Leaving For / Returning From The Range

[Sven]

There are few times when I am more aware of my surroundings than when I am transporting firearms to or from my car.

Based on things I've read recently and general common sense, I now consider the shooting range to be a very risky place to hang out... especially in parking lots or when coming / going.

I'm also always trying to keep a low profile when I take guns to and from my car in my neighborhood. I do not have a garage so I need to time things right. Nothing like walking out and been 'spotted' with a rifle case - instantly one can become a target for a theft - or worse.

I'd love to hear any observations on this subject from y'all.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Lie convincingly.

"What's in there?"
"Electric cello."


I was also carrying my tactical banjo with me.

I sometimes tossed my long guns into my guitar gig bag since I can sling it and don't have to whack my shoulder out like with my SKB double long gun...er...electric cello case.

My range bag is a Camelbak Motherlode. Discreet enough for class, tactical enough for special operations

 

[CWL]

Here's a piece of advice I got from a knowledgable fellow for those living in CA and similiar states.

Keep the reciept of your visit to the range. If you get stopped by LEOs on the way home (or while driving around that day) and they notice guns in your vehicle, your reciept is tangible proof that you are transporting guns "to or from the range" and can save you some PITA time explaining things (like if you forgot to unload all your magazines).

Sorry state of affairs here in CA, but this might help someone.

 

[D_Burchfield]

Like skunkabilly, I also use a guitar gig bag for transporting long guns to the range. I don't have a garage either so discretion is also a key part of my plan. Handguns and ammo travel in an old
"gig-box" with lots of music related stickers and stuff on it. So I hope it looks like I'm going to "practice". . Here in Georgia the laws are a little more reasonable concerning carrying a weapon in a vehicle. It can be carried "locked and loaded" in a glove compartment or console which doesn't have to be locked. CC is permitted above the waist in a holster, so I usally have mine on the hip, IWB. Also I really like to try and go with a friend or two.

Good shooting!

Regards,

Doug

 

[TarpleyG]

A few weeks ago I went to the range and took my wife along. When we were done and as we were out in the parking lot loading gear into the "evil" SAV (Suburban Assault Vehicle in tree-hugger speak), a guy pulling a rolling suitcase approached us. I had my eye on him for quite some time as he was walking across the parking lot and I was trying to get everything in the truck ASAP. He walked up and started his sales pitch and started to open his suitcase. While this is going on, I am putting myself in between him and my wife and the truck with my hand very close to my sidearm. Turns out he really was selling stuff but being in a bad neighborhood and the fact that we were obviously coming out of a shooting range, I was a more than a little unsettled. Needless to say, I blew this guy off ASAP and got the hell outa Dodge.

GT

 

[XLMiguel]

I interanlized the notion that some criminal type might try to take me off on the way out of the range (figuring on empty guns?) awhile back, so I keep my CCW on me with whatever (else) I took to shoot in a non-descript gym bag. I'm a handgunner, so long guns aren't an issue.

 

[jrhines]

First rule of leaving the range, (or third, or 17th, one of those, I forget) is don't shoot your guns empty. Never can tell what you might meet on the way home.

 

[Ian]

From Triple Ought :

After the match, we drove back to my apartment to clean our rifles and split a pizza and drink some root beer. As we were walking from the parking lot to my apartment, we ran into a guy who lived two apartments down, a real stoner type. Pointing to our rifle cases, he said, 'Hey Todd, you didn't tell me you were into music, man!' Apparently he thought that our rifle cases were guitar cases. Just as I was about to explain to him what was actually in the cases, T.K. interrupts and says, 'Oh yeah, man, we're with The Group Standard. We play gigs two or three nights a week.'"

"My neighbor said, 'Cooool. I've heard about your band, man! A friend of mine heard you play once. I think it was at the U. of I. pub. He said you were pretty bitchin'.' Then he pointed to T.K.'s case and asked, 'What instrument do you play, man?' Without cracking a smile, T.K. said, 'Bass staccato.' The guy just nodded his head pretending like he knew what T.K. was talking about. After we got inside my apartment and closed the door, we got into one of those hysterical laughing fits. I was practically crying."

