Another range moron heard from...

[ravencon]

Reading posts like this makes me so glad that the indoor range I shoot at is a membership club, access is by keycard 24/7. I try and shoot late morning or early afternoon when the range is usually empty.

When there are other shooters present I've never seen any unsafe behavior.

 

[Babarsac]

The only thing worse then getting swept at the range is what I say the other day at my local range. A guy brought his toddler to watch him shoot his AR and the little guy kept throwing off his muffs and running in front of the firing line. It's a miracle the little guy didnt get hit.

 

[Snarlingiron]

I think the worst mishandling I have seen is at the skeet range. It is common to see guys with the butt of their gun resting on the toe of their shoe, their interlaced hands resting on the barrel, and their chin resting on their hands. Now I will grant you that the bolt is locked open, but still. I guess my biggest gripe is that they usually have youngsters that they are "teaching". At any rate, since I have taken up skeet over the last few months I have seen more really bad weapon handling than anywhere else. I don't think I have been swept that I am aware of, just seen lots of guys doing really stupid things. It appears that the thinking is that you only load 2, and you shoot those, so as long as the bolt is locked open, or the action is broken anything else is ok. Not the way I was taught. I know that in a couple of classes that I have taken that kind of behavior would have gotten you thrown out of the class, and probably barred from the range.

 

[mpmarty]

Our indoor club range is open to the public Tuesday nights and Wednesday mornings. The rest of the time it is booked by club activities. The range has ten firing points divided by barricades and there are always a minimum of two range officers (I'm an RO there) present. We do not tolerate moving guns from one point to another If you want to show off your new pistol, bring your buddy to your firing point, when we "close" the range to paste and change targets all weapons are in slide locked back with mag out or cylinder empty and open laying on the benches. Nobody is allowed to approach the benches or handle ammo or weapons until the range is cleared downrange and is "open" again. We evict on the first infraction such as sweeping or touching a weapon during range "closed" and write down name etc. Second offenders are banned, permanently.

 

[Gun Slinger]

Unfortunately such stupidity isn't restricted to the ranges we frequent.

This weekend, I was at a local gunshow in NW Ohio helping a buddy of mine run his table when this young couple (mid-20's ?) came by and started looking at the many guns on his table.

Over the course of just a few seconds, the female "pawed" at several of the guns, especialy the .22's like the P22's and the Sig Mosquito's, picking them up, handling them roughly and tossing them back onto the table instead of replacing them gently. She then suddenly picked up an HK USPc .40 with one hand wrapped about the grip asked her boyfriend, "Whaddya think of this one?" and pointed the muzzle right at his face holding it about ten inches away from his face as she asked the question. The boyfriend, completely unphased by this atrocious conduct said, "Yeah. Neat gun." and then casually asked my friend, "How much?"

Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed it.

Thankfully, my friend had seen quite enough and told them that he would not be selling either of them a gun ever and that until they got some training on how to properly handle a firearm that they should refrain from handling any more guns at the show. They left in a "huff" and we saw them just a few minutes later doing the same thing at another dealer's table just a row away.

GS

 

[FieroCDSP]

A lot of the incidents in this thread come down to one real issue: Lack of training from a younger age. I was never taught any of this when I was younger, in fact, my mom wouldn't let me have a sucker-dart gun . I think putting a basic firearms class as an elective in schools would be the best thing. Look how many students eventually go into criminal justice.

Regardless, range etiquette and the four rules have to be learned first hand, and to be learned, they need to be taught in the first place.

 

[CountGlockula]

I get swept ALL the time, that's why I end up kicking people out of my indoor range.

Also, whenever ANY shooter is loading unloading their magazines IT SHOULD BE DONE AT THE BOOTH. Most of these folks load their mags on the bench behind the booths. URGH!!!

 

[BobbyQuickdraw]

Just the other day some new shooter swept basically everyone in the building. She was shooting some .22 auto and it was her first time. Boyfriend didn't really take enough time to show her what to do and I think an indoor range is a horrible place for instruction - they should learn outside of the range first, then apply. But anyway, she fires like 1 or 2 downrange, then turns, bringing the gun, loaded, safety off, totally hot, finger on the trigger and looks for her boyfriend. I'm against the wall as my friend is shooting and the barrel is pointed directly at this head - through a thin hollow plastic barrier.

