Have you ever made a mistake at the shooting range that left you questioning yourself? You got distracted, broke one of the core safety rules, and now you’re thinking about everything that could have gone wrong. What steps do you take to mentally recover, learn from the experience, and become a safer, more disciplined shooter?
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Do I know firearm safety? Of course. Live it, taught it and talk about it all the time. But I know I’ve gotten lacks because I know so much and have taught safety. I’ve been a dumbass over my 59 years. A couple times with firearms. Always when I let my guard down. Lucky for me it’s been where no harm no foul, but when I break a rule like finger on the trigger, I don’t break multiple rules, like adding aiming at something I don’t want to destroy or not knowing what’s behind my target or aimpoint. That’s why it’s important to be aware of all the rules, so if you break one the others being enforced prevent bad things from happening.
You may feel feel like an idiot when it happens, but it could always be worse.
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I fully understand your question and dilemma, trust me. It is really hard to let something like this go for several reasons. 1) we want to follow the rules and be safe, but now we have to deal with the fact that three fundamental rules of firarm safety took place. 2) It is embarrassing so we never want to talk about it. This only compounds our sense of guilt. 3) If anyone else knows then everyone else knows and the finger pointing begins. This may result in the loss of friendships. (same dynamics happens if you shoot to stop an immediate fear of life threat with no other options available).
So, what can we do? Let’s go back to that moment and ask yourself some good, but hard questions, who, what, why, where, when, and how:
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Who was hurt? - Nobody.
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What was your thoughts and intent at that time? - Mistake or Intentional - obviously an unintended mistake made by a law abiding person.
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Why were you at the range? - Private Practice, Qualification, Tournament, Education - no matter the reason we want to improve and do better.
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Where was your location? - Outside or Indoor range - Damage to property at a minimum if so, property can always be fixed.
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When did this happen? - Low or Bright light - either way, it happened.
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How did this happen? Lessons learned from this event and best way to prevent or be more aware of our mistakes - A human way of learning.
Being kind to yourself (while others may not) helps us to heal. There is hope. You are not alone, there are many others who broke the first 3 rules of gun safety (whether they admit it or not). Give yourself some time to get back on your feet. There is no reason to beat yourself up any further - does not help. Please stay away from other people (blogs, internet, facebook, X, or in person who think they are immune to mistakes and are critical towards you (I Corinthians 10:12).
Hope this helps Aand brings you a sense of fresh air. Blessings.
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I’m a guy from Katy, Texas, who’s just beginning this journey into firearms and learning as much as I can along the way. It’s something I’m truly passionate about, and this experience really challenged me to reflect and become a better, more responsible gun owner. I sincerely appreciate everyone who took the time to share their advice, encouragement, and experiences. Thank you all for your kind words.
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‘NOBODY DIED’ Amirite?
BEST ADVICE? SHAKE IT OFF! Ships happen. Whatever the mistake was the next time you shoot don’t do it again.
YOU ARE HUMAN FOR GOODNESS SAKE—CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK. EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES (especially early on). Get back on the horse right away (if you haven’t already)
Learn from it and move on Brother—WELCOME TO THE FOLD.
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Good advice there. I blew up a 5.56 AR trying to feed it .300bo as I’d put one wrong mag in my plate carrier and first pull after a mag swap stopped me in my tracks. Blew out the mag, split the lower, peeled the bolt. Amazingly didn’t split the barrel despite the round making it 15" in a 16" barrel. Corrective action was putting gray duct tape on my .300bo mags and gun grip. I also keep that gun at my bench to remind me of what stupid mistakes feel like.
Killed an earthworm one day pulling the trigger to release the slide on a Glock. Corrective action: no longer clean my Glocks 
Got up one morning after my typical 2 hours of sleep I was getting at the time to find my new sights for my .45acp S&W had come in and my wife had brought them to the bedroom. Psyched, still stark nekkid, I admired the sights and decided to get started. Same deal, pulled trigger to release slide, sent a round through the window and into a beam supporting the deck. Corrective action was having the wife tell me not to touch a gun before coffee, and without being asked, the glass place replaced the window with bulletproof glass. Funny folks they were.
These days I’m getting more sleep, have way less (no) stress and knock on wood, have those stupid moves in the rear view.
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As always sage advice my good sir.
Listen folk’s if we can help it it may be a good idea before handling firearms (as shown even a simple cleaning (and not enough sleep can and will FORCE us to make unnecessary repairs to our homes.))
I’ve seen guy’s running into the Indoor range, hastily readying their equipment for a bit of training----PLEASE DON’T!. I saw in a movie ‘Outpost’ (scott Eastwood) his character said ‘NEVER RUSH TO FAILURE!’ Sound advice. You rush–YOU COULD GUSH! Not pretty.
Be safe my Gunners we’re almost @ the end of this movie—Don’t die now!
