Would you obey this range command?

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parsimonious_instead

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Interesting situation two days ago at a county run shooting facility in lower NYS...
I rarely go there, because my usual range is much closer and less expensive.
However, the county range allows big-bore shooting at more challenging distances, up to 200 yards.
It also has a reputation for much stricter rules, like only 1 round at a time in centerfire rifles, and also for range officers that aren't especially nice.
I shot a .357 levergun for a while, then switched to my .22 Savage. I got bored after finding my sight picture and consistently nailing the bits of scrap steel they had hanging out beyond the 100 yard line.
I wanted a new challenge - try for the steel with my Ruger target pistol - no scope. Now, pistols aren't forbidden in writing on the so-called "big bore range" but I'm a big fan of asking for permission, rather than forgiveness, just in case there's some sort of issue with doing so.
So I asked the two RSOs if I could give it a try. They didn't seem especially happy about it, but they did let me try - and I took the shooting position they indicated, which was a bit isolated from the other shooters - which didn't bother me.
After taking some "ranging shots" at an exposed part of the berm, I began hitting the steel pretty consistently. They did call a cease fire and while ambling around I caught the eye of one of the RSOs, and said to him with a smile, "Well, I'm hitting the steel" and he sort of looked through me with no reply.
When we resumed shooting I found my sight picture again and was scoring hits, when I heard a voice say something like, "OK, now, time to stop."
I looked around, and the only person close enough to be audible was the young grim-faced guy. I had a feeling he was talking to me, but I resumed shooting, because he was facing 180 degrees away, and sitting down while issuing the order. I wasn't doing anything unsafe, and for all I know he was addressing someone further down the line.
After another mag full of shots, I heard someone behind me, and this time, while standing up and facing me, he told me to call it quits with a throat-slashing motion. I nodded, cleared the gun and packed up my gear, since I had accomplished what I came there for.
My feeling is this: unless someone is directly facing me, why should I assume what they're barking out is meant for me? There were other shooters on the line that he was facing. In addition, I just think it's plain rude to operate that way. If you need to tell someone something, face them and make eye contact. If their hearing protection is too "thick" then tap them on the shoulder and address them.
Come to think of it, if someone is doing something they shouldn't on the firing line, it's just poor "tactics" to try to command them with your back turned - you need to see what they're doing in case you need to back up what your saying with a hand gesture, or even to intervene physically if their muzzle is pointed in the wrong direction.
If my shooting the steel with a pistol was such a problem for this guy, he could have said "no" to begin with, or responded to my comment during the cease fire with "OK, that's great. Switch to a rifle now or leave."
 
Ok, I'll be the first to jump in. I am a RSO and I have never heard a range command of "Ok, time, to stop" ??:fire:

If it was me I would look to my right and left to insure no one was going down range then I would continue to keep shooting.:)
 
I don't think an instruction (not range command) that isn't delivered while looking at the person you're giving it to can be assumed to be heard.
 
Sorry, what? -->earmuffs<-- were you talking to me? i couldn't tell, cuz you weren't looking at me. you're still not looking! how can you tell i'm mumbling at you, if you're not looking! RUDE!:mad:
 
I'm in almost complete agreement.

If their hearing protection is too "thick" then tap them on the shoulder and address them.
Click to expand...

My range has a hands off policy UNLESS you must physically intervene to prevent an unsafe situation. Some folks tend to "go on the offensive" when unexpected contact is made. And before all the overly sensitive types start recommending anger management, that's not what I'm talking about. It's never a good idea to startle someone holding a loaded firearm.
 
To me, it sounds as if this 'person' might have some kind of issues himself, possibly some kind of authoritative issues in addition to issues of perhaps feeling like no one listens to him :neener:

I wonder why.:uhoh:

There are people who talk to you who never make eye contact. It is something they have inside all the baggage they carry around with them, who knows from what or from where, it doesn't really matter, it is an issue, though, to those who are :supposed: to be listening or hearing him but AREN'T!
 
I'm still confused as to why he had any objection to you shooting a pistol on a rifle range?
 
hAkron said:
I'm still confused as to why he had any objection to you shooting a pistol on a rifle range?
Click to expand...

