Are you a Range Rat?

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Redlg155

Redlg155

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A range rat is similar to a gym rat. Everyone knows the guy who does a set, then walks around for the next 45 minutes looking and talking to everyone. A range rat is similar, but.in a different setting.

Some clues...
You fire at an average rate of one round per hour.
You know exactly what everyone has in their collection.
You squirrel away every piece of brass you find, no matter how obscure the caliber.
They went ahead and just gave you your own key.
You are the only one there during the superbowl.
You know EVERYTHING, including a history breif for the unsuspecting that may look like a newbie.

We have one at our range. He's got every new toy imaginable but somehow makes half a box of ammo last an entire day.
 
No, but I don find it a bit annoying when I'm working on a group for a new load, or sighting in a rifle when chatty Kathy won't leave me alone. Our range is self serve though, so lately I've just started getting there when most guys are still in bed, nice having a whole range to yourself.
 
I really don't pry too much into what others are shooting or doing, but I don't leave too much brass left in the gravel after someone leaves. So, yeah, I'd be considered one of them.
 
You squirrel away every piece of brass you find, no matter how obscure the caliber.
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I do this. That is all.


You are the only one there during the superbowl.
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Never. There is a time and place for everything, and the Superbowl is the time and place to sit on your can in front of the TV and eat hot wings.
 
I don't really do this but I do consider the range just another hangout like the gunshop or a friend's house.
 
I'm not, but I know a few. All but one are just old guys enjoying what they enjoy. I like having them around, old as I am, I've been taught a thing or two by them.

Now the one that is a pain is old as well. But he insists on correcting everything you do. It takes a bit of rudeness, but he eventually knows to leave you alone. Problem is, he just finds someone else to pester. Oh well, life is like that sometimes.
 
I heard you can catch those.. drop a nice shiny .223 case down the bole of a tree and there you go.
However his one brain cell will tell him otherwise, his case gripping fist will not allow him release.
 
You are the only one there during the superbowl.
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Oh, I just realized that would be a perfect day to go to the range! I don't like pro sports, so I would be the only one there.
 
I guess I am sorta one.

Early one Monday morning at the Zia range in Albuquerque I found where several military types had fired about 500 rounds of Match 308 and left it laying on the range. They had policed the boxes and put then in the trash, so I ended up with a humongous batch of Match 308 all from the same lot!

395
 
I enjoy the company.

If you ask him nicely, he might even explain that "breif" is correctly spelled "brief."

Together, if you were to become pals, he might also explore with you the difference between might and may.
 
No, I generally don't know what everyone else is doing. If I'm at the range, I'm focused on what I'm doing, not everyone else.
 
Ryanxia said:
I don't really do this but I do consider the range just another hangout like the gunshop or a friend's house.
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Most gunshop owners HATE it when "customers" hang out. They are there to sell things and make money, not to entertain you and your cronies.
 
drsfmd said:
Most gunshop owners HATE it when "customers" hang out. They are there to sell things and make money, not to entertain you and your cronies.
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And the shop has to do with the range... how?
 
drsfmd said:
Simply pointing out that while "hanging out" is pretty normal at the range, the poster's example of hanging out at the gun shop is generally not appreciated.
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Gotcha. I don't like when people hang out at the shop, either. Range, stay all you like. If it's at a store, they'll get ammo sales from you. If it's public/private, then who cares?
 
At the range I go to, if you go early (as a member) or get a table when it opens to the public, then it's like a restroom stall. Don't ask me about my gun, or what I loaded it with yesterday. Just do your business and free up a bench for the next guy that needs to unload.. Normally there's a 30 minute waiting line on weekend mornings. I bet a mod is going to PM about this pun. Seriously though, I don't mind a little chit chat at the range (during a cease fire) but I don't want to spend the day there, and I'm not interested in your bazzillion dollar rifle, your telescope, or your tactical gear.. I shoot in shorts and sandals 'cause it's hot out and my son takes up another bench because I paid for it and he's seven and learning marksmanship skills. I like the range better on my Mondays off just because there are less of those "range rats" and "look at my stuff" guys.

Most members don't fiddle around.. I didn't mean to say it that way, for the most part the members are ok guys. In fact, I want a membership myself but I want to wait for my boy to get a little older for it to be worth while.
 
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i scavenge brass in a stand offish mannor; members know who reloads & needs vs keepers. some even save for each other.
as for who owns what, most of us like to have others ( the knowledgable ones) play with our toys. get feed back and to try lots of different makes & models.

some new members try to make things their way and most have their mis-methods corrected quickly. they seem to be the newest group of what were called the 'me generation' i think more that they are 'entitled' as they seem to want to explain themselves reather than fit into what is.

sometimes hanging out trumps lots of shooting; not often though.
 
You squirrel away every piece of brass you find, no matter how obscure the caliber.
Click to expand...

This, Is the only thing I do. Unless it is steel cased. Other than that, I make some quick chit chat with the other shooters there about their guns and for a few min and then leave em to it.
 
I usually don't pay attention to what the people beside me are doing unless they are annoying me.
If someone is being nice or just making passive comments, I usually stop to talk for a while. I enjoy the conversation with them.

If they are bragging about shooting bullseyes at 7 yards off of a rest like a couple of morons did to me once, then I get my 357 magnum out. They don't like the noice or to see someone shoot a 1 1/2" group of six at 20 yds off hand.

I only pick up my own brass and try to help others if they ask, short of that I'm usually focusing on what I'm doing.

No, I can't say I'm a range rat.
 
Well I can say that I am not a range rat. I police only my brass, am rather unsociable (if left alone), only walk away from my shooting area during cease-fire, and usually have 1 or 2 people with me that are actually shooting my guns (I do occasionally shoot a couple guns myself). I am not going to say I see any at the club, but everytime I bring the M3 to the range it never fails for several other shooters to ease over to where I am at to see if I mind if they fire a few rounds. Being the person I am, have no problem with it.
 
Nope that is not me. I shoot at the range early and get my business done. I hang out for about 30 minutes at my Local Gun shop every week. I usually windup buying a goodie everyother week and puting one on layaway once every 90 days.
 
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