A TFL member PMed me this story and asked me to post it for him for others to learn from. I don't have any further details other than what is below. Names have been changed at the TFL member's request.
Abe decided to go visit Bob. During the visit the subject of guns came up. Bob said that he wanted to show a new gun he purchased to Abe since Abe has more experience with firearms and Bob wanted to know if his purchase was a good deal.
Bob's new pistol turns out to be a Davis Company P-380 purchased for less than $100. The gun is empty. There is one mag.
Abe explained that the gun looks ok, but says it's an off brand. He asks if Bob has fired it to test the function. Abe later found out that Davis Co went bankrupt (and for good reason) but at the time neither was aware of that fact.
The two are standing facing each other while Charles (another of Bob's friends) is in the living room watching them. Abe took the gun, racked the slide back twice to clear the chamber. He dryfired a few times, racking the slide each time. Abe then took a full magazine, put it inside the gun, and racked the slide. When he released the slide the gun slamfired. All three present agree that Abe's finger was NOT on the trigger.
Abe was exercising muzzle control when the gun fired so the gun was not pointed at anyone. The slug traveled through 2 interior walls, and hit concrete. It was not recovered in spite of a careful search.
Abe and Bob both reported that their ears rang for a few weeks at least.
Examination of the pistol showed that the gun had misfed the next shot which was fortunate. It's possible that the pistol would have gone full auto if it hadn't jammed.
Lessons learned:
Follow safety rules ALWAYS.
Avoid poor quality guns from disreputable manufacturers.
Bob's new pistol turns out to be a Davis Company P-380 purchased for less than $100. The gun is empty. There is one mag.
Abe explained that the gun looks ok, but says it's an off brand. He asks if Bob has fired it to test the function. Abe later found out that Davis Co went bankrupt (and for good reason) but at the time neither was aware of that fact.
The two are standing facing each other while Charles (another of Bob's friends) is in the living room watching them. Abe took the gun, racked the slide back twice to clear the chamber. He dryfired a few times, racking the slide each time. Abe then took a full magazine, put it inside the gun, and racked the slide. When he released the slide the gun slamfired. All three present agree that Abe's finger was NOT on the trigger.
Abe was exercising muzzle control when the gun fired so the gun was not pointed at anyone. The slug traveled through 2 interior walls, and hit concrete. It was not recovered in spite of a careful search.
Abe and Bob both reported that their ears rang for a few weeks at least.
Examination of the pistol showed that the gun had misfed the next shot which was fortunate. It's possible that the pistol would have gone full auto if it hadn't jammed.
Lessons learned:
Follow safety rules ALWAYS.
Avoid poor quality guns from disreputable manufacturers.
