A new rule for range etiquette.

BLACKHAWKNJ

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Joined
Dec 30, 2007
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On another board a member complained of his bad experience with the 50 AE Desert Eagle-not firing one, but being present when one is fired. Occurs to me that shooters of such loud firearms should announce "Fire in the hole !" or something similar when they are ready to touch off a round so other shooters can brace themselves, maybe step back from their booths, wait until that shooter is done before trying a precision shot.
 
Indoors, everything is loud.

You might not like the responses that you get, if you asked another person that question, while at an indoor range.

When I'm at the outdoor range and someone sets up next to me, I point at my 50 BMG rifle. I let them know that the blast from the muzzle brake, will blow their rifle off the bench. Most move a couple benches away for reasons.

Using double hearing protection is also a thing for indoor/outdoor shooting. Especially if you're around large caliber firearms.
 
There's a few that used to get testy when
I'd be shooting a muzzleloader and make
a big sulphur-laden cloud. The rangemaster would either tell them to
suck it up and deal with it, or at times
he'd go get his original Springfield and
pop a few off. I've had similar complaints
about shooting a 444P lever Marlin.
Not as much the last time I was at a
range because many show up wearing
their "operator" garb and "chest rig" to
pop a few targets and their focus is
being seen and trying to dump a magazine before the range personnel
catch them and toss them out
 
I have been on both sides of that fence, and no doubt will be again. Especially at a non-membership, open-to-the-public range, I'm occasionally going to get beaned by flying brass, or choked by clouds of noxious BP smoke, or brain injured by some braked monstrosity chambered for something which starts with a "5" - and I'm occasionally going to do the same thing to the guy next to me.

To me, that's just part of the experience. When I'm in the mood for an elaborate code of conduct enforced by a bunch of whiny CEOs, I'll go hang out on the trap field. :neener:
 
When I'm at the outdoor range and someone sets up next to me, I point at my 50 BMG rifle. I let them know that the blast from the muzzle brake, will blow their rifle off the bench. Most move a couple benches away for reasons.
I've told the story before, but I was setting up on the bench next to a friend shooting his Barrett .50, many years ago, and was kind of standing next to him and his gun. He gave me a little warning, which I ignored, so he just shrugged and touched one off. The concussion blew most of my stuff off of the bench, and left me blinking stupidly in the sunlight with a little trickle of blood running from one nostril.

The lesson has stuck with me.
 
I wouldn't go so far as to require it. But a friendly request to someone shooting such a gun is not out of line. I've been to the range where people were shooting AR pistols and can relate.
 
Some seem to like blowing people's doors off. I was shooting my 22 rifle at the 50 yd range and a fellow set up two benches down with what I later learned was a 458 SOCOM pistol. I had my muffs on, but I had to leave to put plugs in under them. He later affixed a silencer, so little doubt he was after the reaction.

Sadly, I don't think more rules would have much of an effect on that type.
 
When volunteering as an RSO at an outdoor range we would have ceasefire called. After a ceasefire we would simply say! Eyes and ears everyone. Wait until shooters were ready. Say range is hot!!! If you didn't like the guy shooting the break. You could move or wait until he was done shooting.

One indoor range I shoot at, limits cartridges that can be used. The 50AE would not been allowed.
 
Some guns should not be fired indoors. Like these.......

The 50 BMG rifle, with brake, clears benches on both sides. The Smith 500 & 460 revolvers , make me run for cover, also. Who knows whats comming out of that cylinder gap.

A shooter next to me ask one day " Why are my primers falling out of my 300 WM reloads? :oops:

Think shooting 10 feet to the right of a flint lock is safe? Its not. A piece of flint hit me above my left eye. Drawed blood. Could have lost an eye, if a bit lower.

Outdoor, some kind of booth/or walls would be safer.
Bullseye pistol competitors (me) wear a blinder if someone is shooting to my left. blinder-set-967146.jpg
 
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I had one of the original ported Marlin Guide Guns. I loaded it hot. I always gave a courtesy heads up if other people were around me. It's not so much the noise as it is the concussion. It's enough to affect other shooters.
 
I have had a reaction or two when shooting even a 4” .357 powered by H-110. It wasn’t intentionally fired to get a rise, just shooting some of my top end reloads. I can say those rounds are substantially more… obvious than the usual 9-40-45 crowd is used to. But I would probably shrug if someone said it’s too loud, there isn’t a whole lot I can do about those rounds.

That being said, I have left my regular indoor range early when someone is blasting away with a 14.5” braked 5.56 or 7.62 AR in the booth next to me, especially when the guys shooting one are leaving patterns on the B-27 targets at 15 yards that a .410 shotgun would be ashamed of! You can hear the laughs from them when they touch their shots off and the blast is resonating in the room, for that type of shooter it’s primarily a “look at me” thing.

Since I go there 2-3 times a week, if it isn’t fun for me I will pick up my toys and come back another time. :)

Stay safe.,
 
Not trying to be obtuse to the OP, but where is the line? A 223 pistol? Subsonic 300 Blk? Hot loaded 45 Colt? 9mm major? 30-06? How about a 7mm mag? .243? Any rifle?

Indoor ranges get loud, and I try to keep an eye on who is setting what up near me, so I can estimate how loud it will be. I typically am shooting a .22 indoors, but understand that I am at a rifle range, and there could be others shooting larger calibers.
 
