Newbies at the range

Frequent those with RSO’s, stay alert, you too at some point was a newbie. Just an observation.

Not really. How many people did you shoot when you were first learning? People need to start somewhere. That’s also why we have RSO’s. Hopefully they are being vigilant. If you’re that concerned, go during off hours when they aren’t as busy.
One more thought... do you ever concern yourself with how many new drivers there are on the road?

I prefer to be there when they first open and weekdays as it's normally empty. When it gets busy I do get leery but normally if I see people clowning around it's people who should know the hell better. Those guys do worry me. Normally when I see someone who is easy to see new to this they are being far more careful as they are nervous. I have had a few newbies I was teaching I had to watch but they were NOTHING compared to the "old hands" who would get together and start acting the fools with each other. That has many a time got me to pack up and leave early as I just could not relax with several of them on the same lane, acting like this was play time.

Sypher.... said:

Not really. How many people did you shoot when you were first learning? People need to start somewhere. That’s also why we have RSO’s. Hopefully they are being vigilant. If you’re that concerned, go during off hours when they aren’t as busy.
One more thought... do you ever concern yourself with how many new drivers there are on the road?

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Yep, and that is another time the real problems I normally see are not the newbies. When I see a car with the "STUDENT DRIVER" sign they are normally being super cautious. The morons who fly's up on my bumper when when I am doing just over posted, tries to pass with a curve up ahead, or passes on the shoulder while giving me the sign that I am #1 is not some new driver. It's some old hand who is looking to find his next wreck so he can of course blame it on everyone else.

Alex Clayton said:

I prefer to be there when they first open and weekdays as it's normally empty. When it gets busy I do get leery but normally if I see people clowning around it's people who should know the hell better. Those guys do worry me. Normally when I see someone who is easy to see new to this they are being far more careful as they are nervous. I have had a few newbies I was teaching I had to watch but they were NOTHING compared to the "old hands" who would get together and start acting the fools with each other. That has many a time got me to pack up and leave early as I just could not relax with several of them on the same lane, acting like this was play time.

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Agreed, it’s usually those who should know better clowning around. To the OP, if you see someone who is struggling, or not comfortable, you could offer some tips/help teach them. Who knows, maybe you make a new range buddy.
You could, and should, report any unsafe behavior to the RSO, or range staff.

The upsurge gun purchases means there are a lot more newbies at the range which means we have an opportunity to educate them on the 2A and the RKBA and an obligation to teach them proper gun safety, handling and etiquette.
1. Newbies are not stupid, they are ignorant. Fewer and fewer have had a father or other adult to instruct them, participation in Scouting programs is down, and as an Army veteran I discount the value of military training and "experience."
2. I am a fanatic when it comes to gun safety but in civilian life I think something other than the DI chewing out the recruit approach is called for.
3. If anyone should be purged from the shooting sports it is the fudds, the grumps, the curmudgeons with their bad attitudes, bad manners and bad tempers. I recall an article in American Rifleman not long along ago where the new manager of a range banished some of the old timers until they learned their manners,

Nope. Not really. Everyone starts somewhere and the incidences of a new shooter shooting someone else on the range are virtually zero (in my area). I see it like driving, there are tons of new drivers on the road but they don’t all cause accidents all the time.

Plus, I’m dead inside so if someone on the range shoots me it might remind me I’m still alive

It is an issue. At many indoor ranges, look at the ceiling right above the lanes. The are full of holes. My daughter and I went to shoot and she commented on that. Recently, we went to a small nice range. One safety officer was trying to get an older gentleman to shoot safely. She was having a difficult time. They like to take new ones out to show them the ropes. I wore my GSSF range officer gear and they gave me a pass. Later they complimented me on how I instructed my daughter and new son-in-law. I told the SO about the ceiling holes and she shook her head. They were full of them in a month after opening.

Another new range opened, they make you go through a power point presentation on safety. Good idea. So the SO takes me to the lane to show me the computer controlled target. I see the holes in the ceiling and comment. He says look down the line. The lanes are separated by bullet resistant transparent something. Two lanes down, there is a star shaped pattern were someone launch a round perpendicular to the lane and into the separators. That must have been exciting. I prefer tightly supervised venues.

Hopefully the new gun owners still have a healthy fear of the dangerous tool they just purchased.

I would have greater reservation about all the new gun owners who will never go to the range and just load up their new pistol and hope for the best.

Jack B. said:

Is anyone leery about going to a range with all the newbie gun owners out there? I know I am. I have nowhere else to shoot but at a range and all the ones I belong to around here are open to the general public. I know a person with no idea of proper gun handling could be at that range. I am a little afraid of getting shot by someone with no experience. It can happen fast.

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No RSOs at my range, but then everyone shoots in their own private lane - outdoor range with berms between every lane. They have 15 yard, 25 yard, 50 yard sections like that; the 100 yard rifle range is a shared area.

While,I only go to public ranges to compete and there is a higher level of scrutiny on everyone involved, I suppose there are more deaths caused every year by new drivers than firearm owners but that hasn’t caused me to quit using public roads.

It can get REALLY crowded on the weekends specially in the morning. I've had to park length wise behind the guys who are parked on the line a few times.

seen some poor gun handling, but it's USUALLY the guys that are there every weekend having a brief lapse in awareness, heck I've done it.
Then new shooters are pretty obvious, and almost always come with someone who's got a clue, so that helps.

