Cardboard Cowboy

Morning all, Had a situation at a recent match where I was the TO. I was on the right side of the shooter so I was unable to see the controls of the gun. Gun works properly for the 1st mag and reload. Shooter finishes shooting 2nd mag, slide locks back. When he drops his empty mag the slide closes. I tell him to lock the slide back as he is loading his 3rd mag. He hesitates and does as directed. 3rd and 4th mag changes slide locks properly and stays locked during reload. All four mags were from a stand and deliver stage. After the stage he ask me why he needed to lock the slide back as it was a slide lock malfunction. In my opinion it was not a slide lock malfunction as the slide initially locked at the end of the string, it only closed when he dropped the mag. I was also unsure if he may have hit the slide release, again I was on the opposite side of the controls so I was not able to see what he actually did. He insisted that he did not hit the slide release during the mag change and it was the mag that caused the malfunction. He later talked with me and informed me he had borrowed a mag, and it was the one that was associated with the slide dropping, and it was the culprit. He is not upset for the call, just not real comfortable with it. I see the same shooter a week later at another match and he brings the subject up again. He is convinced that he had a slide lock failure and should have been allowed to reload the mag with the slide forward. His interpretation of the rule is that he should be allowed to reload with the slide forward in this scenario. We are just trying to get straight in our minds what is right in this scenario. In my mind and the way I interpret the ruling, this situation called for the shooter to relock the slide open as it was not a slide lock failure. Any and all opinions and ruling are greatly appreciated. Cardboard Cowboy

Just returned from Ga State shoot and saw this. Damn, so sorry to hear. Dave was a wonderful person and a top notch gunsmith. I'll miss talking with him. CC

Hey Back 40. Foxy actually won the gun back for $3600 but I told them I was planning on going to $4500. So yes we got it back for $4500. Sitting on the mantel right now. CC

Hey Back 40, glad to hear. Foxy and I will do are best to be there on time. We'll make it into Paducah Ky Thursday night and then only 400 miles to the range. As long as I can get her up and in the truck by 0600, we'll make it with a little time to spare. Cardboard Cowboy & Foxy Filly