Don't think it can't happen to you!

[gtmtnbiker98]

Starting setup for the IDPA Postal Match, sitting around discussing administrative tasks and all of a sudden you hear the dreaded "pop." Being Match Director, I have to yell out loud, "who and WHAT was that?" Knowing full well what it was. An individual was "clearing his weapon" and of course, he racked the slide to "clear" the chamber prior to dropping the magazine. The dreaded pull of the trigger resulted in a nice 9mm round in the floor board of his brand new Honda Element. Have to hand it those Honda's, the floor board is bullet resistant, it successfully stopped the 9mm Hornady Critical Defense 115gr. Just glad we can learn from this and that nobody was hurt.

[MikeyC]

It occurred to me yesterday while I was clearing my Glock after a match what sort of Brain Dead Kata it had turned into. My light bulb moment was realizing I was falling in the sort of complacency that gets people in trouble. I'm going to be more conscious of that now. Point taken.

[Byron]

Have to hand it those Honda's, the floor board is bullet resistant, it successfully stopped the 9mm Hornady Critical Defense 115gr.
I can't wait to see the upcoming ads in all the tactical magazines :D

[ToddG]

This is why I don't like pulling the trigger as part of the unload process. Either I checked he gun properly, or I didn't. All pressing the trigger does is give me an opportunity to find out I didn't in an unwanted ballistic-y kinda way.

[Corlissimo]

I can't wait to see the upcoming ads in all the tactical magazines :D

Next thing you know, these will be populating the parking lots at every match.
1077

Complete with Tactical Molle Seat Covers (http://www.coveryourseats.com/honda-element-tactical-ballistic-coverking-seat-covers-f-50-50-bucket-w-remov-hdrst-w-built-in-shoulder-belt-w-dr-armrst-w-o-pas-armrst-w-side-airbg-2007-2012.html)!

[gtmtnbiker98]

This is why I don't like pulling the trigger as part of the unload process. Either I checked he gun properly, or I didn't. All pressing the trigger does is give me an opportunity to find out I didn't in an unwanted ballistic-y kinda way.
Yep, IDPA and USPSA conditioning. I don't like it, either. At least he exercised muzzle discipline.

One plus, it was before we did Match sign-in's so he was totally on his own when this happened.

[Al T.]

ND saves a life....

At my LGS, guy NDs a just purchased .45 into his leg while seated in his truck. Guys in the store call for an "amberlance" and slap a tourniquet on the guy. Guy stops by a couple of weeks later with pizza as a Thank You. Tells them that the funny part was that as he was examined, the docs noted that he had severely clogged arteries and put in several stints!

If he hadn't been shot, he probably would have had a heart attack. :eek:

[gringop]

Yep, IDPA and USPSA conditioning. I don't like it, either. At least he exercised muzzle discipline.

One plus, it was before we did Match sign-in's so he was totally on his own when this happened.

I'll ask the $64,000 question. Was he DQed or was he allowed to shoot the match?

Gringop

[gtmtnbiker98]

I'll ask the $64,000 question. Was he DQed or was he allowed to shoot the match?

Gringop
It was before the Match, before sign in, so he was allowed to shoot the Match. Hard to DQ when the Match had yet to even be constructed, let alone begin.

[Wendell]

In my opinion, if IDPA intends to stay true to it's principles, but is married to the concept of the cold range, it needs to have a rule like USPSA's rule 2.5 (http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2010HandgunRulesProof3web.pdf)


12 • USPSA Handgun Rules, June 2010 Edition

Unloading/Loading Station (http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2010HandgunRulesProof3web.pdf)
If it is possible that some competitors arriving at a range where a USPSA match is being held may be in possession of a loaded firearm on their person (e.g. law enforcement officers, persons duly authorized to carry a loaded firearm, etc.), match organizers should provide an Unloading/Loading Station to enable such competitors to safely unload their firearms prior to entering the range, and to safely load their firearms again on departure from the range. The Unloading/Loading Station should be conveniently located outside the entrance to the range (or outside the portion of the range allocated to the USPSA match), it should be clearly sign-marked and it must include a suitable impact zone.
Where no Unloading/Loading station is provided, a competitor who arrives at a match in possession of a loaded firearm and proceeds immediately to a match official for the express purpose of safely unloading the firearm shall not be subject to disqualification per the provisions of Rule 10.5.13.

<http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2010HandgunRulesProof3web.pdf>

[ToddG]

If he hadn't been shot, he probably would have had a heart attack. :eek:

A student in a NM class I taught a couple years ago had a similar story. He got struck in the eye and had to be hospitalized. When they scanned him to assess the extent of the damage, they discovered a brain tumor. If he hadn't been hit in the eye, they never would have had reason to discover the tumor until too late.

Awesome guy (and good shooter) who is alive and doing great today. I saw him at the SHOT Show earlier this year. Genuinely good dude...

[Shokr21]

It was before the Match, before sign in, so he was allowed to shoot the Match. Hard to DQ when the Match had yet to even be constructed, let alone begin.

I personally would not have felt safe being on a squad with him, that day.

