Range Ettiquette

[BuckRub]

Another way to look at it- my kids are grown now but I'll soon have grandkids. If I were to show up at a range and they told me my kids were not allowed then I would not go- ever again.

[Matno]

Originally Posted by BuckRub

D. Don't bring small kids? That's our next generation of shooters! Bring them, women and other new shooters and get them Involved. I love seeing small kids at the range.

+1
I just took my three girls shooting yesterday (2 if them for the first time), and they had a blast. All three of them hit a 2" steel target at 15 yards within 3 shots with my Buck Mark. I just told them how and stood next to them while they shot. My youngest actually hit it with her first 2 shots! Can't wait to take my boys. As long as they're shooting one at a time with supervision, no reason they shouldn't be allowed at any range.

[Evan Thomas]

Of course we want to get non-shooters of whatever age involved in our sport. However, I think a good rule is that if you're bringing people you plan on teaching, they are going to be shooting, and you shouldn't be, unless it's to demonstrate a specific thing.

You need to give all your attention to a new shooter, especially a young one, to ensure safety for everyone present. By the same token, if you're going to the range to do some shooting yourself, your attention is going to be on what you're doing. If you bring little kids along, you're not going to be able to supervise them properly.

It would be different if there were another adult along and you were splitting the shooting and kid-watching time.

[Spats McGee]

I would also be reluctant to take a small child to a range if it were my first time at that particular range. Take one trip to be sure you: (1) know your way around (pronounced: know where the bathrooms are); and (2) know the rules of the range.

[Palmetto-Pride]

One thing that nobody has mentioned is don't shoot at targets that aren't yours or shoot in front of someone else's target. The last time I went to the range this idiot had brought out some old hard hats and literally threw them out in front of about three different benches that wasn't directly in front of his bench. I was shooting at 100yds and dirt is flying up in front of me from this jackass.

[22-rimfire]

The public range in my area has no written rules other than the basic safety rules. Basicially, wear ear protection. Don't shoot when anyone is forward of the shooting positions EVER. Don't mess with your guns when folks are down range. Leave them lie preferrable with the action open when anyone is down range. Pay attention to what other people are doing and be safe. When you want to walk downrange to check targets or set up targets, make sure everyone knows your intentions.

Take targets with you. You may want to take target stands as well. Sometimes the ranges use chicken wire on their stands and you need to be able to secure your targets to their stands (clips). Boxes work okay, but pay attention to the backstop.

Clean up after yourself. I sometimes take a broom with me and sweep the area and clean up everyone's mess that they leave behind.

I like the public range because I often have the place to myself during the week. This is a range on national forest land and built by the Federal Government.

Keep an eye on your "stuff" if there are a lot of people.

[BuckRub]

Post 29? Says not to take a kid first time because you have to learn the rules and you have to learn where rest rooms are- Really. LoL. With or without kids maybe that's good to know with them or without them anyways. Come on people/ if a non shooter has interest or a kid ( yours or someone's else's ) take them. Teach them and have fun. That's what's it's all about. If it wasn't a blast I wouldn't have been doing it for the past 30 something years. Know where your rest rooms are first- hahahaha

[SIGSHR]

Also, if you seen an instructor with a student-say nothing. But watch. You may learn something. Conversely, if you see a new shooter struggling with an unfamiliar firearm, offer to help. All they can do is turn you down. I was thanked by the owners of one gunshop/range I go to when when I spent time with some new shooters,helping them clear jams, load magazines correctly, etc. I have found carrying a set of screwdrivers will make you a lot of friends.

[jimbob86]

The last time I went to the range this idiot had brought out some old hard hats and literally threw them out in front of about three different benches that wasn't directly in front of his bench. I was shooting at 100yds and dirt is flying up in front of me from this jackass.

I have never been to a range where cross lane shooting was acceptable.

...or shooting at targets thrown on the ground was kosher, either......


And picking up 100% of the plastic fragments would be nigh impossible....


As for taking kids shooting ...... even with the hard economic times, and the decreased value of the dollar, I seek to take as many new shooters, especially kids, out to shoot as possible. The survival of our passion, and our nation, I believe, depends upon it.

[JohnKSa]

D. Don't bring small kids? That's our next generation of shooters! Bring them, women and other new shooters and get them Involved. I love seeing small kids at the range.

Taking a child to the range requires some additional preparation for the range trip and extra care at the range. Insuring hearing protection fits is very important, and can be a little tricky. Adult hearing protection will likely not work properly on a child, especially a small child, so don't just grab your spare gear and head to the range.

