How Does Your Range Handle Newbies?

[D-Man]

Let me first preface this by saying I am still very green, as I've just bought my first handgun the other week and shot 400 rounds through it so far.

But a question - how does your firing range handle new shooters that come in - especially those that may be shooting for the first time?

The first range I went to to try out some different guns was an outdoor range, and each booth was manned by an employee who would actually handle the gun, load it, clear any jams, and stand with you to make sure you were handing the gun properly.

The second range was an indoor one, and the employee working will basically hand the gun over, give you a couple minutes of general safety instruction, show how to handle the gun, and then let you go on your own.

Which is the more common practice? And is the second method a good idea to do? (I was one who did that, and even felt odd that for anybody with little experience could just get handed a gun like that).

 

[heypete]

But a question - how does your firing range handle new shooters that come in - especially those that may be shooting for the first time?

The range I work as an RSO at doesn't have is open to the public at night only. While the RSOs are generally good folks, and many are NRA-certified instructors, their primary job is ensuring the safety of all who are shooting, not teaching.

Still, we'll help out with some issues (zeroing scopes, boresighting, little tips and tricks, etc.) when we can.

But the range offers one or two classes a month for $35. There's pistol and rifle training classes, and they go over all the basic principles involved with shooting, basic physics (bullet drop, recoil, how cartridges work, etc.), and two hours out on the range for practical experience. They're great for new shooters, and I've been handing out flyers to several people I know who are looking to get involved.

 

[3rdpig]

The range I go to typically yells and screams at them, then tosses their newb asses outside if they screw up too much. And why not? It's a range, not a training class. Newb's should either get some basic instruction first or go to the range with someone that will keep them in line until they learn the tough to understand rules, like not pointing guns at people, not handling guns during a cease fire, not stepping across the firing line when the range is hot, etc, etc. I know, these seem easy to understand and remember, but I'm shocked at what I see people do at the range. I want to yell at them too, "It's a gun you freaking moron, not a rolled up newspaper, don't point it at me!" Which is one of the reasons I never go to the range one weekends, not an hour goes by without some newb sweeping the line with their weapon, or stepping across the firing line to retrieve brass or a loaded round they dropped.

Oh, and PLEASE keep your kids off the range until they learn the rules, and are old enough to obey them. The things I see kids do at the range just makes my hair stand on end. When I was a kid if I had done one tenth the stuff I see kids on the range today do, my Dad would have beat me to a pulp and never let me touch a gun again, and rightfully so.

We wonder why so many people keep having ND's and AD's. Go to any crowded range on almost any weekend and you'll see dozens of examples why in the first hour.

 

[taliv]

most ranges i've been to, it's a delicate issue. you want to ask and get a feeling for whether or not they're competent (often, n00bs won't volunteer that info) but you don't want to insult the commando wannabes or you'll be listening to a detailed account of every round they've ever fired for the next half-hour.

if the range is crowded, there's rarely a lack of friendly, semi-knowledgeable people in adjacent booths to provide a little training (in fact, you'll usually get it whether you want it or not)

if the range isn't crowded, there's no reason the RSO can't provide a little instruction.

it's how you win friends and influence enemy's, not to mention, get repeat business. yelling, screaming and throwing them out is the sort of behavior that spawns so many "*** is up with the idiots who run gun stores/ranges?" threads around here

 

[carebear]

We did it like taliv mentions. Tried to get a handle on them as we were doing the paperwork.

We ran gun renter's through basic gun function on rentals and every new shooter (we had memberships for sale) we went over the range safety rules as they filled out the range use agreement.

In general we tried to keep an eye on the ones we knew were new shooters from the booth and we often had some regulars who would help out with on-range questions.

Yelling and being a jerk isn't the way to grow the pool of shooters. No matter the range's philosophy, purpose and "mission statement", there's no call to correct the well-intentioned but ignorent too harshly.

 

[f4t9r]

10 min. safety video make sure you have eye and ear protection and off to the range.

 

[taliv]

let me add to this that it's good policy to give very basic function instruction during EVERY rental (not necessarily to every guy who brings his own gun), because there are lots of types of guns and operation can vary greatly.

e.g. there are lots of bullseye pistol shooters at my range who compete at camp perry, but i still have to show them where the charging handle is on my AR15 when i let them shoot it. i have relatives who shoot cowboy action, but if they picked up my taurus raging bull, it'd probably be 5 minutes of head scratching before they figured out that there are TWO cylinder latches. and stuff like figuring out the safety inside the trigger guard on a Steyr S9, or furiously operating the decocking lever in an attempt to release the slide on a SIG.

the point is that the vast majority of even seasoned shooters don't have experience with all platforms and the intelligent ones won't take offense at a 45 second demo, and the unintelligent ones can get over it.

 

[AFhack]

The on;y range I frequent is an outdoor one run by the county. Each first time visitor gets some questions from the range officer on duty. If the "new guy/girl" sounds like they understand the basic safety rules during the initial briefing, then they're pretty much left to shoot unsupervised, even on one of the four general purpose berms where shooters are out of sight of the range office.

If the range officer feels like the person might be unsafe, or if the "new guy/girl" states that they're inexperienced or even a total newbie, then the range officer will probably direct the shooter to one of the two ranges directly in front of the range office (a 50 yd pistol range and a 200 yard rifle range). The RO will also probably stand right behind the shooter until he's satisfied that the "newbie" isn't a hazard to himself or others. I've seen the ROs giving this kind of personal attention to total newbies for as long as an two hours or more. If the range is very busy, sometimes the RO will ask another experienced shooter to kind of watch over a newcomer.

In general though, it's a very laid-back range.