I get off the wall about to say something as she turns, passes the gun, finger still on trigger, over my chest, then past her boyfriend, the viewing window, and then down the entire line of people. Luckily right then, the bf noticed what she was doing and got her pointed down range. Fairly unsettling though, as he was a touch rough in moving her arm to guide it down range, and clearly something bad could have happened.

About a half hour later my friend said he noticed another guy down the line walk out of his booth, look around at this friends, pistol swinging with him, then step back to the line and fire a shot.

Some huge group of like 12 people had come in together and they were all completely new to this with no one on hand to show them what to do. That's when we decided it was time to leave, as I like having my brain in one solid piece without any holes in it.

 

[Kingcreek]

Life is too short to spend it in the vicinity of idiots that might make it even shorter. I would not tolerate a safety blunder. One of us is leaving immediatley.

 

[BobbyQuickdraw]

Thought I'd mention this, too. Same gun range as above, but this young couple comes in, look really young, but at least 18. I'd guess maybe 20, 22 at best. Guy and a girl.

This range makes you do a safety check unless you have a Handgun Safety Certificate, so the guy asks who is more comfortable with guns. Guy says he is, so he'll do it. Clerk asks what gun would he like to use the kid goes "I dont know." They talk a little and decide on the Glock. The kid had previously identified that he had shot, but not in a long time - which is basically usually what people who have never shot will say.

So the guy hands him a cleared Glock and 1 snap cap and instructs him to follow all rules, treat it like a real round, etc. Asks him to load the gun (safety check is load, remove mag, check to confirm still loaded, eject round, make weapon safe). So the kid fumbles with the magazine a bit, finally gets it loaded. Picks up the Glock, points it right at the Clerks face, slaps the magazine in and racks the slide, all while pointed at the guys face.

The guy is then like "Well you just pointed a gun in my face so we can't really let you shoot after something like that. You just failed." The kid is embarassed, the girl is upset she doesnt get to shoot, and the clerk recommends the kid come back and take a safety course.

I was just glad to see that they actually made him leave, rather than let him come on the line and endanger everyone there.

 

[Tony Gable]

Range Morons

Hi Guys,

After reading of all of the potential mishaps at ranges, it's gotta make you think twice about shooting in a public range. I'm glad that two friends and I set up a 400 yard range on public land and nobody knows that it is there. It's pretty obvious what it is if you can find the target stakes. We don't leave any trash when we are done. Don't want to make it to obvious. By the way,
One of the guys that help mark out the range, I will absolutely not shoot with anymore. He is just too damn careless. I won't be any where near him or his reloaded ammo.

Tony

 

[Gun Slinger]

Life is too short to spend it in the vicinity of idiots that might make it even shorter.

+1 to that, brother!

GS

 

[AJM]

This is exactly why the first thing I did when I decided to buy my first handgun last year was take a class on basic handgun safety. We spent 2 hrs in a classroom going over the basics (the 4 rules) and learning proper gun handling etiquette. The last thing I wanted to do was go to a public range and assume that I knew how to handle weapons safely. I didn't want to see my neighboring shooters hitting the dirt because I was doing something stupid.
I would recommend that people new to firearms consider the cost of a safety class as part of the cost of buying their first firearm. I took my 17 year old son with me, and we had a blast, literally.

 

[RancidSumo]

I got a good one (well bad actually). I was in the local pawn shop. It was the first time I had been in there. I was looking for ammo and just generally browsing around when some kid comes in to have the owner put a scope on his new rifle. So the guy takes it and procedes to point it right and my chest to show the kid how to use the scope. I left immediatly and never went back.
I also have a question. A while ago at the range (outdoor, no supervision). Only me, my friend, and two other guys were there. We went over during a pause in the shooting to see what they were shooting and stuff. I start talking to them and a few seconds later my friend comes over carring his gun. They freak out and yell at him for having the slide closed on his gun even though it is pointing at the ground, mag out, and hammer down. Is it considered "bad" to do what my friend did?

 

[Deanimator]

They freak out and yell at him for having the slide closed on his gun even though it is pointing at the ground, mag out, and hammer down. Is it considered "bad" to do what my friend did?

Yes. Any time you're not going to be shooting immediately, the firearm should be unloaded with the action OPEN. Some places also require some sort of empty chamber indicator. Our club does.

