Range Rage!

As a suggestion to those of you that have had some really serious problems (ATV's, the 7mm, the intruding truck), considering the pervasive prevelance of CAMERAS these days, how about starting the recorder as soon as you hear someone approaching. This way you will have both a video and audio recording for possible range/police use.
Don't know how much use it might be but "ya never know"!

I think I would have been tempted to put one in the engine block, and then just call it an accidental discharge.

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Stalker and I have the same thought process only I would pack up and move unilatterally far enough away. Then waited for them to start blasting so as to disguise what happened. Those darn ricochettes! (Flame suite on)

I was kinda surprised the other day, shooting in the mountains. I have a favorite spot, well up the mountain, which is kinda small. Whenever I pull up to the spot, and someone else is there, I always assess if there's room for the both of us. If it looks ok, I introduce myself and ask them if they mind. 50/50, they immediately say I'm welcome or that they're just finishing up. Or they hesitate, whereupon I quickly offer a "np" and drive on to find another spot.

Well, I was out there unloading my gear with 3 friends. There was a lot of gear. Had set up a box with a target and a bunch of shotgun hulls. While getting the guns out and the chairs set up, I notice a car pulls up slightly behind and about 12 yards to the right of my own. Four guys come out of the car, one of 'em carrying an SKS with a banana mag already in it. They don't make eye contact, at all. Great. I turn around to find my ears.

About 10 seconds later he's ratta-tatting rounds at nothing in particular. No eyes, and I dunno if they even had ears in. But we sure didn't. It was like they were practicing for a drive-by. Despite the 4 of us all immediately covering our ears, the guy manages to finish his entire mag, undisturbed by our presence.

10 minutes later, they drive off. They drove all the way out there to blast 1 mag each, at nothing in particular.

I didn't say anything to them, nor even offer a glare. It honestly looked like they just didn't know any better, and by the looks of them, I wasn't even sure they spoke English. They looked to be recently immigrated, to put it politely. Once we got our ears on, no problem. We just minded our own business.

waiting lists?...for gun clubs?...wait, what?

When morons invade I generally decide to sight in the 460. It will generally ruin their day, especially because I use my electronic muffs so I can hear when their talking and dont have their ears on

With complete idots I employ another tactic that plays to my dark side; I inherited a 500 nitro and if you have ever fired one of these sweet little toys you will understand when I say that I fire it about "ONCE" a year and NOT because it costs about $20.00 a round. I always bring it when I go to play with my toys "not sure why" but I like to talk it up as a fun and awsome gun to the idots so one will eventually want to shoot it.

It is always very amusing, generally have to catch the gun and they always leave soon afterwards

I have a digital camera that will record up to 2 hours continuous video.
I have a Voice recorder that will record up to 30 hours continuous audio.

For quite some time now I have been setting the camera on the dash of my vehicle pointed at the range while I shoot and the voice recorder sits in my range bag near where I'm shooting...both are running.

So far I've never needed the record of events but there was one close call with a drunk guy who showed up out of the blue.

But basically, KUDOS to the OP for packing it up and leaving. Anything else could have cost about $10,000 to start (in legal fees) and possibly a whole lot more than that.

Ringolevio said:

blarby
Location: JC, Oregon:


I beg to differ, blarby [BTW, years ago I lived in Junction City, OR (just outside the People's Republic of Eugene)]. "Restraint" would have been if the OP had not uttered the "A.H." remark.

There are times when it has to be enough just to think something, but not say it.

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+1

I understand the frustration completely and he did do the right thing and left. However, yelling things at them only proves to them they got your goat and it skyrockets the chances of escalation.

The only way to win this one is not to play their game.

As was already mentioned, there's a reason people join gun clubs. For almost two decades I shot out on NF/BLM lands, and largely enjoyed my fun/free shooting time. Times have changed, and places are getting closed while the open ones get more crowded with more morons.

About two years ago I finally got fed up with the issues on the NF/BLM lands and joined a private range. Much better shooting experiences these days, though sometimes a bit more limiting.

My ultimate goal would be to have enough land of my own that I'd be able to shoot long range rifle from the peace/privacy of my own property.

I only shoot at private ranges these days... too many people that shouldn't drive a car let alone own a firearm out there on public land for my tastes.

Frogomatik said:

waiting lists?...for gun clubs?...wait, what?

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There is an echo. And it's true.

GLOOB, please tell me you are living in CA?

They drove all the way out there to blast 1 mag each, at nothing in particular.I wasn't even sure they spoke English. They looked to be recently immigrated, to put it politely.

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The Dove

I don't shoot outdoors as much because of this very sort of behavior.

Folks pulling up to your right with cases of beer, shooting over your head don't make for pleasant chit-chat.

That guy unnecessarily started a confrontation with someone he knew was armed. With any luck, he won't live long.

GLOOB, please tell me you are living in CA?

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Nope. One more guess, and you're there.

I belong to a private range with rules and it is well managed, but each year we have to kick a few dimwits out because they break the rules. Most of the time, it is a joy to shoot there. I also have plenty of private land to shoot on BECAUSE I NEVER STOP LOOKING FOR NEW PLACES TO GO. In my travels, social life, family life, and work everyone knows I have a passion for shooting sports. I never pass up an opportunity to seek new places and new friends. So, my friends out there, do everything you can to get away from idiots and find the much needed fun, solitude, and friendship that we all crave.

I'm not a NRA member. Does that automatically meke me a hoodlum?

Hows 'bout we add a lil more chlorine to the 'ol gene pool...... but at least you have a range to go to all I got is a big old field in front of a mountain to shoot at, not a soul in sight....

clamman said:

I'm not a NRA member.

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Why not?

drsfmd said:

There's a reason why people join organized gun clubs...

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You did the right thing by leaving. I almost always shoot on ranges where i have to pay a fee that has very strict range masters.