Biggest Newbie Mistake at Range?

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Omigod, I've done some of these, too. I've shot the target frame (not any posts, though) in rapid fire, have brought the wrong ammo, even brought a S/A with no mag in it.

A lot of ranges don't allow holstered guns except for specific competitions. I usually carry several guns in a box I've designed that will hold 6 guns in high density foam, so I don't even bring a holster now, unless just one gun - and I never bring just one gun.
 
In fact I don't know of a single range around me that lets you draw and shoot from a holster, unless it is during competition.
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What state? All the ranges around here allow you to holster your weapon, but then, this is Northwest Arkansas. They don't allow fast draw practice unless they know you very well. Hmmm.
 
The biggest new guy mistake, is not asking for help and not applying what you know. I've seen guys ask questions that revealed ignorance, but you have to commend someone who is not afraid of looking ignorant in the interest of gaining an education.

The more entertaining answers would be attempting to load 357 in a 38 special "because they are interchangeable," and watching a guy huck his handgun down the range in a fumbled "quickdraw" attempt.
 
My biggest newbie mistake happend when I was 18 (about 25 years ago). I went to the range and there was an older man there with an old Reminton 870 (no recoil pad). I'd never shot a shotgun before. The man told me to make sure that I tucked the shotgun real tight into my shoulder. I was a big tough guy and I said "yeh yeh no problem" (thinking to myself this guy doesn't know how strong I am :rolleyes: ) I don't remember what I was shooting - probably 3" slugs. I shouldered the gun and of course didn't listen to the man (because I was 18 and knew everything :rolleyes: ) when he said to tuck it tight. I was wearing a long sleeved thermal under shirt - the old kind that had the square checkered type material. I shot the gun ONCE, only once. I thought my shoulder was broken. I was trying to be cool and handed the shotgun back to the man and not show him how much pain that I was in. I remember my eyes started to well up and I said how nice the gun was and thanked him for letting me shoot it. I think he saw what I did and how much pain I must have been in. He winked at me and said "no problem".
I went home and took off my shirt and there was this nice purple, red, and blue square checkered patterned welt/bruise on my shoulder. I couldn't lift my arm all the way up for about 3 days!
It was a long time before I shot a shotgun again after that!
 
shoots, looks around like something's wrong, shoots again, looks around again, puts gun down, picks it back up, messes with it a bit, shoots,...
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Heck, I do that, but that's so I can keep an eye on all the scary n00b/mall ninja behavior in adjacent lanes and can then run or duck as needed :)
 
I've transported a rifle a couple of times using a pillow cover. I did not have enough rifle cases for the guns I was taking to the range at the time.
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I correct myself as the memories have return more clearly. One was a small Marlin 15YN that I had use a pillow case for. One other was my M1 Garand which I wrapped with a towel.
 
The only ones that bother me involve breaking the necessary safety rules (e.g. sweeping others with the muzzle, not paying attention to a hot/cold range, etc.). As for everything else, we were all ignorant of guns at one time or another, so it's generally nothing that a little bit of information can't solve.
 
If bench shooting, improper placement of the sand bag, towards the muzzle as opposed to as close as you can get it. I was guilty of it and watch for it myself now, 9-10 newbies to the range do it too
 
Call me ingnorant, but I don't frequent a range, I'm rural...

What are the "Four Rules"?
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The Marines had a slightly different version:

1. Treat every weapon as if it is loaded
2. Do not point the weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot
3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until ready to fire.
4. Keep the weapon on safe until ready to fire (this obviously would not apply to Glocks ;))

"Know your target and what is beyond it" was a new one to me in the civilian world, but is also good.
 
I think the first time I fired my 12 gauge and forgot to put my ear protection on at the indoor range. Me looking at the ceiling trying to figure out what the alarm going off was, when it was really the ringing in my ears, was probably a noob giveaway.
 
Several months ago there was a guy, was shooting a .22 match rifle prone indoors. It's a single-loader bolt-action, so he opens the bolt, drops the round into the channel, and then slams the bolt handle forward and down (Not ideal, can affect accuracy). At some point during the detail, he manages to have the round sit hanging over the receiver wall and doesn't realise until for some reason the bot won't go fully forward. Cue RO calling a frantic ceasefire and gingerly picking up the now wonky round. Apparently he saw it happen and was convinced the primer was going to be touched off...
 
I once saw a Trenchcoat Mafia wannabe shoot a pistol-grip shotgun on the pistol range - loaded with 3" magnum slugs, one handed at arms length - ganglang style.

The dancing and screaming he did just after that was priceless.
 
Yep, the four rules are everything. After that showing up with too much gun and poorly mounted, infrerior optics is a problem I've noted a few times. Essex
 
My biggest mistake when I was getting into guns was not wearing hearing protection or eyewear. I never really thought much of it at the time because none of my friends wore it, but after reading this site and reading about people that have decreased hearing, I started wearing hearing protection since I started going to the range. My hearing isn't exactly damaged now but sometimes I do have to have someone repeat themselves though that could be due to wearing earphones all the time as well while on a computer and listening to loud music.
 
Shooting rapid fire and rounds 6+ hit the ceiling of the building. That is visible in more than one lane at our local range.
 
Most common mistake? Handling a firearm when the range has been made safe.

"It's OK, it's unloaded!".
 
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