You need to be able to accurately determine if the hearing protection is fitting properly, simply asking may not provide a good response since the child may not have a frame of reference to determine if it's fitting/working properly or not.

Of course, children at the range either need to be involved in the shooting or carefully supervised by someone who has no other responsibilities during the time they are monitoring the child.

[ClydeFrog]

To clarify my posted remarks, by small kids, I mean children who are unsupervised or kids that run around screaming, crying, yelling etc.
I have no problem with a adult or family using a lane or a gun range if everyone in the party following the range SOPs or safety rules.
The same standards apply to adults too.
Music, pets, loud noises, etc can be a distraction.

I'd add too that filming, pictures, media etc should be discreet or not allowed at all. I've been on ranges where people used camera phones or video recording shooters w/o their knowledge or consent.
If you want to post Facebook or social media photos fine, but be respectful of others and don't be a pest.

CF

[zincwarrior]

Another way to look at it- my kids are grown now but I'll soon have grandkids. If I were to show up at a range and they told me my kids were not allowed then I would not go- ever again.

Agreed. I've not seen a range that didn't allow kids.

EDIT: I see Clyde's remarks above. Agreed to that as well. Children should be carefully supervised.

[ClydeFrog]

Years ago in the early 2000s, I saw a public library staff member go off on a young woman who left her small kids go in the library & took off.
Life guards, librarians, security guards, park rangers, etc are NOT child care!

If a kid wants to go shooting, fine. But if they pout, run around, cry, wander off, etc then do not bring them to a range.

I'd add too that the May 2013 issue of Guns & Weapons For Law Enforcement suggests shooting a new sidearm; "gangster style"(canted sideways) to T&E it.

Why?
Who knows. I would suggest shooting from the prone or "wounded officer" ways if it's safe-prudent to do so. Rapid fire, to me is okay, but if SOPs deny it, I understand.

CF

[ScottRiqui]

I'd add too that the May 2013 issue of Guns & Weapons For Law Enforcement suggests shooting a new sidearm; "gangster style"(canted sideways) to T&E it.

Could they be doing that in order to see if the gun is prone to ejection failures? If you're worried about the possibility, it would make sense to fire it so the that ejected shells are having to go straight up out of the ejection port.

[Skans]

Get a copy (or read online) your ranges "range rules". Memorize them. That will tell you everything you need to know, except perhaps never sweep someone with the muzzle of your firearm.

Only bring at most two guns, preferably one gun for your first visit. If you are new to this, and bring too many guns, you will be fumbling around, making lots of mistakes, make people nervous and possibly lose things.

Oh, and be familiar with the gun(s) you do bring. By that I mean make sure you know how to work the action, load/unload it; break it down for cleaning, etc. Yes, I've seen folks buy a gun, bring it to the range and fumble around trying to figure out how to work it. People who are new to shooting and unfamiliar with the gun they brought get nervous. And, when they get nervous, they unintentionally forget the rules. And the first rule they forget is to keep the muzzle pointed down range. This makes others very nervous.

[BuckRub]

Some adults need to be supervised as well

[Erno86]

At our range: Associated Gun Clubs of Marriottsville, located in Baltimore County, Maryland --- has a range rule --- that all kids 14 & under, shall be supervised at all times on the gun range. Some kids are fascinated with guns...so much that they can approach a gun during a cease fire --- rack the bolt --- thusly putting a live round into the chamber and firing off a round during a cease fire.

Proper range etiquette and the rules specify that after a cease fire is called on the firing line: all firearms shall be unloaded --- actions open, magazines removed, muzzles pointed downrange {unless muzzles pointed upwards vertically on a gun rack}; with ECI's {empty chamber indicators} inserted into the chamber of the gun. On muzzleloaders: muzzles shall be pointed vertical during a ceasefire; with the subsequent command by the RSO's during the ceasefire, when the line is called safe: No Handling of Firearms During a Ceasefire

[ChasingWhitetail91]

I don't do ranges. You never know what kind of person is armed along side you. Find a friend with a farm or some land and go to town.

[southjk]

Find a friend with a farm or some land and go to town.

If it were that easy there would be no need for ranges.

[zincwarrior]

I live in a small town with going on 6mm people. What is this "friend with a farm" you are referring to?

[ChasingWhitetail91]

It's that easy, I promise you. I'm from one of the smallest towns in a very small state, and there is many farms and fields out here. It should go without saying its not possible for everyone, but I was just giving my two cents. Thanks for paying me so much attention though.