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Years back I was given a Davis .380 pistol. I admit it was a less than to be desired pistol. My first mag through sent a hot shell almost in my eye. My brother in law wanted it for a pocket pistol to get the mail and such (being that he lived in a bad neighborhood) so I gave it to him. We had been shooting together many times and we were comfortable with that. It was a fine day and we had been shooting all afternoon at a buddy’s ranch. He was getting some good practice in with the .380 (amidst the occasional jam). The .380 failed to fire and my brother pointed it towards the ground, pulled the slide back, ejected the failed round, loaded a new round and proceeded (with his finger on the trigger) to shoot himself in the big toe. He looked down at his foot, then back at us “I think I shot myself" he said! Sure enough he had! He had a small bloody hole where the toenail meets flesh and a larger hole out the bottom. He never went to the doctor and his wound healed similar to how rings form on a tree. He lost his toe-nail and the ability to walk straight and wear shoes for sometime. We are glad it was not much worse!

ironsights wrote:He looked down at his foot, then back at us “I think I shot myself" he said! Sure enough he had! He had a small bloody hole where the toenail meets flesh and a larger hole out the bottom. He never went to the doctor and his wound healed similar to how rings form on a tree. He lost his toe-nail and the ability to walk straight and wear shoes for sometime. We are glad it was not much worse!

This is why carrying my Keltec P3AT is a choice of last resort. I'm pretty sure that anybody I hit with a .45 is going to know they've been shot, and unless they are blind crazy, they're not going to want any more of that particular medicine.

Your brother in-law was lucky. Especially since he didn't get medical treatment. If he'd gotten an infection, the damage could have been quite severe.

I'm pretty sure that anybody I hit with a .45 is going to know they've been shot

Yep, and it's not going to grow back either.

I agree with the above. He is extremely lucky to not have gotten an infection. Also I carry nothing short of a .45 also. If I ever have to use it I will be in fear for my life or my families life so I want the threat stopped not injured.

Size is important, but not as important as placement (well that is my opinion anyway) If you do carry a 9MM (As I do becuase I only own 1 right now and my wife just couldnt handle the .40 that I had previous) Practice controlled pairs. As a Cop in the Air Force, they teach us "body armor drills" which is Two to the chest and one to the head. I think if I was ever in trouble, this would be the routine I rely on.........unless of course the first 2 dropped the BG and he was no longer a threat (I dont want anyone thinking I would walk up to finish the job). At a minimum, regardless of the caliber I recommend controlled pairs (better terminology than "double tap" I think). Ever hear of the guy on drugs who was shot in the heart and still killed the point man on the entry team?

Bryan