Gun Range Officer - Total Jerk

Hint #1) People get somewhat disturbed if it looks like someone is going to be launching rounds over the berm. If you are not controlling placement for every shot, you shouldnt' be shooting that fast. My club just did a $200 assessment -per member- to raise the height of the berms because some genius managed to launch one into someone's back yard, a pretty fair distance away...

Hint #2) If your behavior makes me nervous about possibly leaving the range with more orifices than I started the day with, I get REMARKABLY uptight. To the point where I may use some of the words I learned in basic training.

I used to shoot at an outdoor range in Englishtown,NJ. The owners were two brothers that were ex military in their late 50s.Until they knew you, these guys would watch you like a hawk and if you broke one of the rules they would deal you a serious ration of doodoo. After they reamed you in front of everyone they would come over and nicely explain what you did wrong and why it was unsafe.
I think the screaming was to keep everyone on their toes,they were genuinely nice guys though , you never made the same mistake twice. We used to get a kick out of new guys that would come to the range and watch their reaction as "Sarge" reamed them a new one. Sadly the place is long gone.

If you've never done the job, and seen the extreme far ends of the spectrum come through your doors to shoot on your property, then you really don't know what a tough job it is.

Some folks will come to a range and bring the gun, but possess no knowledge how to follow the 4 Rules. They are unconsciously incompetent at the very basic level. Suggest to them they just did something that put you or another in danger, and they'll get belligerent. It doesn't take long before that line of work makes the RO strict and inflexible.

Nightwing said: I love how politically correct our big group of conservative guys is.
Seriously guys..... every time anything is even mildly off color... "THAT'S NOT HIGH ROAD....RAWR". It's not a cult guys, and I'm with the group that says there are a lot of high and mighty types in here. Chill out.

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Nightwing, its not about political correctness. Its about being polite and well-mannered. No, its not a cult. But its how we do things here. Call it . . . . a way of life, if you will. And its how we like it.

Its pretty easy to do. We all manage it in our daily lives. If you do go through your day pissing off everyone you meet with bad-manners, just fake it here. That's what I do, and it works well enough. If you find conditions here too restricting, more permissive venues exist.

Nightwing, the fact that THR is not a conservative Republican Christian echo chamber like other gun forums has brought several new gun owners into the fold - I've witnessed it personally. There are a lot of gay people, Democrats, and non-white ethnicities here. I like it this way, and we gun owners need all the votes we can get. Intolerant language towards others (no matter whom) is not THR.

Remember that we are ALL ambassadors of the gun culture... And why you may see it as your gawd-given right that you can run roughshod over all "non-gun" folks who you meet, well, those folks vote too... and they'll remember the guy who behaved like a jerk...

If a bullet leaves one of my club's ranges, it could cause closure of the club. Now, you can bitch about that on the intrawebz, or you can just make sure it doesn't happen. Bitching's a lot more fun, I guess...

I dont know a single person that would call a shot squeezed off every two seconds rapid fire, and I know a lot of fuds too. BTW... That isnt a "miss-spelled" potty word.

Although I have never had a bad experience with an RO (only been to a couple place in my life that even had one), this is one of the reasons I go out of my way to shoot in the nearby national forest.No other people to worry about, be it RO's, or shooters, and I can shoot however I want, whenver I want, for free.

Well, I guess I'm feeling kinda "fuddish" since I can't go to Knob Creek.

Son, if the range officer don't want it, it shouldn't happen.

Son, if the range officer don't want it, it shouldn't happen.

