Checking Targets, Pistol in Holster or on Bench?

J

Judge Vandelay

Regular
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Location
Ontario
This is a fundamental safety question, folks, and I am getting different answers.

In my thread below about the cost of cheap holsters, a poster - who also PMed me - writes that he can't believe that 18 previous posters missed this point.

The issue is: I am a newbie and when I took my club level safety course, the course instructer - a club executive - was fairly emphatic about me getting a holster so that, when I was down range, checking my targets I would have the pistol in the holster, mag out, and action open. His point was that this is safer than leaving it on the bench where it is vulnerable to theft.

The last poster on the other thread said that this is contrary to all the rules and that there should be hell to pay for this unsafe practice. His point is that the pistol should be on the bench, mag out and action open. No if, ands or buts.

I am not saying he is wrong.

But, I don't know who is right. Do club safety practices vary from club to club?

I don't have a holster yet and will check again with the club executive and other club members before I buy one.

Opinions please.
 
Yes, it varies from club to club. Some want them left action-open on a bench so EVERYONE can see that they're clear, but others say that a holster is just as safe and that it prevents them from being scooped, stolen or handled while people are downrange. Ask your club exec if there's a specific rule, and maybe you can have things changed toan "either-or" option.
 
my opinion is not worth much but leaving a pistol on a bench just teaches bad habits. when in a holster and the mag out,you have positive control over it and you can tell its empty. a firearm unattended is just asking for problems, there i always the chance that someone will touch it.
 
shortandlong said:
my opinion is not worth much but leaving a pistol on a bench just teaches bad habits. when in a holster and the mag out,you have positive control over it and you can tell its empty. a firearm unattended is just asking for problems, there i always the chance that someone will touch it.
Click to expand...
Specifically what bad habits does it teach? When in your holster nobody else can tell its empty. A firearm unattended is a paperweight.

Leaving the gun on the bench is standard procedure in a lot of clubs in Canada and USA where their roots are in Bullseye shooting. After shooting your string(s), you remove the mag, open the action, and step behind the yellow line. When all shooters are done, the RO(s) walk the line then give the 'all clear'. The shooters are then instructed to go forward and score their targets. Nobody is scooping your gun because the line is being watched by 2 or 3 officials.
Clubs have continued with this procedure in their current in house safety course.
I'm not saying this is right or wrong, just that this is why it's done.

On the other hand, when I shoot IPSC, my gun is always unloaded and in my holster.
Different game - different rules. :)
 
In a public range, if a RO is watching the firing line and the guns during cease fire, then leaving the guns on bench is safe. The RO does not allow anybody to approach the guns during a cease fire.

In a "private" range without a RO, things get a little more complicated. I agree that you should not leave your guns behind, but do you feel safe if you are still changing targets while several other guys return to the firing line with their guns in holster and ammo within easy access?

In the club I go to, the range does not allow anybody to use a holster until you have their holster safety course. Maybe some newbies have accidents when drawing from holsters...
 
First off I am not sure how you holster a pistol (or revolver for that matter ) with the action open!

There are allot of different factors that will affect how your club approaches this topic. At an indoor range, with allot of people, I would suspect that the odds of theft go down.

When walking downrange to change targets etc, leaving the gun on the bench, action open, mitigates some risks:
  1. Of the gun falling off the bench and firing
  2. Of the gun being picked up and fired (can't do it if it's not loaded)
It also generally lets others know they are safe for the above reasons easily, as it's clear the firearm is clear and safe.

At an outdoor range, things can be seen a little differently, especially when shooting alone. At a smaller outdoor range, there are allot of other factors that come into play. Many smaller, rural ranges are in areas where non-members can see and walk into the safe end of the range. I don't know about anyone else, but I have experienced this a few times at our range.

People are curious and come up to the gate to ask questions, some ignore the sinage and walk right in. In this situation, I DO NOT feel comfortable laving a firearm unattended.

I started to feel this way after I turned around at the target line and started back towards the table to see a man walking into the range with his dog.

He was allot closer to the table and the pistol than I was. I didn't like that feeling.

From the safety aspect, you can lock up your ammo and take your mags downrange with you, effectivly disabling the gun. This does not mitigate the risk of theft however.

The bottom line is it's a matter of safety, (both yours and your fellow members) and that is a matter for your club to decide on.
 
