ChristiaanJ, where does it say that the incident happened on approach or even below FL100? I guess they descented quite fast as soon as the bang stopped...
For the other argument against mine: If he is stupid to discharge the weapon, why shouldn't he do it on approach? It's obvious he laid the weapon on the side pedestal, where he might left it during cruise, did the last few manipulations, charging movement, pulled the trigger, bammm!
Happened so many times - only the first in the cockpit.
Pulling apart the gun isn't that difficult after all. You basically have three or for big parts on a modern gun: grip, magazine, barrel. You need a feather to put the barrel in place. There are no small parts falling around. If you can do the servicing on a dirty fighting ground, you surely can do it in a cockpit.
Dani