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Sitting here tonight,daydreaming of hunting past and of hunting to come,when ,for whatever reason,an old story my dad told me came to mind.
My Uncle Bob,who was home from the army on leave,was back here for the first week of deer season.
Uncle Bob was a shooting instructor but did not own his own deer rifle.
So my Dad,after getting his buck on opening morning offered the use of his 1 year old,brand new .308 Win.Savage.
Uncle Bob used it all that week with no luck and returned the gun to my dad on Sunday before he had to leave to return to duty.
The gun and it's case were placed in the Wardrobe,(which served as an early gun cabinet)in the corner of the dining room.
Later that afternoon,Dad being concerned for his new rifle,dug out the case to see how badly "abused" his rifle might be.
He laid it on the table,unzipped the case and removed the gun.The two clips were also there still holding the rounds Dad had given Uncle bob to use.
He picked up the rifle,aimed out the back window to the wood line,to see if the scope was knocked off any.
He pushed the safety forward ,put his finger on the trigger,then stopped.
He lowered the gun pulled the lever down and out fell a live round from the chamber.
Dad was so PO at Uncle Bob for pulling a stunt like that,and him being a firearms instructor.
Dad was also furious at himself for ever even thinking of doing what he did,without checking the gun and making sure that it wasn't loaded.
So I also learned a first hand lesson to never assume that a gun is empty.
I was pretty young at the time this all happened,and Dad still brings it up on occasion.
Just because someone knows how to shoot or handle a firearm,just don't trust a gun someone gives you or that you pick up.
I'm sure alot of members here have had their share of scares over the years,but still the best lesson to pass on to young and old alike.
I still ask my son when we are out hunting "is your safety on?" and he's now 24.
Makes him a little mad at times,thinks I still think of him as a "kid".
I just tell him "that I'm at least thinking of you"
Sorry to rant and rave,but it's always the "empty" guns that go off.
My Uncle Bob,who was home from the army on leave,was back here for the first week of deer season.
Uncle Bob was a shooting instructor but did not own his own deer rifle.
So my Dad,after getting his buck on opening morning offered the use of his 1 year old,brand new .308 Win.Savage.
Uncle Bob used it all that week with no luck and returned the gun to my dad on Sunday before he had to leave to return to duty.
The gun and it's case were placed in the Wardrobe,(which served as an early gun cabinet)in the corner of the dining room.
Later that afternoon,Dad being concerned for his new rifle,dug out the case to see how badly "abused" his rifle might be.
He laid it on the table,unzipped the case and removed the gun.The two clips were also there still holding the rounds Dad had given Uncle bob to use.
He picked up the rifle,aimed out the back window to the wood line,to see if the scope was knocked off any.
He pushed the safety forward ,put his finger on the trigger,then stopped.
He lowered the gun pulled the lever down and out fell a live round from the chamber.
Dad was so PO at Uncle Bob for pulling a stunt like that,and him being a firearms instructor.
Dad was also furious at himself for ever even thinking of doing what he did,without checking the gun and making sure that it wasn't loaded.
So I also learned a first hand lesson to never assume that a gun is empty.
I was pretty young at the time this all happened,and Dad still brings it up on occasion.
Just because someone knows how to shoot or handle a firearm,just don't trust a gun someone gives you or that you pick up.
I'm sure alot of members here have had their share of scares over the years,but still the best lesson to pass on to young and old alike.
I still ask my son when we are out hunting "is your safety on?" and he's now 24.
Makes him a little mad at times,thinks I still think of him as a "kid".
I just tell him "that I'm at least thinking of you"
Sorry to rant and rave,but it's always the "empty" guns that go off.