At a recent club series match, a competitor (new to action shooting) was shooting a club stage in which he shot the rifle portion and properly grounded his rifle without issue, then drew his pistol and shot the pistol portion and grounded his pistol in the designated box, then started to head over to where his shotgun was staged. Well, after he grounded his pistol properly, he realized he did not engage a pistol target, so proceeded to pick his pistol back up from the box. When he did, the RO DQ'd him. Is that right?

I was not there to witness this, first hand. I am wanting to know if picking up a grounded pistol is a penalty. I am failing to find something in the rules about this, but I may just be overlooking something.

Can I get a clarification from someone more experienced than myself on the issue?

Thanks in advance.

Could have been a club rule. I have seen clubs that make you empty any gun you ground if you are going to move forward of were you ground it.

I don't see how or why that would be a DQ.
What I've seen is the following
Once you turn loose of it , you can't pick it back up.
You can pick back up, as long as you've not fired a shot from the next gun.

Since we are permitted to re-holster and use the pistol later in the stage, why would we not be permitted to retrieve a gun as long  as its done safely?

Actually I've never seen it done but would like to know for my own education.  Someday I may need to try it.

Bill