Dumbest thing you've seen at the range?

[Pulse]

it was during IPSC training, there was a dad that brought his 10 year old Son.

they had a great time and the Son helped a lot, brings Water, carrying gear and keep track of the Scores, firing up the BBQ and all sorts of stuff.
as a "Thank you" he got to shoot the various guns, overall maybe 300-400 rounds of 9mm and .38 Super and i think a few target load .45's.
as a finish a guy went to his Car and brought his new Desert Eagle .50AE and everybody got to shoot a few times.
little guy got the Last shot, the gun recoiled right in to his forehead and blood was everywhere!
but he took it well, did not cry and actualy wanted to shoot it again.

 

[Davionmaximus]

A guy looking down a loaded AR 15 barrel while there was a mag loaded... ugh:banghead:

 

[bonza]

When we were teenagers, a friend of mine was given an old .22 semi-auto rifle that hadn't seen the light of day for at least twenty years. The action was so dry it had 'dust-bunnies'! We just dusted it off & took it out to the range. It worked, but the action was VERY slow, due to the lack of lubrication.
While he was shooting, I was sitting at the bench along side his getting a kick out of watching the action work in Slo-Mo. As I was watching, one of the rounds didn't strip out the magazine correctly, jumped sideways, & the bolt came forward crushing the rim firing the cartridge at 90 degrees to the rifle. It must have missed my head by mere inches &, luckily, there wasn't anyone else down that end of the range.

 

[Korbin]

I saw a guy sighting in a laser grip on a glock at an indoor range. He put the target directly in front of his face and bench-rested the glock. The result was him firing about 45 degrees up into the air and blowing chunks out of the ceiling.

 

[deaconkharma]

visiting a buddy in Bluffton (1st week in Jan) we went to the range. Old dude walks over to talk with his firearm loaded, finger IN the trigger guard, and using it to point at stuff. including holding it at his side pointed down at the concrete floor of the range with me trying to keep out of what I perceived as ricochet path. I left.

 

[Coyote_Hunter_]

I've had people in the lane next to me get very angry because they got showered with brass after my dad emptied a 15 round mag in his 92fs as fast as he could.

The guy who got angry was obviously a cherry, the person he was there with turned to me and gave me a thumbs up.

I’d have been angry too. Your right to use the range doe NOT include the right to shower me with hot brass. Had a .223 go down the back of my neck one day and burn me good.

 

[greenr18]

You would think they would go buy the correct ammo, but instead they walked up and down the line asking to trade or "borrow" some.

I'd ask them if they knew how much ammo costs and say no

With no warning whatsoever, he demonstrated, drawing in our direction, which was also the same direction that swept the whole firing line...except his gun went off early and almost took his big toe off.

Barney Fife?

Anyways the dumbest things I've done at the range, well the worst I can think of, I used to have a Galil and I had two magazines I actually ended up throwing away they were so bad because they'd cause major jamming problems, well one I tried literally mushed the bullet into the headspace at an angle, the bullet was MOLDED into the barrel and head space, I couldnt pull the bolt back at all, freaked out and not wanting it to go off, I put it on safe (mind you the entire time I did this the gun was pointed down range) and opened the upper receiver cover, I tried to pull the bolt back and disassemble the thing but it still wouldn't move, meanwhile my dad was laughing which was pi**ing me off, I raised by voice to him stating its not funny its dangerous, I then in my emotional state couldnt seem to get the receiver cover on, very embarassed and quite worried the people to the adjacent left of us who were unbeknown to me watching rightly moved faaaar left to continue shooting, to which my father said "oh look you scared them off" and laughed again, I was quite mad. We ended up having to take it to a gunsmith who ended up just wacking the bolt with a hammer to eject the round but still, bad bad situation, embarassing and stupid, probably the dumbest thing ive ever done. The second dumbest thing i ever did was actually years ago when i first got into shooting, i had a carbine and it was pointed sideways on the shooting bench i wasnt thinking at all it was actually pointed at the guy next to me, my mother was with me and she immediately moved it pointed down range and said "lets not point our guns at people, ok?" i was embarassed as hell and the guy it was pointed at looked at me with his mouth open in shock, i dont think he even noticed how it was pointed and might have actually thought it was being held pointed at him but either way would be bad obviously, needless to say he packed up and moved wayyy down range. And the last stupid thing i do do that isn't a mistake or is dangerous, because at this time of the year almost no one if anyone is at the range, i actually go to the "point blank" part of the range and fire my cut down shotguns because thats the range they were pretty much intended for, i get weird looks when there ARE people there but ive never had a complaint

 

[Cannonball888]

When I was in boot camp at the range I saw a mentally-challenged female recruit turn around in her foxhole and point her M16A1 at the CO's head who was standing behind her as she asked "How do I..." He quickly slapped the muzzle away and she was thrown off the range and consequentally out of the Army.

