Jerk at range today.

[4v50 Gary]

Thank you HankB for that little big man story. I know folks like that and the only reasonable explanation I find is that at work they are bossed around and when they get home it's no different with the wife. At the range it's their one chance to wear pants instead of petticoats.

 

[XLMiguel]

"sarge" = NCO = No Chance on the Outside.

Though truly the NCO's run the Army, just as the Chiefs run the Navy, there is a certain percentage of them for whom it is the highest position of power they will ever have in their lives (just like I had to deal with a Major in the homeowners' assn who didn't realize that his rank meant squat to us civialins) and they never make the leap that it matters not in "the world".

I've found that your basic 'please go away and leave me alone' (i.e. don't argue with fools) tends to befuddle them, and no further conversation is necessary. For the 2% that can't take the hint, calling the RO works well . . .

edited to correct typos. . . .

 

[Bullet]

Next time Sarge comes around say So they call you Sarge I think they should call you Major because your a MAJOR pain in the A$$ GO AWAY.

 

[Handgunr]

Not that everyone can, but that is one major reason that I built my own range.

Being a range instructor for so many years, and when at private ranges, I'd see things that went on under their supervision that made me cringe. But, I wisely kept my mouth shut and let them run their own grounds.

In trying to be curtious and quiet, and just shoot at a range, you get hassled by "know it all'ers" that frequent the same stomping grounds. I've been drawn into a couple of arguements before regarding these folks and I always swear that I'll never give them the satisfaction again, but sometimes it get pushed so far that I do.

My favorite tactic is alot like what was mentioned, stand there, blink and do the uh-huh thing a lot....oh yes, and smile.

Most of the guys are great, and are real decent talking, but then you get a one or two out of the cities and they gotta show up everyone with their knowledge and toys.

More like their wallet is bigger than their knowledge of such.


The old saying; "better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"....

.....makes more sense all the time....


Bob

 

[sturmruger]

HankB I will have to remember that. Your rules sound similar to our rules just across the St Croix in River Falls. Next time I have some idiot lecturing me I will ask for his ID, adn then threaten to call the cops on him.

 

[dadman]

Unfotunately, I think every range may have at least one 'Sarge' and/or a 'Camp Perry' expert.
Public range in SW oHIo used to have a frequent visitor shooters called 'Straw Hat'. He would interupt by tactically sneeking in at the end of shots, then proceed to tell Marine Corps and 'Nam stories. His age matched the era, and the stories were detailed. At the end of story time, the Spidey Sences were tingling, and the Mental Case Alert was flashing. Was told by a range regular there that one day he was at the same range alone with 'Straw Hat'. Hot humid July day. 'Hat takes off his shirt and starts yelling down to the berm in Drill Instructor fashion.
Straw Hat has been MIA for a few years.
Current range I shoot at has 'Dr. Perry'. Dr. Perry is well versed in M14's/M1A's, Camp Perry, Sierra 175gr. Match boattails, and uniform brass. I'll be there with my FAL shooting lowly South African surplus and Dr. Perry will come up and ask "What'cha shooting?". He is told "surplus" and the country/date(like a fine wine. South African, '79. Austrian, '80. Portugese, '81., etc.). After getting the "surplus" reply, the good Doctor shakes his head in the negative, gives a "tsk" and "sheesh", and says "When will you guys ever learn!? You can't be competative or shoot with that stuff". Then the reloading lecture starts.
Dr. Perry gets to be a PITA after a couple times, but I have gleened some good ammo info from him.
Nod your head and say "yes", with a tactful "Well, I better get back to shooting" as the ear protectors go back on.

 

[BamBam-31]

Hey, I shoot there sometimes! (No Sarge sightings, thought.) Maybe we can say hello.

Sounds good! I won't be there this coming weekend, but I'll be there for sure the following one. Usually on Sundays. I'm an Asian dude, medium build, cap, glasses. My buddy's also Asian, tall, slim, glasses. I usually bring out my bright orange 10" steel plate and set it up at 50 yds. We should be pretty easy to find.

Didn't know there were so many "Sarges" out there....

 

[Lochaber]

I had a similar experience last month. I went to club rifle range to try out a few different reloads for my Savage 10FP, and ran into a couple of shooting buddies plinking their IPSC-'space gun' AR's . And then there was this older gentleman and his grandson (I presume). For some reason he hung out for 2 hours, just making stupid comments. He didn't even have a gun with him. I have no idea why he was there. I can only assume that he was trying to impress the kid by showing off his unimpressive knowledge of firearms by guessing wrongly on most of out gear. Then he started complaining that were didn't display our club ID's at all time, nevermind you couldn't get on the grounds without being a member. Then he started to complain that some of the shots from the AR's were aimed at the side berm, nevermind that berm is 8ft tall and at least that wide and there are no rules saying it shouldn't be done (we do it all the time during club sanctioned IPSC matches).

