A friend just sent me this clip. Maybe some of you have seen it before but it's a good reminder to always be aware of the situation (for both the shooter and those downrange). Luckily no one was injured.


https://youtu.be/Y8tft9tBQ0g

Good reminder that we all have to stay vigilant and can never be too safe.

That scares me and I am fearless.

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USN Retired/VN VET
M&P X5

Holy smokes!

Even in the most controlled conditions "stuff" happens.

Wow!!!
Do you think that guys had to go change his SHORTS!!!!

I found this while looking for some additional information:

From an IPSC forum, the video didn't start at the beginning of the COF...

"the poor patcher has quite severe hearing problems, and before the video started recording (The COF had already started before the video started, as the shooter had his gun out and on the table for a tabletop start.) the RO had loudly asked "Range Clear?" and received no response from the patcher (because he couldn't hear the RO), so the RO believed the range to be clear and started the next shooter."

I'm sure he volunteered and they don't pay him but, it seems to me that a guy with "severe hearing problems" may not be the best candidate to be downrange during a shooting competition.

This kind of mishap is why USPSA encourages all shooters to take the RO class. Many who take it don't really RO much but they are much more aware of avoiding danger.

The vid is a comedy of errors....lazy RO....Guy with hearing problems downrange....etc. Where the heck was the rest of the squad??

The clubs I shoot at generally require brass pick-up after the match! This avoids slow match progress as well as danger.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

That would explain a lot. I was wondering why the guy was just casually still standing there and not yelling or signaling for them to stop.

You gotta be kidding. I'm a USPSA RO and when I'm the RO it's my responsibility TO BE SURE the range is clear. That involves LOOKING to see it's clear. Asking if the range is clear and thinking that's enough is nonsense. There's ultimately one guy responsible, the RO.

If I were the "patcher" I would have tied a BRIGHT RED helium filled balloon, on a long cord, to my *** before I entered the range. Then I would have found another place to donate my time and talents to, after I took my best shot at the range officer.

Unbelievable, it's the only word I can come up with.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Ya think?

That kind of error is unforgiveable - had there been an injury, or a fatality, IPSC would have suffered an unrecoverable black eye. The shooting sports cannot afford such mistakes. Not ever.....

Ugh. Not fun to watch.

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- The Federalist #46 -

While I agree the RSO is completely responsible for this situation, I think the video serves as huge reminder that we, as shooters, are ultimately responsible for every bullet that leaves the barrel. Had that competitor shot the "patcher", I doubt the fact that the RSO was found to be negligent would be much of a consolation to him. In the end he would have to live with it, whether it was his fault or not. That was my thought while watching it anyway. No different than a kid jumping in front of your car. Not your fault, but that doesn't make it any easier.

I remember hearing a story on the radio of a man who went shooting with his very young son. After posting a new target, the man went back on the line and thought his son was with him. The little fellow was behind the target checking for bullets when dad resumed firing and killed his own son.
Having a range out back and raising children this story really stuck with me. My children are grown now but I still always go down range and check behind the targets for my dog or cat or maybe the neighbor's grandchildren or pets walking in.

I currently only shoot Standard Pistol (Bullseye) competitions, so it really isn't much of an issue since there are no barricades and the range is wide open. When I shoot rifle at the outdoor range there are solid plywood walls at 25,50,and 100 yards to hang targets. Since I have to walk downrange to post my targets I get a view of everything downrange. I have witnessed some scary lack of safety at both indoor and outdoor ranges though.

Personally, I don't assume anything anymore.

People get comfortable and become complacent sometimes when it comes to safety. When I watched this clip it simply made me think "what if". When it comes to guns "what if" can be life changing. Everybody makes mistakes, you gotta keep your eyes open and your head on a swivel.

The ranges I typically shoot at are private and usually have no official RO. First one on the line acts as RO (which most of the time is me).

After a recent "lapse of safety" at the outdoor rifle range my buddy and I frequent, we no longer head downrange together to change targets. One of us always stays behind now to watch the other shooters and be sure no one is crossing the line or touching their rifles. (Even when there is a RO present).



As far as the RO in the clip verbally asking "is the range clear", apparently that was the procedure they had in place at that shoot. Maybe they revisited their protocols after that incident, I don't know, I wasn't there. I posted all the info I could find related to the video.

Sheer idiocy!!