 

[Cliff47]

It's been a while, but one fellow in a neighboring lane missed his target and hit the target carrier in my lane. You could hear a pin drop as the RO announced an "all stop firing", and escorted the offender out of the indoor range. I was moved to another lane and repairs were scheduled for the next day.

Another time, a young fellow (relatively speaking, they are all younger than me, it seems) was teaching his girlfriend how to shoot (S&W Model 29), and she was getting frustrated at not being able to hit anything. I was watching them, and when they stopped, he saw what my targets looked like and asked for some hints. The young lady was doing the "Flamingo stance", one foot on top of the other, and shooting the M29 DA. I gave a couple of hints on the proper stance, grip, sight picture, trigger squeeze, and everything fell into place for them. I felt better when they wanted to try my CZ75B (and loved it). She never did the "Dance of the Hot Brass".

Shortly after the S&W Model 500 came out, my local range put one in the rental case. This particular Sunday, the crew in the lane to our right came in with the hand cannon. As I was lining up my next shot there was this loud "KABOOM". I put my pistol on safety, put it on the counter, turned to peer around the partition and found the young guy looking very sheepish (dust was coming out of the ceiling), and apologized for disrupting everybody. That's when I noticed the stain in the crotch of his jeans. When I looked up, here was another group of shooters peering around their partitions (kinda like a vertical prarie dog city). Now THAT was funny.

 

[Lightninstrike]

Some guy who was apparently mad at his lawnmower brought it to the range and shot it up until it caught fire. Doh.

 

[DrLaw]

Shooting next to some gangsta's with their glock fo-tay actually it was a glock 21 in .45 ACP. The guy loads a mag, racks the slide and click. the whole cartridge comes out the end. Three times this happens before the RO comes over and examines the weapon and starts laughing. 9mm doesn't run through .45
These clowns had no clue and the RO spent the next few minutes explaining bullet caliber. You would think they would go buy the correct ammo, but instead they walked up and down the line asking to trade or "borrow" some.

Not range stuff, but similar. Many years ago, gun stores in Decatur, Illinois would sell certain 'hunters' only the smallest birdshot they had when they came in to get 12 ga. ammo. Back then, they did not have as many murders as they do now unless the shooter was really close.

The Doc is out now.

 

[Jross]

Dum Thing on Range

Hello folks this is my first post.

My wife and I recently did Texas CCL renewal. Before going to the range, the instructor clearly said, and then repeated at least twice, to not approach the firing line with a loaded weapon. When we went to the firing line, we were on the right end, the instructors started on the left checking weapons. The first person they did, we heard: "Sir, your weapon is loaded!"

Kinda scary, eh?

 

[Duke of Doubt]

The dumbest, as in plain stupid, thing I can recall doing was shooting until the range officially "closed" at 8 P.M., which was after dark. I had parked my vehicle in the clubhouse parking lot for the club meeting, and walked down the then narrow trail through the woods with a piece, ammo and ears to shoot a few at the outdoor range with a buddy.

Well, it was a cloudy, moonless night, in the woods. The range has no lighting. Folks sometimes illuminate the range with their headlights, but we simply shot until nightfall, planning to trot over to the vehcile at the clubhouse afterward.

Nightfall happened FAST. The sun had set behind a low hill and without starlight or moonlight, it was dark on the range. Time to leave. Well, it was even DARKER on the trail. One of those situations where it was so dark I literally could not see my hand right in front of my face. I didn't want to trip and fall, so I practically tiptoed, one step every couple of seconds, along the trail, correcting course each time I wandered off the trail and brushed a tree. I was about halfway down the trail, maybe, when I impulsively quoted Robert Frost: "The woods are gentle, dark and deep, and I have promises to keep." From WAY behind me, I hear "And MILES to go before I sleep!" I'd left my buddy behind!

