Sobering night at range

[partdeux]

Our local club has a .22 plate shoot every Friday night. Lot of shooters, lot of activity, everybody on guard for safety. We've even taken to splitting the roles of the person running the shoot from someone recording the results.

Before a shooter is allowed to step away from the line, magazine out, bolt locked open.

New shooters get lots of help and attention with safety... But one of the club's more experienced top shooters managed to shoot himself tonight. Especially scary for me, because I was sitting approximately 5' away from him, with the muzzle loosely pointed in my direction. Luckily, his leg provided the backstop.

Back to to our experienced shooter. The person running the event double checked the slide was locked open. Even my wife said she saw it was open... BUT, nobody checked to ensure the magazine was out. He was carrying a sweatshirt, his .22, several magazines, and a medicine bottle (that's a concern of mine). Pure speculation on my part, the magazine wasn't empty, he fumbled with all the crap in his arms, slide got released, and his match grade trigger needed to be breathed on and it released the hammer.

2 RN's and an EMT shooting with us. The .22 passed through his medicine bottle, the sweatshirt, his pants and landed in his leg. Even tho it was somewhat in a dangerous area, it apparently did not hit an artery.

EMS can not come in until LEO ensures the room is clear. He walks in and says, "are there any firearms here?" LOL Most but not all were all ready put away, we confirmed any that were still out were completely cleared.

Like I said, def a sobering night. Club needs to take a step back and review the safety procedures, especially with so much activity going on.

[JohnS624]

Wayne County?

[Cackler]

Well, first rules are often first rules broken.

You have to know everybody that was there will be more diligent about making sure that after the safety is engaged, the mag reall does come out and then the slide is locked to the rear.

Now the "expierienced shooter" will have an experience to talk about that was obviously painful. At least he lived and learned.

Thanks for the reminder.

[ColonelKurtz]

Now the "expierienced shooter" will have an experience to talk about that was obviously painful.

I know who this happened to, he is a very experienced shooter... shows anyone can have a momentary lapse of awareness and trigger discipline. Be vigilant.

[Cackler]

I know who this happened to, he is a very experienced shooter... shows anyone can have a momentary lapse of awareness and trigger discipline. Be vigilant.

I agree. That is precisely why I thanked the OP for the thread. It can happen to any of us.

[ddmoit]

Thanks for sharing. We didn't have to be there to take the lesson now.

[TAC]

He was carrying a sweatshirt, his .22

What kind of .22?

[yocan]

I don't understand people you look in the chamber line of sight you look down the magazine well and back then watch it close on an empty chamber.....

its not complicated, its really not. I'm going to get in trouble again down the road for slapping someone for being stupid..... kinda got in trouble at boot camp for it (but hey everyone gets ITed right?) at OCS the Gunnery Sgt just laughted at the fool and said "thats why you don't point guns at Marines" no he did not graduate from OCS.

I've been nearly banned from a range for getting mad at someones lack of safety (loading a 1911 at my chest I started screaming as soon as it left my chest) apparently screaming like a Drill instructor on a live fire range isn't appreciated. its a 1911 to load it the safety is off, I didn't see the problem.

i've chilled out a lot since I was 21 but it still makes me mad.

[JDG]

Thanks for sharing, hope the guy has a fast recovery....

A good rule I follow, and I can see it not working for competition where you are only allowed a ceretain number of shots or have to stop shooting because of a time limit, but shoot till the gun is empty.....

Anyways, enough from me...