\u201cFinger!\u201d and other warnings<\/strong> \nOur shooter is running through the course, dropping a Pepper popper through a window and moving to her left to engage more targets from the next position. Suddenly, the word \u201cFinger!\u201d pierces her intense concentration, and she immediately responds by placing her trigger finger back to where it always belongs when not actively engaging a target: straight along side the frame outside the trigger guard.<\/p>\nThis is an example of a subjective call that the range officer has the prerogative of correcting with a verbal command. If she had not immediately removed her finger form the guard, the RO would have been very justified in stopping her and sending her home for the day.<\/p>\n
But, our right-handed heroine heeded the RO\u2019s warning and continues on, still moving to her left. She executes a perfectly programmed reload, only to hear \u201cMuzzle!\u201d To reach the magazine release with her thumb, she shifted her pistol around and thus brought the bore close to the dreaded 90 degree plane to the backstop. Once again, our experienced if a bit sloppy shooter reacts instantly, turning the muzzle downrange where it belongs.<\/p>\n
Two more positions and she\u2019s done with this complex course. She flops prone to engage a few more Pepper poppers through a low mousehole in a wall, and hears \u201cMuzzle!\u201d again. How can that be? Her pistol is pointed right downrange. What the RO saw was her support hand coming dangerously close to being swept by the muzzle as she clambered up from the prone position. \nRattled, she drops a few points on her last set of targets, catches her breath and waits for the final commands to complete the stage, with her pistol pointed straight downrange and her finger straight alongside the frame where it belongs.<\/p>\n
Unload and show clear<\/strong> \nAt this point, the RO will say, \u201cIf the shooter is finished\u2026 unload, show clear, slide down, hammer down, holster a safe weapon.\u201d In reality, this is a series of commands that the shooter is required to execute in response, rather than getting ahead of the RO. This is a crucial point: at the end of a stage, the shooter is likely to be flush with emotions, a bit winded and very distractible. She wants to talk about her run, but there\u2019s plenty of time to dissect her performance later.<\/p>\nThis is when negligent discharges can happen, so it\u2019s absolutely vital for her to regain her composure and follow the range officer\u2019s commands precisely, promptly and with complete control of her weapon. When the RO asks, \u201cIf the shooter is finished\u2026\u201d she should take that opportunity to breathe, make sure she is handling her pistol safely and wait for the next command.<\/p>\n
Upon \u201cUnload and show clear,\u201d she will first drop the magazine and stow it in a pocket, then eject the round from the chamber and let it fall to the ground. It\u2019s amazing how strongly that ejected round calls to us, but just let it drop! Do not attempt to catch it in your palm, and for damn sure don\u2019t flip the round into the air and catch it with a flourish. We\u2019re handling weapons, not footballs. That sort of needless macho showboating by a few idiot hotshots gave IPSC shooters a black eye back in the 80\u2019s and prompted a rule to stop it. Now, it will earn you a match DQ as well as a reputation for recklessness that can turn an edgy incident into another DQ next time around.<\/p>\n
Next, she locks her slide to the rear, all the while keeping her pistol pointed safely straight downrange. Your RO will visually inspect the chamber and magazine well to verify the weapon is completely unloaded. Don\u2019t take his opinion for it, though; check it yourself. You are ultimately responsible for the condition of your firearm.<\/p>\n
Upon the \u201cSlide down\u201d command, our shooter drops the slide on an empty chamber. The RO will then issue the command \u201cHammer down,\u201d which is her cue to pull the trigger and dry fire straight and level into the backstop to prove the pistol is unloaded. If something goes bang instead of click, she\u2019d be done. But that didn\u2019t happen, so the RO will next command her to \u201cHolster a safe weapon.\u201d Now it\u2019s time to holster your pistol, taking care to avoid sweeping your hand or body as you do. At this time, the RO will state, \u201cThe range is safe, you may go downrange to score, reset and tape targets.\u201d He\u2019ll shake your hand and conduct you through the scoring process.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreeze!\u201d The dreaded word<\/strong> \nWarnings are intended to correct marginal situations and prevent them from becoming real hazards to your safety and the safety of others on the range. However, some gun handling errors are either so egregious or happen so quickly that a warning is either inadequate or can\u2019t be issued in time. A few typical examples of gun handling errors which warrant immediate disqualification include pointing the muzzle up-range past the 90 degree plane to the backstop (called \u201cbreaking the 180\u201d in IPSC parlance), sweeping any portion of your body with the muzzle, an unintended or negligent discharge when not actively engaging a target, dropping or losing control of a weapon or failing to heed an RO\u2019s safety warning.<\/p>\nIf your gun handling does cross that line and becomes unsafe at any point, the RO is obligated to stop you immediately. The command to \u201cFreeze!\u201d means just that, to instantly stop whatever you are doing in your tracks, point your pistol safely downrange with your finger out of the trigger guard and wait for further instructions.<\/p>\n
