Why dress this way at the range?

[M-Cameron]

It actually does. In states where OC is legal, you may OC on the range whether the owner specifically is okay with it or not. Since Texas state law does not allow OC, it is up to the owner of the land.

ummmm....no, like you said, on private property.....the owner makes the rules..

..if the owner states you cant wear hats inside......guess what, you cant wear a hat inside...regardless of state law......his house, his rules.

thats like saying if i dont want people to carry a gun in my house......and you come over with a gun on....that you dont have to abide by my rules because state law permits OC.

 

[Resist Evil]

I believe people costume themselves for the role they wish to play in front of the footlights on their life's stage. The costumes change as their roles evolve. A wardrobe should not necessarily condemn the wearer's character.

 

[Lilrascal]

There's something about every one of us that rubs other people the wrong way.

Maybe you're a tacticool ninja fool. Maybe you're a Fudd. Maybe you're a gangbanger wannabe. Or a poseur biker. Or a suburbanite post-yuppie sheeple. Or one of those beemer-driving jerks with more money than sense. Or one of the "99%-er" trash. Of course you aren't. But what does someone THINK you are at first glance? And, if you looked at YOURSELF, say...15 years ago, what would you think of THAT guy? Probably not a pretty picture.

While you're criticizing the idiot dork on the line next to you, somebody's making a first impression of you, too. Somebody's judging the "silly," "ignorant," or "mall ninja" thing you just did.

And you might be one minute away from someone you'd really enjoy getting to know. And/or someone who could really use a word of encouragement, friendship, and advice.

I hate first impressions and first meetings. I'm not actually much of a "people person." But I've been SOOO wrong, sooo many times, that I try really hard to get over it and give folks every chance to grow on me. I benefit from that, every week, and I like to think it does them some good, too.

This was a great reply, and advice we could all benefit from. Having to quick of a first impression is something I am certainly guilty of.

 

[kimberkid]

I wonder if 30 or 40 years ago you saw stuff like...you know, fringed leather coats, pants tucked into the tall boots...frontier style?

I see Davy Crockett and Daniel Boon at our range at least 1 weekend a month at the Cowboy shoot ...

... we also have a few of the tacticool kids.

There are times I see them and smile, then recall my younger days when I had to have the lasers, trigger enhancements and other gadgets ... and realize this is "their time".

 

[bomberbill357]

This thread is a HOOT! I know a lot of people including maybe me who dress funky on the range but I think the point was this guy's dress betrayed him as a "I don't know anything" type of guy. Sometimes you can teach them what they really want to know and sometimes you just walk away....shaking your head, hoping they don't hurt themselves or someone else.
Let's face it in the good ol' US of A everyone is special.

 

[The-Reaver]

I mean when I go I wear my BDU bottoms & boots.... but that's about as tacticool as I get.

Hell I just wear them cause they are my most comfortable pants & I always wear my boots so its not like I'm trying for any certain look.

 

[230RN]

Well, in 73 years I've seen cosplaydrag, tactidrag, dragdrag, hippiedrag, droopiepantsdrag, harikrishnadrag, gangstadrag, barbecue drag, yuppiedrag, pajamadrag, liesuresuitdrag, etcdrag, you name it.

Nothing but a passing glance from me. I prefer oldfartdrag, myself. Maybe I'll go down to the range tomorrow in my PJs and old ratty bathrobe just so someone can start another gossipy thread.

Maybe I'll even undo my old ratty ponytail.



Terry, 230RN

 

[mgmorden]

I believe people costume themselves for the role they wish to play in front of the footlights on their life's stage. The costumes change as their roles evolve. A wardrobe should not necessarily condemn the wearer's character.

Indeed. To hear some people talk around here you'd think it's a sin to actually buy appropriate garb.

No, I don't do tactical/tacticool because I don't like that image and don't aspire to it. When I'm on my bike though, you can bet I'm wearing that "Lance Armstrong" gear. Its the way cyclists dress. When I'm at a match, I'm typically wearing cargo shorts/pants, some form of sport shirt (Under Armour, etc), and trail running shoes. Choosing sport or activity appropriate apparel is just another way to maintain a neat and upkept appearance for many.



Do you guys snicker and say "who does this guy think he is?" every time you see an office worker who dares to ware a shirt and tie?

 

[AntiSpin]

I can really sympathize with these concerns.

At the range where I go there is a couple of old geezers who really ought to be sitting in rocking chairs, staring at the TV and waiting for lunch.

They wear sweats and sweaters, and bring a gaggle of old, outdated firearms of all types. They haven’t got a single rail, red dot or ambi safety between them.

They have baseball hats with really old military patches on them, back from before most people were born.

