WARNING!!
As I was unable to find a forum dealing specifically with firearms safety, I trust that the moderators will move this thread to the appropriate section.
Before that happens, I have placed it here, initially,hoping that as many shooters/hunters as possible see this? and that perhaps any repeat incidents are avoided.
I want to state now that I will not be drawn in to answering PM's, e-mails or q's from this thread requesting further information regarding this incident, as I was not present at the incident and have no factual knowledge to confirm which of the multitude of potential causes of this incident were responsible.
I do not want to minimize this incident for the person involved and would also not want to potentially jeopardize any legals that may/may not follow.
I just don't want to see this happen to anyone else and if this post prompts users to check their firearms and prevents even one repeat episode we will all be better off.
I also wish to state that I am not driving any particular equipment design, or brand, agenda here other than highlighting a POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD, and what may be a potentially disastrous situation for the unwary.
Today I witnessed the results of a bolt coming straight back through the face of the shooter behind it.
The results being quite devastating, (and I would suggest coming close to being fatal).
I urge all of you operating ANY (of which there are several)straight-pull bolt-gun systems, take-down rifles and rifles with interchangeable barrels REGARDLESS OF BRAND OR MODEL to check your RIFLE ORHAVE IT CHECKED THOROUGHLY BY A COMPETENT GUNSMITH FOR ANY POTENTIAL FLAWS AND HAVE IT CHECKED (SAFELY) FOR A POTENTIAL TO FIRE WHEN NOT FULLY CLOSED,REGARDLESS OF CLAIMS MADE BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THAT PARTICULAR FIREARM.
I appreciate that the occurrence of this type of incident may not be limited to the particular designs of firearms I have highlighted in this post and/or a result of the firearm itself, therefore it may be a timely reminder to all of us to ensure our firearms are in good, safe working order and that we hand-load responsibly and safely.
Thank-you all for your patience and, I hope, your compliance to my request that we all enjoy our sport as safely as possible.