Semi-auto pistol - ejecting live chambered round. Dangerous to slam the slide?

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Dynamite Monkey

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Hi folks,

Sorry if this has been discussed before - I did a few searches and couldn't find anything.

Someone at my club says they know of someone, (could be a friend of a friend or his father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate - hence the question), that this happened to.

Take a semi-auto pistol, say a Glock. Let's say the mag is empty simply because it's easier and the slide lock will engage. There is a live round chambered and you know there is. You need to clear the gun, but rather than pull the slide back normally and drop the round, you slam the slide back causing the round to arc through the air so that you can then catch it.

I never really thought much of it myself. Sure it looks pretty neat and the gangbangers in "Training Day" were impressed, but that's about it.

However, the clubmember said that his friend did this and when he slammed the slide back, the ejector struck the edge of the primer and caused an out-of-battery discharge which resulted in injury. (Burns to the hand mainly.)

I've gone through the process slowly and sure enough, the ejector does get pretty close to the primer. Perhaps the gun in question had a slightly bent ejector?

Has anyone else experienced this firsthand? I'm curious, not because I'm interested in performing this technique, but because I like to know.

Thanks,

DM
 
well first when one start to show off with firearms people tend to get hurt imo

However, the clubmember said that his friend did this and when he slammed the slide back, the ejector struck the edge of the primer and caused an out-of-battery discharge which resulted in injury. (Burns to the hand mainly.)
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however

i don't know alot about Glocks specifically but i really don't know how the ejector could touch off a primer unless the ejector slipped off the rim and failed to eject the round and when the slide came forward somehow freakishly hit the primer..........in which case it could happen regardless of trying to catch the round flying through the air. and i think you might be also looking at damage to the gun as well.my 2 cents anyway if i am wrong ........it won't take long to find out :D
 
Im not sure about Glocks,but I have personally seen this at an IPSC shoot when a fellow shooting a 1911 snapped the slide back after "unload and show clear"was given,to eject the round,catch it and prevent it from falling on the ground.The only twist here was that the RO,being helpful,reached forward to catch the round,so his hand was quite close when the round detonated.He ended getting brass fragments in his hand and face and needed a trip to the emergency dept.

Its a well known phenomenon with 1911's with extended ejectors and Im sure that its possible to happen in a Glock as well,at best its just sloppy gun handling
 
I'm reading this and I have issues with the description of how these go off. You cannot physically slam a slide back faster than a discharge of the round itself. I don't care how fast/strong you think you are.

You still need to have the primer be struck by something for any ignition. That may be the extractor or whatever, but something is impacting the primer.
 
Jarlath said:
I'm reading this and I have issues with the description of how these go off. You cannot physically slam a slide back faster than a discharge of the round itself. I don't care how fast/strong you think you are.
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The difference is that when the slide slams back from firing the round, the primer is now inert and it doesn't matter what hits it.

Jarlath said:
You still need to have the primer be struck by something for any ignition. That may be the extractor or whatever, but something is impacting the primer.
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This problem occurs when the ejector strikes a still live primer.
 
I don't understand how an ejector could hit the primer...the extractor holds the case rim, and the ejector pushes on the base of the case, not the primer.

I looked at my Beretta 92, and all it is is a piece of metal attached to the frame, that slides through the bolt(?) face to push the cartridge out. It goes nowhere near the primer.
 
mikeg81 said:
I don't understand how an ejector could hit the primer...the extractor holds the case rim, and the ejector pushes on the base of the case, not the primer.

I looked at my Beretta 92, and all it is is a piece of metal attached to the frame, that slides through the bolt(?) face to push the cartridge out. It goes nowhere near the primer.
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As far as I understand it,when a semi is unloaded with out the magazine in place,the extracted(live)round drops down slightly as a following round in the magazine is not supporting it,it drops down and can hit the ejector ,detonating it.Having an extended ejector makes the risk higher.The risk is also higher in smaller calibre rounds such as a 38 super,as the primer is closer to the ejector than say a 45.You dont have to pull the slide to the rear with much force for this to happen.

In the past,it was common to cup your hand over the ejection port to catch the round as it was ejected upon unloading,not a great idea!I am referring to 1911's predominatly,but I suppose it could happen in other guns as well
 
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Dynamite Monkey said:
Hi folks,
There is a live round chambered and you know there is. You need to clear the gun, but rather than pull the slide back normally and drop the round, you slam the slide back causing the round to arc through the air so that you can then catch it.
However, the clubmember said that his friend did this and when he slammed the slide back, the ejector struck the edge of the primer and caused an out-of-battery discharge which resulted in injury. (Burns to the hand mainly.)
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I'm not sure of the guys name, but this happend to a well know IPSC shooter. (Some of them also cover the chamber with thier hand so it falls into the palm when they unload and show clear.. )
 
I can't see how this can happen .....as well ....its seems like quite a fluke

but Sevoman is speaking from experience and Mr Fritz made a good point as well

not to say your full of it Sevoman but now i am extremely curious if anyone else has had this happen
good thread
 
mikeg81 said:
I don't understand how an ejector could hit the primer...the extractor holds the case rim, and the ejector pushes on the base of the case, not the primer.
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The problem is that the loaded round DOES NOT fully leave the chamber area, and is half way out when the slide is closed (or caught nose down on the slide, with the primer up high.. or the nose against the right hand side of the barrel, and the primer end sticking out to the right, and gets hit by the ejector..
 
