Question by : What causes a shotgun to accidentally fire?
I am doing some research for a classroom discussion about dirt and grime build ups causing a shotgun to fire on accident. I know the shotguns we were issued in the Marine Corps had a tendency to fire when hit hard, but that is the case for many firearms right? Could a shotgun fire because of dirt and grime buildup?
Best answer:
Answer by Newell
I guess so much dirt was in the firing pin channel, that the firing pin could not retract. When you close the bolt, the gun slam fired. Just a guess.
You can take an M-16 apart quite easily. I have no idea how you take a shotgun apart.
Most people don’t know how to strip a shotgun. So the dirt would just build up. In some place like Iraq, with talcum power dust and grit, it wouldn’t take long to jam the firing pin spring.
I doubt very many people know how to field strip the firing pin spring channel on a Mossberg 590.
Pump shotguns, unlike military weapons, are not designed to be field stripped by non armorers.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Shotguns only fire when someone or something pulls the trigger. If the shotguns the marines were issued really did fire when hit hard, they should have been returned to the armorer. I’m not going to say I think you’re a liar, but I think you’re not telling the truth about those shotguns, if it had been a problem with shotguns going off when hit hard, it would have made the news nationwide. The companies who supplied those shotguns would have issued a recall, not only for military contracted shotguns, but civilian shotguns as well of similar make and model.
Weapons don’t fire by accident – it takes the involvement of people.
Safeties not set, weapon dropped on a live round, ” I know I unloaded it; watch this!”
I find it difficult to believe that a Gyrene would not fully maintain a longarm.
Accidentally disengaging the safety and accidentally pulling the trigger?
If there was enough dirt to prevent the sear from engaging properly the hammer could be releases when the firearm was jarred. The trigger mechanism could have been improperly adjusted or worn beyond specifications.
Actually NOT right.
The ONLY cause would be a worn sear and/or a strike to an exposed hammer on some models.
Dirt and grime is more apt to KEEP IT FROM CHAMBERING AND/OR FIRING.
I doubt you were EVER a marine.
I have YET to meet one who did NOT keep his weapon clean and/or know EVERY PART INTIMATELY!!