They cannot actually believe that they are any good at any of the things where the use of firearms is called for -- I can tell they’ve got weakening muscles, stiffening knees (struggle half a morning to get into a kneeling position) and deteriorating eyesight.

They’re wrinkled, with gray lanky hair and pink scalps peeking through what’s left of their hair.

They practically invite ridicule from anyone and everyone else on the range.

Neither one of us much gives a damn, though.

 

[Resist Evil]

Hey AntiSpin, once on your knees, do you flip a coin to see who has to get up first to help the other up?

I did an IDPA Classifier match a week or so ago and that going on your knees thing next to the barrel nearly brought me to tears. Thank Goodness I had the barrel to lean on to help me back up.

 

[JN01]

This thread is a HOOT! I know a lot of people including maybe me who dress funky on the range but I think the point was this guy's dress betrayed him as a "I don't know anything" type of guy. Sometimes you can teach them what they really want to know and sometimes you just walk away....shaking your head, hoping they don't hurt themselves or someone else.
Let's face it in the good ol' US of A everyone is special.

Lots of folks mix "dress up" with gun games. I've been involved with living history type activities and dressed up many times. Sure you look funny and people give you odd glances but if you're having fun, so what.

However, the other side of it is what Bomber Bill was alluding to. There are some people who are posers who like to get all decked out in the gear and have no clue of what they are doing. I've seen it in the re-enacting community. A guy spends a fortune on the perfect clothes, knives, accouterments, rifle, etc to look like the reincarnation of Daniel Boone, but doesn't know how to load his gun and gets lost 50 feet into the woods.

We perhaps shouldn't make snap judgments about people based on their appearance, but sometimes your knee-jerk reaction is "***?"

If they look funny and THEN act like an idiot, whats wrong with calling a spade a spade?

 

[armoredman]

Trex, olive drab dentures are gonna make me think of driving to LA via Omaha!

I look like this when I wear a light jacket, my favorite I got on sale at WalMart for $15 a few years ago. I like the look of Natural Gear.



Warm weather I look more like this,



Now if I tried to wear what I might wear at home in a shooting situation, I might look like this...



Getting the LaZBoy on the firing line might take some work...

I saw a couple of guys setting up some time ago, full black tactical gear, high speed/low drag AR-15s with all the bells and whistles, and the target set at 10 yards. Now before anyone castigates me for criticizing, I wasn't, but when I tried to speak to them I was rebuffed rather rudely. Same thing happened when I was at a local cowboy shooting match, exactly one person tried to make me and my son feel at home while they were shooting, 99% of the others wouldn't talk to us, or would deliberately cut between me and the person I was speaking to to turn their back on me and interrupt. Very clannish, and obviously didn't want us there. Not a rail or red dot in sight.
Come to think of it, the last three times I attempted to approach a group that was shooting I was politely told where I could go place myself. Individuals are far more likely to be friendly.

 

[roadchoad]

Well, in 73 years I've seen cosplaydrag, tactidrag, dragdrag, hippiedrag, droopiepantsdrag, harikrishnadrag, gangstadrag, barbecue drag, yuppiedrag, pajamadrag, liesuresuitdrag, etcdrag, you name it.

Nothing but a passing glance from me. I prefer oldfartdrag, myself.

I prefer to avoid those dressed in drag, but I won't judge you for it.

 

[Apple a Day]

It seems to me a LOT of new people have been buying guns lately so we'll see a lot of people at the range trying to emulate what they've seen in movies and television because we learn what we see. I intend to lead by example and always be ready to help a new shooter get squared away when asked. We all started somewhere and a lot of us aren't nearly as far along as we'd want to believe.
A kind word and some coaching could turn a short-term prepper into a long-term firearms enthusiast. A derisive snicker may discourage a newbie from continuing to practice and learn which makes everybody a little less safe.
My range uniform: Kilt, thong, white tanktop and ballcap with the Monster Hunter International logo on it.

 

[btg3]

Sometimes I look around at the range and figure walmart must have had a sale on black t-shirts and cigars.

 

[JN01]

If they look funny and THEN act like an idiot, whats wrong with calling a spade a spade?

I meant this in context of discussions such as this. I do not condone public ridicule, finger pointing, snickering or other such rude behavior.

 

[Resist Evil]

"Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try and love one another right now." At the range.

Let's smile at the Youngbloods (sorry) at the range and see if we can't all be friends.

 

[B!ngo]

There's a part of me that admires the ability of others to act out a bit of their 'inner dreams'. If this guy is a SOCOM wannabe, and wants to spend a little time living the dream, more power to him.
OTOH, c'mon. It can be pretty comical. And when you get past some of the PC comments, it's fun to get a laugh out of the look and behavior of others. So long, at least in my book, as you bite your cheek and laugh with your inside voice. Life has a big theatre component to it and I do my best to watch it all and enjoy it.
Finally, all the the above aside, when it comes to guns, safety is the prime directive. Stepping out on a hot range to get your knives, drinking a few and shooting the rest, any form of letting your personal style conflict with your safety, and the safety of others is just plain unacceptable. Help out in those situations where it seems prudent or get the heck out of there.

