I've seen enough stupidity at ranges here to be glad that I don't go to them unless I have to...which is RARE.
I've got a nice piece of land staked out just outside of town. There is plenty of room and a nice solid backstop that is a couple miles thick (yes, its a mountain)
You can hear other shooters, but you'd actually have to go hiking to find them. The only complaint that I have is the amount of junk people leave out there.
My little story has to do with the last time I was at an indoor range. It was Good Friday 2 years ago and work gave us 3 hours off. Some used it to go pray or take a long lunch.
A few of us decided to go shooting.
We bring our guns in and pay for range time and targets.
The three of us are happily banging away in our lanes for an hour or so when we hear the telltale roar of a magnum round being touched off.
Cool thinks I as I hear it yet again. I finish my magazine off, leave the slide locked back and am about to walk over when the magnum sounds again and I hear a metalic clang...the target hanger was sitting on the floor of the range.
The owner walks out and the guy is very apologetic and offers to pay for damages. He was trying out a set of crimson trace grips and wasn't used to them (or thats the story he gave)
Anyway, the owner agrees and moves him down one lane...next to me.
The magnum bangs resume and sure enough, he aims high again and proceeds to place a .44 slug into the ceiling, showering the range with debris. Instead of stopping again and reevaluating, he fires again...this time with one hand.
The owner has had enough and asks the man to leave. Luckily, I had stepped away from my lane and I see him turn and sweep the booth I had just been in.
The walls on these things aren't thick at all and my co-workers were in the lanes right next to me. Lucky thing the guy didn't ND or they could have been in some serious s**t.
The owner, being an avid shooter himself apologized to the three of us for the danger. I couldn't really be mad as you can't always tell stupidity by looking at the person. You'd figure a man who owns a nice S&W 44 mag would be at least as bright as the lamps in the range. Guess not. Anyway, I now drop in there from time to time to check out new stock. They do a fair business although the prices are a little on the high side. Good folks all around and pretty knowledgable about their trade.
I don't like shooting around other people any more than I have to anymore. If I endanger myself, thats one thing.
If somebody else does it, its quite another.