time to find a new range

conan32120 said:

trying to sort this out in my mind how to explain, to start let me say our local range is a mile down a road to an area of no housing, however someone decided it was a good idea to clear the protected wetlands some miles away and build a housing project. on the news the local reporter was at the housing project and held up a piece of empty brass and declared that she found it there so it must have come from our local range. an uproar ensued. the range decided to rectify the situation by rerouting the rifle ranges from north/south to east/west. now the problem, because of the layout the rifle ranges are no longer under the eye of the ROs and are self regulated. which is fine if you're there to plink steel but if the purpose of your visit is precision shooting or running a load ladder and a paper target is required a safety issue now exists. on a slow day (which I prefer) it would be to easy for some cowboy to arrive while I was downrange and not noticing or caring I was down range and start popping away. And I was just considering buying a 7/08 which would need to be scoped and sited.

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Welcome to my world. None of the ranges in my area have proper RSO oversight. One range has no RSOs whatsoever. One must be always aware and alert. Even then, when you call someone out for unsafe behavior, one risks the situation escalating into a verbal altercation. This is a regular occurrence.

My three worst experiences have been a grandfather and a 6 yr old walking down range while I was shooting, a dad pointing a pistol at his 10 yr old son who was downrange swapping targets, and a State Trooper pointing his issued AR15 at me while I was down range changing targets.

Sadly, these are the risks one must accept. Anytime anyone has complained about this issue, they have been shouted down by a cacophony of voices opposing any enforcement of safety rules because this is a free country and no one needs a babysitter. Accusations of "fudd" soon follow.

You gotta do what you gotta do, but don't be surprised if the new range you find is no better or worse than the range you just left. The grass is always greener.

Our range also doe not have a full time RO, but we have a horn system to activate when someone goes down range so every one knows the range is cold until the horn is turned off.

My immediate ideas are.

Buy your gun and work with sighting it best you can for now.

You could take an air horn can with you to blast if anyone does start up while you are down range.

Mitigate the risk by using a spotting scope.

Take a friend that will stay at the firing line.

You guys are making me appreciate my country home.




Your local club needs a RO.
Someone picking up a rifle while the line is closed would be a deal-breaker.

conan32120 said:

…clear the protected wetlands some miles away and build a housing project. on the news the local reporter was at the housing project and held up a piece of empty brass and declared that she found it there so it must have come from our local range. an uproar ensued.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups…

That piece of brass must have been fired from an SKS if it came from the range.

What kind of club do you belong to? If it has membership requirements and there is an accident all the members are liable and could be sued. If the club has liability insurance, the club is required to have safety procedures and failure to follow the procedures would void the insurance.
Our club has three tall orange traffic cones that are put out in front of the firing line when we call a line break and before anyone goes forward. The first person to arrive at the range becomes the RSO and you are required to check in before shooting and failure to follow the rules will get you banned. My less then thrilling experiences with the 'side of the road' style ranges, which are on public land and no one 'owns', is why I joined a membership club.

Armored farmer said:

Someone picking up a rifle while the line is closed would be a deal-breaker.

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I used to feel the same way (and still do). But you wouldn't make it up here. NO range has adequate oversight, and, by and large, range members adamantly do not want range oversight. I called out some active duty Army guys for handling weapons while I was downrange, and range management informed that if I ever did that I again, my membership would be revoked and I would be trespassed off the property.

All you can do is try to go when the fewest people are around. Early EARLY morning. Weekday afternoons. NEVER on a weekend. NEVER during hunting season. When the weather is bad is a good time. 0˚ F tends to drive people away.

Armored farmer said:

You guys are making me appreciate my country home.


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My wife just said "Don't get any ideas."

My local range is uncontrolled and I do my best to avoid it on weekends and during the few days before each hunting season when it is busy. The safety issues you sometimes see at a range like this are almost unbelievable. I try to be there when no one else is.

desmobob said:

My local range is uncontrolled and I do my best to avoid it on weekends and during the few days before each hunting season when it is busy. The safety issues you sometimes see at a range like this are almost unbelievable. I try to be there when no one else is.

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We must go to the same range.

