Thrown off the skeet range!

[Kweeksdraw]

My word! I couldn't believe what was happening.
I took my 1878 Colt over to the Bull Run Shooting Center here in Northern Virginia, a site adjacent to the famous battlefield. I wanted to try my shotgun with the new black powder shells I'd just made up.
So I went over to the wobblers range and introduced myself to the puller and all the shooters there that day, and told them about my shotgun, and the ammo I wanted to shoot. Does anybody have any objections? Nobody did, in fact they were enthusiastic to see the thing go!
Each stage is a single shot then two doubles. We shot the first stage, and everyone was having a great gufaw, asking questions and generally having a nice time when a fellow came up from the "house" all excited and asked if I new there was a 3 1/2 drams equivalent load limit on ammo. Yes, says I, this here is only 3 drams-actual. Well, says he, you're using too large of shot. No, son, shot size doesn't matter, the weight will, but I'm at the ounce and an eigth limit and it is the required # 7 1/2. Well, O.K. then, and off he goes.
Three shots later he's back, this time having run back up, and tells me I have to cease fire. Not allowed to shoot that stuff, stop it now! I'm sorry, personally I think it's cool, but the boss won't have it.
O.K., so much for diversity!
Later, while I'm shooting trap with my A-5, the guy comes back over and says he's got an explanation...it's a fire hazard. Hmm. Well that course is five inches deep in broken clay and shot, more or less. I imagine I could light off a flame thrower without causing a fire.
Sigh.
Is this happening to other black powder shooters too?
Cheers!
Kweeksdraw.

 

[somoss]

public trap range workers seem to be very panicky and at times mercurial. must be from dealing with the public with varyindg degrees of gun safety knowledge. They remind me of cartoon squirrels on red bull.
I would have loved to have seen you shoot your gun.

 

[Jim Watson]

I knew a black powder shooter who was disinvited from a hunting area because of the funny boom, smoke, and flash. He shot his BP Ithaca at trap or skeet seldom enough that it was a novelty and not an annoyance.

 

[Jaymo]

Sue 'em fer 'scrimination.

 

[scramasax]

To bad about some twit getting thier nickers in a twist. That was an enjoyable range when I visited. Just another example of why I dislike public shooting ranges in general.

You never know when you'll upset someone with to little mind and to much power.

btw I shoot a 28g and don't have a problem with BP 10g or full autos.

Best regards

 

[Kweeksdraw]

"Sue 'em fer 'scrimination."

Hah! That's what I say!
In the mean time I'm trying to figure out a nice letter to win over the overseer, and maybe get up a bunch of BP guys to go down there and put on a demo for the unwashed masses. Maybe some flint shooters, maybe a guy shooting a gun from every era. We could cover the field in dry straw and see if we could get a fire to start.
But really, like Mr. Watson's friend I'm not going to make a career out of this gun, just every now and again...

 

[45-70 Ranger]

I understand the issue. Long ago when my eyes were good, I was a member of a local shooting club that had a range in an old gravel pit. Every year they would have a "Turkey Shoot" involving any rifle of your choice and we'd shoot 100 yds standing at a paper target of a, you guessed it, turkey. My weapon of choice was an original 1884 Springfield Trapdoor rifle. I was shooting against folks with .243, .270, .30-30, well, you get the picture....After the shoot was done and the scores were in, I had won the match. The prize was your year's membership dues paid in full. (This was 1974 and I think that was about $20).....I was being congratulated by many members on how well I had shot that old rifle and was having a grand time. Then one member started his stink....It got to where he was arguing that I had used "too long of a barrel" and that I had cheated. He had used a scoped .308 M70 with a sling and all. I had shot with the old Buffington rear sights and that tiny blade up front and used BP loads of my own making. It got to the point that this radical ( I won't say nasty words here ) person finally got his way and the club president said I was disqualified for using too long of a barrel in the competition. I looked at the president of the club and told him that he and his "Buddy" better pray that they never commit any violation when I'm on the job. I was a deputy in that county and when I said that, I smiled and walked away and never returned.