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My worst slip up was at the indoor range.
I’m normally 110% in compliance with range rules, breach open muzzle downrange when weapons are static, muzzle always downrange at all times even when removing or placing back into their carry cases…
That one time the hot brass went down the neck of my shirt though?
Yeah my live pistol was still in my hand pointed at the ceiling while I shook that living piece of hell out of my shirt!
Did I pull the trigger? NO
Did anyone get hurt? (Other than my pride) NO
Was I lucky to have not caused harm? YES
Other than that incident, the only one that comes to mind was shooting on BLM land with a buddy, we were both shooting suppressed, so neither of us were wearing ear protection….
Well, so I thought,…
he had electronic in ear buds, and assumed I had the same.
(I do, but wasn’t wearing them)
He fell back off the firing line, I assumed for a mag swap, but instead grabbed a different unsuppressed rifle.
Suffice to say, when he lit that thing off it was a painful surprise!
I still had several rounds in the magazine, a live round in the chamber, and several other people were out with us as I fell off the firing line.
My finger went off the trigger and down the side of the gun, and I pointed the muzzle straight down as I retreated, but the weapon was still live and I was well behind the line before I made it safe.
Again, no shots inadvertently fired, no harm no foul.
Lesson learned though, always announce when you’re going LOUD!!!
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…never had a reaction to hot brass. I think the worst is having it stuck between the eyebrow and glasses frame,but it’s still " let’s finish this mag.". Thinking a background in metal fabrication helped in that regard, torches, welding etc …
Stress can be real bad. That “young parents, new home,long commute, massive overtime, toxic environment” stuff …gawd, glad that’s over. Someone else can keep the birds flying. After I " got retired" sleepy Joe’s first day as head potato, I had a few offers. I still laugh thinking about the owner of a shop who was ready to pay my asking price (after initially being $40k/year apart) and wanted me to start asap as “Our customer (gubmint) is at the door screaming for their parts!”.
Thanks for that information, buddy. Think I’m going hiking
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Okay, Okay War story time (NOT putting me in a good light! 
). There were a bunch of us scattered down a street, occupying any cover we could. Bullets poofing all around. LOUD!. Trying to focus on all bad guys but also looking out for my guys I thought my mag emptied— I THOUGHT the bolt carrier slammed back I didn’t pay attention too well I guess as I was distracted slapping on ‘Quik clot’ then a Trau+Medic bandage on my driver, blood everywhere. I slammed in another mag as I drove the bolt home I must have had my Booger Hook on the trigger and sent a round into the air! SHOCKING ME!. Bullets and RPG’s flying around like a swarm of angry Hornets hitting the left side lever I continued the fight.
It was an accidental discharge (I KNOW some hate that term but as I said 'Nobody died!), I didn’t piss myself so I fought on. If you get too paralyzed making a mistake you can ‘CONTINUE’ making errors. Maybe STOP what you are doing unload the firearm, and go get a Coke (or whatever), SHAKE IT OFF! and get back in the game.
Mi dos centavos!
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It went down the back of my shirt and was right at the nape of my back threatening to fall down my pants……
I’ve had welding slag burn through my sleeves, or bounce into my gloves…. That never bothered me much.
A chunk of cutting slag landing on and burning through my boot? Yeah I’m out!
Hot brass threatening to sear me a second 
at the range has my full attention! 
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Unless your intention was to further confuse the press of battle for the advantage of the enemy, nobody who understands combat would find fault there.
This thread was about civilian f’ups and how to avoid them.
War fighting is a wholy deferent thing!
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Forgot about the 6 months a year I’d have the woodstove going lol. Subzero, up every couple hours, no gloves, pick up some wood, open door barehanded, think “ouch, that was dumb”, stick hand with wood in stove, hit forearm on stove, think “ouch, glad I’m not awake”, go back to bed 
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Safety on when we were told to fire
The mistake: bringing a brand new pistol for CCW live fire qualification
Solution: Preparation which includes familiarity with the gun and some range time. Also, no impulse buy a week before renewal.
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I saw a video a while ago on this story of a dad who took his kid to the indoor range and the same happened, a hot brass hit his neck and he went quick to scratch while holding the gun and he pull the trigger. The bullet hit and bounce on something hitting his son and killed him.
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… and on the other hand … Happy anniversary! 
Here’s to another year with the clan under your belt. Enjoy the day!
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Happy Anniversary
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Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes. I had a negligent discharge while clearing a double feed with a Kimber Micro 9 that didn’t like JHP ammo. Because I follow safety protocols, the round discharged into the floor. Yes, I called myself an idiot, but the incident became a life experience to build upon.
Incidentally, a 9mm JHP out of a small barrel weapon will not penetrate 70 YO oak flooring.
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Happy Anniversary Matt.
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