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this is correct somtimes............however if it is with in range rules just because a Ro says no does not make it wrong. For example the time I was told I can not shoot in a particular lane for no other reason than"because I said" after the Ro stood there and watched me set up for a half hour. the Ro may be responsible for running the range and even with bone hease about they can do so and be polite about it, no need for authoritarian attitudes. Are you telling me that you want to shoot paper target of simple circles and the Ro says you need to shoot the fbi training target your are going to do so. Sorry but they are both paper and there is no safety issue so whats the problem here? Ro's are there for a safety control mostly. If it is not a safety issue then whats the problem? if you are acting with in range rules whats the problem? RO's have rules too some clubs give them the absolute authority but the one I shoot at they had better be ready to answer for their decisions, the guy that I had the problem with was removed for his actions not just tward me but had aparently done the same thing to many others.

the fact that THR is not a conservative Republican Christian echo chamber like other gun forums has brought several new gun owners into the fold - I've witnessed it personally. There are a lot of gay people, Democrats, and non-white ethnicities here. I like it this way, and we gun owners need all the votes we can get. Intolerant language towards others (no matter whom) is not THR.

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jlbraun, the fact that THR is, as you say, ... "a lot of gay people, Democrats, and non-white ethnicities" has built perspective for this conservative Republican Christian. I extend a personal thanks to you for tolerating me here.
In case you haven't noticed, the echo may be different, but THR is quite the echo chamber itself.
FWIW.

I like our echoes... Echoes of politeness unheard of at GlockTalk.

Go see the thread over there about DT ammunition, page 2 is priceless\\\\!

Nothing will turn you sour quicker than havingt to deal with the public on a regular basis. People do usafe and stupid things in front if that RO day-in-day-out and everyone of them thinks he's a jerk and can't understand what his problem is.

Hamourkiller- I hope your story is just internet bravado.

We also don't know what this RSO just kicked the last patron off the range for. If the guy had just come close to getting a new belly button he would not be in a frame of mind to put up with anything, and he would most likely be hyper vigilant toward everyone else still on the range.

Also, we don't know the OP's mindset that day. As it was said, anyone can have a bad day, and if you're not at 100% then anything you perceive as a flaw in someone else is magnified.

I can't say what I would have done in this situation, because I would have to be there while it's happening. If the guy was just being a jerk I would simply leave and come back sometime when another RSO was on duty and see if things changed. If more than one RSO acts that way on a range, and you yourself aren't typically getting kicked off of ranges, it might be time to look for a new range. If you often find yourself in this situation, perhaps you should look a little more inward for answers.

Good luck, hope you get the situation resolved.

One shot every second or 2 is rapid fire? You mean I can rapid fire my rolling block? You aren't allowed to adjust your sandbag between shots? So when it settles you're just SOL?

If you've never done the job, and seen the extreme far ends of the spectrum come through your doors to shoot on your property, then you really don't know what a tough job it is.

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BullfrogKen, you spoke for me there. Worked at ASC here in Houston for about a year...and was by far the biggest roller-coaster ride I ever had. I saw everything from that old fella that had a 22 Hornet low-wall that had a lee hand press and a little card table out the trunk of his car. He was a source of info that was incredible. Then we had the guy that grabbed every sandbag he could find to set up a prepared fire position for his Remchester mag. I am guessing that in his neck of the woods the deer or hogs have taken up arms against hunters...I was fortunate enough to NOT work the pistol range...they were scary.


And I must admit... I take umbrage against the comments of the "commie" rifles and their owners...I can say for a fact that all the owners that I have dealt with and shoot with are responsible, careful, and don't spray and pray OR give any RO reasons to get upset or hostile. Unfortunately I see others that don't have the same regard. All I ask is that in any case not to make such a blanket statement.

MTCW
D

db, my apologies for offending you. I did qualify my statement stating there are exceptions.

My statement reflects MY experience as an RSO at our club over the years and not scientific proof that commy gun guys are all that way. As I said, once they demonstrate they are safe and can keep their shots on the paper I have NO issue with them. Until they do they get extra scrutiny because my most scary customers have been commy gun guys.

Moral of the story, our actions as gun owners do reflect on the rest of us, whether you are pro or an anti. In this state much of our public lands are closed to shooting because of the litter they left behind, or at least that is the official reason. Acting in a responsible and respectful manner will go a long way toward our continued enjoyment and legal ownership of firearms, commy guns included.

