We’ve all had those “brain fart” moments. You leave your keys in the fridge, or you walk into a room and completely forget why you’re there. Annoying? Yes. Life-threatening? Usually no.
But one incredibly lucky shooter recently gave a whole new meaning to the phrase “forgetful,” and the folks at the local gun shop are still shaking their heads.
Here is the play-by-play of how not to sight in your new rig:
- Step 1: Insert a laser bore sighter into the chamber/barrel to get your scope aligned.
- Step 2: Chamber a live round.
- Step 3: Forget entirely about Step 1.
- Step 4: Pull the trigger.
For the uninitiated, trying to push a high-velocity piece of lead through a barrel that is already occupied by a solid piece of metal results in what the experts call a catastrophic failure. In layman’s terms? The pressure has nowhere to go, so the barrel decides to open up like a peeled banana.
If you think the explosion was the wildest part of the story, wait until you hear the sequel. The customer actually brought the shredded remains of the rifle back to the gun shop.
Now, technically, standard warranty coverage does not include “accidental self-sabotage via forgotten laser.” Yet, in a display of holiday cheer (or sheer pity), the shop actually made it right with the customer. Talk about elite customer service.
The Golden Rule of Gun Safety: Always, always check your bore before you chamber a round. A banana-peeled barrel looks cool in a museum, but it looks terrible on your hands and face.
The shooter walked away completely unharmed—a miracle considering the shrapnel potential here. They were “taken care of” by the gun shop, and the shop has an unbelievable story for the breakroom, and the rest of us get a vivid reminder that checklists exist for a reason.
Stay safe out there, folks. And remember: take the laser out before you try to make the sparks fly.
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