 

[Bobarino]

the range i frequent really didn't do anything for the newbies. you sign the rules of the range/release form and that was it. if you rented, they gave a brief instruction on how to load, unload, make safe that particular type of weapon.

they changed now though. now they make you pay $10 for their 15-20 minute range safety course no matter how long you've been shooting there. they know me from ten years of shooting with them and i still had to take their class. i didn't really like that. i thought it was another way for them to weasel ten clams out of me but if i wanted to shoot at their range, i have to follow their rules. c'est la vie.

i can't say i've ever seen anyone being REALLY unsafe on their range when i've been there but i guess they have to CYA.

Bobby

 

[JohnBT]

Newbies are in charge of the targets...see the attached pic.

 

[Standing Wolf]

We don't see many newbies where I shoot. The few we do see are almost all experienced shooters. We still keep an eye on them the first few weeks to make sure they're safe experienced shooters.

 

[tarheelson]

Guess I'm Lucky

Where I live there is a public range (indoor) not to far away. They make you watch a video and take a test before you can shoot and then they watch you like a hawk from behind one way glass (maybe bullet proof???). Luckily there is also a private range that I was able to join that is a beautiful outdoor facility. You have to attend a range orientation and if you pass muster then you can be voted on. The price to join is high enough that the casual person will not be interested in joining just to shoot once or twice hence we have a membership of serious shooters. Now, just because someone is serious dosen't always mean they are safe so any member can ask someone to leave if they are being unsafe in any way. You have to have your membership badge visable at all times so you can be identified as a member and you will be reported if you are out there acting like an ass. Since there aren't any RSO's (we all are really) you just make sure that you are checking yourself and being aware of people around you, BUT thankfully there is never anyone hanging over your shoulder watching you. Its worth the money, and we have regular get togethers and meetings so it's more than just blasting targets, we have some fun too.

 

[Ares45]

"10 bucks, door to your left" (indoor range)...

Don't pay too much attention to newbs at the counter, I'm watching eyes and hands just like everywhere else. I guess it's assumed if they bring there own then they should know how to use it. If they rent a gun it's a different story.

 

[Lupinus]

the guys at my range are generaly helpful if you have a problem or need help. First time there way my first time shooting and were very helpful with a gun that kept jamming on me, also loaded me a rod to get stuck cases out in another that kept failing to eject rounds.

But from what I've seen if they catch you doing something you aren't supposed to be doing they wont hesitate to let you know it either. The first time you go in there their rules are explained to you and they are pretty much covering all the basic rules of the range (gun always pointed downrange, don't go out onto the range, no headshots because the range uses overhead steel carriers, etc) besides their own personal range rules reguarding ammo and such. The most common one is warning people about headshots. There is a no rapid fire rule but so long as the gun isn't getting away from you or you are emptying mag after mag as quick as you can and annoying peope I haven't seen them warn you about double tapping or anything.

Basicly good helpful guys but take safty seriously. Maybe Im lucky I've never seen anyone thrown out, or that was in need of being thrown out.

 

[loumarch]

Wow! Someone finally has touched on my pet peeve. I belong to an indoor range that is also open to the public. People come in, pay their money, and are allowed in the range. The range is only casually observed, through glass, by the same employee that sells the range time, targets, ammo, etc., etc.

When I enter the range I check out everyone!. Anyone that appears squirrely, in any way, gets a wide berth. Sometimes I'll even go out and ask for a different lane.

If the range is not busy, and there are newbies on the range, I'll go over and offer them assistance. Most of the time they accept graciously.

The range is also used by several LE units for qualification. Sometimes this becomes dangerous as they try to quick draw and hang up on their rigs and drop their weapons! When they come in, I go out.

I realize the range couldn't afford to stay in business if they had to pay an RSO full-time, so I consider these little nuisances as just that...little nuisances.

 

[MSgt B]

Everyone is watching

At the range today, I let my son go first.
He's 15, but small for his age, so he looks a couple years younger.

Out of the 6 or 8 people at the range, only one was actually firing at the time. Everyone else turned and watched my son when he stepped up to the line.

He acted with confidence, (deserved) loaded my Sig 9mm, and put 10 rounds in a paper plate at 30 ft. (He gets it from his dad)
After that, everything was business as usual, and no one paid is any mind.

I have seen some of the scariest stuff happen with kids on the range. Good home training means alot, and that includes firearms training.

 

[DevLcL]

I brought a Newb friend of mine to the range once and at first he was pointing the gun right down the line at the other shooters looking for the safety. :banghead: :banghead: I saw this right away and quickly pushed the gun back down range and told him what he did wrong in a very strong tone. He did a few other things that were questionable and finally the range master came over and told me I was doing a good job and told my friend to really listen to what I was saying. In retrospect it was my fault for not really teaching him proper gun handling, knowing he was a first time shooter.

-Dev

A little tip on giving handgun advice. I've learned the best way to teach people not to 'sweap' on accident is to advise them to lock their wrist and keep their arm downrange. If they need to look at the side of the firearm for whatever reason then they should keep the wrist locked downrange and move their body and head to get a better look. They should never bend the wrist which is what leads to most sweaps IMO.

 

[tegemu]

My outdoor range, Gateway in Jacksonville, Fla, requires everyone to wear a badge, either a Member (Permanent clip on) or a Day Shooter (Adhesive). A new member must watch a 20 minute video and pass a written test before being accepted for membership. A day shooter sees the same video and test each time they pay and register for a days shooting. I don't know but I would think there would be a method for a Day Shooter to prove that they have already viewed and tested.

 

[Mousegun]

My range is a club that has to be joined and voted into.

A newbi has a minimum of 6 supervised shoots with a senior member before being turned loose on their own. There has been no problems while doing it this way.