Gun lanes and urinals (don't ask)

[Yohan]

Whenever you goto a gun range, do you strike up a conversation with the guy who's set up in the next lane? Whenever I go with my pops, we pretty much keep to ourselves, but there are times when we talk to some other people. I don't know if it's because we're asian, but I just don't feel comfortable talking to some people. The ones I usually stay away from are as follows

1. The couple- Usually comprised of a scared looking girl and a macho looking guy who's always glancing around like he owns the place. Will take any opportunity to "adjust" his partner's stance or grip.

2. Competition shooter in training- These guys keep completely to themselves and have the determined look of a gorilla closing in on some type of crazy gorilla bait. you do NOT want to start up a conversation with them. They march in the range holding $10,000 customized 1911's, complete with a custom trigger job, a gold plate grip, a laser sight, and a twin turbo powered V6 cylinder super rare reloading mechanism of some kind and a cup holder. They'll execute random drills such as firing prone, firing sideways, firing weak hand and firing while hanging upside down from the ceiling, both strong hand and weak hand. If you do strike up a conversation with them, they will begin criticizing every single thing you do- "that's a good posture- here's how to improve it" , "it's all in the trigger finger- here, let me show you" etc. etc. If you value your time, stay away.

3. Glock fanatics- These people love their Glocks and they're not afraid to show the world. They come brandishing at least twenty different Glock models, and they can actually tell the difference between the different models without looking at the number. As they fire off their double stacked pre-ban magazines, be sure to watch out for flying shell casings that are sure to come your way.

4. Gangstas- Du Rags, basketball jerseys, and cheap knock off guns. Whenever you see one of these, it is best to move to another lane. They usually come in packs and have no idea what it means to practice gun safety. Their idea of eye protection is squinting the eye and tilting the gun sideways so the shell casings eject away from the face. Most of the time, they'll shout phrases such as "Yea sucka!" or "You goin DOWN!" as they plink away at the general direction of their target.

That's about all I can think of, perhaps you guys can think of some more ;-)

 

[PATH]

I no longer go to public ranges. I belong to four different clubs. I always talk to folks at the range. I have made some great friends that way. Sometimes I let them shoot some of my stuff and sometimes I get to shoot theirs. Summers are great because I wash up after shooting and cook up some burgers and have a few Dr. Peppers. Join a club and get off that public range if you can.

 

[Yohan]

Does anyone know if there's a club near Dallas, Texas?

 

[Redlg155]

Shooting at an indoor range and a urinal do have a bit in common with some differences.

It is unacceptable and against the man code to strike up a lively conversation with another man using the next urinal. A nod..with the head looking straight towards your wall is the only means of communication acceptable followed by a grunt. It is perfectly acceptable to talk to another shooter in an adjoining lane.

It is also unwise to occupy an ajoining area lest brass fly and hit you from another lane. Same with the urinal. That's why you never wear sandals at an indoor range or at the urinal.

Seriously though..Although I may have a small conversation with someone concerning weapons interests or to make sure they know we are 'hot' if they have their earplugs out, I usually keep conversation to a minimum.

But then that's just me. Now later when I'm off the range and enjoying a soda is a different story. I do 99 percent of my shooting at a private range because of the idiots that come in to the indoor range. I sometimes take my vest along at the indoor range. That folks is scary.

Good Shooting
RED

 

[Blackhawk]

PATH's right, but when I do go to a public range, I don't want to be bothered, and I don't bother the other shooters on the line.

 

[Drizzt]

Yohan: It depends on where you are in Dallas. If a drive up to Denton is not a problem, I believe there is a fine club there.

 

[hansolo]

Response to Yohan:

LOL! #4, especially! When they start talkin' bout "pop a cap", it's time to go....

 

[Porter Rockwell]

Comments

Laugh you may at #4 but in my neck of the world the "gangstas" have been showing up with SIGs, Les Bauers and Springfield PROs!
Apparantly the gangstas also can read the gun rags and possibly get online!!??

 

[justinh]

Another group of people to stay away from:
Anyone that has a semiautomatic rifle that is equipped with a laser and/or light, a full assortment of tactical gear (including the ultracool official Navy SEAL dive watch), and a shirt that says "If you run, you'll only die tired."

 

[WilderBill]

No doubt, Porter. Others I don't think can even read. I always give some extra room if they show up at a range. I beleive most of them pratice in a garage or some such.

 

[QuickDraw]

Greetings Yohan,
I think I've seen all 4 types,but especially#2 and#4.
On #4,I always wonder why these guys bother going to the range.
After they blast a bunch of ammo,they strut around,
pat each other on the back,then leave.
Oh wait a minute,thats what I do!

QuickDraw

 

[sm]

I too am like PATH.
I don't bother, don't want to be. RESPECT of 4 rules mandatory.
private ranges for me, though I know the guys that run the public skeet /trap us 'oldtimers' keep to ourselves mostly--but if asked we assist with new shooters...the ones that really want to learn--you can tell the difference.

I will not attend the G&F range. politics, not safe, wrong crowd.

 

[cratz2]

I used to go to an outdoor range that was member-only. The silhouette people were always very friendly and let me (the only one really interested) check out their guns and shoot them. The acct was pretty smart fellow also. Liked 1911s and ringing the gong at 100 yards. Usually talked with him. This was maybe three years ago.

Don't really go to ranges anymore.

 

[BerettaNut92]

I'm pretty cool with everyone at the range...only people I don't talk to are the gang types.

They're either gang types and I don't care for mingling with them, or they're cops looking the part.

I have chatted up everyone from competitive shooters, couples etc otherwise. Folks usually pretty friendly esp the regulars we all know each other.

