idiots at the range

[lmao_37]

I was having a great day at the rifle range yesterday, i was doing really well getting good groupings my rifle was shooting great, then the range officer called a cease fire, which they do there every 15 Min's so you can put up fresh targets, so i took the mag off and locked the bolt back and checked to make sure my rifle was safe and then as i stepped back there were 3 bangs in rapid fire further down the line next thing the range officer shouted over the pa system ''cease fire cease fire when i tell you to cease fire i expect you to unload your rifle and remove your mag n leave the action open and the safety on and step away from the bench'' at that point the guy cleared his rifle and stepped away from the bench and the range officer said now advance and check you targets which everyone did i was looking down the line before i stepped forward to check my target and i had eyes in the back of my head while i was down range when we got back there was a range officer having a waggin finger talk with the shooter, after that i couldn't hit the same size groupings and i couldn't get comfy again so i ended up going down to the steel drop target range and got away from the idiot but i had a good day on the drop targets hitting them and dropping them out to 200 yards all in all a great day but i was a little unnerved by that idiot  >:(

[techmike]

That sucks, but a good range officer would have walked the line and checked that all firearms were locked open and safe!

TM

[lmao_37]

I know what you mean, when i was in a cadet force in the U.K (something like ROTC here in America) the range officer use to check each rifle was safe before anyone even moved off the firing line .At this range they have windows in the range office/shop and the range officer is sat watching out of the window and they also have cameras looking back up the line he can see right along the line and see whats going on in both directions, after he called the cease fire it only took seconds to clear and check my rifle and step back, the guy must have just been deaf or just ignored the range officer, this is the first time i have been there when something like this has happened,  hopefully this is last time it happens i don't want to have to find another range to shoot at.

[Mr. Jones]

My personal favorite was the first time I ever went to a public range. I was assigned to the partition (pistol range) next to a couple of college kids that were trying to draw and shoot a 9mm like a gangsta.  I was rather amused watching them try to pull the pistol from the waistbands of their saggy ass jeans; and then watch them fire the pistol sideways, gangsta style. 

It was mildly funny until one of them snagged the pistol in their shirt and put a bullet through my partition divider.  I called (screamed) my own cease fire and called for the range officer to remove them.  And here comes the best part of the story:

The two kids started acting all badass and talking some kind of suburban thug gangsta crap to the range officer, at which time approximately 15 armed Texans turned to watch; not pointing their weapons but ready with them.  It ended with the gangsta kids leaving; still running their mouths, but leaving just the same.

My first trip and I thought there was going to be a goddamn shootout.  I was so shaken up I could barely pack my gear; and I couldn't get out of their fast enough.

Just recently I was at a different range that I am a newer member of, and a guy brings his kids to the bench for some fun and training.  Each of three children had their own rifles, which I thought was pretty cool.  The father lines them out, and gets them set up, his daughters are tearing it up with two bolt action antiques.  He then proceeds to pull out a Steyr Aug (so new I could smell the cosmoline) and preps it for duty.  About three shots in, the gun jams and the guy  starts turning the rifle over and over in his hands trying to find an issue.  Mind you, the barrel was pointed straight down the line, where his children were standing, and his finger never left the trigger.  I could see the red dot of the Fire ready indicator from over 10 feet away.  It was this point i realized this might have been the guys first "assault rifle," as he was clearly unsure of what the bolt catch did and pressed it repeatedly, like it was a "unjam" button or something.

  I tried to wave him down and give him a big hearty "watch the F### out!" just as he found the mag release, dropped the mag, and then points the rifle downrange and shook it...like the bullet would unjam or fall out or something.  When nothing happens, he starts to set the rifle down and fires an accidental shot into the dirt about 3 yards in front of the bench.  You could see textbook embarrassment and fear on the guy's face.  He looked absolutely sick to his stomach.  I guess having all the other shooters look at him in disgust and apprehension was enough to drive him off, within minutes the guy rounded up his kids and gear and disappeared.

Just goes to show you, or remind you where gun accidents come from.  It also served as a lesson to me to be extra vigilant when I am surrounded by strangers with firearms.  I grew up in a "gun family" where we start shooting as early as we can lift grandpas 30.06, so I had developed a comfort zone around other shooters.  Not so much anymore, I would like to trust and and feel safe around my fellow shooters; but you just never really know their level of experience or knowledge (or consciousness of safety).

