REALLY Dumb, Stupid, Bone-headed, Negligent, Careless, Rookie Mistake

[Perro Del Diablo]

I think everyone who shoots long enough experiances this at least once in there lifetime.

my experiance came from shooting 308 out of a 30 06 barrel in a browning machine gun. The cases looked like straight wall 45/70 brass when i was done with it.

the barrels/calibers are easy to change on the BMG and, israeli 1919 bolts will shoot either 30 06, 308, or 8mm so its very easy to forget which barrel you have installed to the gun.

I now make certain to check the barrel before i shoot each time cause it is easy to forget.

you are not alone

[Prairie_Dawg]

I haven't made this kind of a mistake with a firearm before, but as mistakes go, I think your being a little too hard on yourself. You've seen my post on a whole other level of "negligence". The more you deal with firearms, the more the odds are that you will have an, "aw SHIT" moment. Consider yourself very fortunate, salute smartly, do an about face, and continue the mission. Thanx for sharing!

[cwo4uscgret]

Its kind of like two types of motorcycle riders; those who've been down and those who will go down!

[Norton]

Great post and thanks.. As for me

I fired some 380 reloads and one round must have been a squib. The pistol fired but did not cycle.
So I cleared and fired again. The pistol flew out of my hand
I looked and found the squib round did not clear the barrel, the next round was a full power reload.

Big scare for Norton and great lesson on rounds that don't cycle or feel right.

[mitchstoner]

Thanks, Guys! Pretty likely I will be looking at the case head, or leaving rounds in the original box, for a long time.

[nonleathal]

yes, thanks for sharing. i haven't made that mistake yet, and i hope i never do. especially w/ my son really showing an interest in the sport.
one mistake i know i made. i was on a job that left me alone in the building alot. i brought a shotgun in with me to work on if i got bored. one operation was to put on a mag extender. i wanted to make sure the feed was still working properly; but all i had were live rounds. nothing bad hapened, but i should remember to keep my finger out of the trigger gaurd if i don't intend on shooting.
anyway, glad to see no one got hurt.

[backwoodsshooter]

Dang man, glad you didn't get hurt. I haven't done this before, and hope I don't either.

[chili]

Look at it this way, you did not get hurt, your rifle is fine. You decided to share we are all richer for it because everyone who reads this thread has been warned to make sure they use the right ammo in the right weapon.

As for me, I thank you for sharing!

[RandyCOG3]

Anybody that thinks that he or she isn't capable of making a mistake like that... is a lot more dangerous than anybody that has. Thanks for the post.

RandyCOG3

[r.erichsen]

I found myself putting a mag loaded with 5.56 in a .300 BLK. .300 BLK is nothing but a necked down 5.56 case and uses the same mags as 5.56. An easy screwup when a person is distracted, etc.
Also there is no difference between a 5.56 or .300 BLK AR other than the barrel, so very easy to pick up one and assume it is 5.56, (or vice versa) when it is not. I can see it happen on many rounds.
Mike, I am sure glad your OK. Off subject: ur coffee mug is in my truck again, I may keep it this time, lol.

Putting 5.56 NATO into a .300BLK chamber will result in a really crappy trajectory as the tiny bullet knocks around inside a barrel designed for a "real" bullet.

The inverse would be much more exciting - (attempting to) chamber a .300BLK into a 5.56 NATO barrel and lighting it off could really ruin your day. I see guys at the range spraypaint mags for .300BLK so that they are color coded and only put .300BLK in those. Everyone has their own color for their own gear. Somehow RED has become popular.

R