I Hate My Gunclub!!!!!!

[Majic]

I bet the same bunch of crotchity old men were members long before you joined. It's a club and like all clubs the members conform to one another.
Attend the meetings and find out the unspoken codes. Try to change what displeases you, but remember things were in place before you got there and the others may not want to change. Senority carries a lot of rank in most any club.
Have you seen anyone else shooting in the same manner? Do the rules state that you must shoot at paper or steel targets? You could have been technically wrong by not shooting at a reconized target. Go over the rules carefully before complaining to the club, but be prepared to accept what the group has always abided by.

 

[ny32182]

Club seniority is no excuse for the total disrepect shown. In fact, there is NO excuse.

Screw 'em. Look HARD for another place to shoot.

 

[bogie]

If your rifle is not sighted in, you could be hitting a lot of different things - parts of the target stand included. That's the single biggest expense at the club I belong to - people shooting up perfectly good target stands, which then cost money to replace.

If you were shooting at the point number, sheesh.

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

I sometimes get the same treatment from older gents when at the range. There'll always be a few like the guy you described. I don't know why but an AR/AK seems to be the most offensive gun to some while others really like them. I suppose it could tork off someone who is sighting in a rifle but I always try to keep at least a moderate rate of controlled fire, not bump fire madness (tho' that is fun !) I'll wait 'til I'm alone to really burn it up or there are like minded people who "want to try that " Don't sweat it too much, If we got bent every time some jerk made us mad we'd never be able to enjoy life 'cause it happens all too often.

 

[BigG]

Shooting at target holders or signs is destructive and will not endear you to anybody who has to use the facility or fix the damage. Shooting into the dirt berm or a scrap of paper on the berm should be a good enough indicator of where your sights are set.

 

[Bainx]

The moment he yelled and cursed me, either my bare fist or my fist with a kubaton would have been inside of his skull.

Then, we would have discussed my economic situation in a civil manner.

 

[spacemanspiff]

personally i enjoy shooting the berm a bit more. that way theres little evidence of how poorly i'm shooting.

but anyways.... i went to a different range last weekend, (Birchwood for you fellow alaskans), never been there before. its an alright setup, but rather complicated.
i dont think you can set up targets closer than 25 yards, and theres like 6 different stations that can accomodate at least 10 shooters at a time.

so you can shoot 25-50 yards to sight in, and then move down to 100 yards and more, driving to each stand.

i think i'll stay with Rabbit Creek (run by DF&G) or drive out to girdwood (unregulated).

black92, dont sweat the fogies.

 

[sturmruger]

That is all too common unfortunetly at gun clubs. Our club here is kind of the same. Most of the old crabby trap shooters tend to stay down by the clubhouse so it isn't as big a deal.

 

[Tinker]

Black,

You say you're a 20-something, right?

That gripey old man had probably just been told by his doctor that "I'm sorry, but Viagra won't work for you, Joe. "

You just happened to be his excuse to vent.

 

[Strings]

funny... I belong to two different clubs in the area. One is well established, with a large membership and fairly nice ranges (trap, rifle, pistol, and bow). The other is newer, with a much smaller membership. Main range is the trap houses, with centerfire ranges down the hill from there (and therefore, not usable during trap times). Guess which range I prefer?

The newer range, where the clicks haven't had time to form, where the people are friendly and where I'm accepted simply because I show an interest in shooting...

 

[444]

Personally, I have never understood the point in firing a gun unless I was making a serious effort to try and hit something. To me, you could "get the feel" of the gun by shooting it on paper and be accomplishing something at the same time (like zeroing, improving your shooting technique.............).

That being said, what you do is your business and as long as you are safe, IMO you have every right to shoot into a berm if you like. It is not mine or anyone elses business.
If I had been in your shoes I would have told the guy to go to H**ll and a few other things on top of that. Not because I don't agree with him. And not because I am not willing to admit when I am wrong, but because I don't normally let people talk to me like that. I am not real big on bullies.

 

[Henry Bowman]

I'm a member there at Fairfield Sportsmens Association. As Black explained, he was NOT shooting up some permanent part of the range. It is about 20 stations wide. There is a dirt berm at 100, 200, and 300 yards. In front of each berm is a board for posting targets. It is RR ties set in the ground about 10" apart with horizontal 2X6's at the top and bottom. Attached to tose are 4X8 sheets of soft fiberboard that is consumable. Each sheet is divided in half by a vertical spray painted line and the part overlying the horizontal 2X6's is marked "no targets" in spray paint. each spot is sprayed with a number thet corresponds with your shooting station. Each time the consumable back board is replaced, they re spray paint the numbers on.

I was the one who showed him that if you are just getting the feel you can shoot w/o a paper target (why waste them) and use the circle of the 8, 9, 10, or whatever as a point of aim so that you are not shooting over the berm and not intentionally shooting at the supports. What he did is totally kosher, or at least is not destructive or any kind of safety issue -- just not to some fool who thinks he was just screwing around to turn $$ into BOOM and doesn't know ant better -- and doesn't care to learn otherwise.

 

[Bruce H]

Sounds like somebody is jealous of your equipment. The first time something like this happens take it in stride and forget it. If it happens again by the same person go completely George Patton ballistic on them.

 

[Detachment Charlie]

Black's initial post tells me several things.
First, there's no fool like an old fool.
Second, Black is not a Marine. Were he a Marine, this never would have happened because he'd be doin' hard time in Da Big House for manslaughter of the dude who tried to grab his rifle earlier.
Third, the guy who grabed your rifle is very lucky the rifle he grabbed did not belong to a Marine.
Fourth, some people make the most astounding assumptions.
Fifth, I agree with an earlier post that the old fool propbebly just discovered Viagra wasn't the wonder drug for him.
Sixth, Black is a very self-controlled young man. Congrats.
Semper Fi

 

[Black92LX]

I think both you and the old guy need to switch to decaf. There will always be rude & inconsiderate folk in this world, you have to learn to sometimes put up with them. And in the big scheme of things, does one or two guys yelling at you really mean anything?

