon has it in a display jar on his mantle”! Mine was a tennis accident and we believe that I am the ONLY person in history to lose a finger playing tennis. So, I know how you feel on the stupidity front. Was at least able to laugh about it early on. What else can you do? Thanks for the safety reminder. I always hold my barrel with springers but I’ll take extra care now. And I just arm bar my Diana 52. Having one’s friends call you Frodo is bad enough, can’t imagine what I’d get if I reduced my digits to 8. Hope you’ve healed up and adjusted.
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Ouch ! I am glad your ok brother I think at times we forget times with our shooting sports either pellet OR powder burner things can go bad very quickly even when we practice safety all the time that is why it is called an accident , Thanks for sharing your experience with us and man am I glad I joined this group to learn more safety and other knowledge .
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PONZ: I can at least emphasize on some level, as I too am an amputee. No, not my index finger in the beartrap, but my left leg, 6" above the knee. Anyway, this is another perfect example of why we develop good, repeatable actions which become habits: not to be broken. This is why, no matter what, all guns are to be treated as being loaded . . . no matter what, every time. This is why we have unbreakable range rules. The bell has now been rung . . . the range is now open. The Gunny taught me well, lo those many years ago. Orv.
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I know this is an old thread. Anyway I was wondering if you could do a video of the barrel swinging shut when the trigger is pulled. I just got my first springer (Gamo Hunter 220) and it doesn't do that. Thanks
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I threw the rifle away!
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I know old thread.
But it had to be said..... good tip, or lack of.
I try to find humor in every thing.
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I know this is an old thread. Anyway I was wondering if you could do a video of the barrel swinging shut when the trigger is pulled. I just got my first springer (Gamo Hunter 220) and it doesn't do that. Thanks
Your gun has an anti-beartrap mechanism that prevents the barrel from swinging shut.
I always remove the anti-beartrap on Gamo guns so that they may be uncocked; it is very simple to do.
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I bought and am happy with my PCP - an Air Venturi Avenger 22 cal.
Now - I just need to hope the Yong Heng compressor or my air tank doesn't blow up on me.
The Ponzo luck!
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Even a half a glass of water can kill you if you don't respect it.
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I know this is an old thread. Anyway I was wondering if you could do a video of the barrel swinging shut when the trigger is pulled. I just got my first springer (Gamo Hunter 220) and it doesn't do that. Thanks
Are you asking for a video of an INTENTIONAL CONTROLLED DECOCK by pulling the trigger on a springer that doesn't have an anti-beartrap mechanism?
That is pretty easy and has a low risk of injury or damage when done correctly.
or
Are you asking for someone to video an uncontrolled decock trigger pull?
That is a DANGEROUS and DESTRUCTIVE test which will permanently damage the breech block, transfer port area, forks, and severely bend the barrel. Slightly bent barrels can be used or straightened but if everything else is damaged and the bore is no longer round from a severe bend then that rifle is basically scrap. Someone may be willing to make a video of that for "science" but I suspect few here would be willing to sacrifice one of their springers for that video.
If you are NOT controlling the barrel and your finger or thumb is SEATING a pellet into the breech when a release occurs (doesn't matter what caused the release) there is NO TIME for you to get that digit out of harms way. Something bad will happen. It may be an amputation as shown or just a crushed fingertip. Very unpleasant regardless. Completely avoidable IF a safe procedure is always followed.
I thank Ponz for being honest and posting about this event. It is THE BEST graphic reminder to everyone shooting springers that we need to treat these rifles with respect at all times.
Yes, old thread, but we should bring up this topic on a regular basis. New members need to understand the risks and more seasoned members (thinking of my own digits) need the occasional reminder before they get too comfortable and have a similar event.
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Before and a year later.
It's very inconvenient. I drop stuff all the time and doing tedious work is difficult.
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On the bright side, you don't have to worry about digging too deep up yer nose, anymore.
Unless your brain itches. :D