Gun Muzzling Problems
by W. Hock Hochheim
From drawing the pistol to presenting and/or firing the pistol, whether on the range or in real combat, muzzling / lasering the barrel of your handgun across your body or those of nearby comrades and innocents, can be a deadly problem. Try as must to keep the trigger off the finger until the last possible second, mistakes occur in chaos and stress. Here are some issues to consider.
Muzzling Your Own Thigh - Standing
During the quick draw process, the barrel of your weapon almost invariably cross some part of your holster side leg.
(See Problem 1 video clip below.)
In the early phase of a draw, the weapon may travel over your leg (don't forget the foot!).
Muzzling Your Thigh While Dropping
Loud explosions and sudden gunfire often makes a combatant drop to a knee while drawing their pistol, as shown to the left. It is a reflexive move. The drawn pistol will often muzzle your thigh. One solution is to practice dropping to the weak knee, thus limiting exposure.
(See Problem 2 video clip below.)
The same problem holds true while drawing in a kneeling position.
Try to remember to drop down on the weak side knee.
Muzzling Your Support Hand
In the haste to shoot with two hands, you may muzzle your support hand as it moves into position.
(See Problem 3 video clip below.)
Watch out for your other hand!
Malfunctions and Reloading
When a shooter has a malfunction, or when he reloads under stress, he may accidentally point the barrel at anyone near him.
(See video clips below.)
Take care when clearing malfunctions and reloading.
Shooting Your Own Arm
In the course of close quarter combat, some 40 percent to 60 percent of the time you are engaged in battling an enemy. Your arm is often pulled in the way of your line of fire. You have a choice to shoot high (over your arm) or low (under your arm). But it is a chaotic moment of motion. Take care not to shoot your arm.
(See the video clip below.)
Accidentally Shooting Yourself
The flight path of bullets, especially those of lessor rounds, are fickle when they hit your opponent. if your are extremely close, these rounds may bang around inside his body and back into you somewhere.
(shown in a film below)
The Unsafe Re-Holstering
When the shooting is over, careless shooters who take little regard when re-holstering often muzzle themselves. There is a case on record of a man shot shot himself in his own heart when holstering his semi-auto into a shoulder holster.
(shown in a film below)
To view video clip of the scenarios discussed above, click on the links below.