I really don't see a problem with rapid fire if you're keeping them on paper. When I shot for my CHL qualification, I gave myself the challenge of seeing whether I could get all the hulls from each string in the air at once. Doing that with 5 shots from 15yds was the only time I got completely off the silhouette, but I was still on the paper.

MrAnteater, I'm sorry you encountered a bad experience with this RO, but instead of leaving the range, why didn't you first report him to his superior? Perhaps the three of you (plus other members) could peacefully work things out. I'm going through a similar situation only this ordeal is with my boss. I did not get angry and walk off the job as this would be an irrational response. I instead chose to use the company's chain of command and put it to work for me.

Go back and report him. Try to get others involved too.

Remember three things:

1. Strength in numbers,

2. A professional, polite attitude goes a long ways,

3. Cooler heads will prevail.

Well, I've had at least three unnerving experiences at uncontrolled ranges.

In one case I witnessed a younger fellow, after making a snide comment about my S&W 63, try out a rental .500 S&W. The recoil and blast experience was enough to prompt him to try to shoot with eyes tightly shut. Thankfully two or three rounds convinced him he was out of his league.

Another time, at an outdoor range, I witnessed a very seasoned older fellow, with lots of patches on his vest, fire a round from his 1911 point blank into the top of a concrete station while others had been forward of the line for at least a minute.

And my least favorite of all time was when a gentlemen a few yards to my right lit one up from his 30-06 SIDEWAYS across the indoor range and blasted the concrete block wall a foot or so in front of my face after the all-clear, and after I had pulled my hearing protection. That was unpleasant.

I like tightly regulated ranges. I like serious range officers.

welcome to rifle ranges.

I think it's all in the delivery sometimes.I RO at our IDPA league along w/ 7 others.I always try to be firm ,but polite,and not come off as a know it all or range Natzi..but that's me(and most of our guys too.)some people love ot be in charge and have an attitude.
BTW,I love when poeple say:just buy some land ond shoot how you want..."not everyone is in that position.I recently had a thread o another forum about certain "rules" at my club and someone suggested I "pony up" some money and buy land.....I already own land that I can shoot on,that's not the point.....this guy was just saying that he didnt' appreciate being yelled at,and I can't say I blame him..as for the off color language and other stuff.....oooooh shame on him

ROs

I have never RO but I have instructed,I just let my certification drop.I have chastized shooters who were practicing dangerous proceedures.
example: the shooter[pistol]who fired reared back the gun and we spectaters were looking at the muzzle and live rounds.I did go in the range area and told him that this was not the 1860s and he did not have to worry about the primer jamming the gun.to always keep the muzzle down range.he was fine after that.
now: the NRA pistol matches,slow/timed and rapid.rapid is 5 shots in 10 seconds.timed is 5 shots in 30 sec.I have 3 SKS because the price was right$130.$75 and $50.I want to hit the target so I shoot slow.I have garand
I have shot at 600 yds and got 47 points/50.my pistol is not so good only
210/300 with 45,1911.I dont believe in burning ammo so I have enuf for rest of my life.----

I meant that I hoped the part where you left him injured on the ground and laughed at him was just internet bravado. Regardless of his attitude that just doesn't seem very "big" of you.

Range officers are there for a reason: to enforce rules that keep ranges open. Most of the time these rules aren't arbitrary and actually might be mandated by the range's insurance carrier.

Bruised egos hurt a lot less than perforated body parts.

One shot every second or 2 is rapid fire?

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lol.. sadly a lot of the ranges in my area consider that to be true.

According to one RO and I paraphrase "real shooting is hitting ten ring a few hundred yards out".

Then what I am doing huh?

Some people like accuracy -- good for them.

I like fast up close accuracy -- unloading a magazine quicker than you can say sig sauer.

That's my thrill.

Distance shooting -- not my cup of tea.