My buddies finally had enough and packed up their gear. I finished my batch of reloads by my groups sucked with this guy commenting behind me. Neither me nor my buddies told him to shove off, mostly because he was there with the kid and we didn't think it would be nice to put him down in front of his grandchild, but I was seeing red by the time I left.

Argh!

Loch

 

[ckyllo]

this is my favorite way to deal with people that are being a sarge or full of it on the range. when they start being helpful(not)/full of it/pest stop them and say you could really use a cup of coffee and and ask them if they wouldnt mind getting you a cup with sugar and extra cream. that usually gets you a response from no to somthing not very nice. than say "than i have no use for you so you can go now." maybe a wave off and than go back to what you were doing. most of the time they just stomp off, have had very good results with that approach.

 

[gripper]

Back in the 90's,I was a member of the Townsend(Ma.) Rod& Gun Club. For the most part,good people,and some serious shooters.Unfortunately...
One of the members had an idiot,unemployable relative, a 20 -something n'ere do well type.I used (pre CH180)to take my father(79 years old,WW2 vet)shooting with me.Both of us are Army(Infantry,Scout) veterans,and he used to have as much fun working out with my (Israeli)K98 as the Iver Johnson M-1 carbine,as I did,as well as a few less PC arms.
Well,one fine Sunday afternoon ,we were working over the 100 meter target with a Russian SKS that I had just sighted in.At this time, all of the Russians had the bayonet screw riveted though;without breaking the rivet,you could'nt remove it.No biggie,we set the 25 m zero with the blade folded,and also checked where it printeds with the blade open.We were doing the same at 100 m,when this @ssholepulls up behind the bench in his Toyota pick-up(dust&gravel jicking up at us,jumps out and stomps over to us yelling pretty much the same(illegal rifle BS)lecture hat "Sarge" sang out with.I thought he was joking and told him so.He got louder,and my father piped up with "...why don't you call a cop?"...At this point he started yelling at my father and waving his hands .I started going cave man ,got in between his boots&stuck a palm heel into his chest,moving him back across the road right up to his truck door.Staying between his feet,I politely enquired of him just"*** did he think he was doing threatening my FATHER like that .His eyes got real huge,then I saw reflected in his window my father casually standing there with my old Security-Six pointed down at the ground.I cooled down,and asked him(more politely) what he was upset about.It turns out there had been some vandalism on the preceeding Thursday night(kids drinking in the range shack after hours) and his "assigned task" was to watch for all "suspicious types". I know I'm not exactly a Teddy bear,but my father,like I said is 79 years old.Honest to God ,I wanted to break a few things that he valued....but I calmed down.But you know, when he drove off, I DID call in his plate number to Townsend PD as a possible "suspicious character/trespasser"...HE wasn't actually a member

 

[Kodiak AK]

So uhhh.... Is it illegal?

 

[gripper]

Illegal?...not when I purchased it,but here in the peoples Republic of Massghanistan,who the hell knows? The chiefs of police get to "interpret "the law....meaning in one Commonwealth,you conceivably have as many "interpretations"of the same law(Ch180) as there are "issuing authorities"(Chiefs of ppolice).There are some cities and towns where the Boss Cop's are OK guys&gals,others(like mine)areafflicted with the "I am in Charge"virus.Usually manifesting symtoms in the form of PC prohibitions,restrictions and old fashion playing of favorites/patronage. :banghead: Even with the reform bill passed last week,I've got to wait to find out where the new Board(appeals)is to be situated;this means I need a copy of the new legislation Romney signed on 07-02(while making RINO noses with Rosenthal from the Brady Bunch) :banghead: :banghead:

 

[DrAmazon]

Being 30-something and female tends to attract even more of the "know it alls" to my spot on the line.

I often get watched carefully when I show up around shooters I don't know, and I don't blame them-safety first! Generally once they see that I am safe and can hold my own with the .45 one handed I just have to deal with the back seat drivers. They're either coaching or telling me why I shouldn't be using the gun/ammo/scope/eye protection etc that I'm using.

While I do appreciate the intention of most of the "help" I get, I already have a coach, occasional help from a second coach and my Father all helping me develop my skills. Any more input is just confusing and frustrating.

And when I shoot with a male friend we always giggle when everyone assumes I'm the Mrs.!!

 

[Strings]

I'm sorry, but any time I run into someone who insists that something I own is illegal, I go ahead and make the bet: paycheck v paycheck, let's call ATF. Since I know ALL my stuff's legal, I'm not risking anything. And I have yet to have someone actually go through with the call...

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I am a member at a 'public range' locally. The first time I showed up with my FAL the RO/manager looked at me a long, long time before he let me go on out.

