odd things you have seen at deer sight in

[Pat Riot]

Years ago in Southern California I was at a range sighting in my deer rifle. There were quite a few guys there for the same reason. Out at about 150 yards, just past the 100 yard target line a herd of mule deer made their way down to the flat area of the range. A cease fire had been called over the PA system.
While everyone sat there the PA speaker clicked and a voice whispered “Get a good look, boys. These are probably the only deer you’ll see this year.” Laughter ensued with a lot of guys nodding in agreement.
Most SoCal deer zones only see 1-3% success rates.

When I was a kid I went with my Dad to sight in his “deer rifle” a couple of times. He was not an avid shooter, but he was a “hunter” so he tried to get things right. His friends, on the other hand, were a bunch of meatheads that would buy a rifle and one box of ammo and as long as it hit the paper at 100 yards they called it “good”.
One time I got my ears boxed because I commented that if they properly sighted their guns in they wouldn’t have to chase wounded deer for miles after shooting at them. I guess logic was a foreign concept with that crew. It almost seemed like the guy that tracked his deer furthest was the “winner”.
I learned a lot from my Dad and his buddies. A lot of what not to do.

 

[lightman]

One day a couple of "Bubbas" drove up and set up an appliance box with a hand drawn Deer picture on it and started shooting at in with a 30-30. At about 40 yards. Then they got a claw hammer out of their truck and started beating on the sights! But they did leave their brass!!!

 

[Hookeye]

The night before the opener, folks would be lined up at the LGS for new scopes and or boresighting.

 

[Legionnaire]

Let me get this straight. There are actually ranges out there that have to check my weapon, ammo and the likes before I am allowed to shoot? Personally I don't pay attention to other shooters or get into their business unless I am ask or see some flagrant safety issue...

If it is a members-only club that is providing a community service by letting non-members come and sight in their hunting firearms, I see no problem with the requirements. We don't know who is showing up, their level of expertise, or their understanding of basic safety.

 

[Double_J]

I was at the range about 15 years ago when this guy showed up with his Weatherby uberloudbangerthumper Magnum rifle with a scope that belongs in an observatory. He proceeds to set up the sand bags,, unload the rifle from its pelican case, and put on his "shooting coat." I watch him put his eye RIGHT ON the scope. I politely ask him to move his eye back just a bit and got the stink eye.
I walk to my truck and retrieve my first aid kit and a cold beverage from the cooler.

His first and only shot went like you would imagine. His head flung back with a huge cut above the eyebrow and blood flowing everywhere. He started screaming and crying once the pain set it and did not want to accept help from my first aid kit. He did finally change his mind and got cleaned up and bandaged up. I asked him if he thought about what I said about being to close to the scope and he got offensive with me again. I am almost certain that rifle and kit was listed for sale the next day.

 

[Hangingrock]

In years past I helped at Sight In Days at a sportsmen's club of which I was a member. It was an interesting endeavor almost to the point of absurdity. From what I observed we are not a Nation of Riflemen. Targets could be placed at 50-100-&-200 Yds. Those that we helped started at 50Yds and finished at 100Yds The 200 Yd. targets were the least fired at. Practically all shooting was from bench rest with very shoots were fired from field positions. In talking with the majority of individuals hunting was more or less to conducted from tree stands. That's the wat it was!

 

[johnjohn]

I once bought a scope for my grandson for a Christmas present ( big box store) . Would you like me to bore sight that for you ?no charge for that. OK sure, you do a lot of that ? Oh yes , retired army, in the marksmanship unit. He was done I thanked him and went on my way. When I got home I thought I'm gonna squint thru this thing just to see. Well the cross hairs instead of being vertical and horizontal wer at a 45 degree angle. Oh well so much for "experts".

 

[Roverguy]

The backwards scope is my favorite this year. Younger chap, obviously prosperous. Bergara rifle of the oddly shaped stock design. He’s Getting set up and I notice it. Wait and see. He gets all ready, hasn’t loaded, and goes to check sight picture. Does a few double takes, doesn’t understand what’s going on. Stands up flustered. The guy at the next station has been watching and tells him the scope is mounted back to front. Bergara guy says “No it isn’t. It can’t be”. Looks at it, sees that it is, harrumphs, and starts putting everything away…

 

[Axis II]

Many years ago my club allowed the public to pay $5 to sight in a week before season. An old timer with his member buddy showed up with an old Ithaca deer slayer, rifled barrel, tasco scope, see through rings, shooting rifled slugs. He couldn’t get a group if his life depended on it. We told him check rings, scope, and finally use sabot slugs. He refused all recommendations and finally said I’ll just use my 270 then. When 3-4 of us explained you can’t use a 270 in Ohio he went off on us about how it’s his land and he will tell the warden screw off. After he calmed down and his member buddy went down range to change targets he decided to start messing with the scope and rings. When the club president told him not to touch the gun while someone was down range he went off on him and was asked to leave and never come back.

2-3yrs ago was the worst. An entire family showed up from ages 65-70yo to maybe 13yo. They said they won a Henry 45-70 iron sights in a gun raffle and wanted to sight in. With about as much ammo as the Henry cost they proceeded to put pie plates at 100yards and shoot standing at the plates until each one of them hit the plate and called it good enough. I’m guessing they were all going to share the gun and figure out of 3 rounds if they hit the plate they could hit a deer.

 

[DMW1116]

This makes me feel a little better about what generally happens at the handgun range I frequent. The guy next to me was sighting in a new red dot and cut the leg off my target stand.

 

[Legionnaire]

… The guy at the next station has been watching and tells him the scope is mounted back to front. Bergara guy says “No it isn’t. It can’t be”. Looks at it, sees that it is, harrumphs, and starts putting everything away…

Nobody there had tools to set him right?!

