Throwing Caution to the Winds

[Waytoomany]

Reminder for those who shoot springers. When a break barrel, under lever or side lever reaches the cocked position for loading it is mandatory to continue holding it the entire time until after you have closed it. This warning is not just for someone new to springers. How many times have you observed someone testing a springer on Utube take their hand off before loading? Should that sear let go the best that can happen with a break barrel is a bent barrel when it slams shut. Heaven help anyone whose fingers are in the way while loading when that spring torque gets loose. All too often a video shows someone opening the box of a new springer surrounded by racks of airguns and gunsmith tools. This guy ought to know better. Makes me wonder if he is a careless veteran or simply a salesman who doesn’t know any better pushing a product in a photo op.

One more thing. Just because most springers have trigger locks that are supposed to prevent trigger release when cocked and open doesn’t guarantee it won’t fail. Even a FWB300S can crush a finger.

Waytoomany

 

[hameditor]

Reminder for those who shoot springers. When a break barrel, under lever or side lever reaches the cocked position for loading it is mandatory to continue holding it the entire time until after you have closed it. This warning is not just for someone new to springers. How many times have you observed someone testing a springer on Utube take their hand off before loading? Should that sear let go the best that can happen with a break barrel is a bent barrel when it slams shut. Heaven help anyone whose fingers are in the way while loading when that spring torque gets loose. All too often a video shows someone opening the box of a new springer surrounded by racks of airguns and gunsmith tools. This guy ought to know better. Makes me wonder if he is a careless veteran or simply a salesman who doesn’t know any better pushing a product in a photo op.

One more thing. Just because most springers have trigger locks that are supposed to prevent trigger release when cocked and open doesn’t guarantee it won’t fail. Even a FWB300S can crush a finger.

Waytoomany

Agreed about one thousand percent!!!!!

 

[Bravo3d]

I learned this the hard way about 25 years ago. Never made that mistake again.

 

[Scriv]

Unfortunately, when I observe this behavior on a you tube video I automatically assume that everything else they are about to tell me is of the same value.

 

[Waytoomany]

Unfortunately, when I observe this behavior on a you tube video I automatically assume that everything else they are about to tell me is of the same value.

Same here! I cringe and don’t look at the rest of the video.

Waytoomany

 

[Billm]

When I was 14 I closed a Diana 36 and trapped the web of my left hand in the closed breech of the rifle. The rifle was fully closed with that large fleshy flap between my thumb and index finger trapped between the breech and the cylinder. I remember to this day (50 years later) how painful it was. The worst part was that I was in shock that my hand was trapped in the rifle and that I had to try and open it up. I eventually forced it open and removed my hand only to see a very deep wound start bleeding. I was home alone and wasn’t supposed to be shooting and so I wrapped it and hid it from my parents for a few days. When It wouldn’t heal I ended up in the ER where I was told that it required several stitches, but had left it too long to be stitched. It took weeks to heal. This many years ago I have no idea how I got my left hand trapped like that I’m right handed and hold the barrel with my left hand while cocking a springer. Point is, as stated in the posts above, the muzzle isn’t the only dangerous part of a springer and is worth pointing out to new shooters.

 

[hameditor]

When I was 14 I closed a Diana 36 and trapped the web of my left hand in the closed breech of the rifle. The rifle was fully closed with that large fleshy flap between my thumb and index finger trapped between the breech and the cylinder. I remember to this day (50 years later) how painful it was. The worst part was that I was in shock that my hand was trapped in the rifle and that I had to try and open it up. I eventually forced it open and removed my hand only to see a very deep wound start bleeding. I was home alone and wasn’t supposed to be shooting and so I wrapped it and hid it from my parents for a few days. When It wouldn’t heal I ended up in the ER where I was told that it required several stitches, but had left it too long to be stitched. It took weeks to heal. This many years ago I have no idea how I got my left hand trapped like that I’m right handed and hold the barrel with my left hand while cocking a springer. Point is, as stated in the posts above, the muzzle isn’t the only dangerous part of a springer and is worth pointing out to new shooters.

Ouch! Thanks for sharing your cautionary and painful tale.