Thanks for the responses guys. Glad that other have heard of this.

For those still in doubt, here is a pic of a 9mm round. The pink dot is the exact location that the ejector in my Glock 17 hits the round. Sorry for the crappy res, but you get the idea.

g179mmejqe3.jpg
 
I couldn't understand how it happened either. The red herring was

you slam the slide back causing the round to arc through the air so that you can then catch it
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Now, I do this always and have never had any problems. In the unlikely event of the ejector setting off the ctg the blast would go up and forward as the gun is tilted 90 degrees anti-clockwise.

Checking out the quoted thread it is obvious that the hand was cupped over the ejection port and the slide was racked back hard. The round couldn't eject and somehow got moved enough to hit the ejector.


when a semi is unloaded with out the magazine in place,the extracted(live)round drops down slightly as a following round in the magazine is not supporting it,it drops down and can hit the ejector ,detonating it.Having an extended ejector makes the risk higher.
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Really can't see that happening if the slide is racked quickly. Possibly if done slowly, but wouldn't have enough power to set off the primer, surely.
Plus, of course, the cupped hand must be under the ejection port to catch the cartridge so the gun must be tipped to the right 90 degrees. And of course the ejector (in a 1911 at least) must be off to the left or the case wouldn't eject to the right so it wouldn't line up with the primer.

The problem is that the loaded round DOES NOT fully leave the chamber area, and is half way out when the slide is closed (or caught nose down on the slide, with the primer up high.. or the nose against the right hand side of the barrel, and the primer end sticking out to the right, and gets hit by the ejector..
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Do you mean 'extractor' ? The ejector doesn't move with the slide. Not on my 1911's at least. It's possible that the ctg is caught bullet pointing left , or up, and the primer is struck by the extractor as the rim is caught in the ejection port. (Unlikely in my humble opinion.)


OK. Just another reason not to buy a glock or a 9mm
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If, looking at the photo, that's where the ejector hits the case of the ctg I'm inclined to agree with you. Think of all those cops going off duty clearing their guns in the police station. Perhaps we should tell them ?

TJ
 
Hi Talljoe

I can see that your pretty sceptical of this,this event that I witnessed happened to one of the (prominent) IPSC competitors in Kelowna(he was the RO).I see that you are from that area,and if you are involved in IPSC there,ask around about that event.

Although it is probably a rare event,it sure made an impression on me.I certainly dont unload my 38 super after a stage by slamming the slide back and hoping to catch the round on the way down again,but each to his own!
 
I have witnessed the ejecting of a .44-40 black powder round that did not seat right , so was ejected , it flew up then landed on its base and ignited right at the guys foot, it went off like a fire cracker and launched the bullet straight up and hit the shooter on the bone of the forearm , didn't break the skin but must have hurt like hell, brass was imbedded in his boot and the shooter didn't know what happened and for a moment thought he had been shot by someone at another shooting position. A little ice on the arm and a rest for 5 minutes and he was back shooting. I figure it was a protruding primer that caused it to not chamber or lockup properly and be ejected and go off when it happened to land on concrete base flat down. Stuff can happen. I also witnessed the ignition in an open ejection port of a .45 acp with the hand cupped over the ejection port to catch the unfired round, gun was okay, bullet never left the gun ,left hand was cut up from brass fragments, an extended ejector was blamed for the firing of the cartridge. This was in B.C. also but it was quite a while ago and I believe in Naniamo, on the Island, most shooters now just let the shell hit the ground ,but some snap it back quick , launch it into the air and catch it, a little show boating .
 
Your extractor should not be striking the primer. Replace your trigger mech. housing or send your gun into your dealer for warranty. With a properly functioning firearm there is nothing to be concerned about. That being the case. There is always the possibility for injury when firearms or most anything is concerned. Placing your hand over the E port is a rather stupid and unnecessary action. Let the round fall free. You can pick it up after. At the end of the day, you take you chances. If the potential for injury is too much don't shoot.

TDC
 
Uhhh boys and girls, the ejector can't stike the primer because the primer is slightly recessed below the flat bottom of the case. If not then the problem is with the ammo and not the gun or the gun handling. And if primers are proud of the case then you are running a risk of slamfires.
 
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