On another board a member complained of his bad experience with the 50 AE Desert Eagle-not firing one, but being present when one is fired. Occurs to me that shooters of such loud firearms should announce "Fire in the hole !" or something similar when they are ready to touch off a round so other shooters can brace themselves, maybe step back from their booths, wait until that shooter is done before trying a precision shot.
Don't know about a "rule."

But common courtesy (don't say it :cool: ) would dictate that the Eargenglittenlouderboomer shooter
would accommodate nearby newer/younger/sensitive shooters by (A) chatting with them to let them
know that he will be loud; and (B) timing his shots in-between theirs if practical.

(and...)

Were I the RSO, I'd ask him to do that.
 
I've told the story before, but I was setting up on the bench next to a friend shooting his Barrett .50, many years ago, and was kind of standing next to him and his gun. He gave me a little warning, which I ignored, so he just shrugged and touched one off. The concussion blew most of my stuff off of the bench, and left me blinking stupidly in the sunlight with a little trickle of blood running from one nostril.

The lesson has stuck with me.
That lesson stuck with me as well. I didn't get the bloody nose, but I did have to retrieve my hat. I should have listened to Dad when he said not to stand so close.

chris
 
I have had a reaction or two when shooting even a 4” .357 powered by H-110. It wasn’t intentionally fired to get a rise, just shooting some of my top end reloads. I can say those rounds are substantially more… obvious than the usual 9-40-45 crowd is used to. But I would probably shrug if someone said it’s too loud, there isn’t a whole lot I can do about those rounds.

That being said, I have left my regular indoor range early when someone is blasting away with a 14.5” braked 5.56 or 7.62 AR in the booth next to me, especially when the guys shooting one are leaving patterns on the B-27 targets at 15 yards that a .410 shotgun would be ashamed of! You can hear the laughs from them when they touch their shots off and the blast is resonating in the room, for that type of shooter it’s primarily a “look at me” thing.

Since I go there 2-3 times a week, if it isn’t fun for me I will pick up my toys and come back another time. :)

Stay safe.,
Yesterday I was at an indoor range and thought the guy next to me was shooting an AR based on the noise. Turns out he was shooting a 4" revolver. I found myself wondering what load he was shooting to make a revolver that loud.
Personally I find it good practice to be able shoot properly amidst other shooters. You won't get to choose the setting or your hearing protection if you ever have to use a firearm in a real situation.
 
On another board a member complained of his bad experience with the 50 AE Desert Eagle-not firing one, but being present when one is fired. Occurs to me that shooters of such loud firearms should announce "Fire in the hole !" or something similar when they are ready to touch off a round so other shooters can brace themselves, maybe step back from their booths, wait until that shooter is done before trying a precision shot.
I announce “Fire in the Hole” when Ilight off a .460, .458 SC, .50BW at my outdoor range club.

But at my indoor range, it’s already NUTZ! AR’s - AR’s - more AR’s, Shotguns, .500 mags, rapid fire 9mm’s. It’s a NUT HOUSE! they would laugh at my for announcing “Fire in thr Hole” with a .460
 
I have had a reaction or two when shooting even a 4” .357 powered by H-110. It wasn’t intentionally fired to get a rise, just shooting some of my top end reloads. I can say those rounds are substantially more… obvious than the usual 9-40-45 crowd is used to. But I would probably shrug if someone said it’s too loud, there isn’t a whole lot I can do about those rounds.

That being said, I have left my regular indoor range early when someone is blasting away with a 14.5” braked 5.56 or 7.62 AR in the booth next to me, especially when the guys shooting one are leaving patterns on the B-27 targets at 15 yards that a .410 shotgun would be ashamed of! You can hear the laughs from them when they touch their shots off and the blast is resonating in the room, for that type of shooter it’s primarily a “look at me” thing.

Since I go there 2-3 times a week, if it isn’t fun for me I will pick up my toys and come back another time. :)

Stay safe.,

The usual "young guys" (and I'm 41, for reference) always used to be impressed when I'd start putting rounds downrange with a 4" .357 Magnum with anything approaching warm reloads. And I wasn't trying to be obnoxious, I just liked shooting my .357 and .44 Magnum revolvers when I had then. Incidentally, a .38 Super loaded with Longshot will also make everybody else at the range wonder what in the world you're doing.

But it's a shooting range, it's noisy. Be aware of what is around and plan accordingly. I never shoot without doubled up plugs and muffs anymore, and I keep my eyes peeled for short ARs with muzzle brakes, and any big magnum rifles with ports or brakes. Normally I can either shoot on a different part of the range, or wait and do my shooting while they're reloading magazines.
 
Some seem to like blowing people's doors off. I was shooting my 22 rifle at the 50 yd range and a fellow set up two benches down with what I later learned was a 458 SOCOM pistol.

I have a similar experience. I was alone shooting a 22 rifle on the outdoor 50 FOOT range at my local club when a guy set up right next to me and started shooting a 44 magnum revolver. I just set my rifle down, went into the clubhouse for a cold drink and waited for him to leave.

Tim
 
. . . rapid fire 9mm’s. It’s a NUT HOUSE! . . .
The ranges in my area indoor or outdoors
either one don't allow magazine dumps.
There's someone who usually does and
gets tossed out when the management
hears it happening. There's a couple I've
observed that get packed up and do a
quickee on their way out as if the management can't figure out who did it
 
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