Bad range day.

[Big_E]

Well I finally got out to the boonies, 3 hours later than I wanted too. Not to mention the danged flies buzzin all round me.

Here is where the real frustration begins: I open my new box of clays, get my shotgun out and then get my new box of value pack shells out. Then I notice that the shells are yellow and not that "Federal burgundy" great, I grabbed 20g shells at Walmart when I meant to get 12g. So the main goal of today was scrapped.

Next, I take out my 10/22 because I want to do some Stock Screw torque testing for accuracy, guess what, I forgot my torque screwdriver... and I took my multitool out of my car so I couldn't even tighten it little by little to check results. I had my Beretta model 70 .32acp and shot the remaining rounds in the box, but that thing gives me slide bite pretty bad.

I still had fun getting out of the apartment and walking around BLM looking for squirrels or chucks but didn't see any and helped even out my tan.

Moral of the story: Double check you have everything for the range. It will save disappointment after 20 minutes or so of driving. (It is my g-ma's birthday, and she thinks I should be doing more "productive" things than shoot, so there ya go grandma, Happy Birthday).

**Oh, I was able to hit 2 clays at 100 yrds with my .22, except it took me several rounds for each. So it wasn't that bad.

 

[Dionysusigma]

My worst days at the range are tied.

1) Forgetting my hearing protection, but having little kids get excited to shoot my Marlin 60 and AK when all their uncle had was a Winchester 70 in .308 that they were too afraid to shoot. Ears still haven't fully recovered six years later, but the look on those kids' faces was pure gold.

2) Blasting through an entire 440-rd can of 7.62x54R with a Mosin Nagant M44 in one sitting. My shoulder didn't feel right for two weeks. But 1/2k shots from a hell of a rifle is always fun, despite temporary pain.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I have found that if I am in a rush to go shoot, I will always forget something. Maybe next time have your "DUCKS" in a row before you decide to head out for a day of shooting. I have a range bag for each type of shooting I do. One for shotgun, one for pistol and one for rifle. It has made tings easier for me to keep track of everything.

 

[W.E.G.]

checklist or fail

 

[Blackrock]

Heck Igot out to the range one day and set up my targets and shootingbench and all the rest of the stuff and found I had left the bolt for my 22-250 on the bench at home.
Luckily it was only three miles back home and was at a private range so I was able to leave everything set up while I retrieved the bolt.

 

[TriTone]

I feel for ya, had plenty of those trips.

I've forgotten my hearing protection so much I now leave a coupel sets in the car all the time just in case lol.

 

[youngda9]

A bad day at the range is still better than a good day at work.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

A bad day at the range is still better than a good day at work.

And infinitely better than a bad day at work. :banghead:

 

[ljnowell]

I have definately had my bad days, thats for sure. I cant count how many times my wife has helped me pack and when we get out and unload everything and get all set up, there is no hearing protection. Agghhh. Pack it all up and drive a mile and half back home and get them. Then come back and unpack it all again.

 

[omegaflame]

I keep a small package of disposable ear plugs in my glove box.

 

[Shadow 7D]

I did that my self, damn no return policy at wally world

Had to go and find a barrel, now I'm good to go with my mega pack of 20

 

[cl4de6]

I am a long time lurker and joined THR just to post this story.

Keep in mind, I'm from New Jersey, a state where the problem isn't that the firearms laws are too strict, it is that they are too vague. Part of those laws state that the weapon and ammunition has to be in a "locked container" when transporting. I've always tried to go one step above the law, so just to cover all of my bases: When I travel to the range, I keep my unloaded firearms in one locked case. I keep the ammunition in a separate locked case, and I lock everything in the trunk of my car.

I was bringing a co-worker and his nine year old son to the range that day. It would be the first time either one of them had fired a gun. I loaded the rifle case in the trunk. I loaded the targets. I loaded the ammunition case. I loaded the ear/eye protection. I loaded snacks and water.

We drive 45 minutes to the range.

I pay for two hours of range time.

Then, as we are setting up at the table, I realize that I forgot my rifle and ammo case keys.

I spend twenty minutes breaking into my gun case. I manage to get that open. Then, I break my leatherman tool trying to break into my ammo case.

This is obviously not happening today. I apologize profusely to my co-worker, realizing that if I lived in any other state, I wouldn't have to go to such great lengths to prove that I am not a criminal in the event that I am in a car accident with rifles and shotguns in the car. The range operators were kind enough to refund my money.

But this story has a happy ending. We went back a week later with my gun case keys tied to my car keys. My co-worker and his son had a blast.