We all have off days, where things aren't clicking. Having a mistake as grave as an ND in your car, parked at a match site is a sign to just pack up and go home.

True there are no stipulations for dq before a match starts, but I would like to think that if I were that man, I would have removed myself from any gun handling that day in front of others. Either gone home, or just help score and paste.

Thanks for the story, it's always important to remain vigilant.

[ford.304]

In my opinion, if IDPA intends to stay true to it's principles, but is married to the concept of the cold range, it needs to have a rule like USPSA's rule 2.5 (http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2010HandgunRulesProof3web.pdf)

I cannot agree with this enough. I don't see how you can talk about safety, while inviting a bunch of CCW advocates to your place and not providing them with an obvious and marked way to clear themselves before they come into your "cold" range, or to go back to hot on the way out.

And mark it clearly! Every match there's someone showing up for their first time, who's trying to get used to carry and of course brings his hot gun into his first "defensive pistol" match, and he either finds out at the last second and goes messing around with a loaded gun in his car, or an RO has to take a break from getting things setup to go clear him.

[Chuck Haggard]

I see a lot of shooters in both IDPA and USPSA do the speed unload and show clear thing, and just sort of speed dry fire to get holstered and off the range.

I wait for the commands and go by the numbers, and take aim into a safe backstop before dry firing. Seems stupid to set yourself up for a training scar, and it's a waste of a perfectly good dry fire opportunity to just jerk it off and speed holster.

[kmartphoto]

This is why I don't like pulling the trigger as part of the unload process. Either I checked he gun properly, or I didn't. All pressing the trigger does is give me an opportunity to find out I didn't in an unwanted ballistic-y kinda way.

I get it and tend to agree... but a bullet into the backstop is better than other places.

Although realistically a gun in a holster is just as safe hot or not. And you just put a hot gun in there right after "load & make ready".

[Mr_White]

In my opinion, if IDPA intends to stay true to it's principles, but is married to the concept of the cold range, it needs to have a rule like USPSA's rule 2.5 (http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2010HandgunRulesProof3web.pdf)

Absolutely agree. Because of that rule in USPSA I haven't had to do any sneaky loading/unloading in my car or anything.

[kmartphoto]

In my opinion, if IDPA intends to stay true to it's principles, but is married to the concept of the cold range, it needs to have a rule like USPSA's rule 2.5 (http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2010HandgunRulesProof3web.pdf)


Absolutely agree. Because of that rule in USPSA I haven't had to do any sneaky loading/unloading in my car or anything.

Isn't this more a function of the range, or the SO's making the procedures known?

For example I have been going to a large local match for over a year now. I knew that it was a cold range and would download outside the gate before I went in or in my car, or I would carry a different gun than my match gun and lock it in my car. I recently joined that range and it explained to me that I was just supposed to go into an empty bay/pit and download facing the berm. This was the first time I had heard that and it makes sense... woulda been easier if that knowledge were widespread.

[Mr_White]

Isn't this more a function of the range, or the SO's making the procedures known?

For example I have been going to a large local match for over a year now. I knew that it was a cold range and would download outside the gate before I went in or in my car, or I would carry a different gun than my match gun and lock it in my car. I recently joined that range and it explained to me that I was just supposed to go into an empty bay/pit and download facing the berm. This was the first time I had heard that and it makes sense... woulda been easier if that knowledge were widespread.

You make a good point there. The loading and unloading procedure is not very visible or heavily advertised. I avail myself of the rule because I did my homework and read the USPSA rule book before I went so I knew how it was supposed to work. I also contacted a person I know who is heavily involved in local USPSA and talked with him to make sure I would be able to get unloaded at the beginning and reloaded at the end of the match legitimately, rather than surreptitiously.

[gringop]

I'm gonna have to go with Todd and the "Don't press the trigger unless you intend for the gun to fire." I unload my gun seated in my car in the parking lot at matches just like I unload it at home several times a week for various admin functions. No trigger pulling is involved.

The "hammer down" during the ULASC is there for liability reasons and builds terrible habits if you don't actively reject it at all other times.

When I teach classes and discuss this, I can see heads shaking no because it goes against what Dad and Grampaw always taught, that you always pull the trigger after unloading because it "relaxes the spring" or because it's being done on every stage at matches.

Bad habits are bad habits whether they come from Dad, Grampaw or competition.

Gringop

[Josh Runkle]

A student in a NM class I taught a couple years ago had a similar story. He got struck in the eye and had to be hospitalized. When they scanned him to assess the extent of the damage, they discovered a brain tumor. If he hadn't been hit in the eye, they never would have had reason to discover the tumor until too late.

Awesome guy (and good shooter) who is alive and doing great today. I saw him at the SHOT Show earlier this year. Genuinely good dude...

Can you expound on how this injury occurred?

[ToddG]

Can you expound on how this injury occurred?

He was lashing something to the roof of his car with a bungie cord. The bungie cord let loose and whipped into his eye.

[Nephrology]

I am lucky in that my IDPA matches allow me to unload and re-load before and after the match on the range. Usually though I arrive early to help set up so there aren't a bunch of targets (human or cardboard) downrange to interfere with this process.