 

[bikerdoc]

was going to start a thread just like this- sun, went to my membership range that also sells hourly rentals- the pinhead in the next lane was an hourly guy with some 40 cal plastic thing and 5 mags - he proceeds to rapid fire and change mags then more rapid fire - this idiot hit my target with his pray and spray nonsence- i notified the range officers and mr wannabe was escorted off the line to his vehicle

we require all weapons be pionted down range unless the action is open-
reloading is done online and we got some big ugly range officers

 

[RancidSumo]

Yes. Any time you're not going to be shooting immediately, the firearm should be unloaded with the action OPEN. Some places also require some sort of empty chamber indicator. Our club does.

Ok, thanks, now I know.

 

[CountGlockula]

he proceeds to rapid fire and change mags then more rapid fire - this idiot hit my target with his pray and spray nonsence- i notified the range officers and mr wannabe was escorted off the line to his vehicle

That's why some ranges don't allow rapid fire: Lack of aim, damage of range property and the sound factor.

 

[Starter52]

Another big +1 to Sixtigers. Great story.

 

[alemonkey]

Last time I got swept it was the first time I took my wife shooting, about 4-5 years ago. Needless to say we had a VERY heated discussion. She said "but it's unloaded." I told her lots of people get shot by "unloaded" guns.

 

[Regolith]

This is why I prefer to shoot at an empty range, or even better: public land, in the middle of nowhere, with a nice mountain to serve as a backstop.

 

[Snarlingiron]

this idiot hit my target with his pray and spray nonsence-

Yeah, when I took my qualification for CHL, there was one round in the top right corner of my target for which I got counted down in score. The lady next to me with the Glock 26 that she had to have the instructor remove the magazine ( she could not operate the button) put that round there. She also put them all over her own target. Sorry to report she qualified. In Texas if you do not qualify you REALLY DO NOT NEED TO CARRY A GUN!!!!!

 

[boomer1911a1]

After reading CountGlockula's post, and a few others, I have to ask: what is the harm in loading your mags away from the bench?

When I'm Bullet Trap, I run through my magazines, leave the action open and the muzzle pointed downrange, then stroll up and down the line looking at everyone else's hardware whil;e loading my four or five magazines. I don't see a chance for a ND/AD.

Show me the error of my wicked ways!

 

[Z71]

I got my ass chewed by an old codger for pointing a gun at him at a public range several years back.

Funny thing was that I had not gotten my guns out of my pickup yet. I was sweeping the leaves out of the stall, and must have 'swept' him with the broom handle! Thats all I can figure anyway. I apologized for 'sweeping' (ha-ha, wasn't funny!)the guy, but wasn't good enough.

I told the old codger that my guns were still in my vehicle, and he started calling me a liar and worse! The range owner came over and mediated the deal. Started laughing when he realized I really didn't have a firearm out, and did 'sweep' the old dude with a broom handle!

That pissed the old guy off worse, but shut him up, and he went back to his end of the line.

I was pretty peo'd myself, but had driven 40 miles to try out this 'great' shooting range I had been hearing about. Decided to fire a few shots anyway.

I noticed that everytime I looked towards where the old guy and his even older buddy were, the guy I had a confrontation with would casually point his rifle at me!

Well the range owner and his range helper must have noticed that too! They went over and tossed both guys out! That was great, but I had had enough myself. I loaded my stuff and waited a suitable amount of time so I wouldn't run into these jokers on the road, and left too.

I have not been to the range since. Too many whackos and idiots!

 

[AndyC]

After reading CountGlockula's post, and a few others, I have to ask: what is the harm in loding your mags away from the bench?

When I'm Bullet Trap, I run through my magazines, leave the action open and the muzzle pointed downrange, then stroll up and down the line looking at everyone else's hardware whil;e loading my four or five magazines. I don't see a chance for a ND/AD.

Show me the error of my wicked ways!

At the outdoor range where I used to RO, we had a rule that once the range was declared safe and people were allowed to walk forward, no equipment on the bench was to be touched - period. Not because grabbing and loading a magazine is inherently unsafe, but because it's a slippery slope - stuff gets taken off the bench by those who stay behind while people are still up-range, and next thing it's a firearm which is forgetfully being handled, etc.

It's a bit different at an indoor range, because nobody goes forward to check/patch their targets - the targets come back to you. Standing behind someone while loading a magazine isn't a problem to my mind.