He had doubts about it, having never encountered one (he said) before. I guess the bipod was throwing him.

Later he was glad I came out because he enjoyed running a full mag through it.


Sometimes folks just have to be edjumacated/trained/enlightened the gentle way.

Sounds like you handled it well, bambam. Good on you for keeping your cool under difficult times.


Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[DevilDog]

Reminds me of a fellow who insisted the way to break in an AR-15 was to shoot as many rounds through at as fast as possible "....until the barrel sweats, cuz the barrel sweats on these guns. When you gots it sweatin', it be broken in!"

Ah, it takes all kinds...

 

[Highpower1]

I had a "know it all been there done that and I can do anything or say anything to you" guy stop his car as he was driving past the High Power rifle range, get out of his car, and proceed to march up the hill and yell at me. He started yelling do you know the rules about rapid firing on this line, ( I was using my Remington 700 which I had fired only one shot out of). I am looking at him like what are you talking about.

Their was a guy at the end of the lane had been firing his AR when I had walked up (rapidly but had stopped when I walked up) and had went to the bathroom located next to the range. So, I was the only person sitting on the line when the guy came up. I stopped him mid-sentence saying. I have just gotten here and only have made a single shot. He wants to hear nothing of this, BECAUSE I'm in the only one on the line now and It's apparant that I'm the one rapid firing. He continues to go on and on..at this point i'm getting hot, but I finally have enough and tell him. Wow look at that AR over their, that must be mine too, I like to change lanes to work all my different rifles, moron, Perhaps there is another person here and in the BATHROOM. He again wants to hear nothing of this and tells me if I don't watch it, he'll call the cops and have me removed. Well this was it. I reached into my wallet flipped it open and showed him my badge. Wanna call the cops, Hmm I am a cop, now who are wanting removed sir. About this time the AR guy (who comes out of the bathroom). Picks up his rifle and slams home a fresh mag and starts firing away. I swear, I wished I had a picture of that moron's face as he turned a bright red. He turns around immediately and walks off. I say in a very polite way, I appreicate your talk, God bless you and keep your powder dry.

Sometimes I just shake my head at the morons in this world.

 

[Namvet]

I've come to realize, over the years, that there are indeed individuals whose existence and lives are so miserable that they deem it necessary to ensure that everyone they come incontact with must bear the brunt of their un-happiness. I have seen the "range nazi" rant at a large, private
shooting club in Fairfax and, more disturbingly, at the NRA Range in Fairfax.
The rangemasters, no less!
DRC

 

[juggler]

I've come to realize, over the years, that there are indeed individuals whose existence and lives are so miserable that they deem it necessary to ensure that everyone they come incontact with must bear the brunt of their un-happiness.

EXACTLY!!!! I refer to them as the types that would win the lottery and complain about paying taxes. To them the glass is not half full/half empty........SOMEONE has been drinking out of it!!

I'm feeling fortunate that I have not run into any of these types at my range. There are those with strong opinions, who like to share them with everyone, but I haven't run across an in-your-face type as of yet. I commend you on your patience.

 

[twoblink]

BamBam..

DOUBLE UP ON THE HEARING PROTECTION NEXT TIME..

It's frustrating to go to the range and meet "Range Commando's" ..

<Clinton>"I feel your pain"..</Clinton>

 

[ClonaKilty]

Nod your head and say "yes", with a tactful "Well, I better get back to shooting" as the ear protectors go back on.

I thought I was the only one who did this!

 

[keyhole]

Well I haven't run into any "range commando's" at our range, but do have one older guy, who will go to the pistol range with his rifle, set out a target. He will smoke a pack of cigaretts, while shooting 10 rounds, and ask for you to retrieve his target, as he can't walk that far without getting tired. Will proceed to tell you how to cast bullets for your rifle, etc, etc.,.
:banghead:

Most when they see him, go the other way. A little time with him goes long waaaaaayyyyyy.

 

[one-shot-one]

GUYS AND GIRLS

DrAmazon:

most of us probably do not care about any of that stuff and are only looking for a reason to talk to a lady on the firing line. us guys are greatly out numbered still in the shooting world.

 

[JPL]

I've been in hobbies where you receive a LOT of unwarranted advice/abuse at the drop of the hat.

I've found that one of the most effective ways to get rid of these people is to simply say nothing back in return, but to EXAMINE them, using exagerated head motions and facial features, as if you're looking at an interesting, but also disgusting, insect.

It totally unnerves them.

Even if they ask you what you're doing, don't reply, just continue your examination.

 

[Bobster]

Politely say "oops, hold on please" Take out your cell phone and talk into it till they go away. If they don't, start talking about this idiot who bothered you at the range.

It worked in the office with the obnoxious accountant every time.
BOB