As much as we try to minimize risk as gun owners, the shooting sports can still be dangerous. Accidents happen — I’ve treated at least one gunshot wound at a shooting competition, and can remember countless other instances of Garand thumb and slide bite.
All of us want to go home with the same number of holes as we arrived at the range with and in general, we take steps to make sure that happens. But it seems like one practice by one specific group of shooters might be unnecessarily risky.
If you’ve ever been out to a range with trap fields you’ll notice something…strange.
Despite the constant reminders to maintain the four rules of firearm safety that you’ll hear preached throughout the gun community, trap shooters, by and large, have a nasty habit of resting the barrel of their shotgun on their foot while not shooting.
It’s become such an accepted thing at this point that there are even special accessories designed to make it easier to do and to protect your shoe. But a story I found is a great reminder why this practice is a very, very bad idea. And be warned: this next image is not for the faint of heart.
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From what I can find, the patient had been trap shooting and resting the barrel of their shotgun on their foot (as one does) between turns. Maybe they loaded for a double and forgot to unload an unused shell. Maybe they loaded their gun prematurely.
The Amateur Trapshooting Association rule book has this to say about the practice:
While not prohibited, the practice of resting the muzzle of a shotgun on a shooter’s toe is ill-advised and is discouraged.
It should be easy to see why.
If you really want to rest your barrel on the ground while the rest of your squad shoots, there are other, safer options out there.
Whatever the ATA rules say, the person pictured above was likely violating the second and third of Jeff Cooper’s time honored safety rules when they discovered a 12 gauge hole had opened straight through their foot.
Bad habits lead to bad outcomes. Even with a break action shotgun…don’t be that guy.