SoonerPast Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Our first stage of the match today, I was down range, pasting the most distant target in a shoot house stage. I turned from the target, bang, bang, bang. The steel, just 10 feet to my side, fell and I assume the clam shell target in front of it had been shot. By the 5th or 6th shot someone must have heard me shouting and the shooting stopped. The "SO" was pretty shaken, me too. I'll be certain the stage over which I have any control will be clear, make sure I walk the last paster out, count the sqad members, etc, etc. I don't have any extra holes and I like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandro Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Our first stage of the match today, I was down range, pasting the most distant target in a shoot house stage. I turned from the target, bang, bang, bang. The steel, just 10 feet to my side, fell and I assume the clam shell target in front of it had been shot. By the 5th or 6th shot someone must have heard me shouting and the shooting stopped. The "SO" was pretty shaken, me too. I'll be certain the stage over which I have any control will be clear, make sure I walk the last paster out, count the sqad members, etc, etc. I don't have any extra holes and I like that. Holy S&*T.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
furyalecto Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Thank God you are OK. That is a nightmare I have had once or twice (as both the RO and the man on the range.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasOPM Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Holy sheepdip Batman!!! I have had the "make ready" command followed by "wait a minute" from someone downrange- but never more than during a stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainmcphersn Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Glad you're OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 I really hate to see these types of incidences...especially since they can be used to put our great sport in disrepute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neomet Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Well, that is just freaking terrifying to read. A very serious lesson to be reminded of for all of us. Range safety can't be cursory. We ain't throwing marshmallows here. I actually make it a point to never be last man downrange. Feels a bit like snorkeling in the ocean and all of sudden all the fish are gone. Very, very glad you are okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XD Niner Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 That makes my knees weak and my sphincter tighten up. That's about as close as you can get to an absolute disaster. What action did the Match Director take if any? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadeslade Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 On stages with blind spots or cover, like shoothouses, the old "buddy system" like pairing up at camp or the Y with another swimmer works well. You don't come up until your buddy comes up-that way nobody's left alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZip Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 When we shoot at our club, we make a head count and have that number before we start a shooter. If you are shooting through, we shoot you pronto, and you move out to the next bay so that there isn't a count problem. Another reason why if you are RO ing, you should be the last one and have the timer with you. Can't start without a timer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neomet Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 This is a particular concern where you shoot rolling squads like we do here in Phoenix where you can't do a head count. When I RO (not that I am God's gift to ROs trust me) I do what Jimmy says. I start at the most distant target and work my way up. Nothing is foolproof but that and a loud "range is going hot" are good procedures. Gotta admit this still has me shaken..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRider Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 I thank God that you are OK! I like shoothouses but always worry about this type of situation happening. Hopefully, your club can use this situation in a positive way. I am sure you, the RO, and the shooter will never forget it. Hurley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Z Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 I've had bad dreams about this very thing happening at our club. We are in the process of changing all the panels over from plywood to snow fence for that very reason. Well, not just for that reason. We're also very lazy. The wall panels are now 1/3 the weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 We had that happen one time at our local match, except there were 6 of us downrange! It's kinda hard to get the shooters attention when they are double plugged! Now we do a head count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
00bullitt Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 HOLY CRAP!!! Glad you're alright Mike. That could have turned ugly fast. Were yo able to finish the match with all that stuff in yer drawers? All kidding aside.....glad you are alright. I know its a lesson learned for all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulm540 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Holy crap, Glad you are OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSeevers Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 That is one of thw worst I've heard of. Ten feet? You were most likely covered by the muzzle. The spatter probably hit you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Lord Gomer Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 I like how they do it at South River GC near Atlanta... They have 3 people make sure the range is empty. One comes through the shoot house, one around the left side, and one around the right side. That way they make sure no one is still downrange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerPast Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 There might just be a little more authenticity to my future safety briefings with new shooters. I can promise that I'll take my RO/SO responsibility seriously. Our squad finished the match with a little higher degree of formality. I posted here only to provide a reminder to me, our safety rules matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Z Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 The score keeper is the last person to leave the COF at our club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belus Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Well, that is just freaking terrifying to read. A very serious lesson to be reminded of for all of us. Range safety can't be cursory. We ain't throwing marshmallows here. I actually make it a point to never be last man downrange. Feels a bit like snorkeling in the ocean and all of sudden all the fish are gone. Very, very glad you are okay. When I was shooting on the 16th at Rio, I noticed one RO in particular being very careful about the stage being clear. It made me feel more comfortable resetting the far steel. (This was the stage with a group of 8 poppers far back in the left corner.) I like the practice of the guy with the timer being the last one back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boz1911 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Damn Mike, that's friggin scary as hell. Glad you're ok. I'll leave the rest of what I'm thinking to myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trini Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Glad your o.k. Wast there a come to Jesus meeting afterwards?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Instead of saying "make ready"... It's important for the RO to say " MAAAAAKKE REEEEADaaaaY !" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin c Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 I've almost been caught downrange at LAMR. I've also gotten as far as LAMR when RO'ing with folks downrange. Both times, and other times I've seen it nearly get to the first shot with somebody down range, there's a blind spot in the COF. Now, when I have the timer, I always check the blind spot before starting the shooter. And, while I KNOW it's not an official range command, I might holler "Clear the range, going hot!", to be sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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