Problems At The Range!!

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mike7465

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I need some advice. I went to a new (for me) range today and had real problems.
1) There were two young (early 20s I guess) men who were just not safe. They swept the room with a loaded shotgun: 3 different times!!! These weren’t incidents of horse play (they weren’t goofing around,) they were incidents of poor firearm behavior. They got the message when I almost backfliped to get out of the way of their last sweep. This happened in the course of about 15 seconds.

2) The second incident was a young lady who didn’t understand how to use the pistol she rented. They did such a poor job in educating her that she just left.

I don’t think I will go back.
The question I have is this:
Do you go and tell the people who run the range their job? I often find that confronting people only leads to more problems.
Wondering what your experiences are on the range..
Thanks…
 
What were the ROs doing? Did they see the infractions?

IMHO, ROs should be made aware of ANY safety issues ASAP.
Politely, the first time:)
 
Were you in Forest Park, GA by any chance?

I had to stop going to the closest range because of experiences very similar to the ones you've described.

Do yourself a favor. Find somewhere else to shoot. There's no way that the RO could ignore that kinda behavior.
 
I've had very minimal experience at my range, because they're pretty much on top of their game.

I usually go to an indoor one. Their rule is that if you're not a member or if you don't own your own firearm, then you have to be in a party of two with at least one needs to be VERY proficient with a firearm. Also, for first timers at the range who have experience, they would have to go through a quick safe gun handling test to rent a handgun...to show the RSO that they can handle a handgun safely. This pretty much prevents any "rookies" from going inside the firing line. I've seen a lot of guys that think they know how to handle a gun fail by just sweeping the RSO. Most of these folks understand the danger of it all and leave quietly.

Also, there are a bunch of signs (including the four rules) inside and outside the range to remind folks to be safe.

You can politely call them out and mention this to the RSO.

As for that young lady fiddling with the handgun...she should have NEVER stepped into the lanes with no experience. A quick 5-10 minutes lesson on gun handling is not enough...I wouldn't give my 5 year old niece keys to my car and tell her to get on the freeway (same analogy).

Glad you were safe.
 
MOGA:
This range was in Matthews, NC.

Count:
Sounds like you goto a good range. Wish it was in Charlotte!!
 
They weren't paying attention at all.
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:what:I'd look for another range!

My club has a zero tolerance for safety infractions. Strike one and you're going home. Just the way it should be.
 
Count:
Sounds like you goto a good range. Wish it was in Charlotte!!
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Mike, there's a reason why. The owner has been sued numerous times and in order to stay in business, he had to come up with these restrictions. Yes, to some it maybe extreme and annoying but as long as people leave with a peace of mind; then the owner did his job to keep his business running.

I wish you the best of luck at that range. Stand your ground and keep an eye out when you see bad gun handling around you.
 
I work at Hot Wells Shooting Range in cypress and I will admit that we cannot see everything that happens on the line, so I am very appreciative of customers who adress these problems.

Just yesterday I was watching the pistol line when a customer very politely came up to me and told me to keep an eye on 3 men in the corner. It turns out after every 5 shots or so they would bring the gun to their chest and turn the gun down the line towards 10-15 shooters. If I had not been notified then someone could of been seriously hurt. The number one rule of any range is safety, so please don't be hesitant on adressing problems.
 
I understand your concerns, but you'll likely encounter the same behavior at another range. Unless the range officer is shouting orders like pick up your gun, load, fire, put it down, etc. they can only stop poor handling after the fact. The solution I found was to go to the range on week days. It's mostly serious shooters then. Avoid Saturday afternoon.
 
Thanks for all the great info....

Lots of good advice.
I try to only go to the range on weekdays, a hell of a lot less to deal with.
 
This cant hapen in Finland. We have differend God. He, like Yours, don´t allows everybody carry guns. Only Police allows. I like this way.
 
KI.W. said:
We have differend God. He, like Yours, don´t allows everybody carry guns. Only Police allows. I like this way.
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As long as you are happy, that is what counts. :)

In this case, we are speaking of the actions of individuals at the gun range and the appropriate safety measures that were not being used.

In my opinion, everyone that is old enough to fully appreciate the safety considerations of gun handling AND is not a criminal, should have the option of shooting, if they choose to. :D
 
I have absolutley no problems with advising someone to not point a firearm at me again. I will tell them so in a not so polite manner because I do not appreciate having a gun pointed at me or others, loaded or not. That behavior flips my instant a-hole switch.
 
