Has this happened to you?

No, probably, and I doubt it.

Weird. I can't imagine why he would shoot your gun. If he thought for any reason, that the gun might not be fine, the last thing I would have done is fired the thing. Did he fire the round that failed to feed?

That's crazy. I'd love to know why he felt like he needed to do that...

Yeah, that would make me mad.

A range officer is there to ensure safety, not to spot check my performance.

You didn't do anything unsafe, so he should stay out of it.

Not cool. Nobody has permission to use my gun unless I give it, I definitely would have reported it to the manager.

Thanx, Russ

You have someone walking around your range watching people shoot?

The RO has complete control of what happens on the range. Some ranges have a rule that when a gun malfunctions the RO must clear it. Look for the rules whenever you go to a new range. It varies quite a bit.

Never heard of that to happen. It might bother me but I would drive on.

I'm glad the recreational ranges I use don't have range officers.

I don't know what the rules are at that range (you should) but generally speaking nobody touches another man's gun without permission unless he is a military superior, a training instructor, or the shooter's father.

I would not have allowed him to touch my gun. I would have stopped him (physically if necessary) as soon as he reached for it.

You should bring this up with whomever is in charge of operations.

RonDeer10mm said:

I went to a different range to shoot my new handgun
A glock...was it just an excuse to shoot my gun LOL

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If it was a Les Bear, vintage Smith wheel gun, or a big-bore of some kind I would say definetly

Sounds like a power-trip in the lamest sense of the phrase.

Sounds like time to find another range.

We have a range in the area where the ROs are powertrippers and generally condescending and disrespectful. I don't go there and I tell all my friends not to go there.

I would have a chat with his boss. I would have also asked him why before he shot it. How old was he? Next time you go back ask him. I would let just about anybody shoot my guns so long as they ask. If they are looking I usually let them shoot it. I have a problem with people telling me what to do without reason. If he demanded I would ask for his boss or the owner...Russ

The RO has complete control of what happens on the range. Some ranges have a rule that when a gun malfunctions the RO must clear it. Look for the rules whenever you go to a new range. It varies quite a bit.

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This is an accurate statement and I have been at ranges that act in such a manner. Was he rude? Tell you what he was going to do before doing it? Inspect the gun before shooting?

Some ranges have a rule that when a gun malfunctions the RO must clear it.

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That seems reasonable from the range's point of view. However, I trust most ROs FAR less that I trust myself, so I probably wouldn't shoot there.

I say this from a perspective of having several great places to shoot within an hour of me.

I've found there are two kinds of ranges: those that believe the patrons are idiots with no sense of safety always seconds away from accidental homocide, and those that believe the patrons are responsible gun users.

Both are often right, because the reponsible gun users tend not to return to the first kind of ranges. I would find somewhere else to shoot.

Yes, it would piss me off and I would have told him so.

Now if he asked permission to look at the gun and maybe fire it I would probably say OK.

You don't touch (a strangers) gun without permission.

I was a RO for my police agency and would have done the same to any shooter.

And since you didnt say if that RO was an LEO or was actually legally responsible for your actions = I go with a good call on his behalf.

If none of my postings apply to the RO ,then call him or the manager on his actions .

In as nice a way as possible,its much easier to GET pissed than it is to back off if your wrong.

Who cares if the guy was a cop or not? He snatched the gun up and fired it without permission. He endangered himself by doing so. That could have been a handload with a quadruple charge. There could have been a bullet stuck in the barrel. Clearly foolish and irresponsible.

(No, I am not a RO) Even with a rule that requires the RO to clear a malfunction, I would NEVER touch, much less handle and fire without obtaining permission, perhaps while pointing out the rules. I've had FTF at an indoor rimfire rifle shoot, and all that happended was one of the old timers telling me what they do there (eject, rotate, and try again). I've also had a problem with my shotgun, and one of the others shooting trap cleared the jam for me, after offering, and me accepting.

Another thing, firing an gun that just showed some kind of failure without checking the barrel seems risky. If you are the one running the gun, you know that the round that just had something go wrong didn't lodge a bullet in the barrel (just one possibility).

Would you see someone working on a motorcycle, make them get off, then start it and ride off? I've had people take my vehicles for a spin when something went wrong, but only after a request from one or another party, and agreement.

Bottom line, don't go handling other people's equipment without permission, unless it is a dire emergency.

decided not to comment

Stuff like some of the above is why I stopped practicing at the range at Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center, Mansfield, Ga, outside Metro Atlanta.

Have one or 2 RO's there all the time and at least one sits in a window in the office behind bino's zooming in on everything everyone does. Someone said they were taking pictures, even.

No place I care to return to.