The only difference I see between an organized range/gun club with no oversight and a clearing int he woods on public land where people just show up and shoot are 1.)there is a lot less trash at the gun range and 2.)there is a lot less alcohol and cannabis consumption during shooting at the organized range/gun club. Other than that...not much difference. (Admittedly, those are huge differences.)

My only experience with a public range is the club range and we shoot traditional BP only.
We are also a group of friends, and when the line is closed....the butts are grounded.
I feel for you guys on a public range like that. That's not cool to be downrange while someone is handling a firearm..
Check out your local nmlra club. They're old school discipline I bet.
I know that won't help with your centerfire guns.

I dislike to say it, but I would rather pay for a range membership than to deal with this kind of stuff. I believe my freedom is more expensive than my life.
I say that, because if some careless individual goes down range, and nobody notice it till it is too late, somebody is going to be in trouble. The "I did not know" will not cut it. So, yes, I am looking at a few ranges in my area. There is one that offers a 600 yards lane, and the most complaints I see on their web site is "why do I have to be a member of NRA to be able to shoot at your range?". Membership is not expensive, but I rather have some comfort in knowing that there is an RSO there to keep an eye on things. BTW, I do not want to be member of the NRA, but that's how the range gets their insurance, so, either I comply, or go to a public range and deal with the people there. Choices, choices...

I too, feel sad for those of you that are forced to put up with dangerous ranges filled with Tactical Timmies.

My local range has an RSO onsite (actually lives there), and he doesn't take any guff from dummies. He kicks 'em "right-the-heck-out" of the joint if they talk back after being warned about safety issues, and rightly so! If they refuse to leave, he calls the cops and they lend a hand.

We are so lucky to have "open bays" for training in any fashion we see fit with pistols and shotguns. They are 25 yard ranges with 10-foot berms on three sides. You can pull your car in there, setup your targets, practice shooting from concealment, shooting from the draw, moving, use your vehicle for cover and concealment...whatever we want.

The catch is that you need to bring your own targets, and they must be at least 36 inches off the ground. Sounds like a pain, but it keeps those who are a "little less serious" from taking up the bays.

Those are the people that are busy flagging each other and dodging NDs on the 25 and 50 foot ranges. I WILL NOT shoot at the communal ranges.

However, there is only one communal range for rifles. I don't use it, so can't comment on it. The fact that it is shared is probably why I haven't picked up any rifles yet.

The range I use for 50 and 100 yds is pretty simple.
Cold range the shooting area is cleared and roped off, rifle on bench with supplied chamber flag.
Hot range and the target area is roped off.

At public ranges I always have someone on the firing line and I have a neon green safety vest for going down range.

Tinker-S said:

..."why do I have to be a member of NRA to be able to shoot at your range?". Membership is not expensive, but I rather have some comfort in knowing that there is an RSO there to keep an eye on things. BTW, I do not want to be member of the NRA, but that's how the range gets their insurance, so, either I comply, or go to a public range and deal with the people there. Choices, choices...

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It's not about the cost; it's about being forced to financially support a political organization at odds with your beliefs. In my view, it's the same as being forced to join a union to keep your job, and that union takes your dues and gives it to candidates who are working directly against your best interest.

But I also agree with your conclusion. If you want to shoot there, you join the NRA. There are worse things in life. The only reason I'm a member is because I'm shooting High Power Rifle and Service Rifle, and they track your ratings and scores by your member number.

The range I was a member of for 5 years did not have ROs and it was not really a problem.

Sure, some guest fired down range on me when the line had declared it cold but it could happen to anyone…

That being said, I still did not wish for a RO even after that incident. As far as I was concerned, it was worth it.

The fees were high and the membership was limited so there were never too many folks at any of the ranges except the week before deer season.

Anyway, I’m with @Armored farmer and a few others here in that I was glad to be rid of the gun club altogether after I bought a piece of dirt my own. First thing I did was build a range….and then it burned down in a wildfire. So I built a better one that was fire proof.

D.B. Cooper said:

It's not about the cost; it's about being forced to financially support a political organization at odds with your beliefs. In my view, it's the same as being forced to join a union to keep your job, and that union takes your dues and gives it to candidates who are working directly against your best interest.

