Went to the Range Tonight

[ezypikns]

I had a great time as always. A short time after I got there, two young men showed up and took the two lanes next to me. Dressed nicely, I didn't pay much attention.
Then they began to shoot. .40 Caliber semi autos. Fairly rapid fire. They must have had 12 round mags. A lot of them. They were on paper but that's about all. Their targets looked like someone had shot them with 00 buckshot, with a shotgun that patterned really badly. Thet were polite young fellows, and having a great time. They were just awful shots.
I'm old and cranky. I didn't say anything to them because I'm a Southerner, and we generally don't offer an opinion unless its asked for. My question is this: If you're not hitting the bull (or around it anyway) why wouldn't you slow down a little? I reconize the need for shooting quickly and accurately. I always do some rapid fire drills when I'm at the range.
The other thing is, maybe it was their first time to shoot. They were having such a good time. Maybe an old poop like me should just be a little more tolerant. Heck, forget I said anything.

 

[chickenfried]

I think you answered your own question in your post .

If you're not hitting the bull (or around it anyway) why wouldn't you slow down a little?

They were having such a good time.

 

[P95Carry]

I do sometimes question this sort of shooting - tho it is not by business and yeah - guys can be having a great time doing it!

However, it does seem as tho some more controlled shooting at slower speed would be so useful - making better use of ammo and honing skills. I guess maybe it is in same category as folks who ''bump'' their way thru many magazines in an AK. Sure it's fun a few times but for me no benefit to be gained by burning up prodigious amounts of ammo.

It could have been their first time shoot but even so - I do question the ''usefulness'' of their method, even if fun is the main deal. I am an ''old poop'' too - so maybe I understand your thoughts better than others of younger persuasion.

 

[S&W620]

Being one of those in the younger group of shooters (23 y.o.) I still have no idea why a person would simply blow through mag after mag. Don't get me wrong, I like to run a FEW through at a fast rate, but usually one mag or less will do. When I go to the range, I do so with the purpose of becoming a better shot, not shooting my way through 200 rounds in 15 min. As far as having fun is concerned, I feel hitting the bullseye with consistensy is about as fun as it gets!

 

[Nitrogen]

When I go to the range, I usually use at least one box to practice one-handed and weak-handed shooting.

My targets usually look like that.

I also will practice "Panic draw and fire" basically practicing keeping all my shots in a target when I draw and fire as fast as possible. I figure when SHTF, that's a possibility of how it might go down.

Still, it's fun to blow through a whole mag of rounds willy-nilly.

 

[hksw]

You know? When I started shooting and was much younger, I was a pretty bad shot too. Eventually, I found the benefits of shooting slowly and taking my time. Just let them have their fun and give them a little time to let the spray-and-pray mentality to seep out and eventually things will start to become more clearer to them. Then again, it's always fun to let loose and not care about groups once and awhile.

 

[ajax]

I have to say that i like doing both,but when you think about it in SD situation most people are more likely to let the lead fly. I personally like to do this with about a box of shells per range visit. I like to know when i empty a mag that at the killing distance of 7yards that i'm leaving 7+1 center mass with no feelings of doubt. Plus it's a hoot to see the brass is still in the air but the mag is empty.

 

[Steve C]

People who are not shooting at targets for score are just playing. I see most people doing this kind of play at the indoor range I shoot at every time I go. 25 yd silhouette’s set at 7 to 10 yards with shots strung all over. Occasionally someone will begin a conversation and ask for advice on improving their shooting. Other than those times I just have to shake my head and keep my mouth shut.

 

[thorazine]

My question is this: If you're not hitting the bull (or around it anyway) why wouldn't you slow down a little?

Paper doesn't attack, people do.

I'm not a slow fire target shooter.

My goal is to put as many rounds downrange, as fast as I can, while still landing all shots COM (center of mass) or the equivalent.

Therefore I could really care less about maintaining tight groupings.

I assume they might subscribe to the same school of thought.

