WrongHanded
Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2017
- Messages
- 4,771
A few months ago, my old indoor range shut down. I promptly got a membership at the newer and fancier indoor range to continue my weekly defensive drills. Just 50 rounds, working from the holster, including emergency reload drills and such.
Unfortunately, the new place just isn't as relaxed as the old one. It's OWB only, so no cover garment, no AIWB, no pocket draw. They have to remove the bench for me, because I can't be trusted to do it myself. Nor can I be trusted to take my own brass back from beyond the firing line. Apparently I can't be trusted not to bring armor piercing ammunition in with me either. And as there are more RSOs at the new place, I seem to always have someone over my shoulder checking to see that I'm not about to do something stupid. All this despite having to qualify to even be able to draw and shoot from the holster, and having a special lanyard around my neck to prove it.
But it gets worse. Now instead of entering and saying "Hi!" to a few friendly faces, getting myself into the range and set up to do my drills, I have to jump through hoops. I need to ask for lane time at the front desk and provide some ID. Get buzzed through a door, and then hand over my ID at a second counter, in exchange for a lanyard, and have my ammo checked. If I want to do holster work, I have to tell them then for the special lanyard. Etc, etc. Then go get my ID back, on the way out, go back through the security doors, and so on.
Now, it is what it is. It's not going to change just for lil' old me. But all this hoop jumping and hovering over my shoulder just makes me not want to go to the range. I've actually taken to shooting outdoors the past several weeks, just so that I can do what I want without any hassles. I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't just cancel my membership and spend my time shooting outdoors instead. I won't get to do it every week, but I feel like it'll be more productive when I do. And there's always dry fire practice to fill in the gaps.
I'm just not sure. But what I do know is that I really don't want to go to this new range. I always have to force myself to go, like it's work rather than something to enjoy.
Unfortunately, the new place just isn't as relaxed as the old one. It's OWB only, so no cover garment, no AIWB, no pocket draw. They have to remove the bench for me, because I can't be trusted to do it myself. Nor can I be trusted to take my own brass back from beyond the firing line. Apparently I can't be trusted not to bring armor piercing ammunition in with me either. And as there are more RSOs at the new place, I seem to always have someone over my shoulder checking to see that I'm not about to do something stupid. All this despite having to qualify to even be able to draw and shoot from the holster, and having a special lanyard around my neck to prove it.
But it gets worse. Now instead of entering and saying "Hi!" to a few friendly faces, getting myself into the range and set up to do my drills, I have to jump through hoops. I need to ask for lane time at the front desk and provide some ID. Get buzzed through a door, and then hand over my ID at a second counter, in exchange for a lanyard, and have my ammo checked. If I want to do holster work, I have to tell them then for the special lanyard. Etc, etc. Then go get my ID back, on the way out, go back through the security doors, and so on.
Now, it is what it is. It's not going to change just for lil' old me. But all this hoop jumping and hovering over my shoulder just makes me not want to go to the range. I've actually taken to shooting outdoors the past several weeks, just so that I can do what I want without any hassles. I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't just cancel my membership and spend my time shooting outdoors instead. I won't get to do it every week, but I feel like it'll be more productive when I do. And there's always dry fire practice to fill in the gaps.
I'm just not sure. But what I do know is that I really don't want to go to this new range. I always have to force myself to go, like it's work rather than something to enjoy.
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