I've spoken to a few groups who were either new, new, or simply weren't used to the uncontrolled range. Most often is was simply about staying back behind the line so they didn't get peppered with lead off the steel targets everyone else was shooting, or looking over and seeing a muzzle pointed vaguely in my direction while the owner tinkers with the gun.
So far I've not seen or heard of any dangerous mistakes actually happening.

Not at all. My humble opinion, stay alert and be willing to offer advice, without being pushy, when you are at the range. I view that as a responsibility of long time shooters as it will also make the range safer for everyone.

I'm not worried, but I am fortunate. The range I go to is pretty much members only. Members can bring guests, and potential members can get a trial pass. But the RSOs are well and truly on top of it. They know who's not a regular and keep an eye on everything. Also the range as ballistic glass dividers between lanes.

If I were to go to a different range, I would be very watchful.

As an RSO, I'll say that I'm FAR more concerned about arrogant longtimers than I am about teachable newbies.

Everyone here needs to decide which of these two he or she is.

Remember, "If you think you're green you'll grow. If you think you're ripe you're really rotten."

luzyfuerza said:

As an RSO, I'll say that I'm FAR more concerned about arrogant longtimers than I am about teachable newbies.

Everyone here needs to decide which of these two he or she is.

Remember, "If you think you're green you'll grow. If you think you're ripe you're really rotten."

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I wouldn't call long time shooters arrogant. I would say long time shooters get too comfortable doing what they think is correct. But there are times we long time shooters have a brain freeze and forget the rules too.

On the other hand, newbies aren't always teachable either. Having worked as an RSO at both public and private clubs/ranges over the years, I like to think range safety is contingent on everyone on the range. If you see something, speak up.

I for one welcome newbies and new firearm owners to the shooting sports. And to old and new shooters . . . always be safe and practice safe gun handling.

luzyfuerza said:

Jack B. said:

Is anyone leery about going to a range with all the newbie gun owners out there?

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As an RSO, I'll say that I'm FAR more concerned about arrogant longtimers than I am about teachable newbies.

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Keep in mind first gun purchase is gateway to shooter becoming lifelong gun nut and 2A activist.

And I am sure the decent THR members will be great ambassadors to these new shooters and point them towards safe gun handling, coach them to shoot accurate, encourage them to vote to preserve gun rights, become 2A activists and perhaps even entice them to consider reloading (Since factory ammunition is hard to obtain).

I have spent past decades especially focused on these new/young shooters and helped them to select firearms, taught them to shoot/point shoot and some to reload. Many of them have become CCW permit holders, reloaders and participate in shooting sports. All of them are supporters of gun rights/2A and many have voted as such and are activists for gun rights "converting" many of their friends, family and coworkers.

You know, they are our future 2A activists long after we are gone and I consider them our investment for our children/grandchildren's gun rights.

Treat them kindly, for me.

bummer7 said:

On the other hand, newbies aren't always teachable either.

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Demonstrating fast point shooting at multiple targets and tight head shots, particularly when I start shooting smileys and letters A, B, C ... gets their attention every time and they ask, "Can you teach us to shoot like that?" and I go, "Sure ... Let's work on your natural point of aim with eyes closed."

This is what I share with them as my retirement "Pay it Forward" - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/flinching-drills.864546/page-2#post-11416785

Keep in mind these new shooters bought guns and came to the range because they were interested in shooting. Friendly reception by seasoned shooters will quickly establish mentorship that could have lasting effects.

When we were struggling newbie USPSA match shooters yet cocky because we thought we were hotshots, when regional seasoned match shooters blew us away, we became instant pupils to our shooting masters asking, "Wow, can you teach us to shoot like that?" and top regional shooters smiled and told us, "Let's work on Zen of shooting and make holes appear anywhere on target at will ..."

Alvin York said of his fellow recruits in 1917!" They missed everything but the sky." Gun safety is a mix of proper instruction and carefully cultivated habits.

everyone else at the range makes me nervous, but - reality is I bet th risk of driving to the range is far greater than anything at the range.

I personally think lots of the new gun buyer numbers are a little inflated.

Of those buyers, I don't think herds are going to the range en masse.

But no, I'm worried about the over confident bubba than a scared newbie.

Nothing worries me more than a twenty-something newbie and his totally newbie girlfriend.

At one unattended range I use I had to remind one shooter of the rules when he handled his firearm during a cease-fire with people (me) downrange. I think he thought I was the RSO.

No, I'm not leery, I just pay attention to what the other shooters are doing and react accordingly. But frankly, I do that anyway, whether there's an RSO on duty or not.

Most of my shooting in the last 20 years has taken place at RSO controlled ranges or with a few people in the woods in western WA. I realized I was spoiled when I took a trip to Texas and went to a few ranges that were not RSO controlled. People handled guns during cease fires and some would not open their actions unless asked by others. I was nervous while down range.

When working as an RSO sometimes people would show up with a new rifle or handgun, they got watched closely. Sometimes a man would bring his non-gun owner girlfriend or younger child to shoot their larger 308 rifle or 357/44 magnum revolver. One of the RSO's would usually have a 22lr firearm to loan. This was usually greatly appreciated by the newbie.

Old timers have their share of bad habits and bad practices. At one outdoor range I saw "senior" members start shooting without bothering to tell others to get their ears on.