Not sure either. Both he and another RSO said OK, albeit reluctantly, and I'm quite sure I wasn't doing anything unsafe.
As noted earlier, if it was such an objectionable thing to do, they could have said no from the beginning, or told me to knock it off during the cease fire.
 
Were there other shooters waiting to shoot the longer range? Were you paying by the hour and close to being out of time? Was the RSO paying for your ammunition? Maybe you were offending the RSO's ability to make the same shot! Some people just can't take being shown up! Sounds to me like the RSO had his "Hanes in a knot" and was just looking for anything/anyone to take it out on. :cuss:

My range has no policy against using handguns on the longer distances. In fact I lay my CCW pistol on the bench when I'm shooting and the RSOs regularly joke about me using it out to 100yds and beyond! :neener:
 
I agree with those who are stating simply that the guy was jealous. He was probably getting infuriated just by watching you hit each piece of metal offhand!

I think the guy has a lot of growing up to do, that's for sure!:eek:
 
jcwit brings up a point, perhaps you could have asked if your long range pistol shooting was against range SOP's. I concur with Gtimothy, his shorts were in a twist and he had nothing better to do.
 
The guy has an ego problem, and is giving a bad name to the range. His juvenile, ego driven behavior needs to be reported in writing to the range owner.
 
I had a similar if differant experience once at an indoor range.

I was shooting a .45 Colt SAA.
The RO came over and ask me if he could shoot it, as he had never fired one.

I told him sure, loaded five rounds and laid it on the table.

He picked it up, cocked it on the way up over his head like Roy Rogers "throwing bullets", and promptly ND'd one into the concrete ceiling.

After the smoke cleared and both of us checked for bullet holes in our hides?
He declared my Colt SAA had an unsafe hair trigger, and banned it from "his" range!

I never went back again.

rc
 
He was just jealous of your mad marksmanship skills. His girlfriend was on her way to the range and he was worried that there was a better shooter on the line who would make him feel like he didn't measure up. So he figured he would make you respect his authority and boot you before you had a chance to make his GF realize she was getting short changed. Just be thankful you have other options as to where to shoot and you don't have to deal with this guy every range trip.
 
I am always surprised at the culture we shooters somehow managed breeding both in how ROs are regarded, how someone at a range should be treated and what we let some of these businesses get away with.

How did it get this way?!

My experience must be super, super relaxed, I shoot at a tiny indoor range with four lanes for pistols only and have never had a horror story, or have been so harshly micromanaged in my time there.
On public land, wile some people are more pleasant to shoot near than others, I've never felt actually threatened or endangered beyond some "hmmm, what *are* they up to" point and finally, even on a base here on Ft. Gordon, the ROs who are arguably quite authoritative and restrictive don't coanywhere near these levels.
Even in my "dangerous tactical courses" our RO and instructor never even raised his voice and was always quite amiable.

How does this happen? I mean why do we let this kind of thing happen? How do these people get away with this kind of stuff?
 
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...There are people who talk to you who never make eye contact. It is something they have inside all the baggage they carry around with them, who knows...
Click to expand...
In the animal world, direct eye contact is considered agressive. Some peole look off into the distance as they talk. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
 
I was shooting a .45 Colt SAA.
The RO came over and ask me if he could shoot it, as he had never fired one.

I told him sure, loaded five rounds and laid it on the table.
Click to expand...

Maybe you should have rotated the cylinder where the hammer would be on the fifth round and the next cylinder was the empty one..... HAHA Glad you didn't get hit that day RC.

The Dove
 
Hey RC, what the heck was he doing with his trigger finger inside the trigger guard in the first place before he had the arm pointed down range? If it were me I'd get a hold of the head RO and have that guy repeat his safety class over again.
 
I agree with most of the responses thus far. You had no way to be certain he was speaking to you. One thing confuses me though. And that is your statement about believing in asking permission rather than forgiveness. If this is true and you were unsure why didn't you simply ask?

We can only guess as to whom he was speaking. He was the only one who could give you the correct answer.

Not that I disagree with your actions.
 
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