Crossdraw Issues

W.B.S.E.

Hi Posse,<br />
I've entered below a reply that I posted on the SASS wire to an inquiry made by a new shooter asking if sweeping himself while using a crossdraw holster would be acceptable. I was horrified at some of the responses. They ranged from, "It's not a good idea" to "Get used to it". A few gave him the proper response. I know that I've made a pest of myself to a few of you when I've offered advice regarding the use of a crossdraw rig. To some I've explained why. All advice was offered in the interest of safety. For those that I haven't spoken to about it, the reasons are listed below for my concern. I'm sorry for the length of this reply but I feel strongly that this is an item that is in extreme need of being addressed. <br />
Thanks to all for listening,<br />
W.B.S.E.<br />
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I'm glad to hear that Handlebar Doc is teaching that sweeping yourself is unsafe and preventable. <br />
I've been shooting competitively for almost 30 years and have only been involved once where a person shot themselves. <br />
This happened many years ago when another action shooting sport was in its infancy.<br />
The shooter was not new to the sport but was, as I would rate him, an accomplished competitor.<br />
The shooter was using a crossdraw holster and had the misfortune of having his body get ahead of his brain and went to reholster during a stage and used his left hand to steady the rig.<br />
Unfortunately his finger was in the trigger guard and the safety was off. I knew this person and he never used his hand in this way but that one time.<br />
Needless to say the gun discharged and without going into all of the details the bullet removed parts of his left hand and traveled diagonally through his leg.<br />
He was fortunate because he recovered fully with the exception of portions of his left hand.<br />
I was the RO and was right there when it happened. I also was a friend of this person and knew that he was not a scatterbrain.<br />
Granted this was a different action shooting sport and a different type of weapon was being used but the message is the same. If you have a loaded gun pointing at some portion of your body, and your holding it, there is the possibility that it can discharge at the wrong time.<br />
There is nothing wrong with crossdraw holsters and they can be as fast and safe as a strong side rig if used properly. <br />
There is absolutely no reason to have to hold your holster with your non-shooting hand, for drawing or reholstering.<br />
If you taught yourself to put your hand on your holster while you're drawing then you can teach yourself to not do it and in the process you'll find out that you'll actually be quicker to acquire your target and if you should have an accidental discharge you'll be embarrassed and DQ'd but you'll still have all of your body parts.<br />
I'm sorry that this reply is so long but I don't want to see this happen to anyone else. In short, no, it's not acceptable to sweep yourself. <br />
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"I'm going to give you a chance to earn another fifty dollars. I'm going to count to three...you draw on two..I'll wait until three."

Push the Button Wyatt

W.B.S.E., W B ,how the heck are ya,Thats a terrific article,I thank you for it. I was called once on using my left hand coming in to play on the straight drop cross draw( I don't use the leg ties) and now I fully understand why.Since then I 'v stopped using the cross draw holsters,twist,turn, way to much for an old man like myself to remember. and to may D Q,s .Look forward to seeing you again,yours, brother James. <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup:' />

Longtooth

Great information and Important to know for the sake of your safety and that of the people who would be in the vicinity. <br />
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Good to hear from you. See you on the trail. Also, don't forget about my lessons on using the 97.

W.B.S.E.

Hi All,<br />
Thank you for taking the time to read it. I get extremely upset when I see someone giving advice that could get someone seriously hurt or killed. This post was not meant to shock or scare anyone but to put things into perspective.<br />
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Devereaux.......you're right, we all need to keep constanly alert.....thanks for the kind words.<br />
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P.T.B.W........I'm glad the article helped......looking forward to seeing all of you again.<br />
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Longtooth......Good to hear from you also.....I won't forget about the lessons just let me know when is the best time for you.<br />
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Take care all and once again, thanks for listening,<br />
<br />
W.B.S.E.

Muddy Gap Shootist

W.B.S.E. was kind enough last season at KK to point out that I was sweeping myself when I pulled my crossdraw smokewagon. Thanks, Wyatt. Being new to the activity, I really respect those more seasoned veterans to show us rookies the right from wrong or just more efficient ways to do things. If you are holding a class for how to better use the '97, count me in.<br />
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And, thanks to all of my pards who have shown me better and/or safer ways to play this sport. My hat is off to Pair-A-Dice, Longtooth, Colt Wesson, Ugly, Kocheese, Turkey Legs, E Z Munny, and Lt. B. R. Sharps for their significant help. <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup:' />

dd

Although we haven't made it public yet (still planning stuff) we are contemplating a monthly practice/training/new shooters evening. We'd be very pleased if those, like W.B.S.E., who have skills they are willing to share would hold little seminars on those evenings to help the rest of us improve our shooting. <br />
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We'll have more information on these evenings later.<br />
<br />
<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

Muddy Gap Shootist

dd wrote on Feb 10 2006, 09&#58;51 AM:

<br />
Although we haven't made it public yet (still planning stuff) we are contemplating a monthly practice/training/new shooters evening. We'd be very pleased if those, like W.B.S.E., who have skills they are willing to share would hold little seminars on those evenings to help the rest of us improve our shooting. <br />
<br />
We'll have more information on these evenings later.<br />
<br />
<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /><br />

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DD, that is a superb idea. <br />
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Please don't invite Ugly though cuz getting "uglier" is not one of my goals... HA HA HA :P

Ugly

MGS,<br />
<br />
There's a limit to things and I think you've reached the "ugly" limit anyways. See ya at the thaw. <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crazy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':crazy:' />

Muddy Gap Shootist

Ugly wrote on Feb 10 2006, 02&#58;14 PM:

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MGS,<br />
<br />
There's a limit to things and I think you've reached the "ugly" limit anyways. See ya at the thaw. <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crazy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':crazy:' /><br />

<br />
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To quote from a famous John Wayne movie -- "That's bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!!" <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/devil.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':devil:' />

W.B.S.E.

Hi DD and all,<br />
I'll be glad to help out with a seminar on anything you feel I'm capable of doing. Hopefully anything I pass on won't set anyone back too far <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> . Looking forward to seeing everyone again soon. Take care all.<br />
W.B.S.E.

Tallwater Mat

OK, I admit it, I'm guilty of the above infraction. Somebody pointed it out to me at one of last year's shoots and since then I have concentrated on not doing it by planting my left hand flat against my ribs above my gun belt. This would be before the initial draw. This works for me. However, I still had to avoid sweeping when reholstering. I'm doing OK with this except sometimes in the heat of the moment all habits come back. I have watched many of our top cross draw shooters reholster using the offhand while drawing 2nd pistol strong hand. Using this method negates sweeping yourself. I have been practicing this and am trying to get confident enough to use it. We can never be too safe!<br />
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I think there is another issue to this. At every match it is pointed out to be careful about sweeping at the loading/unloading tables. At the loading table when my pistols are loaded I make an exagerrated step so that my cross draw is pointed straight down range and then holster the pistol. The very close proximity of fellow shooters requires this in my opinion. Over time, as I have gained experience in this sport, my nerves are more jangled at the loading table than they are at the firing line. I feel safer on the firing line than I do at the loading table. Just my thoughts.