HELP! I SHOT MY DASH! ACCIDENTAL DISCHGARGE!

[TCalYen]

2017 DODGE RAM R/T

Hi All -

Going to need some input on this one. I had an accidental discharge of a 9mm pistol in my truck last Saturday night.

Don’t ask.

See the attached pictures. You can clearly see the entrance hole. The bullet knocked out the whole panel with the volume, hazards, climate control, etc.

It also knocked out the electronic shifter. Had to tow the truck home.

I don’t think that the bullet punctured the firewall.

It definitely punctured the air vent ducts because a small amount of fibrous bits of insulation like material came out of the air vents.

I’ve done a couple of dash removal/installs in my life time but never on a Gen 4 Ram R/T.

So for all you guys that have done stereo upgrades… what can I expect? I’ll be removing the center portion of the dash tomorrow.

My main concern is that the bullet went through the wiring harness. If it did I am hoping I can manually fix it. Anyone familiar what is directly behind where the bullet entered the panel?

I will report back with pictures. Holding my breath.

In the meantime… does anyone know of a kit to convert my UConnect with a larger Apple Car Play unit. May as well swap it out.

And does anyone have any good sources to purchase the dash panel unit the bullet went through,

ALL INPUT APPRECIATED!

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

 

[Wild one]

Better look close at the back of the engine,as a 9mm should blow right through the firewall and back of the engine.
Start ripping the dash out,and repairing what needs repairing,and maybe learn to put the safety on,or leave the gun at home,as you're a bit dangerous

 

[wrench78]

Along with many wiring harness's there are many computer chips and circuit boards mounted all behind and under the dash. GOOD LUCK. I say let the professionals do it. And I agree with Wild one, that bullet more than likely went through that fire all.

 

[Burla]

Sue the trigger man.

 

[Magfan2]

OP has plenty of pull it would seem.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I just want to see the pics of your progress.
Bonus internet points if you recover the projectile.

At least you didn't injure yourself. Or someone else. Right?

 

[MrBonez]

Don't forget it can hit and then ricochet to wherever..... And that could be anywhere else aside from the original trajectory of the round.
Don't be surprised if you find an absolute mess because of it - Could have even ricochet'ed downwards into the back of the engine/trans bellhousing area after passing through the floorpan.
Of course be glad you didn't get it yourself.

Good luck with it, BTW great story to tell the grand kids later since you personally wasn't hurt (But your wallet is cringing now).

 

[rzr6-4]

Politely requesting that you remove "misfire" from the title. Negligence and a misfire are two separate things. Not saying I am perfect but I do acknowledge my mistakes.

If the bullet did make it through the firewall, if it hit anything aluminum or plastic then it may have done some damage. By the time it hit the block it had probably slowed down enough to where it wouldn't really do anything. I would be more so concerned of the 100 wires that you just cut.

 

[HemiRyan]

I had an accidental discharge of a 9mm pistol in my truck last Saturday night.

Eh,

Good luck.

 

[Docwagon1776]

If the gun misfired, you wouldn't have a hole to deal with.

I've seen a *lot* of gunshots inside vehicles. Usually with one or more corpses inside, but the general principals are the same.

Depending on bullet construction, you may find it didn't go all that deep. They start to tumble and fragment earlier than people assume when they enter at an angle. Cheap ammo will shed the jacket early on and soft lead deforms easily. If they are quality bullets with a bonded jacket, it'll penetrate more but can also deflect off other metal pretty easily.

Only way to figure out the path is open it up and see what is hit.

*edit* FFS. you can't type - 's hit - without the extra spaces or it gets censored here.

 

[turkeybird56]

Better look close at the back of the engine,as a 9mm should blow right through the firewall and back of the engine.
Start ripping the dash out,and repairing what needs repairing,and maybe learn to put the safety on,or leave the gun at home,as you're a bit dangerous

Might not have a safety like a Glock. Truck must have really PO’d the OP. Kudos to posting in here.

OP U really need to find projectile just to insure it hasn’t gone somewhere real Bad besides whack dash. Depending upon wat ammo ie,. Like gold dot, full ball, and composition could have splintered off and gone all sorts of ways or maybe OP got lucky and round stayed intact. And the accidental discharge yeah OK keepa finger outside trigger guard there.

Wat others have posted good info.

 

[Grams]

I think I could have come up with a better explanation of how it occurred… Something like…. while driving a lost child home, passing thru East Dallas, I had to run-the-gauntlet thru a gangland fire-fight …but managed to pull a J-turn and escape with only a damaged electronic-shifter and punctured air-vents…
Got the child home to her swim-suit-model and Cowboys Cheerleader single-Mom …who insists on rewarding me…. (but not to get too off-topic…or to provoke a moderator I’ll not delve any more deeply than I already have…)

Anyone have suggestions on how to make a repair…?

 

[turkeybird56]

I think I could have come up with a better explanation of how it occurred… Something like…. while driving a lost child home, passing thru East Dallas, I had to run-the-gauntlet thru a gangland fire-fight …but managed to pull a J-turn and escape with only a damaged electronic-shifter and punctured air-vents…
Got the child home to her swim-suit-model and Cowboys Cheerleader single-Mom …who insists on rewarding me…. (but not to get too off-topic…or to provoke a moderator I’ll not delve any more deeply than I already have…)

Anyone have suggestions on how to make a repair…?

Almost made me spit out my coffee besides the ref to the Cow Girls lmao.

Fixing: OP gonna have to open up and “rip” out stuff till he is able to ascertain besides the obvious hole in dash what got hit/damaged in dash area.

OP:
Car play. There are 2019 + head units out there in 8.4 size U can get to have CarPlay. As far as dash you could junk yard search or get with Benny in forum to search out. U could prob also get from MA Mopar but not cheap. I’d be more concerned on damage as shifter is far to left of area impacted. Who knows what may have been hit/damaged from projectile. U gonna have to get **** in there on ripping out stuff and inspecting not many shortcuts there.

 

[Wild one]

Back when i was kid we used to shoot the old abandoned cars in a few of the local backyards,and even a short 22 would break an engine block after going through the fenders,and the fenders on alot of 50's /early 60's cars were pretty robust.I'd be amazed if a 9mm didn't go through the firewall and put a hell'va hurt on the back side of the engine if it hit the engine,if it missed the engine,there's not a hell'va lot left to stop it,and where did it end up at

 

[EdGs]

I hate to say it, but if you were under power at the time of the discharge, and the projectile hit the harness, there's a good chance of shorted out electronics.

That said, it is what it is, start digging and see just what went where.

Praying for the best possible outcome, I hope the damage is minimal.

 

[TCalYen]

Thanks all…

It was cheap target load…

The truck starts and runs fine as far as I can tell as well.

We shall see tomorrow morning…

 

[Ken226]

and maybe learn to put the safety on

 

[EdGs]

Thanks all…

It was cheap target load…

The truck starts and runs fine as far as I can tell as well.

We shall see tomorrow morning…

That's good, maybe just damage to the HVAC controls.

 

[kdoublep]

Bubba got arrested for shooting the juke box.

Glad nobody got hurt. Good luck with the forensics.

 

[HemiRyan]

Bubba got arrested for shooting the juke box.

Glad nobody got hurt. Good luck with the forensics.

Did he actually get arrested..?