Public Ranges--do you trust them?

[BullfrogKen]

Public ranges? I haven't stepped foot on a public range in over a decade.

I've never had the desire to pay money to go shooting somewhere where there's any number of people I don't know in possession of, and firing guns.

And I'm in agreement with Sam on this one. I used to feel that way, too Joe. But gun clubs are about a whole lot more than a piece of ground to shoot on. I'm a much better shooter than I was back before I came to PA and sought out membership in a gun club. I've belonged to 7 or 8 over the years now, but WSSA is my home. If I had stayed a lone wolf, I'd have missed out on so much. There's simply no comparison of my skills then to what they are now.

Sam said he's 10 times better. I'll describe it as the difference between the ability to read and illiteracy.


These clubs are where you'll find your Hunter's Education and other shooting classes. It's where you find people to get organized and oppose legislation. It's where you find organized competition. Jamie Gray would not have won Olympic Gold this summer if it weren't for Palmyra Sportsmen's Association and their world-class Junior program just across the river here from us.


But the community in these clubs is where it's at. Last month we buried a member of Sights, the local IDPA crew. I've attended several funerals for the friends I've made here at the club over the years. We've had Christmas parties at the club, and Christmas galas at hotels. The guys go on motorcycle rides, and we're all genuine friends outside shooting.


But we wouldn't have met each other outside the club. And right now, it feels real damn good to have the fellowship of each other for support.

 

[BBQJOE]

I agree that there have to be some benefits, including friendships among other things.
Personally, I like being left alone, and able to concentrate. And besides, I'm kinda with Rodney Dangerfield:
I wouldn't belong to any club that would have me as a member.

 

[Sam1911]

I wouldn't belong to any club that would have me as a member.

That was Groucho Marx, for the record.

 

[AABEN]

I have shot at are state gun range for 30 years and only had one little run in. The man setting two seat down was shooting my target. I ask who was shooting it he said he was so I said do not do it again he said he did not have any targets so I gave him three and said bring your own next time. His buddy said it was his first time he was there and talked to him he told me he was sorry. This range has a 25 yd 50 yd 100 yd and 200 yd They have a concrete walk on the 25-50-100 with benches that seat 3 at each and a campy over head we use it for free. The state puts up the back board when one gets shoot up. We bang are own targets. Can shoot at any thing on the ground.

 

[AABEN]

Sound like a lot of you are around a lot of beginners. We here in southern In know how to handle guns! There is no one that watches are gun range expect to check to see if any one is shooting thing on the ground and to see if we filled out the range paper. That is what they use to see if it is being used. The more that use it the more money go to that range. They drive by about every 30 mints.

 

[BoilerUP]

We here in southern In know how to handle guns!

Maybe down 'round Evansville way, but the most egregious handling I've ever seen has been at the Clark State Forest 'range' in Henryville.

In addition to the event I posted upthread, I've seen the following there:

1. Dipwads shooting my steel target without asking
2. Misfire in a Mosin, college kid starts to look down the barrel when the gun discharged with his buddy yelling HOLE-LEE SHIZZ DUDE
3. Cold range called, I'm 50 yards downrange wearing a bright red shirt and some jackass starts shooting, causing me to yell some four-letter words
4. Numerous, NUMEROUS muzzle sweeps and handling firearms with fingers on triggers

Twice I've packed up and left because of unsafe handling, and now I try to go only during mid-week mornings in an effort to avoid "Fudd"-level stupidity.

 

[Artigas]

I get nervous with a lot of noobs around that I am responsible for, but I always try to take one with me when I go. Spread the word, you know.

 

[Blue .45]

Maybe down 'round Evansville way, but the most egregious handling I've ever seen has been at the Clark State Forest 'range' in Henryville.

Good to know. I have a friend who lives around Scottsburg, but doesn't know of any good places to shoot in that area. I found the range you're talking about online and suggested he give it a try. However, after reading your post, I'll recommend that he search for a better place.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I go to public ranges all the time on Weekdays before 9 am. Private ranges are too rich for my blood.

 

[wiltonar]

the only public range i ever shot at (used regularly for 3 years) was problem free. No range officer or anything like that. Everyone was always respectful be it the weekend or weekday morning. The ony issue i would have was too much range trash being left out by people not cleaning up. This was a range on the border of virginia and west virginia on public land by the way

 

[Milamber]

I shoot very regularly at our local WMA range. Never had an issue. RO on site and they don't take any nonsense. Only issue I have is the one second between shoots rule. Place is very quiet on weekdays, weekends can be hectic. Weekend following CT it seemed every table had a new AR.

 

[blaisenguns]

Public Ranges--do you trust them? Also do you bring anyone who wants to go with you, or are you picky about who you bring? Why?

I'm not a big fan of public ranges, prefer to go only on weekday mornings. I'm very picky about who goes with me (need to be able to trust them with a loaded gun after all.)

What do you think

I only use public ranges, I have never had an issue. The clubs are WAY to far away for me. The best I get for a private range is occasionally I get to shoot at a friends ranch, which is in the next county.

I am absolutely picky about who comes. For me it has always been a father and son thing, and I have only ever gone without my father once. My general rule is: If you don't have your own ammo, I don't want to play with you (I shoot big guns, and they are expensive to shoot). People ask me to take them all the time, and if they ever gave me the "this dude should not have a gun" vibe I blow them off.

I would say that I would be absolutely willing to take someone who is uninitiated in firearms, especially in light of all the misinformation out there. That is the only way I know to turn an anti into a pro-gunner.

Oh and I would NEVER take anyone other than my dad to my friends ranch, that is just courtesy.

 

[BoilerUP]

Good to know. I have a friend who lives around Scottsburg, but doesn't know of any good places to shoot in that area. I found the range you're talking about online and suggested he give it a try. However, after reading your post, I'll recommend that he search for a better place.

Its not always bad...but you just gotta keep your head on a swivel there.

 

[kynwatch]

I used to go to Bud's in Lexington, but I got tired of Rambo in the next lane raining brass on me.

I joined a local sportsmens club and never looked back. I'm 41 and only once in 3 years has anyone younger than me been shooting at the same time. Thats was a father and his 2 sons. They were very safe and well taught. Most of the time it's older gentlemen testing out their newest reloads. I am respectful of them and they are willing to share some of their knowledge. One guy even reloads my 500sw brass for me at $0.75 a round! Also I have had a chance to fire some very fine revolvers over the last few years. So never ever going back to public ranges!!!

 

[BullfrogKen]

I'm 41 and only once in 3 years has anyone younger than me been shooting at the same time. Thats was a father and his 2 sons.They were very safe and well taught.

I'd be very careful concluding that only people older than you can safely handle a gun.


What would you conclude about a 20-something on the range beside you shooting "unconventially" when you learned he just returned from OIF/OEF?

Or if not a foreign war, some young kid I just last month gave some instruction to on my range?

 

[kynwatch]

I was just pointing out my experience at an invitation only private club. I trust no one until they prove themselves. I shoot at about the same time every week and it usually the same older gentlemen there. The three I'm usually with I trust completely. One is a marine that retired when I was in high school, one was a firearms instructor for the state police years ago, and the other has been shooting since before I was alive. If you screw up with them there don't count on your membership being good the next day.

I'm a veteran and I show respect to my fellow shooters. One way I show this is to be mindful of where my brass is flying. If the guy was endangering others I would report the incident to the membership review panel for expulsion. I don't care who it is.