John (SacLawMan) - I had one-quarter of all the DQ's on my bay (specifically Stage 4, the Hotel California).  Total of four competitors DQ'd for sweeping themselves.

If I remember correctly: 
  1. All were right handed shooters.
  2. One was a junior shooter (who hopefully will speak to me again one day as he is a delightful young man, as well as his dad!)
  3. Two were on the second door - one a hand sweep, the other the textbook definition of a sweep - right across the area just above the wrist, coming in from below and raising the gun high with the left hand still on the doorknob
  4. Looking at the results and the names I remember, at my stage one was a SS and another a MM; can't remember the other two.


After the first DQ, the verbal reminder during the walkthrough was emphasized about using a technique that does not include sweeping yourself  - i.e. keep the gun high!  After the second one and to the end of the match, I added a visual/tactile reminder as well.  If you didn't shoot the match, here's a quick description:

With entire squad standing in front of me, I told the squad "this might be elementary, but it has to be said...everyone do the following...."  I then had them hold their right hands shoulder high in front of them, elbow out, holding their thumb and forefinger straight out and pointing it in my direction while mimicking my own demo of "holding the gun high".  They were told that was the only time they could legally "point a gun" at the SO.... Tongue
  • I then stated "Folks, I don't care about a DQ; I do care, however, that no one gets hurt.  Keep the gun high when opening the doors."

And even after doing that, I had two more DQ's for sweeping.  Hey, no one can say I did not try to mitigate the problem....

One was a blatant brain fart (as ad-libbed by the now DQ'd shooter), and the other was lousy technique reaching for the third door - both hands going towards the doorknob at the same time and the gun hand dropping below the free hand.  The shooters were also warned about that as well.

After SO'ing for the time that I have, my personal opinion is shooters are not keeping their concentration as they NEED to, not only as they should be, to safely complete the course of fire.  In the rush to get to the last target and shoot that sucker, prop manipulation sometimes becomes "just get it the **** out of the way" and the competitor doesn't pay attention to the appendage that's holding the firearm.  And that's when the problem gets serious.

What to do about it?  The "P" word.  Practice.  You don't need a gun to do it or even be at a range.  Open your bathroom door in the morning like you'd do at a match; do it when you let the dogs out back.  Practice getting out of your car while "holding a gun" (use an open soda can if you dare) in your strong hand - get used to taking it over the steering wheel instead of across it and take the possibility of hitting the wheel and ND'ing inside the car away. If you hit anything with the soda can, at least you'll just have a sticky shirt from sugar instead of blood.  There's many ways to practice without it being formal practice - and it will help you be a better and safer competitor. 

That last target is just taunting you to shoot it - and you can't do that if the SO has yelled "STOP"...  Shoot the sucker (the target, not the SO!) every time!  Wink

--Cindy

"You know, some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints...."

"Happiness is a warm, smoking barrel..." image

Proud Patriot Guard Rider - Area 8, Southcentral PA
NRA Endowment Member
Last Edited By: HiPowering Along Sep 27 12 6:12 PM. Edited 1 times.