They had so much fun, that the father applied for his New Jersey Firearms ID card to purchase a shotgun for skeet and home defense.

Every new FID is a victory. One down. 8.7 million to go.

 

[vaupet]

^^ that is why I only use locks or cases with a three digit combination (incidentally: 1 code for all my locks) Works great for me

 

[Shear_stress]

Man, I've been there.

Bought a used Remington 870 Express about fifteen years ago. Drove an hour out to some public land to blast some cans. Put a round in the chamber, pulled the trigger and was rewarded with a "click". Another round, another "click". Figured it must have been the cheap target loads I bought.

Drove all the way back into town, bought another brand of shells and ventured out yet again to the same shooting spot. Again, a chorus of clicks. Went back into town confused and annoyed.

Broken firing pin.

 

[MaterDei]

the problem isn't that the firearms laws are too strict, it is that they are too vague.

the father applied for his New Jersey Firearms ID card to purchase a shotgun for skeet and home defense.

Quote number two proves quote number one wrong. NJ laws are both strict and vague.

btw, welcome to the High Road. Congrats on bringing somebody into the fold, and his son!

 

[Hardtarget]

Most of my bad days come from the fact that I don't get to the range often enough...so my shooting is , well, not so good. I NEED PRACTICE! I just can't find time.

When you have one of those days you have to grin and bear it. Remind yourself that you ARE at the range. All is well!

Mark

 

[Ky Larry]

I have heard stories about people who load up their targets, guns, sand bags,range bag, spotting scope and cooler, drive an hour to the range, unload everything, set up their targets, and realize they left their ammo bag sitting on their reloading bench. Not that it's ever happened to me.

 

[jimmy0622]

Always sucks to have a bad time at the range -- I bet that next time you go, you will remember this situation and double / triple check everything before you take off though!

Just as a general guideline, I always like to remember that: Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

 

[Barr]

Ruger Redhawk, 50 rounds of handloads to test, and no hearing protection (forgot at home). Thought toilet tissue would help, stupidity is a terrible disease. Now I just go home if I forget it.

 

[TH3180]

I drive the one mile to the indoor range. Open the door and get hit in the face with the smell of fire. Come to find out they had a fire the night before in the range and they will not be rebuilding. Now I have to drive 10 minutes to the other indoor range. The worst part is now I pay twice as much for a day at the range.

 

[OldmanFCSA]

Drove 200 miles to shoot 300 yards with my son.
Got to range, setup targets at 200 and 300 yards.
Setup rifle on bench using bi-pod and mono-pod.
Got 50 BMG Target ammo out on bench.
Setup spotting scope.
Distributed hearing muffs to all involved.
Explained what was "supposed to" happen.
>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>> FORGOT THE DAMN BOLT FOR RIFLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[oledad86]

been there done that too! went to our local outdoor range to burn some .45. till i remembered i left the pistol on my brothers kitchen table. at least i had the .22!:banghead: range is 45 min from home

 

[CrazyIrishman]

Its not exactly a bad day at the range but it was miserable none the less!

About 34 years ago I went hunting with two of my best friends on Maryland's Eastern shore for deer & squirrel if time allowed.

We got to the hunting ground before daybreak so we decided we should go get in place before the sun came up.

One buddy was using a Winchester 94 30-30 since all he wanted was a deer. My other buddy and I both brought shotguns made by Mossberg, and both were bolt action guns. His was a 20 gauge while mine was a 12 gauge.

(I've never told anyone this before)......

Since there wasn't any light to speak of (we forgot flashlights), I found my 12ga. easy enough as it had a Poly-choke on it, However, getting the ammo was another story!

We each grabbed a bag of shells and went off into the woods. When the sun was starting to come up I saw some deer in a field but out of range so I thought it would be a great idea to quietly load my shotgun! To my surprise it was (you probably guessed it) 20 gauge shells!

Talk about an embarassing 20 minute walk back to the car! Boy, ALOT of lessons were learned that day!

 

[rtpzwms]

+1 on everything forgotten. As a result I now carry the biggest range bag I can comfortably carry. It includes tools, gun oil, glasses, ear plugs (LOTS of ear plugs), shotgun chokes, shotgun ammo (100 rounds), 22 rounds, shooting vest, targets, and in the fall an extra heavy shirt for colder days... now all I have to do is remember to put it in the trunk!

 

[DrLaw]

It is a nice thing to have the range about a mile and a half from home, but there are many the days that I do not have ammo loaded up for the particular shoot that day.

So I sit in a chair and command "Shoot! Shoot for my enjoyment you varlets!"
"Shoot for my pleasure!", and try to make the best of it.

The Doc is out now.