Tell the RO or manager...If they get belligerent remind them you pay to shoot there and you will be spending your money elsewhere...If they kick you out or don't satisfy your request you were leaving anyway...
 
I try to only go to the range on weekdays, a hell of a lot less to deal with.
Click to expand...

That’s what I do. The range I go to is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. I go Mondays, very few people there.
 
In a couple of countries, the penalty for private possession of firearms is summary execution by the police. That is even better and more progressive than Finland in eliminating gun accidents, so KTW might consider moving there.

But watch out, as those countries also have many criminal gangs and revolutionary forces who are armed to the teeth.

Jim
 
There is a range available to me at one of the Department of Natural Resources public hunting areas. You have a mandatory sign in and no Sunday shooting, or shooting in the law enforcement only area. Thats the only three rules.

They recently installed a new pit toilet there, a real nice improvement no doubt paid for by the hunting license program, there are four "benches" if thats what you want to call them, although I don't think the design came from anyone that shoots but they are pefectly servicable.

The pit toilet was shot to a swiss cheese look in the first month, the brass or should I call it the steel, is so thick on the ground it is hard to keep your balance. The sign that ask to PICK UP YOUR BRASS and discard it in the provided recepticles is shot to hell along with the trash cans! The few trees that are near the benches are slowly getting lead poisoning.Targets , now that a broad term, litter the range, along with trash not discarded properly.

If you want to shoot there, you better try to do it on a week day, that way when you call a clear and go to set a target, you won't have so many loaded guns pointing at your back. Also you have to run back to the line in so you can get a chance to shoot your own target you just set! All this is on the slow days.

On Saturday it gets real bad, all the military Soviet surplus hardware in the county shows up and its 7.62 MM balls to the wall.I mean the is not one magazine on the grounds that is less than 30 rounds in capacity,and all the AK, SKS, Mosin,and Tokarev barells are red hot and smokin'.

Bet you thought I was going to leave out the BLACK GUN crowd didn't you? NO way, between the AR's and the 9mm's and a .45 ACP or three they're adding to the melee, I mean any thing down range,and some time UP RANGE, (rember the toilet) that doesn't have a bullet hole in it , will have and in short order. And there is a waiting line for the next empty bench two deep!
Talk about a death wish.

THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL A SANE PERSON WOULD SHOOT AT THIS RANGE ON A SATURDAY.:cuss:

Every once in a while a guardian angel, in the guise of an Indiana State trooper will show up and start checking handgun permits, this will thin out the crowd considerably, also there is a Ranger , a pretty brave soul, that checks in once in a while, and makes the crowd toe the line. Other than that there is NO control.

Why does putting a firearm in some persons hands turn them into a complete stark raving mad idiot. Close as I can figure they were that way to start!
 
There is a similar range in Colorado Springs called "Rampart Range" it's reputation is such that anybody that actually shoots there is assumed to be an idiot,an unsafe shooter or a gang banger.
 
I shoot at two different public ranges. No RO or managers on premises. I always go on week days to avoid the usual weekend crowd. Everyone who shows up seems well versed in range safety and courtesy.
 
Mike 7465

Here is another range (or 2) near Charlotte...

Belmont, just off I85

Rock Hill, on Hands Mill Rd (Hwy 274)

I haven't been to Belmont lately, but went there many times w/o any issues, I have been going to Rock Hill lately, nothing but good experiences there - that's where I got my CWP.
 
Mr J. Keenan, make call to UN and ask what contry is most peasefull and stable country with no corruption in whole World. I will to wote Finland.
Here in Finland are not revolutionary forces and terrosists.
We have the tight new gun law. It must to be very good reason for gun/guns. Selfdefence is no reason. The first gun almost always is .22LR for beginners. If somebody is alkoholic, troublemaker and so on, all guns shall to take away. I think, there is no troubles shooting places in Finland. I have been over 50 yers in difernt places and never seen. Now I have only 14 guns.
 
Selfdefence is no reason.
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Sad. Sounds to me like the revolutionary forces and terrorists are already in charge there.

What would happen to you if somebody with a gun broke into your home and you defended yourself and your loved ones with one of your 14 guns?
 
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