Indeed, besides keeping the shooter safe, \u201cFreeze\u201d is sometimes called to prevent the shooter from inadvertently putting another at greater risk. For example, I\u2019ve been stopped several times over the years when photographers climbed the berm for a better view or, most memorably when an unattended child wandered downrange behind the prop walls of my stage. \u201cFreeze\u201d does NOT mean you know better and can continue in the hope that the RO will change his mind, nor is it a signal to engage in a spirited discussion on the line. It means to instantly stop.<\/p>\n
Firing line control: Shut up and shoot!<\/strong> \nMost of the range commands we\u2019ll use during group training exercises will be similar to the commands we\u2019ve just covered, with a few additions. First, we must realize that the range officers cannot see everything that a line of 15 shooters are doing at all times. Thus, it\u2019s absolutely crucial to everyone\u2019s safety that each shooter hears and complies with all range commands immediately, and does not deviate in any way from the programmed activity.<\/p>\nRemember that weird kid in school who hummed and talked to himself during tests? We must keep small talk and discussion to a minimum when handling firearms on the line. It\u2019s natural for us to want to discuss what we\u2019re doing with our fellow students, but such side talk on the line often creates misunderstandings and distractions which lead to safety issues and which dilute the educational experience for everyone. Our focus is on developing a set of subconsciously executed skills, and too much discussion at the expense of focused repetition is anathema to this learning process. That counts for your instructors, too. If we\u2019re talking too much while you\u2019re trying to shoot, tell us! Remember, you alone are responsible for the consequences of your decision to handle any firearm. However, we all have a moral responsibility to be aware of what other shooters are doing around us and correct them if they veer towards becoming unsafe. If you see someone do something that looks unsafe to you, stop him! Don\u2019t feel intimidated and wait for your instructor to catch it before tragedy ensues. If you overreacted or misunderstood, no one will criticize you. If you\u2019re right in stopping someone, we\u2019ll all thank you.<\/p>\n
A few more rules and commands apply to the group firing line. No one is to leave the line for any reason until he has unloaded and shown clear to the designated range officer. In some cases, that designated range officer may be the shooter next to you, but in every case the instructor always has the final word and issues the commands to load, unload and show clear.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll hear the \u201cEyes and ears, the line is going hot!\u201d announcement every time we prepare to load up to begin a new string. Does that mean we can take our eye protection off when no one is shooting? Not at all. Please keep your eye protection on at all times on the range. We won\u2019t ask you to wear your hearing protection when we\u2019re discussing techniques and so forth, but eye protection is always mandatory. Safety and poise go together. Learning to shoot at a high level can be stressful, and our egos want to get involved in the process. Please, lets agree to take that undue pressure off our performance. A frustrated or even angry shooter boiling with negative emotions can\u2019t learn and isn\u2019t safe. You\u2019ll be most receptive to new techniques and a safer shooter when you\u2019re poised and enjoying yourself. Remember, we run a disciplined firing line to assist you, to free you up from doubt about what you\u2019re doing so you can simply focus on the safe execution of the designated task at hand.<\/p>\n
More than anything, range safety is applied common sense. If your intuition tells you something looks or feels wrong, it probably is. Horseplay, showboating or any unnecessary, purposeless gun handling is to be avoided! Chaos with a group of armed individuals isn\u2019t fun! By working together responsibly we will support each other and create a safe and secure learning environment. And, have a lot of fun while we\u2019re at it. After all, that\u2019s the point.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Practical pistol shooting has the best safety record of all shooting sports. Surprised? You shouldn\u2019t be. That\u2019s because we\u2019ve long recognized the potential dangers inherent in handling pistols in a dynamic, hyper-competitive and high speed environment, and have developed a comprehensive set of immutable rules and procedures to minimize the risks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[18,26,29],"yoast_head":"\n
Practical pistol range commands and safety procedures - Grayguns<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n