max # of shooters per lane?

[jlr1962]

Is there a standard out there for a maximum number of shooters on a lane at your ranges of choice? I grow tired of people, especially children, standing 1 or 2 feet behind me while I am shooting. I get stink eyed by other shooters when I ask for more space.

Could be the way I ask.

Do you think I am being unreasonable?

 

[jeepnik]

I can't say I've seen anything posted on the ranges I use, both indoor and outdoor. However, the one I'm a member of takes rudeness very seriously. Most of us are older and good manners are expected. The R.O.'s like to keep things running smoothly without and dissention. Besides, if the kids are crowding you, one must wonder how range savvy they are. Kids that are inexperience or untrained are a significant danger.

That being said, I like having well behaved kids at the range. The few younger folks that bring there kids have raised them right. And, as an old fart I really like the look on a kids face when mom or dad let's them try that "cool" gun the old man has over there. Kids are pretty smart, and when they see mom and dad shooting semi-auto handguns and someone shows up with a "cowboy" gun, they want to shoot it. Heck, that's what guns are for so I encourage them at every chance.

 

[Jolly Rogers]

Do they just watch? If so probably yeah...crabbing too much. If they interfere or contact you, you have a beef.
Joe

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

1

or if in a class, 1 and an instructor.

That's it. Don't crowd the bench. If you want to watch, you can watch from 5 feet behind me... where the ready line is. Only shooters in front of the ready line, and only me in my lane.

 

[MErl]

My range has a painted line for "don't pass this when cold." and I would expect people to give me that much space if asked. It has not been an issue for me so has never come up.

 

[bannockburn]

The range I use the most allow for one shooter and one instructor. If your just waiting your turn with an instructor, of if your just a spectator, you stay on the other side of the glass. Just not enough room behind the lanes for extra people to be standing around. Too much of a distraction for the shooter's and certainly could become a safety issue.I

 

[khari]

2 per lane at the range of which I am a member

 

[taliv]

Sometimes I like to shoot alone but mostly I am happy to see a crowd at the range. More kids the better

 

[xxjumbojimboxx]

Truth be told, nothing makes me happier than when I drive out to my rifle club and NO ONE IS THERE. I'm no a hermit either. I would just rather be able to go hot and cold when I want to and not feel rushed. That said, I'll shoot a match from time to time, and at that point I want the whole world and their mamma's to be there. There's an indoor range here that charges by the person, not the lane (which I sincerely disagree with) but I've seen groups of more than 5 all shooting from the same lane, all crowding around. There's only about 3 feet from which to shoot in your line and they sure ain't standing single file, which means their behind other shooters, often at close proximity. Its yet to create a problem though. So I guess I don't mind. Then again I don't go to that range anymore, so maybe I do?

 

[JohnKSa]

1 shooter at a time per lane in every range with lanes that I've used.

Notice the emphasis on 'shooter'. Most ranges allow observers but sometimes charge a fee.

However, someone standing within 2 feet of a person when there's no reason to do so is not really normal. In my opinion, if you are within arm's reach of a stranger, there should be some pressing reason for that level of proximity.

 

[staycold66]

The indoor range I go to allows 3 or 4 shooters per lane I believe. The problem I always see though is that these people think they paid for 3 or 4 lanes when they only paid to share one. Coming back to see your lane is occupied time and time again gets quite frustrating.

In your case I don't think you're being unreasonable when asking for space. Unless each shooter station is extremely close there's no reason for shooters or spectators to be uncomfortably close.

 

[Sunray]

One or 2 feet while you're shooting is too close no matter who it is. There are cultural differences about how big one's personal space is, but it's not 1 or 2 feet in North America. And certainly not with a stranger who is shooting
"...Could be the way I ask..." Yep, but asking people(telling children) to step back isn't unreasonable. Screaming at 'em would be though.

 

[Moparnut]

I think 2 per lane is customary. As far as the kid thing, I would just be polite and ask them to give you a little more space. Don't be rude. Those children are the ones we may need to depend on if things go south for 2a. One bad experience with a young shooter can make them turn cold to shooting sports and possibly turn them away forever. Also, space at public ranges tends to be less than at private ones.

 

[JSH1]

The indoor range I visited was 1 shooter + 1 observer or instructor.

At the public outdoor range I used in Alabama it wasn't uncommon to see 2-3 people SHOOTING per lane at the same time. I just stopped going on weekends.

 

[Walkalong]

One to two feet is not acceptable. Ask them nicely to back up, if they don't see the rangemaster, if that doesn't work pack up and go.

 

[herrwalther]

At the outdoor range I frequent, there is a wide bench for placing targets, guns, ammo etc. It is plenty wide enough to have one shooter at the end of each table. If the shooter on the right isn't worried about the occasional brass making the distance. I went shooting like this with my brother visiting out of state, never an issue with the RO or other shooters.

Many ranges and I would say all have a safety line to watch from. If it is an indoor range, that may be behind glass. Outdoors it may be on a gravel area off the shooting concrete area. Go watch from there or from an empty lane if available. If I didn't bring you to the range or are my student, I don't need you hanging over my shoulder.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Consider asking your rangemaster to post a sign, "Be safe. No one forward of this line but shooters and persons assisting shooters."

 

[buck460XVR]

Hard to believe any supervised range allows strangers to stand a foot away from you as you shoot. As for folks getting upset when you ask them to give you some room, it doesn't matter if they get upset, as long as they move.

 

[joem1945]

If I feel crowded I get out the S&W 460 magnum and touch off a few rounds. At a outdoor range I start shooting my russian M44 carbine. Other people tend to give me space pretty quickly. I guess they don't care for the muzzle blast.

 

[TomJ]

We belong to a gun club that has outdoor ranges. There are no marked lanes, but all members have always respected each other's space. In regards to indoor ranges, I don't want anyone I don't know in my lane. Not to be a a curmudgeon, but I don't want anyone I don't know and who does not have my permission standing 1 to 2 feet from me without a good reason.

 

[Candyman87]

My ranges are officially only two shooters per lane but make no references to observers. I'd say there's a common courtesy to stand behind the ready line unless you're with the shooter.

I've been crowded, and asked people to move back behind the ready line before, they're usually happy to comply and don't realize that you feel crowded.

 

[Ed Ames]

The pertinent rules I have seen are usually some variation on:

* One loaded gun, and two people, per lane. This is expressed in different ways including "two shooters per lane, only one shooting at a time", " one shooter and one instructor/assistant per lane", etc.
* Non-shooting observers must stay behind a line painted on the floor.
* no direct hand-off of loaded guns (set it down, let the other person pick it up)
Etc..

 

[DeepSouth]

I am fortunate enough to have a private range in my back yard but I don't think people watching would bother me unless they were to close. Like has been said if they're in arms length that'd be different.

Easiest way to solve the problem may be to not shower or put on deodorant that day.

 

[EIB0879]

With my kids, I like to haven them on adjacent lanes where I can watch both of them. Having them switch on one lane gets confusing. They have better range discipline than most adults i see on ranges. They are 15 and 17 and I started them early.

 

[JohnKSa]

Just to clarify my previous response: Most of the ranges I go to allow more than one shooter to share the lane but only one person can shoot at a time in any given lane.