 

[keyhole]

Had a friend of mine who used to live in KC had an incident several years ago. He was returning to his apt in KC, ( lived in s/e Ks), and had several "gang bangers" approach him. They told him he had a nice car, and that he should give them the keys to it. He replied ok, and opened the trunk, and pulled out his Garand, and chambered a round. They immediately backpeddled, and started saying he was "OK". He replied, " Yes. I'm OK, and you live there, and you live over there( pointing out houses). " They asked what he meant by that, and he replied that any problems, and he could find them.
He had no further problems out of the kids.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

When I was managing and indoor range, I was always the first in the building in the morning and often the last one to leave and lock up at night; I would always approach the building from the rear via a side street, do a slow circle of the block and THEN park and approach the entrance. I’ve never heard of a gunstore employee being jumped in the parking lot but I didn’t want to be the first.

There were usually three of us closing the store and we’d all leave the building and exit to the parking lot at the same time, me with my car keys and a SureFire 6P in my left hand and my right hand free. Again, I’ve never heard of it happening, but…

We did have a series of vehicle break-ins of cars parked in the lot while the owners were on the range- I can only assume they were looking for firearms. Happened to me once: I had a duffel bag filled with old clothes I was taking to a the Salvation Army, and the morons broke a back window in my truck and took it- I’m assuming they thought it had firearms in it. I did bother bringing it into the range because I thought ‘no one’s going to break into my truck thinking that there’s firearms in it, ‘cause if I was transporting guns, they’d be in here with me, right?’

See, that’s what I get for assuming the intelligence of criminals.

 

[ACP]

My club is out in the country; I was there this morning at 5:40 a.m. Lucky the sun was up. That's not the case in December.

Keep a loaded gun on you as you enter/exit. I usually have my hand on my S&W 642 Airweight. As noted above, never shoot your guns dry. Don't delay reaching in the back seat or trunk for gear bags, targets, tape, ammo, hearing protectors, etc. Have it all handy and ready to go. Scan 360-degrees. Carry a cell phone into the range with you, or keep it outdoors with you. Get in and out of the building as quickly as possible. Once you reach your vehicle, look around it. Get in and quickly drive away-- don't tune the radio, light a cigarette, or pop a stick of gum in your mouth.

Obviously, look for other vehicles (or bikes, etc.) in the lot. When you enter the range, stop and listen. Is someone in there? Is someone loitering? If it feels bad, it probably is.

On the bright side, saw a dozen wild turkeys in a freshly plowed field this morning at 6:20. Made my day!

 

[Master Blaster]

Always carried concealed leaving or going to the range.
Always condition red keeping alert.

I’ve never heard of a gunstore employee being jumped in the parking lot but I didn’t want to be the first.

Unfortunately we had this happen twice in the last 10 years in DE.
Resulting in the death of the gunshop owner. Once was downstate when the owner was locking up at 6 pm he was armed with a gun in an open holster, shot dead and left in his truck. Found the next morning IIRC. Police never did catch anyone.

Second instance owner was confronted by three disadvantaged minority men (crack dealers) from NYC who were visiting a cousin in DE. they shot the owner at 4:00 in the afternoon after they went into his one man shop.
Police caught them at the apartments where the cousin lived, right down the street from the gunshop, the shooter got the death penalty, the others life in prison.

Happened 5 miles from where I'm sitting now.

Watch your six.

 

[dance varmint]

Golf bag with rain hood, fits 3 long guns in sleeves or socks.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Golf Bag?

I never thought of that, I like it- and don't most of those have slings and/or wheels?

 

[braindead0]

Who leaves the range?? Just stay and you don't have to worry about it

 

[Vern Humphrey]

There have been cases of crimes committed against gunshops or people at ranges. But I'm not sure that statistically being a clerk at a local Stop-'N-Rob isn't far more dangerous.

I know I used to visit our local club and shoot on the indoor range at all hours of the night (my wife is a nurse, and often worked the night shift, leaving me at home alone.) I was often there alone, and never had a problem.

On the other hand, someone attempted to mug me at a local gas station, and a kid behind the counter at another gas station was murdered -- both within a couple of miles of this range.

My advice is, if you can get a CCW, get one. And once you have a CCW, carry ALL the time. Practice Condition Yellow. Get to know your local cops -- they'll often visit the range, so that's a good opportunity.