Last edited:
Varies with the club. At one range only black badge qualified individuals can use a holster. At another holsters are encouraged, pistol unloaded. One range at which I shoot is a rural range. Often alone. I can lock the gate behind me, but a non-member could still come in on foot. I have been down range when another vehicle has pulled in behind the firing line. I am uncomfortable leaving guns racked or tabled when I am alone and am downrange. Too easy for something to get stolen; a thief could be in and out in only a moment or two. Shots can be heard on the road. I either lock my guns in my car (which is right behind the firing line), or hand carry the gun down range with me. Doesn't matter if it is a pistol or longarm.
 
Once again folks seem to be confusing firearm safety with range rules. You need to comply with each range's rules to use the range.

There is nothing unsafe about leaving a gun sitting on a bench (supervised), or carrying a gun in an appropriate holster (loaded or unloaded).

Ranges and ROs would do well to stop insisting that their rules are safety rules when they are not.
 
redleg said:
Once again folks seem to be confusing firearm safety with range rules. You need to comply with each range's rules to use the range.

There is nothing unsafe about leaving a gun sitting on a bench (supervised), or carrying a gun in an appropriate holster (loaded or unloaded).

Ranges and ROs would do well to stop insisting that their rules are safety rules when they are not.
Click to expand...

+1, well said (typed)
 
in holster no mag hammer down.

To fire from holster you have to have your black badge.

I do not like leaving them on tables when I am down range.

But this changes from range to range.
 
Last edited:
Standard practice at our range is on the bench facing down range, actions open and anyone who is not changing a target stands back from the benches and does not handle anything on the bench until all clear is given. I personally also take any loaded mags out of my semi's as well. I would rather err on the side of too much safety than too little for the sake of a little inconvenience.
 
I stick the handgun in the holster, with a full mag and one inthe chamber.

I will walk up to the target stands and shoot a bit as I walk, if I feel liek it.
 
redleg said:
Once again folks seem to be confusing firearm safety with range rules. You need to comply with each range's rules to use the range.

There is nothing unsafe about leaving a gun sitting on a bench (supervised), or carrying a gun in an appropriate holster (loaded or unloaded).

Ranges and ROs would do well to stop insisting that their rules are safety rules when they are not.
Click to expand...

That's bang on...

Where I shoot the range tends to be rural. You may be alone there, you may not. No matter what I am shooting I keep a loaded handgun on my hip holstered at all times. Just a little extra 'insurance'.
 
Fremen said:
\To fire from holster you have to have your black.
.
Click to expand...


Find that one in a goverment regulation anywhere. Thats one clubs made up to torment people with. If you can't be trusted with a handgun in a holster, maybe you shouldn't have one in the first place. Learn safe handling and its no different whether your pistol is on a table or on your belt. And I'm not really worried if others can see if it's loaded or not, they arent responsible for it, I am. I shoot at a small outdoor range, and am often alone there, but anyone could walk in. I don't like leaving any of my firearms alone on the fireing point as I walk up to change/check targets.
 
Cocked&Locked said:
Find that one in a goverment regulation anywhere. Thats one clubs made up to torment people with. If you can't be trusted with a handgun in a holster, maybe you shouldn't have one in the first place. Learn safe handling and its no different whether your pistol is on a table or on your belt. And I'm not really worried if others can see if it's loaded or not, they arent responsible for it, I am. I shoot at a small outdoor range, and am often alone there, but anyone could walk in. I don't like leaving any of my firearms alone on the fireing point as I walk up to change/check targets.
Click to expand...

that should have read black badge.

This is the rule for my range and not law. Sorry if you thought I was stating laws.
 
Judge Vandelay said:
But, I don't know who is right. Do club safety practices vary from club to club?
Click to expand...

Club rules vary can vary substantially, both between clubs and even between years at the same club. Often, the only person that really knows what is allowed is your club safety director.

(S)He will know the rules that are in force at that time and place.....not just what was allowed last year or is proposed for next year. Find that person, check the rules, get it in writing if you think it will become an issue.
 
My point is that there is no holster certification in the CSSA Club Level Safety course and the instuctor should not be including this in their course....period! The course is not designed for this and should not be modified to fit the clubs criteria. If the club wants to holster certify a newbie once they can demonstrate the safe and profiecent use of firearms, then that's fine, but the basic range safety protocals should be applied to all new members. It's for theirs safey and ours that we teach the basics first. The club rules and the Club Safety Course are two differant things

What happens when "Judge Vandelay" decides to attend another club as a guest that does not allow holsters and the clubs rules are not fully explained to him, then he holsters his gun to change his target.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom