FLORIDA HOG HUNT 2026

[Stressless]

I had my first negligent discharge last night. Started gutless method cleaning that pig in the woods before sundown. . Her piglets were still running around so I laid my rifle over out of the way but still loaded. It got dark and I finished up. Picked up my rifle to unload it, I cradled it pointing the opposite direction of John and worked the bolt. I usually short-cycle the bolt with my right hand by pushing it far enough forward to eject the round from the magazine, but not engaging the extractor, and then letting it fall into my left hand. Finished that, looked in the open bolt, saw no rounds in the mag. Closed the bolt and pulled the trigger. BOOM. I look at Jon with a big eyed surprise face. He's laughing going "Ohhhhhhhhhhh"

Best I can figure instead of falling in my hand one of them slid forward into the chamber. I think I would have noticed it didn't fall in my hand, but my hands were cold. IDK. I visually inspected the open bolt and mag and saw nothing but can't see the chamber face.

So a little readfirmarion, after 32 years of hunting and touching guns on a daily basis, the fundamentals of gun safety are equally important on day 11,000+ as they are on day 1. Always keep a firearm pointed in a safe direction and treated as though it loaded, because one day when you least expect it, it will be.

Amen.

Thank goodness and those that taught you.

Been after them over here. Great scores over there. Kill'em all!

 

[Jackalope]

Wow Joe, just wow. Shit happens I know but why did you feel the need to pull the trigger? I never unload my guns then take safety off and pull the trigger. They say it’s bad without a spent shell or one that’s made to uncock the firing pin. Glad nothing came of it.

Military. Keep the weapon pointed down range, visually inspect the open bolt, close the bolt, keep weapon down range and drop the hammer. Weapon is 100% safe. Granted it shouldn't go boom. But if it does that's why it's done that way. Finding out right then while it's still pointed in a safe directioin is far better than unknowingly walking around with a live round waiting for an accident at a later time. Granted muzzle discipline is always important but the last thing you want is a loaded weapon that's cocked and you think its unloaded. A gun that's had the hammer fall on an empty chamber is 100% guaranteed to be empty. Likewise a gun thats had a hammer fall on a live chamber while pointed in a safe direction is also now guaranteed empty.

Ranges have a sand barrel just for it. In the field, just a safe direction.

A pre accutrigger 110 won't open on safe and doesn't have the two position safety that allows for half safe bolt open. What I should have done, and will from now on, is fully closed the bolt and fully reopened it first.

We've all heard that about dry firing but it's a misnomer from pistols with the firung pin on the hammer and rimfires. Those should never be dry fired because the pin on the hammer could break, on a rimfire the pin hits the edge of the chamber. Dry firing a centerfire is harmless though.

 

[Jackalope]

Hasn’t happened to me yet and hopefully never will. At our hunt club across the road from my property a son killed his father in the parking lot after a turkey hunt with a 12 gauge about 12 years ago.

Man that's horrible. Sad.

 

[ThatBuckeyeGuy]

It sucks an im glad nothing bad happened from it. You having the balls to share what happened is more impressive. Most guys wouldn't dare let their ego be taunted from such an event. Kudos to you for sharing about it to remind others how easily it can happen. We all get complacent from time to time. On that note congrats on the killing so far! Be safe and have fun!

 

[5Cent]

You're not alone, glad it didnt result in injuries. Safety first!