Off to the range, or so I thought!

[justin 561]

Well, I've decided to take my new Yugo M59/66 SKS to the local outside range I've found, without having to buy their $14 20pack of 7.62x39. I travel upto it, A hour away, I walk in with my gun enclosed in my case, pay my fee, buy a few targets. Now, the funny/retarded part, I'm setting up to shoot, load the stripper clip into the mag, and start aiming. Before I squeeze off my first round one of the workers come running towards me screaming! I put it on safe, and see what the problem is.. Apparently you can't bring AK47/SKS's to this range. What kind of crap is that? I ask the worker why this rule is in place for only SKS and AK47 only, his answer was "because they don't want them here, please leave!" I proceed to ask him why these are not allowed, my question never answered. I walk to the front counter and ask for my money back since I can't shoot, they give it back and then I ask, "Why would you let a AR15, or .50 CAL fire their rounds but not my SKS??!! My SKS is far less deadly than a .50CAL rifle. I got no answer and just left. So I think its fair to say, they dislike these two weapons, but why? But, I couldn't get a answer from them. I guess it's back to waiting for the Sheriff range to open back up (only open 2 days out of every month) or shooting in the woods. Is this a stupid rule? Why would they not let AK-47 or SKS but allow the other more powerful weapons and less powerful weapons come?

 

[bensdad]

That is very strange. Sorry you had to drive all that way. They should pay for your gas.

 

[justin 561]

The weird thing is they couldnt give a answer on why only those two were not allowed, maybe they dislike russian designed weapons..

 

[Thumper_6119]

Well that's kinda messed up. There was a guy with an SKS at our local range this last weekend. Good looking one, too.

We can't shoot .50 BMG at our local municipal range.

 

[Schofield3]

That makes no sense at all especially if larger calibers are allowed, it’s a shame they can’t even explain themselves for not allowing you to use your AK & SKS.

 

[Packman]

Maybe they've had issues with them. I know I've seen some younger people acting like real jerks on my range with AKs/SKS. Ban the gun, the punks go somewhere else, you've solved a safety issue.

At the expense of the vast majority of the safe shooters who enjoy those weapon systems.

 

[HANDLOADER]

That Is A Shame That They Feel They Must Put Restictions On What We Can And Can Not Shoot On The Range.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Where is this ?

As to your question "why?" the only answer I can think of is "STUPIDITY"

 

[RNB65]

"because they don't want them here, please leave!"

Find out who "they" are and call them for an explanation. It could be as simple as one of the owners is a 'Nam vet and doesn't want Commie guns at his range.

 

[MinnMooney]

Justin,

Tell us which range so we can call and make an inquiry about bring our AK-47 or SKS to their range and we'll see what they say and report back.

 

[justin 561]

This all the info for the range: Note: I didn't see website for traveling, I only seen the range from driving by.

Indiantown - South Florida Shooting Sports, 7600 S. W. Fox Brown Rd., Indiantown, FL 34956.
Phone: 772-597-4668
Facilities include: Outdoor Pistol (25yrds), Outdoor Rifle (50yrds), Muzzleloading, Trap, Skeet
Hours of Operation: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Range Access: Private
Web Site: www.southfloridashootingsports.com
Email: [email protected]

I've called for a reason why they wouldnt let AK47/SKS, their answer was "Its just not!"

 

[GigaBuist]

Well, at least the restriction is right there on the web page.

 

[41magsnub]

Why do they care if you use steel or aluminum cased ammo? Is this one of those ranges where they keep your brass and want it to be reloadable?

I can see not allowing .50 BMG if their backstop is not up to it, but banning any normal caliber ammo does not make sense.

 

[MinnMooney]

Justin,
I just tried to call the range but no answer so I wrote an email to them. Here is a copy of my email :

Hi,

I just purchased an AK-47 and thought that I could shoot it at your range but upon looking at your website, I see that you ban AK-47, SKS & "similar type weapons". Why is that? Is my AR-15 and AR-10 banned, also? Do you allow a Rem. 7600 auto-loader in .270Win.?
Do you have a complete list of "banned rifles/calibers" so that I won't make the trip to your range for nothing?

Thanks,
Chuck

I saw their membership fees : $600 per year! Yikes! Maybe that's the going rate in some areas but here in Minnesota, we pay $90 - $150 per year and we have all or more services available that what South Florida Shooting Sports has. I see that they will be "pushing the range out to 100 yds and possibly further in the future". Our shooting clubs have several ranges of 100 yd and less plus a 200 yd., 300 meter w/electronic targets and 400 yd steel gongs. There are silloettes(sp?), archery (bales & in-the-woods), trap, skeet and precision small bore ranges. All of this for $100/yr. Me thinks that South Florida Shooting Sports is WAY over priced.

 

[justin 561]

Why do they care if you use steel or aluminum cased ammo? Is this one of those ranges where they keep your brass and want it to be reloadable?

That could be a reason, the Recycling center right across the street that takes scrap copper/brass doesn't help either.

I saw their membership fees : $600 per year! Yikes! Maybe that's the going rate in some areas but here in Minnesota, we pay $90 - $150 per year and we have all or more services available that what South Florida Shooting Sports has. I see that they will be "pushing the range out to 100 yds and possibly further in the future". Our shooting clubs have several ranges of 100 yd and less plus a 200 yd., 300 meter w/electronic targets and 400 yd steel gongs. There are silloettes(sp?), archery (bales & in-the-woods), trap, skeet and precision small bore ranges. All of this for $100/yr. Me thinks that South Florida Shooting Sports is WAY over priced.

Yeah, I wasnt going to pay the membership fee, the $15 is good enough. Like I said, the only other (outside range) is local sheriff but is only open a few days out of every month, but is 100yd, 200yd, and 300yds on sundays(when open to public). The other ranges around here are all inside, 50-100FT, hardly fun to shoot at, and not to mention is 14$ a box of 20 bullets! So I guess I'll have to get one of those rolling measuring sticks and go out in the woods and measure 100-300yds and just shoot there. I don't reload my ammunition so they can have my casings, but I use steel case.

 

[Kind of Blued]

My bet would be on the bi-metal jacket on the bullets used by Wolf, which people often use in AKs and SKSs, with good reason.

I was turned away once as well, but was at least given a reason (albeit, an uneducated one).

Guy asks to inspect my ammo. It sticks to his magnet.

"You can't shoot this here." He says, dangling the round from his magnet.

"Why is that, sir?"

He points to the round and the magnet.

"...I see that it is magnetic..."

"Can't shoot steel core ammo here. It'll punch through the backstop."

"It doesn't have a steel core. The jacket is a bi-metal with an amount of steel in it."

"If it sticks to the magnet, you can't shoot it here."

"So I can shoot this, but I can shoot .50 BMG here if it doesn't stick to a magnet?"

"Ok. Well I'll be back later then."

 

[Hoppy590]

theres no excuse for any kind of ban on a weapon.

ammunition styles should only be banned on fire/safety issues. (aka steel core, or too big for the backstop)

theres no excuse for gun snobbery. the more we fight amongst our selves, the more we divide, the easier we are to conquer

 

[DMK]

One word explains it: ignorance.

 

[MinnMooney]

I just now got a reply from South Florida Shooting Sports.

Here it is :

Hi Chuck,

Thank you for your inquirery. AR15's and AR10's are welcomed just not AK's and their variants. The only caliber not permitted by non-club members is 50BMG.

If you look back at my email to them (Post #14) you'll see that they still didn't answer the main question of "Why?".

 

[Brass Rain]

Buy a new polymer stock from the internet, switch it out, and try again. See if they can tell the difference. When you leave and they haven't said anything, tell them what you did and how it's nothing but aesthetics and that they're being rediculous.

 

[Hoppy590]

If you look back at my email to them (Post #14) you'll see that they still didn't answer the main question of "Why?".

you should respond with just that. "you didn't answer my question"

if they give you some **** about "policy" just point out as a human being you would like to hear the reasoning

 

[justin 561]

Thanks for the help, I feel kinda singled out, my ammunition is Tiger and it is steel cased but lead core. It no big deal, its kinda odd that the only caliber not permited would be the 7.62.. I guess I'll just go to the one down south (hour 1/2 away) They allow 7.62, and its 100-200yds. Their hate for this caliber is baffling.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

Wow, that is some ignorant BS. They didn't answer your question as to "why"!

 

[RocketmanVT]

I had a similar experience at a range in Vermont - their rationale was that terrorists use AKs and its variants.

And this was 3 years prior to Sept. 11th.

Again, the only plausible explanation is ignorance.

 

[Ignition Override]

One of the guys at my favorite gun store returned from Iraq about a year ago. Having little/sporadic experience with guns until last October, I asked him about renting/testing an AK clone at the store's range. He told me that he would prefer not to sell those types of guns, because some friends had been killed by them in the 'sandbox'. Seeing friends killed by a certain type of gun could create a strong negative impression. The gun store staff are all very good people, by the way.

Is it possible that some range owners/managers prefer not to use guns which our troops encountered in Vietnam etc? Maybe they lost a family member.
Notice how many comments there are on gun websites ('Thefiringline', 'Perfectunion', 'Warrifles', 'GunBoards') about 'Commie guns' and 'Russkie ammo'-these were all Soviet designs.
Maybe I'm wrong, but could there be something to these connections, based only on emotion and personal experiences? Notice how often only the bad guys in movies use an AK-47, with its very distinct features. A lot of people are allowing themselves to become brain-washed, and the influence might be enormous and partly subconscious. The phrase 'assault weapons' might be forever linked to guns with these looks.

My guns: Mini 14, 30, SKS and Mosin 44.