DCJS Instructor

Team-

This could happen to any one of us as an Instructor or Shooter! This was forwarded to me and I wanted you to read it!

Stay Safe & Shoot Straight!

Fumbled Gun: Drop It!

"A local serviceman was killed today after being shot during a training accident." That was the lead off by the talking head on the evening news. Based upon that statement you would assume that the person in question was negligently shot by another serviceman. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. I watched the television report via the Internet and nowhere in the story were the hard facts about the situation reported.

However, I am in possession of the facts of the case as the man who died was a member of the parent command of the unit I serve. The instructor cadre, of which I am a part, was briefed on the incident by the command's safety officer.

What occurred on that fateful day follows. The serviceman was shooting a pistol qualifications course. During one of the stages shooters are required to shift the gun from their dominant shooting hand over to their non-dominant or support hand. This was where things went wrong.

The man lost control of his pistol, how or why doesn't really matter. It's an imperfect world and stuff happens. Rather than letting the pistol fall to the ground he reached out to grab it. The M9 service pistol was in single-action trigger mode (safety off) as he had just fired two rounds.

When the shooter grabbed the pistol it was inverted with the muzzle pointing back toward his chest. One of his thumbs found its way into the triggerguard and the weapon fired. A single full metal jacketed 9mm round passed through the center of his chest cutting a vital artery. He died on the range.

The knee-jerk reaction from some of the safety officers was that this would not have happened if there had been more dry fire or holster training. That just doesn't wash. You don't practice the proper way to drop a pistol with dry fire.

Two main factors caused this tragedy to occur. First and foremost is human nature. You've been catching objects since you were in kindergarten or earlier. If something starts to accidentally fall, you reach out and grab it. Everyone does this. We're pre-wired to do it.

The second factor is that, although there was a lengthy briefing prior to commencing live fire, nowhere in the safety brief did the Range Safety Officer ever discuss what to do if you last control or fumbled with your pistol. Couple that with the fact that military personnel are generally ridiculed and often punished for dropping a weapon and you have a recipe for disaster.

Whether you are an individual shooter, trainer, or range safety officer you must understand and address the dropped/fumbled gun possibility. The issue isn't such a big deal with long guns but when dealing with handguns it is definitely a situation that must be spoken to.

It is really as simple as this, if you fumble your gun, let it go. All modern firearms have passive safeties to prevent 'drop firing'. If your pistol is too pretty or too fragile to be dropped you shouldn't have it our on the range. Bottom line, we don't catch fumbled pistols. Drop it!

BikerRN

Thank you for an excellent reminder.

If you practice enough, you will drop a gun at some point. The last time I did was at an LFI 1 class. I got in too big of a hurry and being that my hands were sweaty, I was tired and the temperature was warm, we had the makings of a disaster.

I managed to catch my pistol, but I should've let it go. The only factor that helped save my rear, in this case, was that I dropped a Single Action Autoloader with the safety on. As soon as I caught the gun I realized what a mistake I had made. I'm just thankful that I got lucky and no rounds discharged. One of the Instructors saw what happened, but I commented to them that I should've let the gun hit the ground. I guess they figured I made a mistake and knew better, so they could let it go, as I was already chastising myself.

Thank you for posting this, as it may help to prevent a tragedy in the future.

Biker

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If I knew I was going to get in to a gunfight I most ceratinly wouln't bring a handgun or two, and I don't know any smart person that does.

Bark'n

When I read this, I immediately thought of the analogy of how many times has roofers dropped a hammer and tried to catch it before it fell off the roof, only to follow the hammer off the roof them self. It happens! The cliche' of roofers is "If you drop your hammer, let it go. Don't chase it off the roof!"

Very good post! I've always believed the thing to do if you get a case of the "butter fingers" is to just let the gun go to the ground! But it's hard to do when instinct says "catch it!"

This post should bring that issue from the dark recesses of the subconscious up to the level of conscious thought whenever you are training or on the range.

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-Bark'n
Semper Fi

"The gun is the great equalizer... For it is the gun, that allows the meek to repel the monsters; Whom are bigger, stronger and without conscience, will prey on those of us who without one, would surely perish."

gottabkiddin

Agreed! tragic story.

Believe it or not, the only time I have ever dropped my pistol, I used the top of my foot to semi break the fall on it's way down and all was well. I didn't want the weapon to hit the concrete and possibly discharge the chambered round. Afterwords I thought it was kinda risky, but it was a knee jerk reaction and at least I didn't try to grab it. Hindsight, It may have been better to let it hit the floor, but it was my new stainless Colt Officers ACP and I couldn't just let it get trashed on the concrete.

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When seconds count, a Cop is only minutes away.

Never hit anyone in anger unless you're sure you can get away with it. "Russell Ziskey"
Glock 36, Kahr CW9, Glock 23, Taurus 24 7 Pro DS, Ruger LCP, S&W 642...ect

das38spl

There are those who would try to argue a "common sense" factor here..."Of COURSE you should drop the weapon...why wouldn't you?"
But ask any military personnel - of ANY length of service - how hard the DI's pound a "grunt" to "NEVER- EVER drop your weapon! Your weapon is your lifeline!!" This training will cause nearly ANY recruit to instinctively grab for a weapon that's slipped from his grasp....
But.....like the earlier-posted hammer analogy...and installing TV antennas on roofs....."if it drops....let it go.....if you follow it, it may be the last 'trip' you take"....

hogdaddy

truer words could not be spoking h/d

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WE SAY GRACE & WE SAY MAM IF YA AINT IN THE SOUTH WE DON'T GIVE A DAM / WE CAN SKIN A BUCK & RUN A TROUTE LINE & A COUNTRY BOY CAN (SURVIVE)>>HANK JR.

WHEC724

This is heart-breaking. As much as it hurts to read this story, this is one of the many reasons why I benefit so much from this forum. You all expose valuable thought processes that I'd normally never consider.

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'Clinging to my guns and religion

larefugee

That's a great tip, especially for teaching newbies who are not used to holding or shooting guns. It should head off any accidents at the range... or in bathroom stalls.

QKShooter

Oh Man I hate to read a story like this one.

Yes, we sure are pre-wired to always attempt to catch objects that we accidentally drop.

hayzor

Very sad. The range officer at frontsight went over this exact thing in some training 2 weeks ago. First time I had ever thought about it.
Also, made sure we didn't bend over to pick up anything (dropped mags or ammo) while on the firing line. Puts your head in a bad place.
I almost picked up a dropped mag on day 2, had to catch myself.
Hard habits to develop/break - we want to catch falling stuff and pick up stuff we drop.