The best is going to the range on Law Enforcement or Armed Forces day, when they get to shoot free.  Being surrounded by professional shooters changes the whole environment and I do feel more confident in my own safety.

[asmurff]

These remind me why I pay membership fees to shot at a private club.

When I shot at the public range here in Albuquerque and gangstas showed up I'd quit till they were off the line which isn't long usually since their idea of shooting is just yanking the trigger as fast as they can. I will say the public range was very strict specially when those types showed up.

People clearing jams scare the daylights out of me, gun pointed ever which away, fingers on triggers, even saw one look down the barrel just before the guy next him took the pistol. In the Ruger Rimfire and Tactical .22 Matches I'm just getting into the RSO has to clear jams or malfunctions not cleared by the first operating of the bolt, and if it can't be cleared the RSO must physically remove the weapon from the range.

[lmao_37]

I have had a few malfunctions while i have been shooting and the muzzle is ALWAYS pointed down range if i cant clear it with 1 pull of the cocking handle i take the mag off and lock the bolt back then see what the problem is, most of the time its just a fte and the empty case falls out of the mag well or a misfeed on the mag  (i had 3 on sunday strange never had that problem before) but i never move the rifle from down range i was trained in rifle shooting and gun safety by military range officers and they were very very strict and if you were seen doing anything wrong you were kicked off the range no questions asked.

[Mr. Jones]

I recently joined the Lone Star gun range in Lockhart, TX.  While it is a public range, I have yet to see anything that worried me aside from that one guy with the Steyr.  Otherwise it has been a very comfortable experience and a great family environment.  Ranges are getting hard to find, so while I can afford membership to the Austin Rifle Club, I can't afford the 150 mile round trip often enough to warrant the membership; happy where I'm at anyways.

Personally I was trained in marksmanship and hunting by my grandfather who was a WWII Marine rifle expert, and then later I served on the rifle team in high school NJROTC and NJOCS, so very strict regimen.  I think more and more every day that prospective gun owners should be required to take a course with this type of instruction.  I know it steps all over the second amendment, but a gun owner with no training is like a car without brakes or steering wheel, just an accident waiting to happen. 

lol, I remember my cousins and I being 5 or 6 and being required to clear the breech and present arms to my grandfather at the end of a session.  It seems like that old man can trim hedges from 1000yds with a 80 year old enfield .308  8)

[techmike]

I am lucky enough to be a member of a private club just across the line in Michigan. Outdoor pistol, 15, 25 , 50, and a 100 yd rifle. Plus an indoor range for non magnum pistol. $60 / year. The outdoor pistol range has an aluminum roof to keep the sun off. I was very surprised last trip to see several bullet holes in the roof. This is so uncool, as over the years the range has been surrounded by housing.....

TM

PS we need a "thumb down" smiley!

[Mr. Jones]

Looks like a very nice range, and $60 a year is awesome for a private club.  The closest club to me is over $300 for the first year and a little less after that.

An yes, bullet holes in the roof is not cool at all.  It shows that the shooter has absolutely no education or respect.  We just had a tragedy where a little boy got killed because someone was firing recklessly in a lightly wooded suburban area.  An acre of trees wont even stop a pellet gun.  Now we are facing a county ordinance prohibiting the discharge of a firearm on any plot of land smaller than ten acres.  >:(

My two biggest firearms peeves:

1. firing into the air or blindly/recklessly at nothing.

2. allowing the firearm to point in the direction of people.

[lmao_37]

that does look a great place to shoot and what a price that's less a year than i pay for the public range i use, the holes in the roof just shows that someone has no respect for the place or the training to shoot on a range and should be banned for everyone else's safety either on the range or the local neighbors

My two biggest firearms peeves:

1. firing into the air or blindly/recklessly at nothing.

2. allowing the firearm to point in the direction of people.

i agree with you wholeheartedly  safety is number 1 there is a sign at the range i use it says'' don't point you weapon at anything you don't wanna destroy''

[asmurff]

Here is a pic of my club from Google Earth, $160 for the wife and I, plus each of us has 2 guest badges so we can take friends when they visit.

[Alfa One]

Looks real nice!

[lmao_37]

wow thats a cool range and for what they offer thats cheap  ;D