Live fire ranges: Worst experiences?

2014-08-27T05:43:51-04:00

I know there are a lot of stories that come out of the qualification ranges at basic, and even later for many a non-combat arms units... What are some of the worst fails you've seen/experienced?
http://mashable.com/2014/08/26/9-year-old-kills-shooting-instructor-uzi/

9-Year-Old Accidentally Kills Shooting Instructor With Uzi

A 9-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed a shooting instructor with an automatic Uzi in White Hills, Arizona, authorities said in a statement Tuesday.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Aug 27 at 2014 3:46 PM

2014-08-27T15:46:40-04:00

CW2 Joseph Evans HOLY CRAP! I thought it was bad when a stray dog strolled on to the rifle range.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 13 at 2017 6:01 PM

2017-01-13T18:01:10-05:00

I have two. One occurred in AIT at Fort Jackson during the early days of the Vietnam buildup. We began taking fire while policing up our brass on the range and dove for cover. Luckily, only one person took a grazing blow to the leg. After several minutes an engineer showed up with a transit and some assistants. After about an hour we were told that a new range neighboring ours had been improperly sited.

The second was during a night firing session when the sear pin on my M14 gave up the ghost and the weapon went full auto. I fired all 20 rounds in the clip with one pull of the trigger. It didn't stop even though I let go. I was lucky just to hang on and keep it pointed down range.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jan 13 at 2017 10:02 PM

2017-01-13T22:02:15-05:00

Although I never experienced any in my training due I think to a very strict and rigorous safety program instituted by our range NCOICs,I did run into a dangerous situation while as an instructor at the patrolling range at Fort Polk back in 1968,seems one of my AIT trainees had gone on my patrol with a full magazine of 5.56 in his M16,since we were only supposed to have blank ammo this could have been deadly,luckily my acting patrol leader found out and the miscreant was lead off to his fate,I do find solace in that he probably would have only got one of us,that piece of crap 16 would have jammed for sure!

Response by SFC Jerry Humphries made Jan 18 at 2017 7:39 AM

2017-01-18T07:39:30-05:00

1987- Hohenfels Germany, Demolition accident 4 dead about 12 seriously injured. While Trailing on annM180 Cratering Device.