Kel-Tec KSG accident -- hand shot

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smithers599
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Kel-Tec KSG accident -- hand shot

#1

Post by smithers599 »

https://www.thegunwriter.com/19139/anot ... sg-injury/

From what I can gather, it seems that the shooter was firing quickly, operating the action and pressing the trigger as quickly as possible. As he pushed forward, the aftermarket vertical front grip broke off or fell off, and his hand went forward of the muzzle just as he pressed the trigger. Shot much of his hand off.

Kel-Tec blames the shooter:
“No one should be firing the gun without being ready to fire the gun,” he said. “No one should be blindly firing and pumping like that.”

I concur.
I don't concur. We don't know (from this article) that the guy was firing blindly; he may just have been firing fast (but accurately), which is the point of defensive firearms training. But even if he was firing blindly, guns and their accessories don't know if the shooter is aiming or not, and should not break regardless.

Q: If a gun is intended to be used for self-defense (and not just entertainment), how fast should you practice shooting?
A: As fast as you can.
Q: How hard should you cycle the mechanism?
A: As hard as you can.

If a gun or an accessory cannot stand up to hard use, then it should not be used for self-defense.


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WRMorrison
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Re: Kel-Tec KSG accident -- hand shot

#2

Post by WRMorrison »

I'd probably blame the shooter for not practicing with the VFG while dry-firing to determine if it was up to the task and the VFG manufacturer if the POS broke with normal use (if it was mounted correctly). He's lucky he still has a thumb so he can retain some functionality with that hand. He might be a whiz at bowling now (or have a future in porn).

-WRM
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Re: Kel-Tec KSG accident -- hand shot

#3

Post by Solar_Empire »

This article is over 4 years old so not really breaking news. This is why a lot of people say to not pump fast with a short barrel, or in this case bullpup, shotgun. Slipping off the pump is a real thing. I will never buy another pump action again personally, only one I bothered to keep was my grandfathers 870 for sentimental reasons. I use double barrels (and the occasional single if I'm feeling cheeky) for quail on the rare occasion I have time to hunt and Benelli semi autos for self defense.

Wouldn't buy anything keltec either. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if the rail warped while shooting and caused the VFG to slip off.
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Basher
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Re: Kel-Tec KSG accident -- hand shot

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Post by Basher »

smithers599 wrote: July 20th, 2019, 10:52 am I don't concur.
Wait, so you think KelTec should be responsible for the failure of a) an aftermarket company’s part failing and b) the shooter not exercising greater caution while using a tool that is known to pose a hazard to the user if used incorrectly or even carelessly?

Huh....

To date, as the article states, I’m unaware of a lawsuit being pursued against KelTec for regular failures of the KSG’s rail. Seems like their product worked as designed here and the end user was careless in their operation of the product...
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Re: Kel-Tec KSG accident -- hand shot

#5

Post by DrEarlCordova »

I didn't know that gun could fire quickly.
The ones I have seen are jam-o-matics.
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smithers599
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Re: Kel-Tec KSG accident -- hand shot

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Post by smithers599 »

Basher wrote: July 20th, 2019, 3:07 pm
smithers599 wrote: July 20th, 2019, 10:52 am I don't concur.
Wait, so you think KelTec should be responsible for the failure of a) an aftermarket company’s part failing and b) the shooter not exercising greater caution while using a tool that is known to pose a hazard to the user if used incorrectly or even carelessly?

Huh....

To date, as the article states, I’m unaware of a lawsuit being pursued against KelTec for regular failures of the KSG’s rail. Seems like their product worked as designed here and the end user was careless in their operation of the product...
Not enough info. If the Kel-Tec shotgun actually broke, I would say yes, they are responsible. If you advertise a gun as being suitable for self-defense, I don't think you should get away with "It wasn't designed to be pumped fast and hard," because that's exactly what a self-defense gun should be designed to do.
On the other hand, if the aftermarket grip broke, I would say that company is responsible.
On the other hand, if the user installed the part improperly (didn't tighten the screws or something), then the shooter is responsible.

I don't know of any lawsuits, either, nor do I know that there aren't any. For all we know, Kel-Tec immediately offered to pay the guy's medical expenses + a big settlement check, without ever going to court, to avoid a lawsuit. Or not.

Not enough info.

As to pumping short-barrelled shotguns hard, that is why Clint Smith prefers the Mossberg shorty to the Remington shorty, because of the loop to prevent the hand going forward.
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