[98sr20ve]

Honestly, I didn't think it would happen to me. But today in practice I lost total control of my body while attempting to run with the gun. It's all my fault, as I was wearing the wrong shoes. The range is gravel over hard pack dirt. So with flat/hard shoes and any speed it's like being on jagged marbles. I don't really know what happened other then my feet were sliding and my body was failing forward. The muzzel of the gun went up in the air for a moment and then as I actually fell farther I was able to get the gun in front of me. Landed on both hands with my hand still holding the gun. Gun still pointed down range. Impact caused the gun to come out of my hand and the gun landed about 10ft in front of me. Magazine ejected, Pitt and Lizard my shooting partners said I nearly landed with the gun muzzel down. Marks on the gun indicate I was at about a 45degree angle with the ground (and thats the way I remember it). It happened so fast that when I first lost my balance and my shooting hand went up I was so suprised that nothing before that seemed purposefull only instinctive. I know that sounds bad even as I type it but it happened so fast that before I knew it the gun hand was in the air pointing up in some fashion. At that point all I tought about was that gun and what I was doing with it. It was really hard to even decide what to do other then I tought it was better to hold on to the gun and keep it down range. I only share this to see if maybe there are some insights on what to do. Perhaps I would have been better dropping the gun. I don't know. One thing this sport is teaching me is awareness of everything I do. You can't take anything for granted. Even your shoes.

[pas44]

I've fallen several times in matches. My ONLY thought as I'm going down is watching the muzzle direction and keeping the gun safe. My body will heal from the range rash but. So far so good.

[kevin c]

Glad you weren't hurt, and that nobody else got hurt either. You got through it OK, bottom line.

Just my own opinion, but, finger off the trigger, I'd think it a lot better to hang onto the gun all the way down rather than let go of it at any time. Once it leaves your hand you don't have control of it. The times I've hit the dirt w/ gun in hand, I tried to let my body take the impact, to avoid hand/ground contact that might jar the gun loose. Also, losing the gun that way during a stage is a match DQ.

Under match conditions, I've gone down hard but safe several times, and the RO's didn't stop me from getting up and finishing the stage (even once when I ruptured my achilles tendon).

Keep the gun, keep on shooting, and keep safe.

[BMartens]

The only way to improve your falling technique... practice.

Ouch, glad you are okay.

[Viggen]

kevin c, on Nov 4 2009, 03:14 PM, said:

Glad you weren't hurt, and that nobody else got hurt either. You got through it OK, bottom line.

Just my own opinion, but, finger off the trigger, I'd think it a lot better to hang onto the gun all the way down rather than let go of it at any time. Once it leaves your hand you don't have control of it. The times I've hit the dirt w/ gun in hand, I tried to let my body take the impact, to avoid hand/ground contact that might jar the gun loose. Also, losing the gun that way during a stage is a match DQ.

Under match conditions, I've gone down hard but safe several times, and the RO's didn't stop me from getting up and finishing the stage (even once when I ruptured my achilles tendon).

Keep the gun, keep on shooting, and keep safe.

Yep. Finger off the trigger. Gun pointed downrange. Let the body take the impact - surprisingly, it's a softer landing than when trying to catch yourself with your hands. And, The Big AND, that way you put safety first. The safety of others as well as your own safety.
Yes, I have been down. Yes, it hurts. But you have to control the gun. The bodyrash heals.
Glad nobody was hurt.

[shooterbenedetto]

You have to be able to take someone with you IF YOU CAN just in case for emergency.
if you get shot or injured, you will have no help. Better yet, practice after a local match
if they let you.

[Guy Neill]

I fell at the first Nationals I shot. It's the one thing I really wish I had a video of, as there were three RO's right there, according to watchers, and the RO's later complimented me on safe gun handling. As I felt myself trip I thought about keeping the muzzle pointed downrange.

It also demonstrated the perils of a metal lined leather holster (dating myself) in that it took me several minutes at the end to pry the holster open enough to allow holstering without the holster racking the slide.

Guy

[Aristotle]

:-)

if it makes you feel better, you are not alone. I had a pretty good "trip" at the last Area 4 match.

"fast forward to 7:20 of this video"

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=D3QO9bRTJHs

As with Neil, I also had my holster pretty jacked up and also had a host of RO's watching the "performance" caught on Video via 3rd person AND hatcam (which you can really see more from my fall perspective and the gun in my hand.)

[Field]

98sr20ve, on Nov 4 2009, 12:29 PM, said:

. my body was failing forward.

i just thought this was kind of funny because it was i think unintentional but then its a double meaning

This post has been edited by Field: 06 November 2009 - 03:13 PM

[Field]

Aristotle, on Nov 4 2009, 11:04 PM, said:

:-)

if it makes you feel better, you are not alone. I had a pretty good "trip" at the last Area 4 match.

its bound to happen to everyone at some point, especially seeing how quickly you blast from one spot to another. your kind of scary like that.

[calishootr]

at the oregon sectionals a few trs back I fell out of the 'boat stage' you had to pedal the boat flintstone style with your feet theu the bottom of the boat, as i was getting out of it to go to another position(the dock) hooked my leg on the transom??? of the boat, anddown i went, as i was falling i tucked in the lead shoulder and turned my body moredownrange, landed shoulder and gunhand first, laid there waiting forthe 'DQ' none came, get up dummy and keep shooting, i did manage to trash the stage for about 30 minutes while they went aboutto fixing the damage i did to the boat....always have that'what if' in the back of your mind, and be prepared to above all else keep the muzzle downrange...as you trip and or fall....

[VegasOPM]

I fell on TV with a shotgun. I was competing in the Front Sight Challenge on VS network and fell right after the buzzer on a canyon run. Suffice to say that was the footage they used right before and after the break, as well as teaser and outro footage. The good part was that the muzzle stayed downrange and my finger stayed out of the trigger guard... I know because the cameraman had a closeup of me hitting the deck. The best part was that I still won the stage.

[j1b]

Don't feel bad. Like Guy I took a dive at nationals.

Wasn't my first nationals though, I was several years in so I was in the super squad. Plenty of spectators and incredible shooters to watch the disaster. It was Ugly!!!!

Although I'll note it's the only stage ever that I've ever been applauded on.

Jack

[mildot1]

I took a tumble at a local match about a month ago. I think I steped on a piece of brass as I was moving cause the left foot went way out in front of me and I ended up down on my right knee with my ankle under me. Still aint walking right.
Got a reshoot since the RO grabbed me as I was on the way down, scorekeeper called interference after I shot the last two targets from the kneeling position.
Should have stuck with the first score

Anyway the first and foremost thing in your mind should be the gun, keep it safe!!!!!!!

[JorDanO]

I took a pretty nasty fall at Area 4 last year as well. Video Hat Cam
Fortunately I could feel that I was going to fall so I was able to prepare, and kind of rolled so I landed on my weak hand side. It seemed like everything was happening in slow motion. The only thing I was thinking was keep the muzzle down range, and keep my finger off the trigger. It could have been really bad. I missed whacking my head on a table by about an inch. I didn't hear the RO yell stop so I knew I was good, got back up and finished the stage.