It can never be said often enough....

**str8shooter** · February 8th, 2009, 03:35 PM

Make sure the gun is unloaded before handling it!

The story:

I bought a beautiful Russian SKS last fall, matching numbers, NO import marks, Tula Arsenal, 1955 manufacture date.

As you can imagine, I've been dying to get this thing out to shoot, but just haven't had time to tear it down and clean it up which I like to do before firing a new (to me) gun.

Well with today's warm weather, I got the itch to start getting some guns ready for a range trip and the SKS was going to be the first to get some lovin'. I took it out of the safe, admired it for a few minutes, out of habit pulled back the charging handle to make sure it was unloaded, was about to close it up, and caught a glimpse of something in the chamber. I couldn't believe my eyes, but when I tipped the gun barrel up, sure enough, a round came sliding down out of the chamber.

Now I haven't done anything with this gun since taking it in possession other than examine the numbers and condition, and I didn't even own 7.62x39 ammo when I bought it, so the seller must have left a round in it when he packed and shipped it. Thinking back on the transaction it doesn't really surprise me because the seller wasn't a dealer, just selling off grampa's collection and didn't even put my name on the package when he shipped to my FFL. I happen to walk in and ask if any stray SKSs showed up and the guy said yeah, came in with no name so we figured sooner or later someone would come asking.

Once again, I was reminded why the rule is "always check every gun, then check it again." I almost forgot the "check it again" part, which could have led to a disaster.

**Shawn.L** · February 8th, 2009, 03:39 PM

wow

good thing you checked

**P89** · February 8th, 2009, 03:41 PM

At least it was stored in the safe, still a hair raising situation though.
So after the "Oh shhhh" look left your face and you got it all clean, how did it shoot?

**str8shooter** · February 8th, 2009, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by P89

At least it was stored in the safe, still a hair raising situation though.
So after the "Oh shhhh" look left your face and you got it all clean, how did it shoot?

Unfortunately I haven't gotten out with it yet <hangs head low> I won't get to go shooting with it today, but I want to have everything ready so when the next nice weekend comes up it's ready to go.

**clarion44** · February 8th, 2009, 04:12 PM

That's just down right scary. Good thing you checked it.

**RaisedByWolves** · February 8th, 2009, 05:00 PM

Email the guy and tell him about his felony.

.

**str8shooter** · February 8th, 2009, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by RaisedByWolves

Email the guy and tell him about his felony.

.

As a matter of fact, he shipped the gun USPS. Double whammy!

ETA: Thinking about your post a little more, maybe I should do exactly what you said. I'm sure he had no idea and he specifically told me he was selling his grampa's collection, so I'm going to check out GunBroker and see if he still has anything for sale. Your suggestion just might save a life. I'll also post a link because he had some great guns with no reserve. He was just cleaning the attic, not looking to clean up.

**RaisedByWolves** · February 8th, 2009, 05:29 PM

Had a guy do the same thing.

AK in a box with 4 loaded mags inside, USPS. There was 4 people in the shop and every one of them shit a brick, I shit two of them as I thought they were pissed at me and its my favorite shop.

The sender felt it was no big deal as he was only trying to save some room.

.

**TaePo** · February 8th, 2009, 05:51 PM

One way to look at these incidents, at least now the weapons are in safer hands!

**bogey1** · February 8th, 2009, 05:56 PM

that happened to my bil, ffl shipped rifle to his ffl and upon examining it he noticed a round in the chamber, safety off. needless to say the sender got an ear full.