 

[Shadow 7D]

If you see the uber tactikool guy or the range bum, it may be me, I have stuff left over from the army, I wear stuff that is comfortable, weather dependent, I may be in 'tacticool ninja' or looking like the guy on the corner downtown (just a lot cleaner)

I wear clothes I find comfortable and useful
I'm not spending a ton on 'range clothes'
I'm not buying 'feild and stream'
I'm not buying 5.11
I have 4 different types of webgear, I have them cause supply wouldn't take them and, well, I'm kinda nostalgic.

If I ever get into shooting sports, then I'll probably get more stuff to take to the range to fill a need. Oh, and the real deal, they use their cargo pockets alot, are DAMN impressive, have detail guys OR do it all themselves. I should know, I was a detail guy, see, you get a trade off, you work for them, and they let you shoot their range, or get on their jump manifest.

As for the new guy, with all the 'gear' still with packaging creases in it, well, like above says, safety first, ALWAYS.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Snobbish attitudes seem to flourish on here when it comes to attire and weapons. My own personal opinion is, if it floats ya boat, have at it. My range attire is dependent on what activity I will be addressing that day. If I am ranging in a new setup for hunting, then I will usually wear whatever I will be hunting in. Just like in archery, wear what you will be wearing IN THE FIELD because those adjustments will be dependent on fit and feel of the rifle on your shoulder. Way too many people seem to overlook this little tidbit of information and miss a nice deer because their rifle got a little hung up on that bulky jacket while coming to shoulder.

Now granted, I really don't see the point pf the "mall ninja" garb from guys/girls that have no affiliation with LE or MIL but hey, who the hell am I to judge? Maybe some of you guys laughing at them would like it if someone came and judged YOUR attire at your other activities? As long as they aren't being totally retarded (like the guy retrieving his throwing knife on a hot range) then leave them to their fun. Maybe offer some advise as the OP did to keep the guy from screwing up his gas tube or, if you see them having difficulties, offer respectfully the needed instruction. We shooters have enough trouble from the anti's to be driving away new shooters over stupid stuff like this.

 

[buck460XVR]

t I clearly understand how mother nature now, weeds out the weak and dumb.

We all are weak and dumb at some point in our lives. We get past it thanks to parents and good mentors. Thank goodness they didn't chip a tooth or two. They probably did, but were gracious enough to not let us know.

 

[EnfieldEnthusiast]

At Bisley ranges,in Surrey,England,modern military clothing(Including tactical clothingis prohibited for practical rifle & shotgun shooting,unless the competitors are serving military members or members of a police tactical weapons unit.The reasonfor this,is that camo clothing gives the enemies of practical shooting sports,the excuse,to denounce shooters as paramilitary nutters,like those found in America(according to them,not myself.Yes folks they really do scrape the barrel on these ones.the response is, 'Dress appropriately,we are not a force in training'...as it gives out the wrong impression'!!!. Apparently these rules were made in 1989, two years after the Hungerford Massacre in 1987,as the killer,was a looney who dressed up in camo-gear,whilst on is gun rampage.
However for muzzle-loading events & historical arms shooting,period,military clothing is permitted.So a shooter can dress up as a WW1 Tommy,for a WW1 historical shoot,but not a modern-day soldier or tactical police officer,from what I can see.

 

[kd7nqb]

more importantly what sort of Fudd range do you belong to that you can't Open carry on a rifle range?

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I have reached the point where the only things that bother me at the range are rudeness, inconsiderateness and unsafe behavior. I laugh at "range rangers/tacticool" types, they may dress the part but they never LOOK the part, as others have noted, they are usually at least 30 pounds overweight and display little knowledge of their firearms and other equipment.
They probably should have their own organization-"SOCOM Shooters"-why not? There is the North-South Skirmish Association, SASS has grown by leaps and bound in recent years, the NMLRA has required period attire at many of its events for years, I recently learned of the Zoot Shooters-1920s-1930s USA. Period firearms and attire are required. As long as the range rangers don't bother, practice safe gunhandling and don't try be poseurs or pretend they ares to this Army veteran (1967-1971) we can get along.

 

[jeepnik]

A real Range Ranger, the functional equivalent of Bill Mauldin's Canteen Commando.

Also reminds me of Barry Sadler's song Garra-Trooper. I loved the line about him looking down and seeing a "spit shined boot" of the Garra-Trooper who had just returned from a 15 day running fight with the "cong".