 

[k_dawg]

I had a great time as always. A short time after I got there, two young men showed up and took the two lanes next to me. Dressed nicely, I didn't pay much attention. The other thing is, maybe it was their first time to shoot. They were having such a good time. Maybe an old poop like me should just be a little more tolerant. Heck, forget I said anything.

You know when you were young, and you turned to your friend.. "kick me if I ever sound like my dad"???

Well...

 

[wally]

My wife and I do a fair amount of rapid fire "instinctive" shooting practice. Usually two or three IPSC targets set up. Groups are nothing to win a bullseye match, for sure, but the fire would have been effective in an SD situation -- that's what we are practicing for.

--wally.

 

[osteodoc08]

It is the people that hold the gun sideways and say "what's up now b*****" (right before emptying a magazine on a silhoutte target) that I worry about the most....glad I've only run into one "group" that were promptly kicked out of the indoor range I go to for being careless (among other infractions)

 

[RUBZERK]

I tend not to aim at the center, but try to keep all my shots in a grouping of about 4-6 inches

 

[f4t9r]

I think you answered your own question in your post .

yes you did ! I understand what you are saying and it is sometimes hard for me not to say something but you are right they do not ask , I do not tell

 

[coylh]

Heheh. That would be a funny conversation.

"Hi, I'm old and cranky and I disapprove of your shooting."

 

[Hardtarget]

Yes, in time they will "get over it"...and decide to learn to really shoot. Then they'll have to force themselves to un-learn a bunch of really bad habits. Too bad. Of course, the guys at the ammo counter will love that. Maybe thats what helps keep prices down.
Mark.

 

[ravencon]

If what someone is doing at the range isn't unsafe or illegal I figure its none of my business. People do all kinds of things for all kinds of reasons. I don't even wonder about it much anymore.

 

[YodaVader]

Yeah I had a similar experience a few years back at the indoor range. Some younger shooters spraying rounds all over the place. Which is ok but when you start hitting the dividing wall and miss the bullet traps completely you need to settle down and concentrate on basic marksmanship skills instead of trying to shoot Hollywood style.

Then one came down and started making snide remarks that my target shooting was unrealistic? Unrealistic in regards to what? Hmm...I guess shooting the dividing wall at the range was realistic? Hitting where I was aiming at is realistic enough for me.

So , I am basically minding my own business when this guy goes out of his way to put down my shooting style despite the fact I was shooting far better than any of them were and was doing it one handed.

I asked him if he thought I was unable to shoot two handed combat style? I asked would he like to shoot against me on his "realistic" police silhouette target? He pretty much started to sulk and actually left the range for some time to sit in his car.

 

[thorazine]

Yes, in time they will "get over it"...and decide to learn to really shoot. Then they'll have to force themselves to un-learn a bunch of really bad habits. Too bad. Of course, the guys at the ammo counter will love that. Maybe thats what helps keep prices down.
Mark.

So I can conclude that *real shooting* according to you and in conjunction with the post by the topic starter consists of,

Slow fire bullseye style target shooting? with nothing but ten ring?

BORING! <YAWN>

Drawing from concealment, running a magazine dry quicker than you can say "Sig Sauer" and landing all shots COM is what I am in it for.

 

[The_Antibubba]

How can I make this thing fail?

Maybe they were wringing out the gun-getting those first few hundred rounds through an untested firearm. I shot my Walther P1 for the first time this weekend, and I did some rapid firing which might've hit the broad side of a barn, if I were inside the barn when I did it. The pistol performed without a hitch.

Single action almost invites it. And as you said, it's a heckuva lot of fun.

 

[pauli]

small group of young men, rapid fire shooting at close target, shots all over the place? i can generally set my watch by when one of the desert eagle rentals will start going off.

but hey, as long as people are being safe and having fun, it's their right. i'm not terribly accurate myself, and i'm usually only shooting 22s, so i can't complain too much.

People who are not shooting at targets for score are just playing.

because killing paper is serious business, not some 'recreational activity!'