 

[Scout21]

I run into people pretty often playing with their guns, pointing them downrange, finger on the trigger when the range is cold. I politely advise them that it's against the rules and very unsafe and, fortunately, all have been responsive so far.

 

[Gus Chiggins]

I like when people ask me if I'm ok while I'm staring vaguely into space while letting my barrel cool down between shots.

 

[Remington1911]

Last month we had a guy come in saying he just got his gun back from the gunsmith because he was having trouble sighting it in. He starts shooting and bullets are all over the place. The guy I'm working with asked to see the gun and he said when he grabbed it he felt the barrel move. He puts it on the bench holding the stock down and proceeds to move the barrel so much it's obvious. The guy sees that his barrel wiggles but still decides he wants to sight it in and proceeds to shoot several more rounds before it sinks in.

One morning last month 3 deer decided to walk across the range in front of all the targets. The deer are very comfortable there and they will stand around grazing in the lawn near the parking lot or in other areas where people may be.

Another time at a different club at the silhouette range a group of elk decided they would have lunch just beyond the 200 meter ram right in the line of fire.

I think they get so use to the gun fire it is not a worry to them. I have seen it as well, and with turkey.

Story time:

I am sitting at home shooting this that or the other, it was a .22 of some kind and with a rifle I don't use ears (do as I say not as I do children) and I hear a noise behind me, scared the hell out of me, I turn around and see a good sized doe just standing in the trees looking at me. I bet she was 4' away if that. We looked at each other and she took off.

I have had owl and hawks just sit in the trees and watch me.

 

[Remington1911]

I don't really pay attention why others are sighting in or general shooting.

Our club has a "public sight in day"....or weekend(s) and they generally ask for people to come and help work. The wife use to do the class, she did new member classes as well, and I would work the line. With that many people you just don't know the level of their ability, so some extra eyes will help stop something bad from happening.

When my back went out we had to stop.

I did enjoy it, but no way I can be on my feet that long.

 

[Remington1911]

At our club we not only check the rifle's caliber but the ammo box as well as the casings inside the ammo box. When asked if these were reloads I would be told yes. I'd ask if they reloaded them and had been told no a few times. They had purchased them at garage sales.

For those of you who aren't familiar with reloading shooting some strangers reloads is a bad idea. You have no idea if they are safe.

We had an issue like this and the guy got very unhappy when we would not let them shoot. To the point of a you can't stop me. There are more then a few people that are law enforcement that are club members and it was pretty easy after that. I am deputy so and so with this place, you have been asked to leave, if you don't I will arrest you for trespassing. There was talk after the first one of paying to have a uniform there, but with so many already there they just decided to let it go, After that the lanyards got worn and the off duty side arm was carried along with cuffs.

 

[Roverguy]

Nobody there had tools to set him right?!

I believe that in his embarrassment and having huffed and puffed, he beat a hasty retreat.

 

[Legionnaire]

@Roverguy, copy that.

 

[Handshaker]

I saw this

 

[Gus Chiggins]

Belly laugh

 

[HowardC]

Nobody there had tools to set him right?!

Yea, I'd think that would be a prime chance to teach someone how to mount his scope. Our club does a two-month sight-in every fall. There is a modicum of tools available and usually one of the member range officers has tools. We won't physically work on people's guns but will offer informal teaching and coaching for people. In 20 some years, have never had anyone get huffy. Most are quite appreciable of the help.

We do check ammo vs gun religiously after a couple mishaps, fortunately no injuries. Probably find a mismatch a weekend. In general, it's almost scary how little people know about their guns.

And, if they say the gun store 'bore-sighted' the scope, 95% of those will require an actual boresight at the range.
-West out

 

[Handshaker]

Not everyone is going to take the hobby as serious as others. Some are out just for a thrill and not interested in properly pursuing shooting sports.

 

[Scooter22]

Had a young guy in the 90s show up with his girlfriend. Not sure what rifle. But we stopped to let him hang a target. He went down and licked his thumb and whetted a big knot on the backer board. No target. Came back, we all shot and he wanted to go back with his one shot at the knot? He said OK! Have no idea but he was happy.

 

[12Bravo20]

I tried helping a guy today with a brand new Savage Axis in 30-06 sight in his brand new Vortex scope. The professional gunsmith at a pretty well known gun shop installed the scope with the crosshairs at an angle. Plus he didn't even set the scope in the rings for a proper eye relief. The poor guy couldn't even hit the target at 100 yards even after I had him shoot at 25 and 50 yards. He was on the target at 25 and 50 but was hitting everywhere except the target at 100 yards. And in the mean time, he was talking about how he can hit a target at 1 mile with his Savage Axis in 6.5 CM.

I ended up packing up my stuff and left before he ever got on target at 100. Who knows how much Hornady 30-06 ammo he went through today.

 

[3Crows]

I once bought a scope for my grandson for a Christmas present ( big box store) . Would you like me to bore sight that for you ?no charge for that. OK sure, you do a lot of that ? Oh yes , retired army, in the marksmanship unit. He was done I thanked him and went on my way. When I got home I thought I'm gonna squint thru this thing just to see. Well the cross hairs instead of being vertical and horizontal wer at a 45 degree angle. Oh well so much for "experts".

And you did not notice that the turrets were at 45 degrees? When you picked it up?

The more expert somebody claims to be the less likely I am to allow them to even get near my guns. Their gun smithing abilities are generally inversely proportional to their bragging. If they claim to be an ex-CIA, Army marksman sniper, Seal Team op and a graduate of the 6th grade and a Kung Fu Master I am going to beat a smoking beeline to my escape vehicle.