Editor's Note: The following is the second in a series of special reports on the sometimes difficult job of accommodating disabled in shooting sports. Our thanks to ShootingUSA for allowing us to participate and share the story with our readers.

IDPA Works to Make Sport More Accessible for Disabled Shooters

The 2012 International Defensive Pistol Association Indoor Shooting Championships marked the first time two disabled shooters competed in the major event. Those competitors were Chris Fleming, a former Marine with prosthetic legs, and Trevor Baucom, a wheelchair shooter and member of Team Smith & Wesson.

Look to see more of Baucom, Fleming, and others like them him in the future. That's because IDPA wants to see the shooting sports and competition accessible to disabled shooters.

Changes are already underway to make that reality. At the match Fleming and Baucom provided valuable feedback to IDPA Executive Director Joyce Wilson and longtime IDPA Northeast Regional Coordinator Tom Yost. He happens to be an influential course designer throughout the organization.

"We are reviewing the rulebook to evaluate how to make the stages more compatible for disabled shooters," said Yost, also a consultant for Smith & Wesson. "We are dedicated to making that happen."

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2061205.jpeg> Former Marine Chris Fleming competes on prosthetic legs at the Indoor Nationals. Fleming lost both legs below the knee in an IED explosion in Iraq. ShootingUSA photo.

It began happening at the IDPA Indoor Nationals. Yost and his design staff ran the course with a wheelchair to make sure the stages were accessible. They also maintained IDPA's high standards for keeping the match competitive.

Baucom appreciated the chance to provide the feedback, while testing his shooting skills in a competitive atmosphere alongside the top ranked amateurs shooting and factory sponsored pro shooters, like Julie Golob from Smith & Wesson.

"I think I speak for a lot of disabled shooters in saying the competition should not be changed based on me or another disabled shooter," he said. "The only modifications that need to be made in the future are in course design, making sure a chair can fit between barricades and that a shooter in a chair can engage all the targets."

Baucom embraced the challenges of competing in a match beside very accomplished shooters like Jerry Miculek. In many cases, those challenges evolved into tactical observations for the wheelchair shooter.

"From a mechanical standpoint my draw is a bit different due to where the holster is mounted," he said. "When I shoot the recoil rocks the chair with every shot. That obviously makes follow up shots difficult."

He continued, "I have found that different tires have different effects. I have a pair of mountain bike tires and a pair of road bike tires for my chair. It seems that the mountain bike tires give more rock to the chair while shooting, but they also make it easier to navigate off road."

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2061207.jpeg> Trevor Baucom Shoots the Movie Theatre state at the 2012 Indoor Nationals, designed to be sure he can see all targets from his chair. ShootingUSA photo.

Baucom discovered other useful wheelchair shooting tactics at the IDPA event.

"There were some stages that required me to shoot on the move," he explained. "I found out that my tire pressure was different between my two tires so when I would roll to do my shooting while moving, the chair would veer off to one side."

He added, "I was able to work with it. I would rehearse the stage and particularly the movement portions and practice my roll to get it right. The other issue with the movement happened when I rolled and turned my upper body to engage a target, which made the chair turn in that direction."

Baucom admitted some of his mobility issues are due to his injury. The former U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot was wounded in a crash during a nighttime assault mission in Afghanistan. The injury left him without the use of his lowest abdominal muscles and lower back.

"That makes it difficult to lean into the shot to help absorb recoil," he said. "The fix is as simple as lowering the back rest on the chair a couple positions but it is not the most comfortable."

Baucom shot the in the SSP Division, with a Smith & Wesson 5 inch Pro Series, chambered in 9mm. His holster was a Safariland-modified model 5198 specially designed for wheelchair shooters. The holster is planned for retail introduction later this year. Atlanta Arms & Ammo, another sponsor, provided his competition ammo.

Baucom summed up his IDPA match as both learning experience and a good time. He'll apply what he learned and will continue improving his skills elsewhere at other competitions.

"I could do just about everything anyone else could do even though I'm in a wheelchair," he said. "The issue was finding how to do so within my limitations. In the end the competition was a blast. I learned a lot, I met some great people, and I had a great time."

-- Craig Lamb

www.ShootingUSA.com