Gun Safety and Etiquette (Part 2)
By: Paul Giambrone, III
In my last article we covered a very important topic and that was talking about safety. Safety should never be taken for granted as most mistakes do happen with “experienced” shooters and hunters. Fortunately for us, we can all do something about it and help others be safe by staying proactive in gun safety at your local gun club and hunting lodge. Remember from the last article, the highlights were covered with the MAT acronym (muzzle, action, trigger). If we keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times, keep the action open until you are ready to shoot on the station and keep your finger away from the trigger until the gun is mounted and you are ready to call for the target, the chances of an accident are highly unlikely. This article today will go more into the etiquette of skeet shooting which starts with safety. We will also discuss things to be aware of at your every day shooting range as well as what to expect when you arrive at a tournament.
First off, when going to your local shooting range, you should always have the correct equipment. This includes a broad spectrum of things starting with your gun. Certain barrel restrictions might be enforced at your local club. Growing up at a gun club, I got to see a wide variety of things. We had some shooters that would show up with sawed off shotguns for home protection wanting to shoot skeet targets. This, along with shotguns that have pistol grips rather than the traditional shotgun grip might not be allowed at your gun club. Also, the club may have restrictions on which type of shot is allowed (ex. lead or steel). With growing EPA concerns, some clubs are steel shot only now while other clubs might not even allow steel shot. Another topic about shot is shot size. Most clubs do not allow shot sizes larger than 7 1/2. Keep in mind, the larger the number the smaller the shot actually is. The typical safe bet is #8 shot size and that can be used across all of the shooting disciplines. Last, but certainly not the least important, please remember to have your own eye and ear protection and any other shooting gear (like a vest or pouch). Most clubs will have loaner ear plugs and glasses, but I wouldn’t count on it. I would have everything in a shooting bag that has all of the equipment you need for the day ready to go the night before or the morning of. All too often we get in a hurry and end up forgetting one of these items and that might actually prevent us from shooting that day. A quick checklist would be gun, ammo, pouch (to hold your shells while shooting), shooting glasses and ear plugs. Remember to check with your gun club about any restrictions on equipment and to have all of your gear ready to go!
Upon arrival at the gun club, most clubs either require you to check in or sign in as a member or a guest. Never assume it is ok to just jump on a field (if it’s the first time you are visiting and are unfamiliar with the rules). Once again, check with the gun club to get all of the rules out in the open which prevents confusion and keeps everyone safe. After you check in, go ahead and gather all of your things and head out towards the field. While walking about, remember to leave the gun unloaded and the action open or have the gun broken open (over & unders) if the gun is outside of its case. Most clubs will have a bench or some kind of area BEHIND the field where you can set your things. It is not a good idea to walk on the field and set your things by station 1 or 2, especially if other shooters are shooting (this creates a safety issue). Once you have all of your things together and are ready to shoot, introduce yourself to the shooters (if any) and let them know you wish to join them. This is an opportunity to let them know what you plan on doing that day and strike up a conversation. For example, if I am going to train for the day and want to work on low house targets only, I’ll inform them that I will shoot all low house targets. One of the greatest things about our sport is how everyone is so nice and willing to help, so, take advantage of it by introducing yourself and meet some new friends.
Now we get the opportunity to finally do some shooting! Now the adrenaline is kicking in and the excitement is at its highest! This is where it pays to have all of your things ready to go (such as having your ammo in your shooting pouch) before taking the field. How many times have we gotten on the field and forgot ammo or had the wrong tubes in the gun? It’s happened to me and some of my squadmates during one of the shoots in California, oops! Which brings up an interesting point about competition shooting. This is why you always arrive at your field 30-40 minutes before your scheduled time to get all of these things done. Introduce yourself to the rest of your squad (if you don’t know them), get the correct ammo, put the right tubes in your gun, get the correct lens color you want, etc. All of this needs to be done well before your actual shooting time. This helps shoot management keep things running smoothly and on time! Once you guys take the field, whether in competition or just practice, be respectful of others. How? First off, in order to keep a good pace and for your own benefit in shooting, have your station planned out precisely so you do not take a long time once on the shooting station. Know your foot positions, know your hold points, look points and break points. I see a lot of shooters step up, start moving around all over before settling, then reach down for their shells, exam where they want to hold then finally mount the gun. This all takes way too much time. What we need is our shells in hand (not in the gun) while walking on the station, plant your feet, load the gun, mount the gun and then settle those eyes and get after that target! (Keep in mind, the NSSA does have time restrictions for squads so it is important to be efficient) If you are not sure of those things, which is totally normal for newer shooters, there is a multitude of resources (articles, books, DVDs, instruction) that are available to help you learn the game. Time efficiency is very important, but not as important as safety. I know, I am beating that word to death, but there are no shortcuts here. This next point kills two birds with one stone, not only safety, but being respectful of the other shooters on the squad by staying out of their peripheral vision. Some people do not have great peripheral vision, others can almost see behind themselves, so be mindful! By staying out of their vision while they are shooting, you are also keeping yourself out of harms way with their muzzle. If you stand directly behind the shooter by a couple of feet, you won’t have any issues. If you are the lead off shooter and have some down time, it is acceptable to wander around a bit, but not at the expense of the other shooters seeing you in their peripheral vision. Last point, some shooters do not like a lot of chatter. Our squad loves to encourage each other while the shooter is on the station (notice I said encourage, not give a lesson). Simple things like “All you got” or “Eyes on the target” are acceptable. Obviously we are not going to do this during the shot, but between shots we encourage each other. Some shooters do not like ANY chatter at all on the station. Both are acceptable and it is our responsibility to be mindful of those things. Along this same line, if you have two shooters (for example the lead off shooter and second shooter) that want to chat about something, it is respectful to step back and keep your voices down to where the shooter on the station cannot hear you. Once again, this keeps everyone on the same page and everything flowing smoothly.
If you have any questions or comments, please email me directly at info@gsclinics.com and visit breakmoretargets.com for more information. Please check the website for upcoming tournaments and clinics in your area. Keep in mind that GSC is now in the New Orleans, LA area and will be for the foreseeable future. GSC is available to teach in the New Orleans area all year-round and is now offering ALL INCLUSIVE lesson packages for shooters that would like to travel to me. Please call or email today for lesson availability.
Tip of the month: When you visit your club the next time around have all of your stuff ready to go and make sure you are aware of gun safety. Introduce yourself to the other shooters and go enjoy one of the best games known to man! Stay efficient, but also get the job done and crush those targets!