Loaded & closed on the Trap field

Bigbubba

Bigbubba

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
317   0   0
Location
SW Ontario
Just a general question about this issue.
Background:
1) One club I shoot TRAP at has a simple rule - close your gun when it is your turn to shoot - otherwise keep it open.
2) Another club I shoot TRAP at has no such rule and many times there are 3-4 loaded guns closed when I am shooting
3) ATA Safety rule states that " All guns must have the action opened and contain no live or empty shells at any time, except while the shooter is on the firing line" which some interpret as "Whenever the squad is shooting" and some interpret as "When it is my turn"

So last week I got a little tired of having 4 other guys (that I have never seen before and have no idea how safe they are) with loaded & closed guns while I was shooting so I stopped shooting with them and shot by myself. Some even had their guns "at the ready" which I also think is poor practice.

I believe there is no need to have your gun closed until it is your turn. It is not a race to see how fast we can get done.

Anyway - can anyone tell me what is generally accepted at ATA and does this vary from place to place?

Not trolling here - would prefer to know what is accepted and what is not. BTW the second club is the only one that does not have range rules posted about open/closed guns that I shoot at. All other clubs have posted rule about open until your turn to shoot.

Thanks
 
At our club, it is unloaded and on the storage rack. Action open if possible. our flimsy racks will not accommodate an open sxs or over under. If you are holding, you are shooting.
 
Your on a range, your muzzle is pointed safely downrange, firearm is loaded. So what? An AD is harmless, and the putz who fired the round would be teased until he cried, and peed his pants. Problem solved.


The club I shoot at also recommends the action is open until your turn, never seen anyone in trouble with an ro though. I have seen guys get in trouble for walking around with closed actions.
 
When shooting pita or ata I close the gun right after the second shooter shoots before me, gives me time to focus and keeps the rythem going.
If you wait too long usually guy's don't like waiting, Also finger is not on the trigger until gun is lifted up ready to shoot.
 
I'd say as long as the guns are pointed down range, that is fine. Most of the guys I shoot with, load a couple guys in front, and close up their guns a guy ahead, keeps the rhythm going. If anyone's muzzle control is lacking, whether it's their turn to shoot or not, then mention it, and if that doesn't take effect, get the heck out of there.
 
All ATA shoots that I have attended are all loaded and closed with the muzzle pointed down range. Any clubs that I am familiar with that throw registered targets would not have many customers if they tried to enforce a rule of not closing the gun until your turn.
 
1) One club I shoot TRAP at has a simple rule - close your gun when it is your turn to shoot - otherwise keep it open.


Any where I have shot this has been the rule. You can position a shell but don't close the action.
 
I worked as a trap boy for 4 years at one of quebecs largest shooting clubs. And the rule is simple if your not shooting the gun is open. I fully support this rule as well. WHY?

On day I was working as a trap boy and this hot shot closed his gun, I had a full squad and never noticed, we were shooting skeet and we changed stations his foot twisted of the cement because the grass was lower than the cement and his gun went off. Well it was pointed down, but the 7.5 bird shoot bounced off the cement and he shot himself in the balls

I never found out what happen, but there was a lot of blood

So sine that day GUN OPEN until your turn
 
This bad and unsafe practice (IMHO) should not be tolerated. It also explains why the back of so many trap houses are shot up. To me, there is no need to have a closed loaded gun when its not your turn to shoot. How long does it take to close a gun after the previous shooter has fired anyhow? Whats the hurry? I am not an ATA trap shooter, but too many times, a round of trap just gets to be a race. I wouldn't allow this practice at my club, because in my opinion it allows to many bad gun handling habits to creep in and only increased the possibility of an accidental discharge and possible injury...thank god we dont need trap boys in the houses anymore!
 
I find it disturbing if other shooters are closing their guns when you are about to shoot, it makes you wonder if they are going to shoot out of turn.
 
gttsc said:
This bad and unsafe practice (IMHO) should not be tolerated. It also explains why the back of so many trap houses are shot up. To me, there is no need to have a closed loaded gun when its not your turn to shoot. How long does it take to close a gun after the previous shooter has fired anyhow? Whats the hurry? I am not an ATA trap shooter, but too many times, a round of trap just gets to be a race. I wouldn't allow this practice at my club, because in my opinion it allows to many bad gun handling habits to creep in and only increased the possibility of an accidental discharge and possible injury...thank god we dont need trap boys in the houses anymore!
Click to expand...

Usually when the Trap house is shot up is because a shooter with a release trigger has made a mistake.
 
Win/64 said:
Usually when the Trap house is shot up is because a shooter with a release trigger has made a mistake.
Click to expand...

Or the trap house is between the shooters and the rabbits thrown on the new five stand course. Lots of reasons for a trap house to be banged up.

On rifle ranges it is routine for several shooters to have loaded ready to fire guns pointed downrange for several minutes at a time. They fire randomly according to wind interpretation. Doesn't cause problems.
 
hillbillyreefer said:
On rifle ranges it is routine for several shooters to have loaded ready to fire guns pointed downrange for several minutes at a time. They fire randomly according to wind interpretation. Doesn't cause problems.
Click to expand...

This!!!!!

Do trap shooters not Practice safe gun handling?

No reason for everyone to be loaded while standing there but loading and being ready one shooter ahead is understandable.
 
hillbillyreefer said:
Your on a range, your muzzle is pointed safely downrange, firearm is loaded. So what? An AD is harmless, and the putz who fired the round would be teased until he cried, and peed his pants. Problem solved.


The club I shoot at also recommends the action is open until your turn, never seen anyone in trouble with an ro though. I have seen guys get in trouble for walking around with closed actions.
Click to expand...
That works until someone gets distracted and turns with a loaded gun- I have seen this just before I escorted the person off the range.
Our club is open unless actually shooting.
Cat
 
mlehtovaara said:
This happen on the rifle range and handgun range also?
Click to expand...
If I get them before they are turned they get a warning and a lecture on keeping the gun open and forward unless they are shooting, the next time it happens they are gone.
This person was told about five minutes before that.
However we are talking about trap and skeet here, not a pistol or rifle range.
if a person steps away from the line on the rifle range with a loaded fire arm when I am RO - he is gone, period.
Cat
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom