Thread: Beware the Hangfire !!

I experienced a hangfire delay of about 20 seconds recently. It really drummed home the need to always point the firearm in a safe direction.
Using a 22 rimfire with a tube magazine and not counting shots, I was firing off a few rounds at a 50m target. After I got nothing but a *click* for my last shot, I assumed I was empty. I lowered the firearm slightly to fill the tube from the butt of the stock, and as I was filling it the unfired round went off. That got a the mind racing and wondering what could have happened if the barrel was pointed in a direction other than the ground about 20 meters ahead.