Range Manners! (finger on the trigger stuff)

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45R

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I was hanging out at the range today. It was a great gorgeous day to be shooting pistols, shotguns and rifles.

At one point I was shooting with one our THR members when a elderly person (Shooter B) was 2 lanes over shooting a 9mm pistol that repeated to jam on him due to limpwristing. It gets worst. The round is struck in the half way into chamber and he is trying to clear it with HIS FINGER DEPRESSED ON THE TRIGGER EFFECTIVELY SWEEPING HIS SHOOTING PARTNER, MYSELF and MY FELLOW THR BUDDY!!!!

I saw notice of this and pulled my friend away from the line of fire. The other shooter's buddy (Shooter A) didnt even give a damn that the loaded pistol was pointed at his chest when the shooter B was trying to clear the jam WITH FINGER ON THE TRIGGER. I noticed this happened twice. I wanted to say something to the guy but too many red flags popped up in my head.

What would you have done?!? The range master was too busy yelling at all the people that were being "safe" and not paying attention to the people who were being dangerous to themselves and fellow shooters. :fire:
 
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Put the :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: gun down would have been my starting point. I am funny like that when someone points a loaded gun at me. Thank God no one was hurt!
 
When someone sweeps a lethal weapon over me, I become irrate. I attempt to be polite but if the person is indifferent then I become irrate, foul mouthed and loud. I am in no rush to die and it really, really :cuss:es me off when people act irresponsibly, as in this case.
 
It depends on the situation as to what you do and say, I guess, as has been pointed out.

At the FOP range where I am a member, I sort of pitch in and do whatever obviously needs doing and without being asked.

Some years ago, this included hauling my mower over and cutting the grass when it got close to knee-high. (I guess the BG's laying on their butts at the County Bed 'N Breakfast had too much to do to be bothered with such)

At a police qualifying shoot one day, I was watching, waiting for them to finish so I could shoot, and I asked the "rangemaster", an LEO of some rank above rookie, I suppose, if I could pick up some of the empties that were being shucked out by the shooters. He got in my face and told me to leave the range, that this was for LEO's only, and that some of their people reloaded also. I told him in no uncertain terms that in the future, he could cut his own Damn grass and I turned and headed for my truck. His screams of "What is your problem, Boy ?!?!" went unheeded and I left.

I am still a member, and still do a little work from time to time, but I sure as H * * * don't cut the grass.
 
I'm a nationally accredited Range Officer.

They would have been told, almost politely, but certainly loudly and in in no uncertain terms, what the hell they were doing wrong!

If a Club member -- they would be facing suspension and compulsory safety retraining. If a visitor, their invitation would be abruptly revoked. :cuss:

If that firearm had been pointing at me, I'd be hard-pressed to keep their face out of the dirt!

Bruce
 
Orginally posted by DontShootMe

That... Is when it's time to leave.
Click to expand...

We waited till the coast was clear. Packed out bags, warned the rest of the folks on the pistol range and left. It didnt appear that Shooter B was a regular shooter and Shooter A was too stupid to realize a load gun swept him more than once at COM. As we were leaving it happened again to him............... :uhoh:

Guys thanks for the advice. I was ready to bring down the heavans and move the mountains on this guy but I wasnt exactly sure what is "norm" when approaching someone that is breaking the rules. Part of me just wanted to leave the area ASAP for our own safetly and another part of me felt that the owner of the guns (Shooter A) should have been smart enough (Key word SHOULD) to figure out that the gun would have went bang if Shooter B was able to ge the slide about 1/2 inch forward!!

Next time I will have the range officer or
have his club membership revoked.
Click to expand...
 
Saw this happen once years back .. at a club I belonged to for years .... we shot from a trench. New guy shooting (visitor) - same sorta problems .. and there he is walkin along trench behind other shooters, waving the damn gun every which way.

One of my buddies who was RO that day very quickly dropped into trench and apprehended this ******* ....... took possession of the gun .... made it safe.

The visitor was chastized and asked to not return.

My point always is that it is the ''muzzle sweep'' that is actually the major infringement ..... cos without that, finger on trigger (tho wrong) is not dangerous.

If any rule ever needs 101% enforced it is #2 IMO .... i renders the other three less important.
 
El Tej ... I'll compromize with ya ....

Rules #2 and #3 then ... together .... would make #'s 1 and 4 much less important by comparison!:)

I'm a pedantic ol fart!:p :D

Whatever ... stay safe - life is precious.!
 
I'd have said something to him. I'm generally not a very outspoken person in the real world, but blatant violations of gun safety are one of the things that really tick me off.
It's better to correct unsafe behavior right then than to leave and let it continue. After all, if the guy really and truly didn't know, then it's likely that without guidance he'll do the same thing in the future, possibly with tragic results.

Now, if he tells you to buzz off and continues acting in an unsafe manner I'd pack up and let the range officer know on my way out.
 
Lots of good advice here, and some not so good.

First; I have a big problem with "getting in peoples faces". I don't take kindly to it being done to me, so I make every reasonable effort to avoid doing it to others.

Second; On this and other threads in various forums, I read the comment, "revoke his membership". Kick him out, ect. That should be reserved for repeat offenders or beligerent smart mouths. Not someone who is simply lacking in education.
There are many people who have never had gun training. They simply do not know what they are doing, let alone what they are doing wrong. Then there are others who haven't handled a gun in years and are nervous about it. These people need to be helped, not condemned.