The guy that started that mess was later arrested for DWI by a state trooper and placed in our jail. The president was cited once by a local city officer for a traffic violation, but had refused to sign the citation. They booked him into our jail, as the town had no jail and used ours.

I was often seen visiting the jail to "check" on my two former shooting member's well being. Revenge is a dish best seved cold.....just like all the meals these two were served in our jail! Their cellmates were "real friendly too" if you get my drift.......Yeah, I understand all too well about ranges and such. Glad I have my own......I'll never join another club as long as I live.

 

[Voodoochile]

I'm a member of a local chapter of the IWLA, although I wasn't kicked off the range I did have 3 prominent members walk up to the pistol range from the rifle range to see what kind of Artiliry piece I had up there when I was firing my Pietta NMA AKA Lil Cannon.

 

[Davek1977]

Sue 'em fer 'scrimination.

i hope that, in today's world of frivolous lawsuits aplenty, this was a joke. You ever think of the possible ramifications from this....like the shooting range going bye bye altogether because of such things? Long story short, the range can make whatever rules it wants...you are but a guest using their facilities. Even if the policy makes no sense, a lawsuit would be about my LAST resort rather than my first suggested option.

 

[DrLaw]

45-70 Ranger. Too bad you are down in Texas. We would enjoy a person with such a fun sense of humor up here. Just yesterday, I had my first opportunity shooting a .43 Spanish Rolling block. We do BP shoots up here, and have several members with trapdoors as well.

I just can't see the problems that some of the others here have had, since we don't have that here. Weird.

The Doc is out now.

 

[Foto Joe]

If everybody used Black Powder in their shotgun shells then there wouldn't be all that unburned smokeless powder left laying on the ground. And THAT is the solution to the "fire hazard".

Smokeless is such a polluting dangerous powder, if only more people would use the environmentally friendly powder we do.

 

[45-70 Ranger]

I agree that a law suit would be a bad thing for the other shooters that use the range. As so well put above, law suits of light grievance would possibly threaten to shut down another range. But I sure would make it known to MANY folks that they have some ridiculous rules that often are made up on the spot. I also would personally demand to see IN WRITTING the rule that the "envoked" that day. IF they have already "Marked" you as a "trouble maker" at their range, this may prove to be a lost cause, but it never hurts to go to the top and do some chest beating and see what response you get. You might get a heart felt apology or get thrown off the place for good. Ya never know until you go for it. But I sure would not just let it lie and do nothing.



DrLaw,

Yes sir, I got a bit of a twisted sense of humor to be sure. I figure life's too short to take it too serious all the time. That's what leads to high blood prssure and a heart attack! So I often will approach things with my tongue already in my cheek!! But I am the kinda guy that. if someone throws a right cross at me, I DON"T lean into it! I COUNTER PUNCH! I see the need to counter punch here at this range and the little geek that needs a tweak!

Later guys, I'm off to go hunt hogs and coyotes at work. Ya gotta love it!

Wade

 

[Kweeksdraw]

Don't worry Dave, I'm thinking more in terms of changing his (demented, undernourished, pig-eyed) mind, not busting his chops. Even though he probably needs it. With any point of view, and especially with us shooters, it's critical to change minds. It's how we are going to gain political power and preserve our sport and our freedoms.

I gotta recognize that 45-70 Ranger's thinking is right too. I'm just not sure I can figure out how to do both things at once.

So far I'm not marked down as a trouble maker, and they do have a very nice facility and crew. I was down there again tonight with my A-5. After using the sporting clays course I was walking back to the parking lot while some fellows were up there at the wobblers course. I noticed that the place has a heck of an echo from the woods across the field. That must have really bounced back that deep throated BP roar and frightened weaker hearts!

 

[baylorattorney]

I am unaware of the climate conditions up Virginia ways, but down here in South Texas until recently, there were burn bans nearly statewide. Just a spark could send several thousand acres up in smoke. Would that have anything to do with the gentleman's fear? Didn't you just get good rains? I'm only speculating....