When I go down-range I make SURE every shooter on the line KNOWS I am heading down and I make SURE every shooter has their guns unloaded and has an ECI (empty chamber indicator in their weapons chamber or cylinder - EVERY TIME! Not only is it the rule at our Club, it's just COMMON SENSE! We also turn on red flashing high intensity lights (like on the top of a Police Cruiser) to indicate NO SHOOTING - person down Range and must turn it off before commencing. Sometimes a bit of a pain in the butt, but SAFETY FIRST - ALWAYS!

Maybe you should have looked more and assumed less. "Assuming" was a big part of what was done wrong....

The fella ROing isn't a documented RO.
This was an "outlaw match".
"Is the range clear?" isn't what an RO does. Not anywhere. It's his job TO MAKE SURE the range is clear.
The fella downrange was picking up brass.
USPSA is now including this video in their RO training.

Something similar almost happened at a range I used to shoot at. There were 3 of us shooting including one fellow with his kid, very young. We called a ceasefire and headed downrange to check or replace our paper targets.
I and another shooter were back and watching the 3rd fella with his kid still downrange. They start heading back and the guy, as soon as he walks onto the line declares the range hot. Trouble was, his kid was still on the range, making his way back.
He got ripped a new one that day. Kid was not harmed.

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Sure you did

I'm a bit curious as to why this comment is directed at me? Exactly what was I supposed to be looking at?? I went back and no where in this thread did I type the word "assume" except in the post that you partially quoted where I said "I don't assume anything anymore". You act as if I was the shooter I this video or something. I simply posted it as a reminder for everyone to always be aware of who or what is downrange.

This (below) wasn't an "assumption"?

From an IPSC forum, the video didn't start at the beginning of the COF...

"the poor patcher has quite severe hearing problems, and before the video started recording (The COF had already started before the video started, as the shooter had his gun out and on the table for a tabletop start.) the RO had loudly asked "Range Clear?" and received no response from the patcher (because he couldn't hear the RO), so the RO believed the range to be clear and started the next shooter."



I would say it was more of a deduction or conclusion (based on the info given) then an assumption.

Not sure what your issue is. I'm not trying to start a pissing match with you but you obviously have an attitude for some reason.

I posted a video I came across to remind people this can be a dangerous sport if safety protocols aren't adhered to. I then did a little further research to try to find some more info about said video.

You state this was "an outlaw match" and he's not a registered RSO. So what were the safety procedures they had in place? Obviously the RO was at fault but, that really wasn't the point of any of my posts. Ultimately it's the shooter that would have to live with the end result. If you have some more concise information to add about the incident I'm sure we would all be interested to hear about it.

Feel free to leave me out of it though. I don't come here to argue with people.

Great video, great reminder, thanks.

The RO failed, and frankly should be stripped of the title and job. If you want to come up with a 100 other excuses they will still be excuses.

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Shoot Straight and Shoot often

I don't think anyone disputes that the RO was at fault. Nor did I or anyone else make any excuses for him. However, I also don't think that would be of any consolation to the shooter had he shot and killed someone.

Once again, my point in posting the video, and my subsequent comments, was to simply remind people to be safe out there. Just because someone else calls out "all clear" doesn't always make it so.

You can spread Blame and Responsibility around like butter....everyone shooting in that squad should be looking down range and call a Cease Fire if they see a Safety Issue of any kind.
Be aware and Be Safe...accidents don't happen...somewhere somebody screwed up !

Exactly. EVERYONE needs to keep their eyes open and be aware. Pretty much every time someone gets hurt in this sport it's because somebody broke one of the golden rules or safety procedures weren't adhered to.

In all my years of shooting-matches-etc...I have NEVER seen any video like this. I am lost for words...that man is so lucky all he walked away with was some brown pants...I shoot SASS, and we have 1 RO + 3 spotters/brass collectors for EACH shooters stage.

Thank you,
Henry

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Henry

He wasn't even aware! The only way to prevent this is for the RO/SO to be last man down range. The doof pasting the target wouldn't have heard a range is hot command. The SO messed up, but it's up to every shooter to be vigilant. If you are down range to tape, do only that & get back. Don't stop for brass, don't tie your shoe, Clear the ******* range.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Yes & no. If there is a complicated stage, lots of props, the shooters need to have awareness of where they are & what is going on. In diff stages, the so needs to walk the entire stage to see all of it before heading uprange. Still, It's easy to lose a small statutes shooter behind a prop. Do what you need to do & clear the range. Don't make the SO job harder than it already is. I almost feel it should be mandatory to use elec hearing for all shooters. Range commands aren't helpful if the shooter can't hear.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO