repeating the same mistake

boatdoc

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Jun 9, 2018
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I have frequented a range in my area for years with little difficulty during my range time. Back in 2015 , when they opened, I spoke to the owners about tables in the back of the range which were causing me concern because idiots use the tables to load weapons or even w orse, work on rifles,handguns... while LOADED. They listened to me after a particularly bad session with one idiot running around behind all of us on the firing line with a loaded 1911. Luckily they listened back then before someone was shot.

fast forward to my return from outdoor range us e a few weeks ago..the tables are back( probably because NO ONE who worked there in 2015 is there now). I have reminded the owners about what happens with the tables.Had to because idiots with loaded pistols and one fool with a loaded AR were using the tables again( when I asked him to please deal with his rifle in a port..he stated" I usually do" MY response was a curt-- "except for the 2 times you have pointed it at me today right? " ).

have to say that I do not feel safe there any more. If the tables stay. I am gone
 

apipeguy

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Sep 12, 2018
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Michigan
I certainly understand your concerns. Most outdoor ranges that I frequent have little to no supervision. This is both good and bad. I shoot during the week when traffic is very light at the range. When someone that I do not know comes, I will take a break and watch them for a bit to see how safe their gun handling is. Depending on what I see, I will either continue sitting and watching or go back shooting.

Some people are very open to friendly gun safety advice and are happy to learn, others not so much.

It seems that most people don't stay too long but a few times I have decided it was better to just pack up and leave.
 

Rooster

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I'm your Huckleberry
Boat doc,
I am to the point where I'll only shoot at my clubs outdoor range during the week . If people are there, I won't shoot unless I know them and they are safe.

I went there last Sunday, the day I made the above decision . Someone had shot a hole through the lane divider. I saw that and quickly packed up.
At the clay shooting ranges, it seems that the least safety conscious people are the experienced shooters. I'm really getting tired of looking at the business end of a 12 ga. When I say something , I usually get, " my breech is open, or my bolt is locked back and gun is empty"
My dad would have kicked my behind if that barrel was pointed at someone under any circumstances.

I've personally had two unintentional discharges in my life. Both with the same gun with a defective trigger spring. (Ruger Mark Iv) Fortunately Dads marine like training had me pointing down range when it happened.

im getting very picky who I shoot with
 

boatdoc

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Jun 9, 2018
Messages
969
Boat doc,
I am to the point where I'll only shoot at my clubs outdoor range during the week . If people are there, I won't shoot unless I know them and they are safe.

I went there last Sunday, the day I made the above decision . Someone had shot a hole through the lane divider. I saw that and quickly packed up.
At the clay shooting ranges, it seems that the least safety conscious people are the experienced shooters. I'm really getting tired of looking at the business end of a 12 ga. When I say something , I usually get, " my breech is open, or my bolt is locked back and gun is empty"
My dad would have kicked my behind if that barrel was pointed at someone under any circumstances.

I've personally had two unintentional discharges in my life. Both with the same gun with a defective trigger spring. (Ruger Mark Iv) Fortunately Dads marine like training had me pointing down range when it happened.

im getting very picky who I shoot with

seen plenty of what you described too@badabing11. had enough. I will stick to the private ranges I joined now. no guarantee of safety anywhere but most older shooters take responsibility seriously
 

boatdoc

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Jun 9, 2018
Messages
969
I certainly understand your concerns. Most outdoor ranges that I frequent have little to no supervision. This is both good and bad. I shoot during the week when traffic is very light at the range. When someone that I do not know comes, I will take a break and watch them for a bit to see how safe their gun handling is. Depending on what I see, I will either continue sitting and watching or go back shooting.

Some people are very open to friendly gun safety advice and are happy to learn, others not so much.

It seems that most people don't stay too long but a few times I have decided it was better to just pack up and leave.

that is what you have to do these day. be safe and live to shoot another day-kudos
 

Buck Buck

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Aug 15, 2018
Messages
113
Tables for loading, behind a small bench for shooting,..
Ammo loads here!! Guns and Shooting There !!
OR ask them to put up berms for training newbies. When i visit my friend in Payson, AZ, their range club has about 6 lanes that have berms...
And I even am very outspoken, even at large gun stores, where a potential buyer has a twice-checked 'empty' gun in their hands.
o_O :(

It is a rule, NOT a suggestion, right??!!
:)
 

PhilaPop

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Jul 31, 2018
Messages
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Boatdoc- did your incident happen at an indoor or outdoor range? As for me, I shoot at an indoor range for pistol shooting, and belong to 2 outdoor gun clubs. One club is incredibly safety conscience w/ cameras everywhere. Members have no issue whatsoever in making comments to new or experienced shooters. It is part of the culture, and if they find you breaking the rules (e.g., you cannot bring your own steel targets), you are brought before the safety committee and memberships have been revoked (e.g., you can only shoot rifles from the bench, no standing, or prone position). You can take a test, and if you pass, then you can become designated as a multi-positional shooter.

My other club is an outdoor pistol and an outdoor rifle range. Most of the time no one is there (very rural), and you can do anything you want. For example, they have benches on the rifle range, or you can shoot multi-positional if you like, and you can bring your own steel targets.

At the indoor (commercial) range, there is zero tolerance and someone is always watching the monitors to make sure everyone keeps weapons inside the booth at ALL times, etc. I have no problem reporting issues to mgmt, and they always resolve the issue immediately. I feel pretty safe here, but as usual, I do have a lot of laughs.
 

boatdoc

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Jun 9, 2018
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Boatdoc- did your incident happen at an indoor or outdoor range? As for me, I shoot at an indoor range for pistol shooting, and belong to 2 outdoor gun clubs. One club is incredibly safety conscience w/ cameras everywhere. Members have no issue whatsoever in making comments to new or experienced shooters. It is part of the culture, and if they find you breaking the rules (e.g., you cannot bring your own steel targets), you are brought before the safety committee and memberships have been revoked (e.g., you can only shoot rifles from the bench, no standing, or prone position). You can take a test, and if you pass, then you can become designated as a multi-positional shooter.

My other club is an outdoor pistol and an outdoor rifle range. Most of the time no one is there (very rural), and you can do anything you want. For example, they have benches on the rifle range, or you can shoot multi-positional if you like, and you can bring your own steel targets.

At the indoor (commercial) range, there is zero tolerance and someone is always watching the monitors to make sure everyone keeps weapons inside the booth at ALL times, etc. I have no problem reporting issues to mgmt, and they always resolve the issue immediately. I feel pretty safe here, but as usual, I do have a lot of laughs.
philapop--lucky you to have co many choices. I was on an indoor range that I was a member of since 2015. Back then, they had tables behind the firing line and I pointed out the danger ( incidents like those that just happened again). They agreed and removed those tables. fast forward to 2019 when no one except the owners are still there from 2015. a public range at that . No one besides the shooters to watch over others. I hate confronting other shooters with LOADED guns too BUT when life and limb are at stake, it must be done--politely but firmly. I am done shooting there for good.too stressful for me

I have one indoor range that is private that I belong to( very strict rules there, cameras record our shooting) and an outdoor range a good friend sponsored me into recently..again very strict rules, rso or not you must obey the basic rules at the least.it is more fun when you are safe :)
 

Trump.45

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Oct 16, 2018
Messages
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I have frequented a range in my area for years with little difficulty during my range time. Back in 2015 , when they opened, I spoke to the owners about tables in the back of the range which were causing me concern because idiots use the tables to load weapons or even w orse, work on rifles,handguns... while LOADED. They listened to me after a particularly bad session with one idiot running around behind all of us on the firing line with a loaded 1911. Luckily they listened back then before someone was shot.

fast forward to my return from outdoor range us e a few weeks ago..the tables are back( probably because NO ONE who worked there in 2015 is there now). I have reminded the owners about what happens with the tables.Had to because idiots with loaded pistols and one fool with a loaded AR were using the tables again( when I asked him to please deal with his rifle in a port..he stated" I usually do" MY response was a curt-- "except for the 2 times you have pointed it at me today right? " ).

have to say that I do not feel safe there any more. If the tables stay. I am gone
I know exactly how you feel. I used to go to a farm to shoot in southern Wisconsin. It was great fun to pretty much shoot the way you wanted. Bring your own stuff to shoot to pieces. Just clean it up. We would all meet and make sure our benches were aligned with each other so we could keep and eye on each other for safety. Then I noticed two knuckleheads that just couldn't abide by our own rules. They would constantly go behind the rest of us and load or unload their firearms. You could hear them racking their guns. I finally had enough and just said I was sick and left. Never have returned when they would invite me. It was way too stressful thinking about the stupidity behind me then to have fun with the targets in front of me.
 