Now don't get me wrong, having a gun pointed at me causes me all sorts of physiological reactions. But in the above situation I would have aproached the man and said something like; I see your having problems with your gun, is there anything I can do to help. After breaking the ice and seeing which way the attitude went, I would help him if I could, then turn the discussion to gun safety.

Yes I have done this. No anger, no animosity, just help as much as I can.
Usually a trip to the restroom to calm down afterwards is a good idea.
Sometimes you can make friends by helping.
Otherwise you make enemys.

Sometimes making friends like this will turn someone from a borderline anti-gun to pro-gun.

OK, preaching over.
 
J, you can't put the bullet back in the weapon. Anyone exhibiting such unsafe behavior (violating the Four Rules) needs to be corrected immediately.

As well, such behavior has no place in a private club. Let him endanger the public, but not my club.

However, you are correct. I am assuming education; this is not always the case even in a private club. Far too many people equate possession with competence. Each one, teach one. :)
 
My usual range rents guns and I have seen people that I know didn't have a clue about gun safety get a gun. I've left a couple of times because I didn't feel safe with the people that were next to me that day.
 
I'm all for being kind and stuff, but there's a time & place for that. After you secure the situation, there'll be time for the "sorry to yell guy but you scared the pee out of me" statement!

My BIL's friend did a similar incident in my basement. Racked it on a full mag, then dropped the mag, and proceeded to turn with his finger on the trigger...I hit a note I dont hit often and I know I hurt his feelings, but all is well and I think he went home understanding HIS mistake.
 
This isn't so much a safety as it is a pain-in-the-patootie issue.

A friend (who has more than enough money for his toys) refuses to use binoculars or a spotting scope at the range, opting instead, to call a "HOLD YOUR FIRE" and walk down to his target to check his hits.

Meanwhile, everyone else is patiently waiting for him to get back to the line.

I have offered to lend him a scope, to set it up, focus it and all, but he refuses.

I know he can use one, because sometimes I call him over to my bench to look at a string or an interesting group.

I guess I can either learn to put up with him or say something, in as nice a way as possible, of course.
 
last time i went to the range i took a buddy who was experienced with rifles and shotguns but not with pistols. so i went over the safety rules with him, and told him what was expected about muzzle sweep, fingers on/off triggers, etc.
he took it all in, and aside from trying to load up magazines while the range was cold (rules specifically state not to touch the firearm or parts while range is cold) he did alright. but when we were packing things up from the .22lr range to go to the pistol range he was putting my P22 in its case when a fly buzzed in front of his face. with the P22 still in his hand he starts trying to wave the fly away as i stare speechless as this pistol is being furiously waved every way but downrange.
he caught what he was doing as i was momentarily speechless, and put the gun down. he said 'oh crap, i'm waving this gun around at everyone else arent it?"
no one else saw it, thankfully.
 
First; I have a big problem with "getting in peoples faces". I don't take kindly to it being done to me, so I make every reasonable effort to avoid doing it to others.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but if you're waving a loaded firearm around, any RO in Australia is going to "get in your face"

Second; On this and other threads in various forums, I read the comment, "revoke his membership". Kick him out, ect. That should be reserved for repeat offenders or beligerent smart mouths. Not someone who is simply lacking in education.
Click to expand...

You can't be a member of an SSAA-affiliated club here in Australia without having first passed a practical and written safety test (85% pass mark) PLUS having been on probation and under supervision for the first 6 months. Sorry, but I would be pushing very hard for suspension and retraining.

There are many people who have never had gun training. They simply do not know what they are doing, let alone what they are doing wrong. Then there are others who haven't handled a gun in years and are nervous about it. These people need to be helped, not condemned.
Click to expand...

You and I agree here-- but on my range people in the situations you describe wouldn't be shooting without a fully-qualified "mentor" standing beside them every inch of the way.

Now don't get me wrong, having a gun pointed at me causes me all sorts of physiological reactions. But in the above situation I would have aproached the man and said something like; I see your having problems with your gun, is there anything I can do to help. After breaking the ice and seeing which way the attitude went, I would help him if I could, then turn the discussion to gun safety.
Click to expand...

You're a better man than I, Gungadin! I want that gun made safe, and I want it made safe NOW!

Yes I have done this. No anger, no animosity, just help as much as I can.
Usually a trip to the restroom to calm down afterwards is a good idea.
Sometimes you can make friends by helping.
Otherwise you make enemys.

Sometimes making friends like this will turn someone from a borderline anti-gun to pro-gun.
Click to expand...

I don't hold grudges, or animosity -- but I wouldn't feel it necessary to apologise after I had explained why I'd reacted the way I did, either.

An accident arising from an incident such as the original post would in all probability have the club deregistered by the WA police and the range closed; either temporarily or permanently.

Can't afford to take that risk.

Bruce
 
I'm with the other "reasonable" guys here. I always talk to the offender in as calm a manner as possible, often hiding until the actual dangerous behavior is paused. If the discussion is not well received THEN I'll go to the RO. I'll stay of leave depending on what they do next.

The point is to attempt education first. Keep emotions out of it if possible (you are, after all, approaching a person with a loaded gun and no clue).
 
Thanks a lot for the watchful eye, 45R. :)

I was strongly considering saying something to them as well, but oh well....

I was too busy getting screamed at by the Range Moron. :rolleyes:
 
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