First DQ

Dustin Cantrell · May 4, 2013

Shot OKCGC USPSA today. This was my 7th USPSA match and 2nd with this pistol. She has a 1.5 lb trigger with short travel. Really gotta watch the trigger finger. I've been shooting a little over a year and have been getting better each match. I was really pumped about how well I was doing for the first four stages. I really liked the stage with the Texas star. I shot it clean. Looking at the video, though, I could have been a lot better with my movement and transitions on all the stages. I know where I'm going after each shot, I just need to get there faster.

The 5th stage I shot was the classifier. One shot on each freestyle, reload, strong hand. Second string was freestyle, reload, weak hand. On the second string my finger got in the trigger guard when I went to weak hand and it resulted in an AD. I just kind of froze, waiting to be told to stop. Knew it was going to be called. Oh well. I haven't ever shot weak hand with this pistol. I'll be practicing reloading and going to weak hand only so I can avoid this in the future.

Stage with DQ:

http://youtu.be/1ZqnLhE3rfY

First four stages:

http://youtu.be/3Dg9ePdp32M

Chemist357 · May 4, 2013

. NVM...looks like idpa

benjamin-benjamin · May 4, 2013

got to give you some props for posting that here, it goes a long way to new shooters to see people post their DQ, so they don't quit the sport or beat themselves up about it. i have a lot of respect for you posting this. thanks

CrtsHarris · May 4, 2013

benjamin-benjamin said:
got to give you some props for posting that here, it goes a long way to new shooters to see people post their DQ, so they don't quit the sport or beat themselves up about it. i have a lot of respect for you posting this. thanks

+1

poopgiggle · May 4, 2013

Mitch Gibson DQ'd when Kurt Miller was the RO. Now Dustin Cantrell. COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT!

slider · May 4, 2013

There are two types of shooters, those that have been DQ'd and those that will be DQ'd. How a shooter handles it says a lot about that shooter. We all know the rules of the respective game we shoot (if you don't, you really should). Those rules are in place to ensure everyone's safety. If you get DQ'd in a match, please be a good sport about it and learn from the mistake. I have seen some shooters take it way too personally even though it isn't anything personal at all. No range officer (RO) "likes" to DQ a shooter because they have been on the other side of the call as well and they know how it feels. [okay, stepping off soap box now]

I commend you for posting this up for the benefit of other new (and old) shooters.

Dustin Cantrell · May 5, 2013

Chemist357 said:
. NVM...looks like idpa

No IDPA here. It was USPSA.

Dustin Cantrell · May 5, 2013

Thanks for the comments, guys. A new guy in my squad was also DQ'd. It was on the stage with the long wall in the middle that you had to run up one side and back down the other. He broke the 180. I felt really bad for the guy. I think it was his first match. I hope he comes back and shoots with us again.

Bob Sanders · May 5, 2013

I got a DQ in my third match. I'm sure some thought it made me quit because I didn't shoot again for about 6 months, but I had an unrelated injury. It's awesome you could post the video, so others can learn. My RO missed a teaching opportunity with me. But he is an extremely serious competor. But I had to figure out on my own how to avoid a similar DQ.

jeffhughes · May 5, 2013

I got DQ'd the very first stage in my first USPSA match in last December. It was on a 360* stage at ATA. I broke the 180 by canting my hand when I went to an unplanned slidelock reload while shooting parallel with the 180.

The RO was very cool about it and took me aside after the stage to make sure I knew what went wrong.

Still had a great day watching my kid shoot...

The Antichrome · May 6, 2013

Devils Advocate time.

Dustin, what rule # was cited to issue the DQ?

While the RO acted absolutely correctly (I have the advantage of this video review, he didnt) a DQ should not have been handed out unless that shot hit the ground less than 10 feet away from you, or went over the berm, or happened during the hand transfer, or during the reload or during movement.

Upon discussion with the Range Master, this should not have resulted in a DQ.

Rustyzx9 · May 6, 2013

Robert, I wasn't the RO but I was keeping score when this happened. The DQ was issued because the round went over the berm. It was clear at the time and was also discussed on the spot. We were all in agreement that the round went over the berm and that if the round had stayed in the bay this would not have been a DQ.

This was the second DQ on our squad for the day and the Match Director was made aware of both incidents. Also, hats off to Dustin for posting this! It's a tough pill to swallow but we all can learn from this.

The Antichrome · May 6, 2013

Rustyzx9 said:
Robert, I wasn't the RO but I was keeping score when this happened. The DQ was issued because the round went over the berm. It was clear at the time and was also discussed on the spot. We were all in agreement that the round went over the berm and that if the round had stayed in the bay this would not have been a DQ.

This was the second DQ on our squad for the day and the Match Director was made aware of both incidents. Also, hats off to Dustin for posting this! It's a tough pill to swallow but we all can learn from this.

Fair enough! One more example why the scorekeeper serves as an additional RO and why video 'evidence' is not admissible. It sure doesnt look like the round could have gone over in the vid. I shall return to the peanut gallery;-)