 

[MCgunner]

Sue 'em fer 'scrimination.

Hmm, discrimination against blacks.....ammo that is. Sounds good. You could probably find a lawyer to run with it.

 

[Kweeksdraw]

B.A., you're right, we have had rain. In fact it was drizzling at the time this all occurred.

 

[W.E.G.]

If your gun sounds different to the guy in the house, you're gonna get thrown off the range.

I got thrown off the PG County range in Maryland because they didn't like the sound of my handloads.

Fudds.

 

[Curator]

Two years ago I was shooting at my club's pistol range with two other couples. After about 50 rounds of smokeless .45 Colt loads I loaded some black powder loads: 35 grains of Goex FFFg and 255 grain lead bullet. After the first 5 shots the couple on the right of me left in a hurry with disparaging backwards glances. The guy-half of the other couple approached me and asked if I was shooting reloads. I explained I was shooting black powder and it did make a bit more noise and smoke. He seemed placated. After another cylinder full, he approached me again with more determination, demanding that I stop. He claimed my gun was seriously overloaded and I was endangering everyone on the range. (which was me, him, and his wife who was looking daggers at me) I again explained, patiently, that black powder did make a louder boom but actually had lower pressures than the 9mm stuff he was shooting. He became really animated and insisted I stop shooting or he was going to report me to the club president. Remembering that it is never wise to argue with fools I packed it up for the day. No amount of explanation was going to help with these folks. A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing!

 

[Curator]

Kweeksdraw:

You shoot a REAL Colt 1878 shotgun? This is my 1878 12 gage. I used to make black powder loads with all-brass shells 50 years ago, I have since retired it since I have several much newer guns and I did not want to risk damaging it. They are real beauties!

 

[Kweeksdraw]

Curator;
Indeed I do. But just to spice it up a bit. Nothing like you'd use a modern gun. I had this in my collection for some time; one day a friend was waxing nostalgic about hunting over a good dog with a nice double gun. I wasn't real sure what he meant by that, but I remembered this Colt. Hey, I think I have a double gun. Let's give it a try. Another buddy is a talented gunsmith and I let him have a good look at it and he gave it the O.K. Everything checked out, only a well repaired dent in one barrel, not even a check in the wood.
Here's a picture.
Tell me about that guncase!

 

[Hellgate]

Musta been fun shooting at the quail and watching for it to fall out of the cloud. Beautiful photo. Smart looking shorthair too.

 

[MJRW]

I was on the wobble stand one field before yours and saw them talking about that. Small world. They should have been more concerned with the new shooters on the stand I was at that didn't seem to be able to remember to open action and thought eye and ear protection were things for other people.

 

[Kweeksdraw]

MJRW;
Did you hear the gun fire? From behind, the difference is nominal so I didn't appreciate much difference other than the smoke. I'd be interested in some of the comments made too, I didn't get to give a heads up to all the shooters, just the ones on that course.
You're right about watching some of those shooters! I think I know the group of four you're talking about. One guy was shooting from the hip!
If you see me down there be sure to step up and introduce yourself!

Hellgate;
It's not as bad as you might think. At that point all my decrepit old synopsis were focused on the bird, which is pretty close to the same color of the smoke come to think about it. Getting set for a second shot kept me focused too.
That's Maggie, a sharp little girl!

 

[Curator]

Kweeksdraw:

The gun case is an old fashioned "leg-o-mutton" case. It is original to the gun according to my Colt factory letter. It is made from Crocodile leather and contains a 3-piece cleaning rod. This design case was pretty common in the 1880s. You dismounted the barrels and they went into the top compartment, the frame and buttstock into the lower one.

 

[Shultzhaus]

After reading about the noise complaints dealing with BP guns,I have to relate this. Our club (Green Hill Sports Assoc) in Conestoga PA has several members who have CANONS!. They are allowed to shoot about 3 or 4 times a year on our range. They must setup at the 100 yard range, and fire at the 300 yeard target. The only complaints we have had are neighbors who wish we would let them know the dates so they can come and watch. Different mentality, I guess.