Anyway, we finally groped our way out of the ink.

 

[czarjl]

I once saw a guy with an ammo can of beer… I left as soon as I saw that, not a situation I want to be around.

Guns good, Beer good, Guns + Beer = VERY BAD.

 

[marshallu]

I have two incidents. One was not at a shooting range, but at a gun store and directly involving me, to other was at the range.

1. I was with my uncle who is very knowledgeable about guns. I was looking at an aged 1911. It was in a case and I asked the guy behind the counter if I could see it. He opened the case and then checked the gun to make that it was unloaded. He handed the gun to me in a safe manner and I handled it in a safe manner. I scanned the room and found an area that I "thought" was clear of people, I raised the gun and took stance to check the sights. As I was doing this a person walked in to the area that I had the gun pointed. I saw him and lowered the weapon. My uncle nailed me, he said that I should have been more aware of my surroundings and the people in them. I thought about it later that day and realized that he was right, but I thought even more and wondered if the person that walked in to the sight should have been more aware of their surroundings. I learned a lesson though and will try to be more aware of what is around me.

2. I was at a local public range. I shoot there often and have found the times that the range is busy and not busy. I try very hard to go at the times that it is not busy. One Saturday before deer season I got up early and went to the range, I wanted to check my sights on my 700 and fiddle around with various other guns. I had already sighted in my deer rifle and was shooting my carry gun, Bersa 380. I had targets set up at 5 and 10 yards. The range is split so that the backstop at one side is at 50 yards and the other side is 100+. I was at the 50 yard side. I had ear protection and I was working on technique when I saw out of the corner of my eye a group of younger individuals (18-20) walking down the 100 yard side with targets in hand. I quickly lowered and saftied(?) my weapon. I looked at them and yelled that the range was "HOT." They looked at me and said that they were far enough away and that they knew that I was not going to hit them. I yelled again that the range was hot. They laughed and went ahead, I hit the mag release, cased my gun and left.

I wish that there was an RO there to back me up but there wasn't. I have not been back to that range. This has been the only time that I have experienced this at this range or any other for that fact, I do not think that it is worth it to go back since there is a chance that these people or people like them will be there.

 

[jeepilot]

Worst thing that I can remember in recent history was that I broke the 180* line while shooting USPSA by about 5-10 degrees. No real danger, but it was enough to send me home, and make myself feel like a complete jackass. I guess tunnel vision got the best of me that day.
Another time, I was about 12 with my dad at the range, and shooting a '94 Winchester .30-30 and my dad told me to lower the hammer on th gun. Well my little thumb slipped off as I was lowering the hammer and BOOOOOMMM... scared me to death since my dad was kinda close to the muzzle.


Worst I've seen was an older gentleman with what appeared to be his two grandchildren at a public range. They were shooting a shotgun and somehow managed to jam a 870 express. Well he points the thing up range which is a bunch of trees and proceeds to try to "fix" it by playing with it and pulling the trigger. Old man has his two grandchildren on either side of him while the shotgun is in his lap and has an ND pointed about 10 ft away on the ground uprange. Luckily no one was hurt, but I was about 20 ft to his right and decideded it'd be a good time to leave after that.

 

[clasiter]

while taking the range portion of my ccw.......we are lined up about two and half feet apart and its cold out, so I was wearing a heavy jacket, the range master tells us the next set will be rapid fire, alright y we start shooting and the guy to the left is shooting a kimber .45 and all of his brass is going right into my jacket, needless to say after the cease fire was given I did the happy dance.lol

 

[hksw]

Hello folks this is my first post.

My wife and I recently did Texas CCL renewal. Before going to the range, the instructor clearly said, and then repeated at least twice, to not approach the firing line with a loaded weapon. When we went to the firing line, we were on the right end, the instructors started on the left checking weapons. The first person they did, we heard: "Sir, your weapon is loaded!"

Kinda scary, eh?

Welcome aboard.

At the end of the required safety and instructional course to apply for my carry license, the hands-on portion to display shooting competence was up. Targets were paper plates at 7 yds. Seeing that it appeared some of the class members had very little trigger time before the class, I had expected a few requiring some added attention to finish this part of the course.