When it becomes a constant dissenting attitude towards myself, and i have a run in like this i would say 3 out 4 times that i go to shoot YES!!! I have had zero problems when shooting with Henry Bowman. I honestly believe that it is because i am young.

I bet the same bunch of crotchity old men were members long before you joined. It's a club and like all clubs the members conform to one another. Attend the meetings and find out the unspoken codes. Try to change what displeases you, but remember things were in place before you got there and the others may not want to change. Senority carries a lot of rank in most any club. Have you seen anyone else shooting in the same manner? Do the rules state that you must shoot at paper or steel targets? You could have been technically wrong by not shooting at a reconized target. Go over the rules carefully before complaining to the club, but be prepared to accept what the group has always abided by.

So since they have been there longer it is ok for them to treat me with such disrespect, get in my face and curse me because i did not put up a peice of paper?? I WAS NOT breaking any rules! I was shooting where the target would have been stapled. Another problem is that the meetings are
10:00am Sundays. Sorry but church is a little more important. Not that they would listen to anything I would have to suggest. (Honestly just ask Henry Bowman).

The evidence of their snide attitudes is apparent in every newsletter. This month's really pissed me off and i am definatly bringing it up. Because this time i feel it really crossed the line.

 

[azrael]

Discriminated against because your younger?? hmmm...My favorite is the snide looks that I get when I goto the range..

Imagine if you will...Long hair..LARGE Tattoos...Earings etc...AND a complete smarta$$ to those that annoy me..lol!

The older guys there look at me like I am going to steal there gear at the first opportunity...I have only been confronted once...ONCE...It went fairly well...A good "glance" does come in handy...

"Range Ninja's" have been the bane of my existance more than once...Now I "mess" with them as much as I can...You name it I have done it...all you would have to do is look at some of my posts on this subject and you would see that I am well "loved" at my local range..

< So since they have been there longer it is ok for them to treat me with such disrespect, get in my face and curse me because i did not put up a peice of paper?? >

No it was not..however NEXT time just use a target..And wait for them to pick on something else...It used to happen to me from time to time..and still does to a certain extant


you showed restraint...I cannot say that in the same situation I would have behaved myself NEARLY as well as you did...kudos!

 

[Edmond]

The range that I frequent isn't bad. The facilities are average but the guy is very nice and knows my name. When I go shooting myself, he asks me, "Where's the girlfriend?"

And the price isn't bad, $8.00 to use the range. I wish they still had their FFL so I could give them more of my money!

Ever think of starting up your own club?

 

[Dennie Suman]

Black,
I live near that range and have wondered if it would be worth it to join. I am fortunate to have a few acres that I can use, so will probably just stay home.
Don't let this "old" fellow get to you. I am 58. Maybe I wouldn't dress or look like some of the younger folks, but if you leave me alone I will certainly leave you alone.
As others have said, go to the officers of the club and file a complaint. I would much rather be shooting along side you than that moron.
A little OT, but I saw your signature, Playin' the mandolin. I play a little bluegrass on the old F-5. What do you play?

Dennie

 

[RobW]

In my experience NO club can exist without at least 1 or 2 jerks. And it doesn't matter if it's a weight-watcher, iron-pumping, philatelist, or a pistol and rifle club.

It's just human nature. Geezers might feel treated bad by life (and, honestly a lot of them are) try to play out their anger of whatever they consider as "inferior".

My jerk isn't a geezer, but an about 30 year old former MARINE!

No problem, I just get around him (I am the Old Fart!)

 

[mec]

He was just demonstrating the character traits that give rise to the advise" If you drop the soap, don't bend over to pick it up." You see it at ranges, at gunshops and even on discussion boards where some self important old legendary gun guy rags on the other posters to make them feel like idiots with small penis'(es).

Could be the reason people quit shooting and take up basket weaving or something.

 

[Black92LX]

A little OT, but I saw your signature, Playin' the mandolin. I play a little bluegrass on the old F-5. What do you play?

I play the radio and that's about it.

The Sig is a little joke from when i went down to a shoot with the Tennesse Mafia. On the drive down with yesterdaysyouth there was a guy in Frankfort KY walking down the road playing a mandolin at 8:00am it was quite a comical sight.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Black92LX,

Hey, look on the brightside.

Only 1/3 of the folks that you ran into at the range were buttholes. The other 2/3 seemed to be A-OK.

Jim

 

[Ex-Doc]

I am always amazed when I hear about an unarmed guy coming up on an armed unknown guy at an otherwise empty range to argue about something stupid. I hope when I get older I don't turn stupid like this.

 

[cracked butt]

The old man might have been a little over the top, but I probably would have questioned what you were doing also. Once you spend a few weekends rebuilding/replacing target stands because some members prefer to use the legs of the stands for targets rather than pieces of paper, you too might wonder what a new member shooting at a blank target stand is up to.

I wouldn't categorize every old guy the same way. I've learned more from hanging out with the old farts at the club than I did during a 4 year college edumacation.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

The Sig is a little joke from when i went down to a shoot with the Tennesse Mafia. On the drive down with yesterdaysyouth there was a guy in Frankfort KY walking down the road playing a mandolin at 8:00am it was quite a comical sight

you forgot to mention his mandolin...

it had da' Switch...