I didn't plan to comment on their actions, except for this:
Once wounded, Mr. James said he drew his gun and tried to fire, but his gun was without a round in the chamber. He said he was trying to chamber a round when his wife and her friend — both emergency room nurses — found him and pulled him back to the car, where they began to treat his wounds.
Pistols are handguns, not handsguns. They are tools of defense, not offense. They should not be carried in a condition that requires the use of two hands to bring to bear.
I'm not sure that makes since, even a single-action if you physically cock will turn a round up into the chamber (I have literally all my life carried a revolver with the hammer on an empty cylinder). Not gain-sayin', you're right, but think it more just basic fumbling in shock and surprise
ReplyDeleteNo amount of training prepares for the real deal ...
Carrying a revolver on an empty cylinder only makes sense if it's one where either the firing pin would contact the cartridge if the hammer was down (1873 Colts, clones thereof, and old model Blackhawks) or one which isn't drop-safe (prewar Smiths, some Colts). If not, you're just giving up a round.
DeleteTraining does help, I think. It makes some actions muscle-memory.
Damned brave, shooting at the bad guy like that. He could have just as easily gotten shot by the police.
ReplyDeletew3ski
As I say, I don't want to gain-say. We all have our quirks: mine firmly rooted in my g'da instruction to never carry any gun with the hammer on a loaded chamber. There's no such thing as "drop-proof". And you are right about the later models, for me it's just habit ~ I carry my old 300 Savage revolving hunting rifle with the hammer on an empty chamber (if it takes five rounds to take down a deer get an AR. Better still quit). Still not sure about the cam-action
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