Weapon clearing during Competition

[Sagetown]

Just read an article where it was stated that in competition matches, one is required to dry fire as a means of clearing his weapon. They didn't say wheter it was handgun or rifle competition.

Is that the way its done now days?

Years ago I was active in small arms 'Army Cadet Corps' rifle competition, when finishing a firing session, the bolt was was thrown open, and the Range Master was called to check and clear the weapon.

[DragonFire]

In the pistol competitions I've been to, the usual procedure is when a shooter is done, the RO/SO will tell them to unload and "show clear" (show that the chambe is empty), and then pull the trigger to make sure the hammer is down (no decocking, or lowering the hammer by hand).

I've only been to local rifle matches, and there we unload, and then either use an empty chamber flag or leave the bolt open.

[Blackfork]

It's all by range command:

Cease fire, make the line safe.

Insert open bolt indicators, remove magazines.

Is the line safe?

The line IS safe, you may move out of position.

[jmorris]

In pistol competition it’s a triple redundant safety measure. You check to see it’s unloaded. The RO checks to make sure it’s unloaded. Then if both of you missed it for some reason by dry firing in a safe direction is the third check (if it’s loaded it’ll go off). I seem to remember being told at one club they used to leave the pistols at slide lock (like leaving the bolt open) the only problem was pistols jumping out of the holster if/when the slide stop disengaged.

[Jim Watson]

In IDPA and IPSC competition, the pistol is cleared by removing the magazine, ejecting the chambered round, displaying the empty chamber to the range officer, and dryfiring the hammer down, then reholster. This because the number of rounds to be fired is not fixed and you will nearly always end up with a loaded gun and no more targets. So they have that ritual.

In NRA shooting, you are firing a known number of shots and do not load any extras. The gun finishes up empty and you put it down with the bolt or slide open, an open bolt indicator in the chamber of a rifle.

[cdrt]

In NRA shooting, you are firing a known number of shots and do not load any extras. The gun finishes up empty and you put it down with the bolt or slide open, an open bolt indicator in the chamber of a rifle.

CMP matches follow NRA rules as well. When the string is completed, all firearms will have their actions open and in the case of rifle, an ECI is inserted. At Camp Perry, we also used ECIs in the pistol competition this year. All actions must be open prior to anyone going downrange to score targets.

The only time I dry fire at the end of any CMP or NRA match is when it is the last string for that particular firearm and they give the command to put your guns in the box. I insert a fired cartridge in my .22 and drop the hammer on the empty. In the case of the .45, I just let the hammer drop.

[qbpc]

IPSC Pistol after last round shot the range officer orders unload. You drop mag pull slide to rear to eject and show empty chamber. Then he gives these comands slide down hammer down and holster.

[buttflyzzz]

i drop the clip out throw the gun in the dirt and run screaming ha ha

[owen]

Sagetown, dryfiring is typical in action type matches. One the hammer has dropped, the shooter is not allowed to manipulate the gun off the line, unless in a safe area.

A safe area is a place where gun manipulation is allowed, but the ammunition may not be touched.

If the gun fires when it is dryfired, the shooter is DQ'ed

If the shooter steps up to the line with a loaded gun, the shooter is DQ'ed.

[SIRVEYR666]

i drop the clip out throw the gun in the dirt and run screaming ha ha

Another kitten just died.:rolleyes:

[HZOX221]

In USPSA we drop the hammer on rifles and shotguns to make sure the chamber is empty.