doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Shot in back at skeet range

Part of the responsibility lies with those who do not immediately correct someone on the range for poor gun handling. Had an older shooter, with an auto, who considered it safe to carry his auto in a horizonal position, letting the muzzle swing throughout the squad and everyone else around the area. No one in his group said anything to him and the puller was a teenager without experience to intervene. I walked over from behind the range, called him aside and corrected him which was not taken kindly at all. He retorted the gun was unloaded with the action open. He persisted in this manner so I called in the range master and had him straighten up the issue. Don't tolerate indifferent gun handling or you become part of the problem.

Another common unsafe practice is the guy who loads up while approaching the shooting position at skeet or sporting clays, or having an unused round in his gun moves off the station before fully unloading. Rules are meant to protect us. Enforce them.

This sounds like a nightmare!

I wish the family the best.

Here's where we have a problem:

Those of you who blame the type of gun, or the type of shooting sports involved are the SAME TYPE of people who would ban specific types of firearms and specific uses thereof.

ALL firearms require safe handling, and proper target range protocol ASSURES safety with any type of firearm. The points about enforcing safety rules are well taken and it's everybodys responsibility to see the shoot is run safely.

I've had plenty of closed break open guns pointed at me over the years. Couple weeks ago, we had some numb-nuts turn around with a loaded 3200 when it didn't fire.

I get so sick and tired of listening to the supposed superiority of break open shotguns. A slow car is no safer than a fast one when it's operated by an idiot.

Think about what you're saying once in a while, guys. It looks like repeating guns are here to stay, unless the safety nazis get them legislated away.

They both shot around three times a week so know how to handle guns. Son was somewhat maybe unknowledgeable about the SA he was useing.I have seen times with Sa that the second shot was not fired and at the next post two more shells put in the gun but always caught apond chambering.All guns are OK it was human part that errored or as stated maybe not.I'm sure most here drive so safety is not the real reason to not be around groups with guns because of what might happen compared to driveing.Hopefully an update will come with facts

I will be shooting there on Thursday night. There is a lot of speculation around here as to what accually happened. It will be interesting to talk to the range officer who was there to see what happened. It makes me nervous to think that something like this can happen. I agree with Jerry, the rules are there for everyones safety. No exceptions. I was taught to always watch others as we shoot as I'm sure they watch me. There is no room for any errors in enjoying what we do. I did not know the people involved but truely hope for a full recovery.

SJ, I agree entirely, but in any case, repeaters and autoloaders make me a lot more
nervous than an open double.

And people that tell me not to mind because their safety is on....I could wrap their
guns around their necks.

JC

I can see both sides here fellas- an open breaking shotgun is less of a presumed hazard in that it can't be fired when broken open-Bruce Bowlen in his Wing-Shooting Handbook endorses breaking guns for that reason (1985 Nick Lyons Books pb.) And the idiot with the autoloader pointed a midriff with the bolt closed should be banned from that club, but that still won't keep him from doing it again-somewhere else. At Jay's in Gaylord MI a few summers ago, en route to the cottage-I stopped to get some .22 shells and some paper targets (for my visiting nephews-at a private range near our deer camp- not taking my kin to any public facility until I know how they enforce the safety rules- Some numbnutz was pointing a closed double, waving it around like a Maypole contestant I'd guess-two clerks "manhandled him", took away the shotgun and escorted him out- he was still muttering som,ething about how "It couldn't be loaded, it was in the store"! When my Dad and Granddad gave me a 20 ga. M12 on my 14th. B'Day- GrandDad said "Remember this Boy- any gun is like a rattlesnake- get too cozy and lax in handling it and it can turn on you or others and strike death--Amen!!

Horrors like this don't happen because one gun is more or less dangerous than another, they happen because a person causes them to happen. Every one of us knows that gun safety rule number one is to ALWAYS keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Follow just that one and nobody gets accidentally shot. It is easier to tell when a double or O/U is loaded but I know I have read more than once that one (allegedly) went off as it was being closed. Breaking other safety rules might cause someone to be embarrassed or suspended or kicked out of a gun club or hunting group. As bad as that might be it is far better than having to live with the reminder that you maimed or killed someone.

I was hunting with someone that suffered a self-inflicted shotgun wound and it isn't something I want to have to deal with again. I'm just glad that if he had to shoot someone it was himself and not me. It was the last time we hunted together.

Skip

When I was on my summer sabbatical in Canada there was a tragedy in California at a trap/skeet range. You all may have seen and posted it. I believe it was July 13 or so. I was not in close computer contact. But here is a cut and paste story:

MODESTO, Calif.—Investigators describe a skeet-shooting incident that killed a 71-year-old Modesto man as "truly an accident."

A Stanislaus County Sheriff's spokesman said William Herrmann died after a companion accidentally touched the trigger of his shotgun on Sunday, discharging the weapon. The blast struck Herrmann in the head.

The shooter, whose name is not being released, manages the skeet range at the Old Fishermen's Club west of Modesto, where the shooting occurred.

Herrmann was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The club's president said it was the first accidental death in history of the club, which was established in 1920.

THE SHOOTER WAS THE MANAGER OF THE SKEET RANGE!?! Jake

The owner kicked out a, presumably new to the range, shooter a few weeks ago for a blatant mishandling of a rented gun. I didn't see the offense but saw the owner take the gun and ask the guy to leave. The range and its customers (all) might be better served to have the range demand a safety session before any new shooter can shoot there. I also believe in recurrent training. Yet it's not demanded anywhere I'm aware of.