Should You Say Something ?

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WezC

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 17, 2012
Messages
130
Location
Devon
Just got back from shooting a non registered 100 Sporting at Cart Ridge Shooting in Cornwall.

I saw some terrible safety issues there in my squad, and I wondered if it was my place to say something or not at the time ? As it happens the person scoring ( employee of the ground) saw all of it too and said nothing, so I presumed I should just keep quiet too, rather than spoil everyones day with a bad atmosphere.

How serious any of you think of the following would be interesting, maybe it's me just being paranoid....

1. Loading gun before entering the stand.

2. Gun shut resting on hip pointing in air whilst waiting your turn.

3. Picking fluff off the bead whilst loaded other hand near the trigger.

4. Loading the gun in the cage whilst turned sideways, then closing it before actually getting the business end pointing in the right direction.

5. Leaving cage with gun pointed toward me still loaded and closed, though granted last 2 shots had been taken.

6. 2 People in the cage whilst shooting, one coaching the other.

7. Holding a live cartridge to the end of a live loaded and closed gun to coach where to shoot the clay, whilst it was the other persons turn.

No one was hurt, but .... sloppy behaviour eventually has serious consequences.

Wez.

 
Just got back from shooting a non registered 100 Sporting at Cart Ridge Shooting in Cornwall.

I saw some terrible safety issues there in my squad, and I wondered if it was my place to say something or not at the time ? As it happens the person scoring ( employee of the ground) saw all of it too and said nothing, so I presumed I should just keep quiet too, rather than spoil everyones day with a bad atmosphere.

How serious any of you think of the following would be interesting, maybe it's me just being paranoid....

1. Loading gun before entering the stand.

2. Gun shut resting on hip pointing in air whilst waiting your turn.

3. Picking fluff off the bead whilst loaded other hand near the trigger.

4. Loading the gun in the cage whilst turned sideways, then closing it before actually getting the business end pointing in the right direction.

5. Leaving cage with gun pointed toward me still loaded and closed, though granted last 2 shots had been taken.

6. 2 People in the cage whilst shooting, one coaching the other.

7. Holding a live cartridge to the end of a live loaded and closed gun to coach where to shoot the clay, whilst it was the other persons turn.

No one was hurt, but .... sloppy behaviour eventually has serious consequences.

Wez.
All very serious, I would have made my point and then left... Collecting my entry fee on the way out!
 
1. Loading gun before entering the stand. - Yes I would have said something

2. Gun shut resting on hip pointing in air whilst waiting your turn. - Yes I would have said something

3. Picking fluff off the bead whilst loaded other hand near the trigger. Seen this at practically every shoot, if they blow their fingers tough!

4. Loading the gun in the cage whilst turned sideways, then closing it before actually getting the business end pointing in the right direction. - Yes I would have said something

5. Leaving cage with gun pointed toward me still loaded and closed, though granted last 2 shots had been taken. - Yes I would have said something definitely

6. 2 People in the cage whilst shooting, one coaching the other. Not a problem

7. Holding a live cartridge to the end of a live loaded and closed gun to coach where to shoot the clay, whilst it was the other persons turn. Same as point 3!

If you tell them in a friendly, just helping you style they should be fine.

 
Yes very dodgy by the sound of it, glad we don't get too much of that scene on shoots over here.

 
That split second you know you should have said something might have been a split second too late!  Safety is EVERYONE's responsibility.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
As DD says, 'safety is everyone's responsibility.'

I think a word with the organisers would have been in order since the trapper/scorer was obviously not been properly schooled.

I would also have voted with my feet after pulling out of the shoot and asking for my money back.I agree this can be difficult especially if you have traveled a few miles and are with friends but it is about having the courage of your convictions.

I shoot at a couple of small club shoots that have better safety standards than those you describe.

Vic.

 
Shocking. All sound like amateurs to me. Shocking.

 
I would have said something, I probably would not be keen to shoot with those people again. I am amazed there are not more accidents, with the stupid antics we see time & time again.

 
I would have said something, I probably would not be keen to shoot with those people again. I am amazed there are not more accidents, with the stupid antics we see time & time again.
Very rare to see anything like that on a trap line to be honest!
 
True les mate, it would not be tolerated.

 
Very rare to see anything like that on a trap line to be honest!
I might stick to skeet and dtl soon to be honest, cus my sporting just isn't improving. .

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One thing I find a bit worrying here is, as has happened to me and several others. If someone has a miss fire they don't wait with the barrels down range they open immediately and swop the cart to the bottom tube and try again. Now there was an incident where someone said they had a misfire and instead of waiting they dropped their barrels and opened the gun and the gun discharged. A huge chunk of concrete was blown out of the stand and the entire line got peppered with shot and bits of concrete. I personally still think the old chap did not fire the second barrel and he touched the trigger as he was opening the gun but  hmmm. One of the lads who was not wearing specs had his face peppered all over how he did not lose an eye was a miracle!  Is it normal for a gun to be opened immediately after a misfire I the UK? I know when I shot game a misfire was a wait for at least a minute with the barrels safe before opening but I don't know about trap shooting stands?

 
You should of definitely said something!! These people will never learn unless the more competent of us teach them. I agree with MADD MATT. As for your sporting boyo keep it up, you don't want to be shooting that DTL stuff!!!!

 
always say something if you think its unsafe !! I always do and if they dont like it or make a thing about it then they shouldnt have a gun in the first place.....sorry but its better to say something ..be safe shoot well

 
jwpzx9r,

Wisdom and old books say you should wait a number of seconds with the barrels pointed safely before breaking the gun in case of a hang fire. CPSA regulations state that the ref needs to check the unbroken gun to ensure it was not shooter error in which case you can have a loss scored. These can range from failing to load the gun with shells  :lolu:  , to failing to sufficiently let go of the trigger to allow it to re-cock (the gun will fire with the refs trigger finger) :blind:

In practice refs don't do this and shooters don't often have the presence of mind to remember to wait but simply break the gun on instinct. The really important thing in my view, pause or not, is to break the gun with the chambers pointing away from yours or others face because the consequences of a shell self firing just as you open the gun don't bear thinking about.

 
Complacency will eventually lead to an accident.

The first time i shot solo, so to speak, i was quite literally bricking it , knowing i  was in charge of the gun and ammunition,

The safety of the people i was shooting with, was down to me, and me alone.

I was very concious of what not to do, and made sure that i observed all the correct precautions.

However like any sport or activity that has a degree of risk / danger,   you learn to live with them and keep them managed, however as the time goes by, without incedent, it slips from the forefront, to the point we become complacent.

Its then accidents happen,  with possible fatal results.

If those people were like that at a shoot, what are they like at home!  

Mart

 
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