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stepping away from a rather convoluted topic, I trust this little expose` will manage to stay on intended track: proper management of 'muzzle in a safe direction' etc:
Circa 1980 & with a then-new pistol, the TC single shot with a couple barrels, including 45LC and 30-30, came my way. I took it out with the 45 barrel & fired off about 10 quadrillion rounds in the process of learning how to operate the little Beastie. All went well.
In the secluded woods in a little gravel pit, firing around 50=70 yards at some wood stumps and assorted dirt clods with great accuracy.
Changed the barrel, quite easy for the Thompson Contender, as that what it's very purpose. Install of 30-30 barrel, used a partial box of factory ammo, now more delicate/smaller target engaged. Was stretching out over the trunk of my old 51 Buick (well, in 1980 it wasn't really THAT old....) for stability. Had a blanket covering the trunk, and would cycle the unload/reload cycle as instructed at the IHMSA weekly training sessions.
Upon closing breach on about the 7th or so round, it fired upon closing.
No finger was near the trigger. No real damage physically...other than perhaps to Beulah's pride. After inspecting the weapon and insuring empty chamber, carefully stored in hard case in trunk. Inspecting Beulah, the wound channel was discovered: point of entry was about 18" from drivers side, into the rain drip channel of the upper trunk lid. 150 gr soft point travel in the slight curvilinear path for about 2 1/2' until exiting out the top of the same channel in the opening between the upper trunk lid & the lower fascia below the rear window. 2 tiny holes, some mangled rubber seal material. Nearly soiled drawers.
Review with my local gun smith revealed nothing obvious with the firearm...although he was able to reproduce the hammer falling on a dead round, just closing the action as I had demonstrated....and he showed me just that very day a notice in the mail advised "on some TC models within certain serial # range" would spontaneous fire on closing the action without pulling the trigger, due to an actual manufacturing glitch.
TC ended up replacing the frame without charge, advising that was one of the models affected.
We had just had a loading drill on the firing line a couple days before, to become aware of how to keep 'the muzzle in a safe direction'. It was very timely training.
Stay safe out there.
Circa 1980 & with a then-new pistol, the TC single shot with a couple barrels, including 45LC and 30-30, came my way. I took it out with the 45 barrel & fired off about 10 quadrillion rounds in the process of learning how to operate the little Beastie. All went well.
In the secluded woods in a little gravel pit, firing around 50=70 yards at some wood stumps and assorted dirt clods with great accuracy.
Changed the barrel, quite easy for the Thompson Contender, as that what it's very purpose. Install of 30-30 barrel, used a partial box of factory ammo, now more delicate/smaller target engaged. Was stretching out over the trunk of my old 51 Buick (well, in 1980 it wasn't really THAT old....) for stability. Had a blanket covering the trunk, and would cycle the unload/reload cycle as instructed at the IHMSA weekly training sessions.
Upon closing breach on about the 7th or so round, it fired upon closing.
No finger was near the trigger. No real damage physically...other than perhaps to Beulah's pride. After inspecting the weapon and insuring empty chamber, carefully stored in hard case in trunk. Inspecting Beulah, the wound channel was discovered: point of entry was about 18" from drivers side, into the rain drip channel of the upper trunk lid. 150 gr soft point travel in the slight curvilinear path for about 2 1/2' until exiting out the top of the same channel in the opening between the upper trunk lid & the lower fascia below the rear window. 2 tiny holes, some mangled rubber seal material. Nearly soiled drawers.
Review with my local gun smith revealed nothing obvious with the firearm...although he was able to reproduce the hammer falling on a dead round, just closing the action as I had demonstrated....and he showed me just that very day a notice in the mail advised "on some TC models within certain serial # range" would spontaneous fire on closing the action without pulling the trigger, due to an actual manufacturing glitch.
TC ended up replacing the frame without charge, advising that was one of the models affected.
We had just had a loading drill on the firing line a couple days before, to become aware of how to keep 'the muzzle in a safe direction'. It was very timely training.
Stay safe out there.
