USPSA range officer killed in accident

[timmy75]

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/ny-range-safety-officer-killed-by-negligent-discharge-during-uspsa-competition/

From what I read in other forum (don't know if it is true):

After "make ready" competitor put round in chamber, hammer down (condition 2).
Gun was dropped from holster or while holstering or from unlocked speed holster.
Gun fell down on hammer, discharged and hit RO in chest.

Gun involved seems to be CZ Shadow 2 from what I can find online.

Here in EU we shoot IPSC, but this is great tragedy for all of us.
Rest in peace.

[M1A4ME]

On another forum I've seen conflicting information and what seems to me to be poor understanding of the gun (let alone the accident.)

People have said the hammer was down when the pistol was dropped. 

People point to a lack of a firing pin block that allowed the firing pin to slam against the primer when the pistol was dropped. 

People say the pistol fell butt first and hit on the hammer (because it was loaded/heavy, etc.)

People have stated that extended firing pins make this more likely because the hammer will hit those harder (always thought the extended section was on the other end, not the hammer end.)

Some of those statements are contradictory.

Having been in many accident/incident investigations over 30 years in a big chemical plant I can say that a majority of such groups investigating may not fully understand what they investigate, may ignore important facts, sometimes come into the investigation meetings wtih their minds made up.

Speculation is pointless, most of the time.

[Gunnerdad80]

I can’t imagine what all parties involved are going through. Tragic.

[Lock-n-load]

So sad.... can’t imagine the impact on these peoples lives.. praying!

[globaltjb]

This is so tragic to hear.   

[matto]

Terrible.

So if the hammer was down, I guess it just the impact on the concrete floor that caused the firing pin to fly forward fast enough to set off the primer.   Yikes.

[MoRivera]

Word is that the gun fell on the hammer.  What I'm wondering is if the Shadow/Shadow 2 was all stock, if he a lighter hammer spring and/or extended firing pin and reduced-power firing pin spring.

[Trader]

I put a dowel down the barrel of my Shadow 2, which has the extra length fp and reduced power fp spring. The hammer moved back
but the slide did not move. Tomorrow the 13lb hammer spring goes in and the stock firing pin and spring goes in. Its not worth it for a pound or so less trigger weight.

[timmy75]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXwf8-VnJlg

[M1A4ME]

I put a dowel down the barrel of my Shadow 2, which has the extra length fp and reduced power fp spring. The hammer moved back
but the slide did not move. Tomorrow the 13lb hammer spring goes in and the stock firing pin and spring goes in. Its not worth it for a pound or so less trigger weight.

The firing pin tip was sticking through the firing pin hole in the slide?  Never seen that one before.  Wow. 

I have CGW extended firing pins in two guns (did that early on before I started keeping them mostly stock) and don't have that issue with either one

[M1A4ME]

Watched the video.

If that pistol had been cocked and locked that couldn't happen. 

The hammer would have to shear the full cock notch, the half cock notch and break the forward arm off the sear cage or break the left side safety shaft in half (to allow the sear to move.)  Or the trigger pulled (which it wasn't.)

Rule change?

[Earl Keese]

Watched the video.

If that pistol had been cocked and locked that couldn't happen. 

The hammer would have to shear the full cock notch, the half cock notch and break the forward arm off the sear cage or break the left side safety shaft in half (to allow the sear to move.)  Or the trigger pulled (which it wasn't.)

Rule change?

This!

[timmy75]

I put a dowel down the barrel of my Shadow 2, which has the extra length fp and reduced power fp spring. The hammer moved back
but the slide did not move. Tomorrow the 13lb hammer spring goes in and the stock firing pin and spring goes in. Its not worth it for a pound or so less trigger weight.

you are saying that firing pin sticking from breech face? 
with ext PF mine looks like this (FP pressed down instead hammer):


with stock firing pin i cant see FP tip from this angle.

Rule change?

+1

i dont see why DA/SA cant start from half cock notch? it is safer than full DA (for pistols without FB block), pull is almost the same.

[MoRivera]

So the question for me is........ say you have a match tomorrow, and someone is there with a Shadow 2.  What will you do?

If you're a match director or SO, will you allow them to use it just as you have before?

If you're in the squad, will you tell them or the match director that you're uncomfortable, get out of the room when they're up, leave or just be like you were before and hope they don't drop it on the hammer?

If you're the one with a Shadow 2, what would be your response to any of the above?


I shoot a Shadow 1, and personally my hope is that we take this as a sobering reminder to stay on top of our safety protocols and that I can continue shooting a pistol that's become my favorite.  But I'm hoping someone doesn't come up and tell me I'm irresponsible for doing so, because frankly I'd be torn regarding how to respond.

[Earl Keese]

So the question for me is........ say you have a match tomorrow, and someone is there with a Shadow 2.  What will you do?

If you're a match director or SO, will you allow them to use it just as you have before?

If you're in the squad, will you tell them or the match director that you're uncomfortable, get out of the room when they're up, leave or just be like you were before and hope they don't drop it on the hammer?

If you're the one with a Shadow 2, what would be your response to any of the above?


I shoot a Shadow 1, and personally my hope is that we take this as a sobering reminder to stay on top of our safety protocols and that I can continue shooting a pistol that's become my favorite.  But I'm hoping someone doesn't come up and tell me I'm irresponsible for doing so, because frankly I'd be torn regarding how to respond.

Would you leave if someone is competing with a Sig P320? Would you ask if they had the recall work done? Would you ask for proof?