What activity were the men engaged in when one accidentally discharged his firearm?

The activity of cleaning firearms is typically associated with a higher risk of accidental discharges due to the nature of handling a potentially loaded weapon and manipulating its components.

When cleaning a firearm, individuals often check to see if the gun is loaded, but if this step is skipped, or if a firearm is mishandled during cleaning, this can lead to accidental discharges. This situation underscores the importance of proper firearm safety protocols, including ensuring that the weapon is completely unloaded before starting any maintenance work. While each of the listed activities could have its own risks, the act of cleaning presents unique challenges that can result in unintentional discharges if proper procedures are not followed consistently.