 

[larry_minn]

Howdy. I do talk to other shooters on occasion. I do it when the line is "safed" for some reason. Folks have ears off and all you are allowed to do is load mags while two steps BEHIND the firing line/guns.
Or in public area behind first door. Have gotten to shoot a fair number of guns that way.

 

[Diesle]

LOL!

You know, it always makes me feel safer to some degree when i see #4's rear up into the range. It seems that most often they dont have the aim to hit their mouth with a glass of gin and juice... let alone my silly walkin through their barrio asss...

I can see how/why we hear about innocents being 'accidentally' shot down in the hood.

Only partially tong in cheek...

Diesle

 

[Mike Irwin]

Unless it's someone I know, I pretty much ignore the people in the range.

I really don't want them bugging me, and I don't want to bug them.

 

[Gordon]

Of course the Ganstas have nice trick guns, they got them when you wernt home from your nightstand. Some such scum has my Swenson Combat Commander. Who checks serial #s to see if theyre stolen? That is the law I want to see passed. Everyones serial #s allways checked everywhere, and stolen guns returned to owners not put up "for sale" in some back room police "auction". I have 250 guns and have owned many times that amount and NEVER have I had a stolen gun. That is the big thing for a gun owner to have responsibility for IMHO. People who dont care are like game poachers.

 

[rick458]

You can meet some pretty cool folks at the range public and private, I have recieved many compliments on my pistols, and I always offer them a mag to fire

 

[Swamp Yankee]

I'm fortunate to belong to a private club / range with very strict membership initiations and range rules. Membership is limited by charter. As such the people encountered at the range are very friendly and will usually strike up a conversation during reloads or cease fires. Most members are more than willing to let you send a few down range from whatever gun they are shooting if politely asked or the proper subtle hint is dropped.
Take Care

 

[JohnBT]

I'll talk to anybody, but not while they're shooting. Well, if they're really pround of their gun and I catch them looking my way, pointing at their gun and motioning me over to try a few shots I'm not going to pass up an opportunity. It helps to have a gun they want to try.

At the private range I belong to the ranges (5 of them) go cold for hanging targets. Lots of chances to meet people.

The one indoor public range hereabouts has a wall of windows with stools overlooking the range and stacks of gun magazines on the counter.

The only requirement is that I be able to remove at least the muffs, and preferably the muffs and plugs, because I have really bad hearing.

I'd be a better shot after all these years if I'd shut up.

John

 

[bogie]

You know, that's a good way to explain a basic rule of gun safety... You know, those folks who're newbies, and mean well, but who sweep the whole range when they turn around and after they hit the target the first time?

Explain to 'em that doin' that is analogous to a similar movement while standing at a urinal, and that whoever is standing next to 'em will doubtlessly become a bit .

Oleg, I like the smilies...

 

[LeadPumper]

Clean up in isle 12...

Depends on what kind of mood I'm in, and who else is on the range. As I pretty much only get to public ranges, seen lots of variety of shooters. Gangers rank up there with the worst offenders, but they can be fun to play with. Like this time...

Was in lane 10 of a twelve lane indoor range. A trio of "hoods" made for lane 12 with what appeared to be a rented SIG 9mm, a silhouette target, and several boxes of ammo. All had ear muffs hanging around their necks and carrying eye prtection. (hot range by the way).

All my interrnal alarms were buzzing as I watched the loud and obnoxious trio as they set up and ran the overhead target out to about ten feet and began shooting.

Did I say shooting? I did? Well I meant Blasting, cause what they were doing sure wasn't shooting. I mean I've seen shotguns pattern better. And these fine upstanding young...fellows couldn't have been happier with themselves. Dancing around, yelling, congradulating one another (I think). Generally pleased as punch that they could actually hit the paper at ten feet. Of course they hit the wall, ceiling, and floor more often than that annoyingly large piece of very threating paper ten feet away. And of course none of them had ears on, wouldn't look cool I guess.

So after watching 5-6 minutes of this particular three-ring circus. I decided that my time on the range was over and I needed very badly to be somewhere else. But what to do with the speedloader in my hand? Decisions, decisions. Not wanting to leave with the last of a very fine box of 158 grn JSP's I moved over one lane and ran out a new target to 25 feet. Quick as a flash, I dropped the rounds out of the speedloader (practice practice), closed the cylinder and took aim. The cares of the world melted away as each of the six .357 mags lept from the muzzle and roared down range.

The holding of the ears and jumping around was some sort of new-fangled dance, I guessed. They did yell so. I'm just so not up with what's cool now adays. I noticed in my haste, I had accidentally moved to lane 11, mistaking it for my own. Oh well, got 'em all in the black, and that's good enough for me.

-LeadPumper

 

[vulcan]

I like talking to people at the range. Its like being on this website,
except you see them & get to shoot their guns . I noticed at the range I go to, the people with the .357,.44 mag, etc "boomers" tend to use ports next to each other so the rest won't be bothered by the concussion of those cannons going off. The gansta types are scary to be next to, with their lack of safety. I move seeing rounds hitting the floor, target trolley & even the ceiling.

 

[Smurfslayer]

Let your target(s) do your talking

for you...


I've yet to meet Gangstas or thugs with the 'hollyweird' grip able to do slow fire with better results than I can do bill drills...

So long as they're not shooting another person's target, and are not manifestly unsafe with a firearm, let them blast away, and practice your "shooting while distracted" drills. When they're done, pull your vastly superior target back.

As for socializing... That's a little difficult on the firing line (not to be confused with TFL), but I'll at least warn the neighbors if I'm about to open up with a magnum or shotgun. I'll wait until they're NOT SHOOTING before approaching them.