"Showing your firearms" etiquette

[NiteQwill]

Anyone ever have a problem with folks who just don't treat your stuff politely if you happen to say, "Sure, take a look at this XXX gun I have/just bought!"

My example is as follows...
I have this friend who has a longtime douchebag boyfriend. Both are into shooting. I decided to bring them to the range on the weekend.

I proceed to show her BF my 1911s since he has never shot one. I say, "Sure, take a look at it but please don't slam the slide into battery."

What does he do?

Locks the slide and slams it forward home! Twice! (I was talking to my friend about 10 feet away)

I promptly walk over and grab it from him and tell him why he did exactly what I asked him not to do. He proceeds to tell me "big deal" and basically f-off.

Told my friend goodbye and said, "I won't be shooting with your douchebag boyfriend next to me since he can't respect other folks stuff."

She called me a few hours ago to apologize for her BF. Found out that he eventually destroyed another hanger in a different lane and had to fork up money to pay for the damage after I left. What an idiot...

/rant

[ck867]

haha

[Gunaria]

You already knew he was a db in the first place but still went anyway. I understand you were trying to be a nice guy. Good story nontheless.

[SwissFluCase]

No I haven't, but I am pretty selective who I show firearms to. I understand if they are new and the skill isn't there, but if I sense a lack of judgement, it's a no go.

Then again, I'm also intimidating or charismatic (I forgot which) enough that people act right in my presence.

Regards,


SwissFluCase

[jlh95811]

Take his girl

[Dr Rockso]

Lame that he would do that after you specifically told him not to.

When I was first shopping for a handgun I didn't know that releasing the slide on an empty chamber could damage the extractor. I think I did it with every gun I handled at a couple of gun shops. The clerks never said anything to me. Knowing that uninformed noobs are abusing them makes me not want to buy one that's been sitting in the display case for any length of time.

[jlh95811]

I didn't know that releasing the slide on an empty chamber could damage the extractor

As far as I know dropping the slide on an empty chamber will not damage an extractor at all. It is dropping it on a loaded chamber that is said to do so. It causes the extractor to slam on and around the rim of the case in order to accept the lip for extraction after firing.

Because of this it is best to ease the slide foward lightly when closing on a loaded chamber. Or better yet, if possible, load your first round from the magazine then release the mag and load the final round into it.


Dropping the slide on an empty chamber is not a good habit BUT is not an issue for most guns. Especially not a Kimber. Unless it has trigger work.

With a highly tuned trigger it IS a BAD idea. The sear/disconnector/hammer engagements have been filed down to make just slight contact which makes the trigger light and crisp. Dropping the slide on the empty chamber in a gun with trigger work can throw these now very sensitive engaements of parts out of wack due to the extra force and thusly the shock throughout the weapon.(a round/dummy/snap-cap provides a slight cushion for the slide as it bumps along into the chamber)

[zeb]

I would agree that dropping the slide will not damage the extractor but it will put excessive force on several other parts. Barrel lugs will battered by the slide and trigger/sear engagement surfaces will suffer to the point that any decent trigger pull will be lost, especially in a 1911.

[jlh95811]

I would agree that dropping the slide will not damage the extractor but it will put excessive force on several other parts. Barrel lugs will battered by the slide and trigger/sear engagement surfaces will suffer to the point that any decent trigger pull will be lost, especially in a 1911.

Not saying you are wrong:
I've slammed the slide home on my Springfield loaded at least 500 times, probably closer to 1000. Trigger has no work. Breaks crisp and clean at 3.3 pounds after about 4000 rounds.(yeah I like to play with my guns when I'm not shooting them)

[NeoWeird]

If the soft crass will damage your extractor then something else is wrong. The slide slams home on a loaded chamber EVERY time the gun is fired. Easeing the slide home on the first round won't do anything, even if it COULD do something.

The problem is not the trigger job either.

The problem is that the barrel hood is one of the strongest locking points on the 1911 barrel design. When you let the slide slam home on an empty chamber you have a stress relieved piece of steel being hit forvefully with a heat treated piece of steel. Peening eventually occurs and the result is poor lock up, and eventually headspace issues. The peening can also further causes problems if it peens in towards the chamber, such as feeding and extraction problems as well as the gun locking up after being fired. If it happens enough, in a loose enough gun, you could even have case head support issues which could easily lead to a dangerous, if not deadly, situation.