The individual to my right was about middle aged and chosen a small 5 round revolver. (Wasn't entirely sure what it was but knew it wasn't a Ruger SP101 as I have one of those.) Judging by his handling of the gun prior to the start, it look as if I needed to keep an eye on him. (Finger on the trigger even at rest.) Command was given to load up. (I was shooting an HK P7 PSP.) Guy loads up. Came about 45° from sweeping the line but kept it pointed down range for the most part. I took a half step back during stops between cammands to shoot. It seems his safety glass were a little low before the first shots were fired and he proceeded to fix them with both of his hands. His shooting hand still held the loaded gun with his finger still on the trigger using his middle finger and thumb to fix his glasses. After about a second, he put the gun down before I could say anything. He was given more attention by the instructors as the shoot went on.


Other stoopid stuff I've seen includes grown-ups teaching kids the art of shooting and not having the proper equipment (eye and ear protection) on hand. I don't know how many times I've handed out earplugs and safety glasses.

 

[Rimmer]

A guy next to me shooting from bench's with a high dollar rife. Had the barrel resting on top of the bag. He couldn't understand why his groups were all over the paper.

I suggested he might try moving them back under the stock for a few shots. He responded with, Na, that don't have anything to do with it. :banghead:

During a CCW class a know-it-all from a previous class wanted to shoot with everyone. I declined and also pointed out that he had neither eye protection nor hearing protection. Sorry, this is a training session not range time for you. We are teaching a class. His response was, hey, I've been shooting like this for years and I'm not concerned. I took hold of his elbow and asked quietly for him to place his pistol on the table and back away from the line. He gave me this look like I wasn't going to be telling him anything.

I yelled for all to hear, Place your firearms on the table and step back. Everyone did but this guy. I again yelled for everyone to return to the classroom, and they did. That left Mr know-it-all and me and two other range officers. I explained he was being kicked off the range today and I would be speaking to the Club President about seeing that he was kicked ot of the Club for his actions.

Bottom line, he was ejected and lost his membership. Students learned a good lesson that day.

 

[Eric F]

I saw a guy cussing up a storm, He had a .38 revolver and a .40 cal glock and didnt understand why the box of 38-40 ammunition didnt fit in either gun.

Makes it really hard to argue the point of "shall not be infringed" when even I think some folks are just not smart enough to have a gun.

 

[LKB3rd]

Worst thing I ever saw..well I guess I'd have to say I heard it-was done by a cop. Two of them had a lane a few down from me, and I suddenly heard "POLICE DROP YOUR WEAPON! POP POP POP POP." The entire firing line was lined up with people holding weapons. I backed up and looked down to the two cops, and one of them had this dumb smirk on his face. He thought it was funny.

 

[MS .45]

Not at a public range but a friend of mine's property. A friend of his was shooting with us.(I didn't know him) He almost shot his finger off with his XD .40 because he thought he had fired his last round. He pulled the trigger again as he was pointing down range with his other hand. About an inch from a trip to the hospital. Have never shot with him again. A shame too, because he had some really cool guns.

 

[TRGRHPY]

How about RSO's who don't pay attention to the shooters. The range here has only 1 RSO (that I know of) and he rarely is paying attention to the line. He is constantly shooting the crap with people trying to tell them how much he thinks he knows. He is really bad about this when there is a woman there with her husband/boyfriend.

 

[shooter454]

12 gauge oops.

My old division had finished a day on the range and prepared to go back out on duty. All the shotguns were carried cruiser ready. That is empty chamber, hammer down, and the safety on with 4 rounds in the magazine tube and the gun placed in the gun lock in the vehicle. One Trooper was in his vehicle while the Captain spoke to him through his open window. Had a bad habit of screwing around with the gun while racked and he put a round right through the floorboard. Captain did not say a word and just walked off. The letter that followed pretty much summed up his feelings.

 

[Para-Trooper]

Dumbest thing . . .

I just discovered THR, and had to register to post my dumbest story.

Around 1971, I was RO doing fam-fire with a bunch of young new Navy recruits. After covering all the usual basics and range rules, we started with a round of slow-fire. As I walked the line observing and correcting technique errors, a kid in the next lane, while maintaining proper grip and sight alignment, pivoted on his feet directly towards me and shouted: "It didn't go off!" Do you know how big the muzzle of a 1911 looks at close range?!!!