But I also agree with your conclusion. If you want to shoot there, you join the NRA. There are worse things in life. The only reason I'm a member is because I'm shooting High Power Rifle and Service Rifle, and they track your ratings and scores by your member number.

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Yeah. Pick your poison kind of deal. There is another range closer to me, but it is not well-kept, but it does not matter. It is 600 yards capable, and I could set steel or paper. Membership is cheap, and no NRA, plus the range offers firearms, and all kind of other stuff for sale.
Presently, I am a member of a nice club. 960 yards, but one of the guys kind of hides a plate right at 1K. Full time RSO and a club house to eat and drink after shooting. Nice! It sucks I would have to leave!
I do shoot SR, but I am not an NRA member, just CMP member, but I shoot for fun. Thinking to start collecting points.

earlthegoat2 said:

The range I was a member of for 5 years did not have ROs and it was not really a problem.

Sure, some guest fired down range on me when the line had declared it cold but it could happen to anyone…

That being said, I still did not wish for a RO even after that incident. As far as I was concerned, it was worth it.

The fees were high and the membership was limited so there were never too many folks at any of the ranges except the week before deer season.

Anyway, I’m with @Armored farmer and a few others here in that I was glad to be rid of the gun club altogether after I bought a piece of dirt my own. First thing I did was build a range….and then it burned down in a wildfire. So I built a better one that was fire proof.

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Nice!
That was my thinking before the whole pandemic thing, but I was too late to purchase my 100 acres. I was on the road to "shoot for breakfast, lunch and dinner" kind of deal, but I guess it will not happen anymore. So, range membership it is.
I did not mind getting shot at in my last job, but not anymore. :0

Don't ever underestimate the ability of slob shooters to mess up an unsupervised firing range.

Years ago i built a great 500 yard range on a property i owned. Made a major blunder by allowing others to use that range. Soon people i had never met had gate keys and were using my shooting range. Law enforcement often used that range but provided no help in maintaining the place.

i quickly became a trash hauler because shooters refused to carry away their trash. After a couple years someone killed a cow on the adjacent property. i paid for the cow and apologized to the neighbors: Then took a 450 dozer and destroyed the shooting range, posted the property with no trespass signs and changed the locks on the gates.

There was much caterwauling, wailing and whining. You would have thought i had violated folks civil rights. All the hardware was hauled to another property, where it lies with brush growing around it. That property has a simple 250 yard firing range. Only family are allowed to shoot there.

alsaqr said:

Don't ever underestimate the ability of slob shooters to mess up an unsupervised firing range.

Years ago i built a great 500 yard range on a property i owned. Made a major blunder by allowing others to use that range. Soon people i had never met had gate keys and were using my shooting range. Law enforcement often used that range but provided no help in maintaining the place.

i quickly became a trash hauler because shooters refused to carry away their trash. After a couple years someone killed a cow on the adjacent property. i paid for the cow and apologized to the neighbors: Then took a 450 dozer and destroyed the shooting range, posted the property with no trespass signs and changed the locks on the gates.

There was much caterwauling, wailing and whining. You would have thought i had violated folks civil rights. All the hardware was hauled to another property, where it lies with brush growing around it. That property has a simple 250 yard firing range. Only family are allowed to shoot there.

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You, for ever, will be the @hole that would not let his friends shoot!

We got a new range to shoot at, volunteered time to get it built.
Had the grand opening over a year ago and still haven't got to use it.
End of next month the woods are supposed to open back up, been shut down for over two years.
It was supposed to open 10/31 but got pushed back.

Tinker-S said:

You, for ever, will be the @hole that would not let his friends shoot!

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His first mistake was letting people on his private property. If I had land like that, I would have razor wire and trip flares all the way around it. The whole place would look like a WW I battlefield.

Ya gotta do what you gotta do. Fish and game ranges in Arkansas are open to the public, unregulated. Manny altercations with knuckleheads. You should carry open or concealed. Sylamore used to be a lot nicer / clean. But not anymore. The kids and I try to get things picked up when there. What's really disturbing is the number of OLD / Seniors with horrible range behavior and callous trashing of the range. You know those generations weren't raised to be like that. Proclaiming to be of virtue and then to see them behave like this.