The brass of the case actually acts as a shock absorber and helps prolong firearm life.

[CRQuarto]

If the soft crass will damage your extractor then something else is wrong. The slide slams home on a loaded chamber EVERY time the gun is fired. Easeing the slide home on the first round won't do anything, even if it COULD do something.

The problem is not the trigger job either.

The problem is that the barrel hood is one of the strongest locking points on the 1911 barrel design. When you let the slide slam home on an empty chamber you have a stress relieved piece of steel being hit forvefully with a heat treated piece of steel. Peening eventually occurs and the result is poor lock up, and eventually headspace issues. The peening can also further causes problems if it peens in towards the chamber, such as feeding and extraction problems as well as the gun locking up after being fired. If it happens enough, in a loose enough gun, you could even have case head support issues which could easily lead to a dangerous, if not deadly, situation.

The brass of the case actually acts as a shock absorber and helps prolong firearm life.

Ahh, that common sense thing...

[jlh95811]

If the soft crass will damage your extractor then something else is wrong. The slide slams home on a loaded chamber EVERY time the gun is fired. Easeing the slide home on the first round won't do anything, even if it COULD do something.

The problem is not the trigger job either.

The problem is that the barrel hood is one of the strongest locking points on the 1911 barrel design. When you let the slide slam home on an empty chamber you have a stress relieved piece of steel being hit forvefully with a heat treated piece of steel. Peening eventually occurs and the result is poor lock up, and eventually headspace issues. The peening can also further causes problems if it peens in towards the chamber, such as feeding and extraction problems as well as the gun locking up after being fired. If it happens enough, in a loose enough gun, you could even have case head support issues which could easily lead to a dangerous, if not deadly, situation.

The brass of the case actually acts as a shock absorber and helps prolong firearm life.

Ummm...

The rim of the case is accepted by the extractor. The bullet is led in by the slide. Thusly the chamber is NOT loaded until the slide comes fully forward. Due to the fact(stated by you and I) that the case provides relief from the full shock of the slide slamming shut, it is effectively being guided forward rather than slamming forward on a loaded chamber.

What was being discussed, albiet of topic, is a slide slamming foward on an already loaded chamber thusly putting undue stress on the extractor.

[Kid Stanislaus]

Knowing that uninformed noobs are abusing them makes me not want to buy one that's been sitting in the display case for any length of time.

How do you tell how long its been in the case? A guy would almost have to visit the shop every day and check the serial numbers!

[Max-the-Silent]

Anyone ever have a problem with folks who just don't treat your stuff politely if you happen to say, "Sure, take a look at this XXX gun I have/just bought!"

My example is as follows...
I have this friend who has a longtime douchebag boyfriend. Both are into shooting. I decided to bring them to the range on the weekend.

I proceed to show her BF my 1911s since he has never shot one. I say, "Sure, take a look at it but please don't slam the slide into battery."

What does he do?

Locks the slide and slams it forward home! Twice! (I was talking to my friend about 10 feet away)

I promptly walk over and grab it from him and tell him why he did exactly what I asked him not to do. He proceeds to tell me "big deal" and basically f-off.

Told my friend goodbye and said, "I won't be shooting with your douchebag boyfriend next to me since he can't respect other folks stuff."

She called me a few hours ago to apologize for her BF. Found out that he eventually destroyed another hanger in a different lane and had to fork up money to pay for the damage after I left. What an idiot...

/rant

You did the right thing.

Stick to it.

Hopefully the girl will wise up and dump him.

[biscuitninja]

Be respectful above all. IMHO it won't hurt to firearm to slam to battery. They do soemthing like 5000-10000 batter slams in testing (with and without ammo) in testing.

As a rule of thumb, I ask to do anything before I try. But mainly I look at feel, weight heft, pointability and controls. Sometimes I do ask if I can do a quick breakdown.... But it just depends. Anyways good luck and keep it safe.

Maybe your friend will notice this trend.

-bix