Vandy
Active Member
Learned a Couple Valuable Safety Lessons Over the Weekend
I had the opportunity to learn (re-learn?) a couple of lessons over the weekend while shooting my CVA Accura V2.
I was at the range on Sunday with my brother and we were doing some range work with our slug guns and our muzzleloaders. My muzzleloader still had a charge and bullet in it from the October muzzleloader season. I knew that. I even checked it before I left the house to make sure whether it was still loaded.
Now, I typically go to the range by myself to focus on what I am doing. Plus socializing wastes valuable time. Well, I got to talking with my brother and he loaded up his muzzleloader and I loaded up mine. Remember I said it was already loaded? Well, clearly I was distracted and not paying attention. We were using his range rod so nothing was obvious when I rammed the bullet home (I have never used anything but the rod that came with the gun) and didn't think to verify.
So I set up to fire my shot and that gun kicked the ever loving $h!t out of me. I instantly knew exactly what happened and was angry, scared, and embarrassed. Not to mention my nose was bleeding from the scope coming back and hitting me.
The gun appears to be fine, but I am taking it to a smith this weekend just to get it checked out. The top thimble that clamps onto the barrel for the rod popped off; I am not sure if it hit the rest during recoil or if unseen barrel damage caused it.
The action was tight to open initially as the primer had expanded into the action just enough. I was able to get the primer out and you could see where it expanded, but it did not blow out. I was also able to remove the breech plug with my fingers as usual. The action locks up tight and the firing mechanism functions properly and it "looks" okay. I can't chance that though so I will have it checked out.
I don't think the second charge ignited or I think I would have had a more serious issue. Basically I think I had 110 grains of blackhorn pushing 657 grains of bullet and powder out the barrel. We saw both bullet holes on the target at 25 yards so I had no concern on where the bullets went so I put that gun away and kept shooting the slug gun to get it dialed in.
I am hoping it was not a $500 mistake, but even if it was, it could have been a whole lot worse. This was the first (and hopefully last) safety error I have ever knowingly commited. I hope this is a reminder to some that you can never be too careful.
I had the opportunity to learn (re-learn?) a couple of lessons over the weekend while shooting my CVA Accura V2.
I was at the range on Sunday with my brother and we were doing some range work with our slug guns and our muzzleloaders. My muzzleloader still had a charge and bullet in it from the October muzzleloader season. I knew that. I even checked it before I left the house to make sure whether it was still loaded.
Now, I typically go to the range by myself to focus on what I am doing. Plus socializing wastes valuable time. Well, I got to talking with my brother and he loaded up his muzzleloader and I loaded up mine. Remember I said it was already loaded? Well, clearly I was distracted and not paying attention. We were using his range rod so nothing was obvious when I rammed the bullet home (I have never used anything but the rod that came with the gun) and didn't think to verify.
So I set up to fire my shot and that gun kicked the ever loving $h!t out of me. I instantly knew exactly what happened and was angry, scared, and embarrassed. Not to mention my nose was bleeding from the scope coming back and hitting me.
The gun appears to be fine, but I am taking it to a smith this weekend just to get it checked out. The top thimble that clamps onto the barrel for the rod popped off; I am not sure if it hit the rest during recoil or if unseen barrel damage caused it.
The action was tight to open initially as the primer had expanded into the action just enough. I was able to get the primer out and you could see where it expanded, but it did not blow out. I was also able to remove the breech plug with my fingers as usual. The action locks up tight and the firing mechanism functions properly and it "looks" okay. I can't chance that though so I will have it checked out.
I don't think the second charge ignited or I think I would have had a more serious issue. Basically I think I had 110 grains of blackhorn pushing 657 grains of bullet and powder out the barrel. We saw both bullet holes on the target at 25 yards so I had no concern on where the bullets went so I put that gun away and kept shooting the slug gun to get it dialed in.
I am hoping it was not a $500 mistake, but even if it was, it could have been a whole lot worse. This was the first (and hopefully last) safety error I have ever knowingly commited. I hope this is a reminder to some that you can never be too careful.
Last edited:
