Accidental discharge at the trap range
- Thread starter popcan
- Start date
I've only shot 30,000 to 40,000 trap targets in the last 10 years so please take this with a grain of salt, but if a trapshooter is on one of the 5 shooting positions, and the round has started, and it's not time to change stations, he/she can load and close the action whenever they want because they're in a legal position to discharge their firearm. If you're moving between stations, then it's pretty obvious that all actions are open and guns are unloaded.
I've never been to a trap club that has a rule that you can only close your action immediately before it's your turn to fire (and if I have, thankfully they've never enforced it). As such, I fire, eject the shell into my hand, place it in my empty bag hanging off my belt, reload, close the action carefully (it's an older Perazzi), and by this time there are about 1 or 2 people left to fire before it's my turn, and I get into the routine of looking at their targets and counting the ridges on them (focus), then I shoulder and fire. Someone here said that in skeet only one person should have a loaded gun, well that's pretty obvious since there's only one legal position to fire per station in skeet. But the next time you're at a trap field, count 'em, there are five, and if you're on one of them, load and close your action at will (just try not to bother the guy firing at the time (i.e. don't close your action as they're calling for their bird)) and have a great round!!!
My $0.02
I've never been to a trap club that has a rule that you can only close your action immediately before it's your turn to fire (and if I have, thankfully they've never enforced it). As such, I fire, eject the shell into my hand, place it in my empty bag hanging off my belt, reload, close the action carefully (it's an older Perazzi), and by this time there are about 1 or 2 people left to fire before it's my turn, and I get into the routine of looking at their targets and counting the ridges on them (focus), then I shoulder and fire. Someone here said that in skeet only one person should have a loaded gun, well that's pretty obvious since there's only one legal position to fire per station in skeet. But the next time you're at a trap field, count 'em, there are five, and if you're on one of them, load and close your action at will (just try not to bother the guy firing at the time (i.e. don't close your action as they're calling for their bird)) and have a great round!!!
My $0.02
- Location
- Lloydminster SK
straightshooter said:
Please enlighten us with some factual evidence that there has been a single death from a trap club related toe injury?
Even easier, how about an AD into the foot? There must be hundreds of stories like this with all the simple minded ATA shooters you have had the inconvenience of meeting?
None?
Ok, then how about the hoards of fatalities from slug gunners shotguns exploding and killing them from using a full choke you must know about?
Enquiring minds want to know.
- Location
- Lloydminster SK
Back on topic, DirtyTwo is bang on.
I know at our club, it is recommended that you keep the action open until it is your turn to shoot. It is also accepted that you may have a closed chamber while on the line. No real hard set rules about it, except safely controlled firearms.
This is common for visiting shooters here as well. Seems to be universal to experienced shooters.
I know at our club, it is recommended that you keep the action open until it is your turn to shoot. It is also accepted that you may have a closed chamber while on the line. No real hard set rules about it, except safely controlled firearms.
This is common for visiting shooters here as well. Seems to be universal to experienced shooters.
david doyle said:
You just dont' like the answer you got so now you are rephrasing the question to distort the answers in your favour.
How about "Is it s good idea to rest a round tube of steel against a body part? since the action is not closed, thats all the barrels are....
But that woud be rephrasing the question to distort the responses given.
- Location
- Lloydminster SK
david doyle said:
Here you go david doyle. I think I have worded the question to be as neutral as possible.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84967
bufalobill said:Please enlighten us with some factual evidence that there has been a single death from a trap club related toe injury?
Even easier, how about an AD into the foot? There must be hundreds of stories like this with all the simple minded ATA shooters you have had the inconvenience of meeting?
None?
Ok, then how about the hoards of fatalities from slug gunners shotguns exploding and killing them from using a full choke you must know about?
Enquiring minds want to know.
(edited for spelling)
Nope, don't know of an instance off hand. At the same time, I've never heard of anyone getting injured or killed because someone had their muzzle aimed other than down range. In International trap, you get deducted for turning counter-clockwise as you exit station 5 to pass behind the other shooters on your way to station 1. Never heard of anyone bumping into one another doing that either, let alone an injury or death.
So, clearly there's no relationship between the number of injuries or deaths and common sense when it comes to gun safety. I'm willing to mind my own business when it comes to the habit of others on the range - provided its not my safety they're compromising. As I've mentioned before, you're entitled to your opinion, as are Clay Buster and david doyle. The only reason I objected to Clay Buster's posts is that he's suddenly taken to brow beating those who disagree with him.
Generally speaking, I agree with most of Clay Buster's opinions (especially when it comes to fine doubles and upland game bird hunting). My only intent was to put an end to abusing one another as a substitute to debating the merits of the topic. I'd much rather have a civilized discussion with Clay Buster, yourself, or any other members. And, I'd much rather go back to respecting Clay Buster's opinion than to wonder if something has happened in his personal life to make him lash out at anyone who happens to hold a differing opinion. After all, we're all in this together.
SS
Last edited:
My personal life is just fine thank-you. Even better now that my 28 gauge o/u is back from the stockmaker.straightshooter said:
You jumped into this thread with some advice for Doyle apparently as a response to our exchange in another thread. I think to state your "intent was to put an end to abusing one another" is somewhat at odds with the contents of your first post in this thread. From there we both compounded the matter with increasing vitriol and personal abuse.
I'll tell you what. In the spirit of accomodation and keeping this one of the few unmoderated forums on this site I've removed my responses to your posts here and moderated my comments in the other. I'm not going to change my opinion regarding the subject matter at hand but I'm willing to take the first step to take the heat out of the debate.
Regards, CB
I would just like to say that as we all know shooting sports be it trap, bench work or tactical matches are a heck of a lot safer then most other sports I certainly feel safer on the range (99.9% of the time) then I do in traffic or on the ice or pitch.
There is obviously no common practice at our ranges/clubs that causes injuries or deaths. If there was then we would all be stuck playing golf or something equally as horrid.
I'll keep my body parts not in contact with pistol, rifle and shotgun muzzles and will load my firearms when I feel it is appropriate, as is obvious it is up to everyone else to do as they see fit. There is no right or wrong way to do things with in the limits of common practice there is just what we each are comfortable with.
Like the old adage of freedom states you can do what you want unless it negatively impacts on others.
I just feel bad about all the rounds that could have been loaded by gunnutz during the time spent on this thread.LOL.
I am however a little disapointed that the survey question started (I assume) on my suggestion had to have the question word smithed/altered in such a way. The answer is all in the asking!
There is obviously no common practice at our ranges/clubs that causes injuries or deaths. If there was then we would all be stuck playing golf or something equally as horrid.
I'll keep my body parts not in contact with pistol, rifle and shotgun muzzles and will load my firearms when I feel it is appropriate, as is obvious it is up to everyone else to do as they see fit. There is no right or wrong way to do things with in the limits of common practice there is just what we each are comfortable with.
Like the old adage of freedom states you can do what you want unless it negatively impacts on others.
I just feel bad about all the rounds that could have been loaded by gunnutz during the time spent on this thread.LOL.
I am however a little disapointed that the survey question started (I assume) on my suggestion had to have the question word smithed/altered in such a way. The answer is all in the asking!
Last edited:
Well, if you had this more reasonable attitude at the start, then we wouldn't be here now. We'd be loading shells!
.... by the way, which way should our shells be facing when we are handling them at the range, or at the loading bench?
.... by the way, which way should our shells be facing when we are handling them at the range, or at the loading bench?
