Our club has no policy, written or unwritten, but ostracism by the other shooters is an effective tool to be used against these people.

I know I won't shoot with anyone who has proven he can't control his shooting.

 

Same as any unintentional discharge?

 

We have more accidental discharges from pull triggers.

 

How does that work out ratio wise?

 

In the 35 years I have been shooting at the local clubs I have never seen nor heard of a release trigger accident.
One guy did shoot him self in the nuts practicing fast draw but that was on the pistol side of the club.

 

The offending shooter should paint the impact spot if the house takes the hit. I know we don't like it to happen, but it really isn't dangerous if the muzzle is always kept pointing downrange. I would add that if a shooter shoots one into the ground within 10' of the 16 yard line I will leave the squad if the shooter doesn't pull themself out.

 

Like several others, I don't know of a club with a policy regarding release triggers although as I recently learned from writing a column about bunker trap, they aren't allowed in that sport. I also can't think of a club without at least one trap house that has been shot. I was a release trigger guy but can only recall a few incidents.

The most memorable was an older gent who claimed he could not set his release with the gun mounted. Hard as that was for me - and probably you - to believe, he insisted it was true and set his trigger before moving the gun toward his shoulder. He had a few unintended discharges when the stock's butt bumped against his shoulder but no one became excited.

Unintended discharges are not a strictly release trigger thing. A shooter on post two who had his gun mounted and his finger on his pull trigger noticed a swarm of hornets coming out of their nest to his right along the edge of the concrete 16-yard pads. He swung his body and his gun down to the right and swatted at the bees with his left arm while tightening his right hand's grip on his gun, pulling the trigger in the process. His shot was deflected from the concrete into the left leg of the shooter on post three. I was on post four and a few broke the skin on my left leg. Some bandages took care of my wounds but the post three shooter required medical attention. I knew the offending shooter personally; he was a really nice guy who was very embarrassed and felt horrible - so much so, that he stopped shooting for a while.

If a local trap club banned release triggers, they wouldn't have many older shooters on the line.

Ed

 

I doubt your club needs a policy just as I doubt any club needs a "policy". Occasionally release triggers pull through but, the gun should be pointed down range when the trigger is set. Big deal. It's a mechanical issue that if chronic can be fixed. Do you find that people at your club habitually put their finger on any trigger when the gun is not pointed down range?

Now, you claim there are release trigger accidents. Do you have an example? Do you even have a theoretical example? I really want to hear it. Really.

 

I'll echo the same. Why would a release trigger incident be treated any different then any unintended discharge?

 

We generally laugh

 

Yep - hilarious when a guy is holding a gun and it goes off by accident

 

During my last round of trap a fellow shooter had two unintended discharges while on the line and shooting with his new release trigger. Once his gun was pointed downrange and the other time pointing straight up - neither shot hit the house and he was cautioned/reminded to keep his gun pointed in a safe direction. And I will check our club bylaws for any unintentional discharge, not just with release triggers. Thanks for that suggestion.

And JBrooks - what’s your problem? Did you think I was lying or making this up? Why so hostile?

 

Make him paint the house dressed as a skeet shooter.

 

So he will look thinner?

 

Disappointing number of “Richards” here.

 

We have no policy at my club and I’ve never heard of a policy being instated at any club in my 60yrs in the game.

I can tell you that it’s my experience that I’ve seen way more unintentional/accidental discharges from pull trigger shooters in my life. The release shooters are more conscious of their triggers than the average pull trigger shooters.

Iam always amazed that if someone with a release does accidentally discharge how it always a hot topic and someone that does it with a pull trigger and it’s never discussed!

 

We have two accidental discharges in this shooting year and both were from pull trigger shotgun. There was no special treatment for the accidental discharges especially when it was pointed in the right direction.

 

I’m 77 and have been shooting for 50+ years. I have only ever seen one accidental discharge from a pull trigger, and that was around 35 years ago. I have seen half a dozen or more with release triggers in just the last 12 months. Granted, your mileage may differ.

 

The guy had a trap gun pointing straight up in the air that was loaded? I would say the guy has issues bigger then a release trigger!

 

We use the term negligent discharge.

1. If it's a release trigger that means a couple things.

It was let go because the shooter was not paying attention to what and how they were doing it.

If it pulled thru stop immediately and have a qualified gunsmith repair it.

2.If it is a pull trigger....let's just say that 99.9 percent are negligent. The shooter is not paying attention.

3.I have seen slam fires when a action is closed on a semi auto.

Bottom line is at the absolute least have the muzzle pointing down range.

I see many shooters who are in way too much of a hurry to have their finger on the trigger...how about put your finger on the trigger just before you call for your target.

I am also a RSO at a underground rifle and pistol range that shares our club property.
Spend alittle time with me in the video room, we have camera on every pistol lane and rifle tube...you would see why I use the term negligent.

 

I have been a long range competitive rifle shooter (NRA high-power, f-class) as well as an USPSA (action pistol) shooter. In those disciplines, a negligent discharge (no such thing as accidental IMO) will get you disqualified. The same goes for muzzle discipline (empty or not). No questions asked. You are done for the day. Do it habitually, and you will be told to not show up again.

This is probably going to be an unpopular statement, but the shotgun sports seem a whole lot more forgiving of such things. I am admittedly new to the shotgun sports, and am not here to preach, but it has been a bit shocking.

 

Release triggers are the work of the devil.

 

Says the man that converted my XT to double release. Maybe a new hat is needed.

 

We start with having a long talk with their parents.

 

...or their children.

 

Years ago at an away shoot for our summer league witnessed a guy from the other club shoot his right big toe off. He would always rest his gun on his right toe on one of those leather rests you attach to the shoe laces. He put a shell in his ou and would close it while it was resting on his foot when it was his turn to shoot. Needless to say it convinced me to never ever think about a release trigger.

 

That's not a problem from having a release trigger, it's a product of the shooter being a complete moron! Putting a loaded and closed gun on your foot is asking for what he got.

 

We treat it like any other negligent discharge.

 

I shoot release trigger, my pre shot routine, close action, shoulder shotgun pointing over the trap house where my hold point will be, check shoulder position, and bead alignment, set trigger, call for target, It all boils down to dont put your finger on the trigger
until you are ready to fire.

 

We don't have many people using release triggers down here, probably because we flay them living in the car park.

 

The real question here is:

" what is the opposite of a flinch ? "

 

Maybe, Flunch? Flanch? Flaunch?

Sorry, I know my post isn't helpful but this post made me laugh.

 

The best part of these "Release triggers, bad" threads is giving the ignorant a platform to whine.