THOSE People At The Range

[Aguila Blanca]

Originally Posted by stagpanther

Most of the time when stuff like this happens in my experience--it's likely there has been a long trail of abuse and complaints that led up to the action. Most of the ranger types are not paid to sit in their cars and watch the leaves fall while waiting for the right moment to tag someone with a ticket. The people responsible probably will never be caught/fined--but by "getting the word out" they hope people will play nice. If not, they might just say the heck with it and close the range altogether--I've seen it happen several times.

According to a good friend who lives in PA, some of the public ranges on state game lands were closed for lengthy periods of time a few years ago. He said the stated reason was "renovations," but he saw no renovations being made, and they stayed closed much longer than should have been needed to renovate an outdoor range.

I don't remember if the one he used to go to has re-opened or not. I'll have to ask.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by mehavey

What course of fire is that ?
Skeet/Trap/Clays . . . I've never seen it.

Skeet & trap on one side and clays along 2 other sides. I believe it is safe, just eerie.

[mehavey]

Skeet & trap on one side and clays along 2 other sides...

I've never seen those laid out in any configuration other than side-by-side in a string... all firing roughly same direction/downrange where shot falls into the same field(s)....
Never back anywhere even remotely at other firing positions.

(Remind me where we'd find anything different and I'll avoid it like the plague. )

[zukiphile]

Originally Posted by Aguila Blanca

According to a good friend who lives in PA, some of the public ranges on state game lands were closed for lengthy periods of time a few years ago. He said the stated reason was "renovations," but he saw no renovations being made, and they stayed closed much longer than should have been needed to renovate an outdoor range.

I've been using a state range located in a conservancy area in Ohio for several years. I live in the more populated northern part of the state so it's the only state rifle range within a two hour drive. It's simple; a gravel lot, benches maybe eight feet apart and back stops at various distances.

It closed on 12.31.22 for renovations, but it may not re-open ever depending on whether a rare sub-species of something is identified.

If it's renovated, it will be by new state standards. All positions will be under a roof and closer together with mesh dividers between each position. Boards are mounted above the targets apparently to divert high shots, but those boards also reflect the sound back at shooters.

Louder and no direct sunlight. This is another step in the march of progress that seems like an expensive regression.

[stuckinthe60s]

funny some of you complain about brass hitting and burning you.
I was trained in the military to get use to it , it was part of life and got yelled at if my concentration flinched .01" when on target.
to this day, when on my front sight, nothing distracts me. even the heat of a spent casing.

funniest thing that ever happened to me was at the world shoot. im a lefty. I was shooting a semi auto and 2 birds were thrown. I hit the first one and the spent hull bounced off my forearm, it then landed spent primer down perfectly on the rib opening up and it sat perched there. I couldn't see. but since I shot that pair so many times I just kept swinging and pulled the trigger hitting the second bird.....then the hull fell off. everyone including the judge saw it and called it remarkable shooting.

[Hawg]

I'm just glad I don't have to shoot at a range.

[D Eagle 50]

At my outdoor range in northern NJ, that would NEVER happen. First of all, a 4-year-old would not be permitted on the firing line. Second, while the range is cold, magazines must be removed and chamber flags inserted. If you step over the safety line you'll get a scolding from the RSO. Lay a finger on the bench and you might be done for the day. Handle a firearm while someone is downrange? You'll have your membership revoked. Shoot at any form of wildlife? Even if it's a mouse you'll have your membership revoked.

Throughout its 90-year history, no one has ever been shot and they intend to keep it that way. I prefer not to get shot when I go to the range, so I don't mind the rules.

[reddog81]

Originally Posted by zeke

If you fire while someone is down range at our club, you would be mighty lucky to ever shoot there again. If not arrested.

Where in the post does it mention rounds being fired while down range? The errant shot was one extra hole in his target…

[Mike Irwin]

I once had a little kid, maybe 6, 7, years old, point a damned kids .22 rifle at me at the range, NOT accidentally, apparently because he thought it was funny and cool.

His Dad wasn't paying attention until I yelped -- LOUD -- at the kid.

Dad turned around, fire in his eyes, until I said something to the effect of I'd appreciate your son NOT pointing a rifle at me.

Much to his credit, Dad grabbed the rifle, lit into the kid, and turned the kid over his knee. I just got back into my car and left.

[SIGSHR]

In one of his columns shortly after we enetered Iraq Jeff Cooper wrote that many of his correspondents were appalled by the careless weapons handling they saw. And those were supposed to be "professionals."
At one indoor range I go to they allow rifles up to 30/06 indoors. One time i was shooting a 22, someone decied to occupy the lane next to me firing a 223.