PhilaPop

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Jul 31, 2018
Messages
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philapop--lucky you to have co many choices. I was on an indoor range that I was a member of since 2015. Back then, they had tables behind the firing line and I pointed out the danger ( incidents like those that just happened again). They agreed and removed those tables. fast forward to 2019 when no one except the owners are still there from 2015. a public range at that . No one besides the shooters to watch over others. I hate confronting other shooters with LOADED guns too BUT when life and limb are at stake, it must be done--politely but firmly. I am done shooting there for good.too stressful for me

I have one indoor range that is private that I belong to( very strict rules there, cameras record our shooting) and an outdoor range a good friend sponsored me into recently..again very strict rules, rso or not you must obey the basic rules at the least.it is more fun when you are safe :)
Boatdoc- sounds like your problems have gone away. Like me, you have a private indoor range which is monitored, and looks like your buddy got you connected w/ a "law abiding" club you just joined. Problems solved.

In my experience, if the owners can't understand why it's dangerous to have folks walking around in back of you w/ loaded guns, there may not be any hope for the owners. As they said on TV, "Danger, Danger Wil Robinson!", run, don't walk. Good luck w/ your new ranges...
 

TangoWhiskeyFoxtrot

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ETex Piney Woods
That sounds like a very unpleasant situation, @boatdoc. I guess I'm lucky. Both the outdoor ranges I go to have a variety of indidviual ranges rather than lanes. Depending on when I go it's easy to grab a 25-yd pit to myself for pistol shooting. it's just me and any guests or friends I might have. No one comes in and tries to start shooting in the same pit. That's poor etiquette. Rifle ranges are a little different, as everyone stays at the shooting benches and has to move away when the range is cold and people go downrange.

I would not be comfortable shooting at that place, either.
 

boatdoc

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Messages
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That sounds like a very unpleasant situation, @boatdoc. I guess I'm lucky. Both the outdoor ranges I go to have a variety of indidviual ranges rather than lanes. Depending on when I go it's easy to grab a 25-yd pit to myself for pistol shooting. it's just me and any guests or friends I might have. No one comes in and tries to start shooting in the same pit. That's poor etiquette. Rifle ranges are a little different, as everyone stays at the shooting benches and has to move away when the range is cold and people go downrange.

I would not be comfortable shooting at that place, either.

cool set up-- good for you
 

Magicmanmbsc

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Jun 29, 2010
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Myrtle Beach SC
People think I'm crazy for wearing my vest at the indoor range we have locally. I'm shooting in equipment that I have to wear, a single table points towards the exit & a block wall. I've had multiple near misses by persons that purchased the pistol for CCW the night before. 5 out of 25 passed range 50 rounds. Showed the owner why no more beginner classes he actually agreed started offering basic training. Son teaches and was sent literature by the state pushing Glock's specifically because 1911 style and other pistols with manual safety and single action were dangerous and more likely to have an ND especially carried IWB. I just don't understand how all the non-Glock pistols jump out and discharge. And In my rotation I carry nearly every brand and style the only problem I ever had was salt air and crap holster that an agency issued us forG17.

Luckily I now carrry cocked and locked in .45acp along with a 10mm if hog hunting. It pays to be safe on the range ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH NEW SHOOTERS & Internet Expert Shooting Instructor that took a class from EXPERTS.
 

Bender

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Meh.........
Most ranges I've been at require weapons to be cased if brought aft of the firing line. I don't go to ones where weapons can be handled aft of said line
 

boatdoc

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Jun 9, 2018
Messages
969
Most ranges I've been at require weapons to be cased if brought aft of the firing line. I don't go to ones where weapons can be handled aft of said line

mine do too but there are knuckleheads out there who ignore the rules.
 

John Galt

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And that's why when I was looking for a new house it had to have a big back yard. I've now got 18 acres a good back stop and no range fees (well mostly, I gotta mow the grass)


Hi

I finally carpeted my range........no more mowing, no more weed eating, no more fire hazard in summer, EASY to pick up brass.

I go to craigslist and pick up all the remnants I can get for free. I have since found a shooter with a carpet store and he is bringing me all his large remnants and I am inviting he and his family to use the range.

My two cents..........lay the carpet down 3 or more layers thick and use a couple six inch nails at the corners. You can not lay it down too thick.

The first day I layed it out we had 60 mph winds and it all blew up. Once it rains a few times the weeds and dirt will hold it down.

I used to have to mow and weed eat every two-three weeks. NEVER AGAIN!
 
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