[joecichlid]

While at the weekly match tonight I had a huge "oh CRAP" moment. After I was done setting up one of the stages for the match I go into the classroom area and sit down to cool off, relax and get some fluids in me. Well, the chairs in there have arms on them and you might guess what happened next. It seems when I sat down the mag well hit the arm of the chair and knocked the gun past the lock on my holster. When I went to get up I saw my life pass before my eyes. The gun rolled out of the holster and hit the ground, thankfully carpeted and padded ground from about 20 inches. Cleared the area and had the clubs safety officer pick up and clear the gun then walked over to the safety area with me and put the gun back in my holster.
This was the first time this has ever happened, I just need to be a lot more careful while sitting down and making sure everything is still locked in place before I get up. The rest of the night I was a little rattled, you can bet my hand hardly ever left the gun all night just wanting to make sure it didn't leave home again. My first run through the stages was a little slow because of nerves, well that and not getting my starting mag seated fully on the first stage. Nothing quite like BANG, click, mag hits table. lol My second run through the stages went a LOT smoother and faster.

Joe W.

[boz1911]

Hell, my gun fell out of my holster not once but twice in the safe area before the Alabama State match. Lucky for me that one of the guys on my squad also was using a Guga holster and we figured out what was wrong. I was looking at a very long day drawing from a locked holster all day.

I love my Guga but unusual start positions are not it's specialty. At the Mississippi Classic we shot 99-33 Raw Deal, where you start seated, leaned over the table holding two playing cards. I decided to give up some time and start with a half locked holster rather than be a squad bitch for two days.

[joecichlid]

I know what you mean. Although this is the first time I have had a gun fall out of my holster I am going to be alot more careful and keep a very close eye on things on those seated starts. Thankfully the stage I set up last night had the gun on a counter while I was seated. lol

Joe W.

[Matt Cheely]

What kind of holster? CR Speed?

[joecichlid]

Matt, yeah I run a CR Speed. Have for years and this is the first time anything like this has ever happened. I still feel it is a pretty safe rig but I will be careful and keep a better eye on things from now on.

Joe W.

[Matt Cheely]

Glad is wasn't worse, but I just have to wonder why this always happens with a CR..............

[joecichlid]

I am pretty sure I know what caused my problem. The chair I was sitting in has arm rests that aren't that far apart and when I sat down the mag well of my gun hit the top of the arm rest. I didn't notice it while I was sitting down but the gun was lose in the hoster and when I got up out she rolled. From now on I will not have my gun in the holster when I know I will be sitting in the classroom just to be on the safe side or if I don't have time to unholster in the safe area I will just be more mindful of things when I get up. But as you said, I am glad it wasn't worse as well. Thank goodness it happened on carpet and it didn't fall far. lol

Joe W.

[Flexmoney]

joecichlid, on May 23 2009, 01:13 AM, said:

My first run through the stages was a little slow because of nerves, well that and not getting my starting mag seated fully on the first stage. Nothing quite like BANG, click, mag hits table.

Table? Was it a "gun loaded on table" start?

[joecichlid]

Flex, yeah one stage had a loaded gun on the table start when the shooter was seated about six feet from the gun. When my gun was knocked out of the holster I was in the classroom/staging area outside of the range thankfully. On my second run I got it in 13.03 down a few more points than I wanted but still finished almost 10% higher than the next closest shooter.


Note: The chair used on this stage was a last minute addition and is not on the drawing.

Joe W.

This post has been edited by joecichlid: 23 May 2009 - 12:03 PM

[Flexmoney]

Joe,

If you mag dropped out on the stage with the loaded table start...

That might not have been an issue of you getting the mag seated. Chances are that that you depressed the mag button as you picked the gun off the table.

Something to look out for...

[joecichlid]

Flex, that is very possible. Over the next few months I plan on setting up more stages with gun on table starts, empty gun starts, empty gun on table starts to see if anything like this happens again. Usually when I pick the gun up off the table it is a two hand pick up, strong hand index finger on the frame just below the slide, thumb off the grip safety, rest of strong hand fingers wrapped around the front strap and fingertips of off hand just under the C-More to try and insure that no fingers or thumbs are near that mag release. In addition I have a screw in one of the extra holes on my C-More to make sure the mag release is a good 1/4 inch off of the table as well. But in any game like this there are always chances of pilot error so I am not ruling that out at all. lol I just will be more careful and attentive to issues from now on. If I can I will try and shoot video as well to help check myself on things like this in the future.

Joe W.