[TruthTellers]

Don't get me started on crying children. Thankfully I pay dues to a GOOD range and go to the areas during days and times few people are there and have never had to deal with kids. Every retail store should have its own daycare section so the kids can be plopped there for however long it takes the parents to shop, even shopping an hour before closing it's like you can't avoid the dopey parents who drag their 3 yr old to the dollar store at 8 at night.

As for range aggravations, the only one I have is the outdoor rifle range where every 5 minutes someone new shows up and we have to stop and wait 5 minutes for them to put up targets, get 5 mins to shoot before another person shows up to repeat the process.

Because of that, I've just given up on the rifle range, once I sight in a rifle I don't feel a need to go back much and I'd rather keep up with my pistol shooting anyway.

[Jim Watson]

At one indoor range I go to they allow rifles up to 30/06 indoors. One time i was shooting a 22, someone decied to occupy the lane next to me firing a 223.

Yeah, I know the bullet traps are rifle rated and it is a profit center for the dealer, but an indoor rifle range is downright painful. The one here is divided into two bays, a 25 and a 50 yard side but they will let a rifle on the short side. I just take a break and see if they run out of ammo before I have to leave.

[44 AMP]

In one of his columns shortly after we enetered Iraq Jeff Cooper wrote that many of his correspondents were appalled by the careless weapons handling they saw. And those were supposed to be "professionals."

One of the "curses" of the modern era is that people assume that "professional" means "skilled" or at worst, "competent". And that is simply not always the case.

Professional simply means you get paid for doing it. It is your profession, but that has little bearing on how good you actually are at doing it. In a way, its like evolution, the only measurement of success is that you survive, not that you're the best at what you do.

The firearms competence of the majority of our troops today is entirely the result of what the military has taught them, and what they, as individuals decided to learn. And, its NOT a new problem.

[Pahoo]

One of the "curses" of the modern era is that people assume that "professional" means "skilled" or at worst, "competent". And that is simply not always the case.

Like many of you folks, I have been involved with firearms, most of my life. I suspect that I will be on this learning curve, for a few more years. Given that, we can all take the opertunity to "mentor" other folks. I do this, just about every day and my latest, is a 9-yr. old lad. I run into "Those-People" at private ranges, as well. .....

I am an RSO Hunter Ed Instructor, firearm safety instructor, NMLRA instructor and so on. ......

MENTORING;
I rarely go to public ranges and when I do, I wear one of my Blaze-Orange caps from the DNR. I start using range commands when things get too loose. Surprisingly Enough, folks pay attention and get the idea. One mother even thanked me even though later, she told me that she hated guns and that most should be banned. ....

My main point is, we can always mentor folks to the best of our experience.

[7.62 man]

I belong to a club range & we police our own membership. Everyone has had training & is supposed to know the rules and follow them. If I see someone that is not following the rules or is doing something questionable, I have the right & duty to stop them to advise them of the hazards of their actions.
Keeping the club range safe is everyone job.
So don't run off with your feelings hurt, stand up & tell them what's wrong.

[armoredman]

One of the "curses" of the modern era is that people assume that "professional" means "skilled" or at worst, "competent". And that is simply not always the case.

Professional simply means you get paid for doing it. It is your profession, but that has little bearing on how good you actually are at doing it. In a way, its like evolution, the only measurement of success is that you survive, not that you're the best at what you do.

The firearms competence of the majority of our troops today is entirely the result of what the military has taught them, and what they, as individuals decided to learn. And, its NOT a new problem.

I have worn body armor to my Dept qualifications when I knew certain staff were going to be there. Being paid to carry a gun is no guarantee of competence.

[stagpanther]

I have worn body armor to my Dept qualifications when I knew certain staff were going to be there. Being paid to carry a gun is no guarantee of competence.

That's almost funny, if it weren't sad.

[DaleA]

I have worn body armor to my Dept qualifications when I knew certain staff were going to be there.

Yowser! I agree with Stagpanther's previous comment about this.

I do remember a thread in the past where folks posted pictures of high tech ranges from REALLY professional organizations (FBI, Secret Service, SWAT teams etc.) and if you looked closely you could almost always see some bullet marks in the ceilings and walls.

Heck, Massad Ayoob famously, publicly, posted about putting a round through the ceiling of a range when he checked a swing out cylinder revolver and failed to notice there was a round in one chamber. He was testing the trigger pull and eventually the live round came up and fired. Note: I have a LOT of respect for him posting it.

[Jim567]

Army Infantry, peace time 1970s.
Seemed like everyone walked around with the finger on the trigger.
Cleared Chambers were stressed.
Never heard a word about sweeping or fingers in the trigger guard.