Do you guys encourage others to following the range rules? Especially, when other shooters are directly next to you?
I shoot at a range that has semi/volunteer ROs at all times when the range is open. They are in the room with you, not on the other side of a piece of glass. If you break a rule, they
will come talk to you. If it is a small infraction, and you are polite, you are embarrassed, and it is forgotten. If you decide to argue, then you will eventually become unhappy - how unhappy is up to you. Do you want one of the other ROs to come of break, stand 5 feet behind you, and watch every move you make? That can be arranged. Do you just want to exit red-faced for the day? Than can be arranged. Do you want to lose your membership. That can be arranged. In fact, since it's an official county building, if your heart's desire is to spend the night in jail, that can probably be arranged.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Almost everyone I have ever seen who inadvertently broke a rule apologized to the RO and looked sheepish. I did see one guy exit red faced after an argument with the range officer about whether or not he could adjust the sights on his Marlin while other folks were down range. I have seen one guy with shooting gloves and a tricked out (to my eye) 1911 get his own private RO standing behind him after a sarcastic reply to a question about whether one had gone into the roof. I don't know whether the shooter put one in the roof or not - but he wasn't making many holes in the target from what I could see.
I am not sure why you would prohibit loading mags outside the booth as long as the gun itself was left in the booth.
I suspect that issue is not only being safe, but appearing safe. From 50 yards away, can you be sure tell that I am only loading rounds into a magazine? I personally don't like to have anyone monkeying with anything near their weapon when I am 50 yards down range.
Many people complain about prohibited actions at a gun range, "I know what I am doing is safe!" But think for a moment about the other side. If you saw someone you'd never seen before doing what you are doing, and didn't have a clear view, would you know that what
they were doing was
safe?
Rules are rules though. Not my range.
That's the way I see it. It's also the case that the people who administer the range I shoot at are members of a local traditional gun club. It's not like they are anti-gun or making up rules just to make up rules. Often as not, they'll talk to about the shooting sports they're in if you are shooting the same kind of weapon. If I shoot my .45 LC Blackhawk, one of the cowboy action shooters will come over. If I shoot my K31, one of the milsurp guys will come over.
So these guys are not mall ninjas - they are other shooters enforcing rules that a big group of shooters wrote. I personally figure they know more about running a range than I do.
I know for sure that they have seen more weapons handling mistakes.
I find more and more RO's get a huge power trip over being the ro to
Be careful here. I have noticed that a new RO is often a good deal more uptight and autocratic than someone who's been doing it for a while. I don't count that as a flaw - I think that it means that they are aware of the responsibility of being an RO, and taking that responsibility seriously. Over a period of time, they seem to relax.
I don't mind a slightly uptight RO even a little bit. Put yourself in their shoes. You have 20 people with lethal weapons in their hands. You are there to make sure that no one accidentally shoots anyone else. The 20 people have all different levels of skills when it comes to shooting, and to safe weapons handling. You are aware that an AD can mean someone being seriously injured. On top of all that, you have to deal with a lot of (almost all) male ego's. Of that 20, there will always be a couple who are damn sure they could outshoot a Marine sniper and outfight a SEAL team. Heck, if you ask them, they'll probably claim they were snipers or SEALs! That might make you a little uptight!
Usually, after a couple of months, they mellow a bit.
But I would rather have them uptight at first than totally casual.
If your idea of a fun afternoon at the range it to spend half your time looking down a muzzle while someone clears a jam or adjust their sights - you can go to any gun store range in town!
Mike