Range Manners re: Brass Showers

Status
Not open for further replies.
I think most people are cognizant of where their brass goes, however I did have 2 kids show up next to me 2 weeks ago with a ar-10 and one of those Barrett type brakes, yes on a AR-10, and proceed to pelt me with 308 brass and gas from the brake. They ignored the fact that I was agitated about this. Any brass that hit me or the table developed a crushed shoulder. Too bad, it looked like nice brass.
 
I think most people are cognizant of where their brass goes, however I did have 2 kids show up next to me 2 weeks ago with a ar-10 and one of those Barrett type brakes, yes on a AR-10, and proceed to pelt me with 308 brass and gas from the brake. They ignored the fact that I was agitated about this. Any brass that hit me or the table developed a crushed shoulder. Too bad, it looked like nice brass.
Click to expand...

Were there other places to shoot? I only ask because yes, it would be rude if there were other places to shoot, but if not, that's just the way it goes. I already mentioned, I actually have been physically injured by someone else's hot brass. But it was unavoidable, so I didn't even say anything. Just took some extra precautions next time. If there are no more lanes or tables at a range, oh well. Semi auto guns eject brass. We all know this. If you shoot close to someone, brass might hit you. There's really no need to get upset about it if it's unavoidable.

And I certainly wouldn't damage someone else's property because of it.
 
I personally don't mind if someone else's brass hits me or rolls my way as they shoot; it doesn't even happen that often. Usually the person either asks if they should move or they apologize if a shell hits me. I don't really mind it and I don't remember anytime anyone that has been rude about it. I haven't had a problem with MY brass hitting anyone ELSE, so I guess that's that. There was one time a casing hit me in the face...Guy apologized and I respected the use of eye protection even more. I also remember when a buddy of mine was shooting a SW 457 and a round landed inside my button-down, tucked in shirt LOL :(. Fresh casings could easily burn you upon contact.

When I go to the range, I go expecting to get dirty from lead and there are GOING TO BE shells everywhere. If a few shells hit me, well...It's a shooting range, that kind of stuff happens.
 
Last edited:
If possible, I set up where there is no chance I could hit anyone, but if not, or if someone sets up to my right after I'm there, I'm not going to lose any sleep if they are getting hit by the occassional case.

Likewise, I acknowledge that getting hit by brass occasionally is a part of being at the range. If it looks like I'm really going to pelt someone on every shot or vice versa, I will offer or request to alternate shooting strings.

No need to get worked up over it or passive-aggressively destroy their brass.
 
I think I probably sit somewhere in the middle on this one. On the one hand, no-one should go to a range and then bitch about peoples rifles being too loud, or brass flying - that's shooting for you. If you can't stand a loud bang or the odd bit of brass hitting you, you didn't ought to be shooting for a hobby. But on the other, I expect some basic manners, consideration of others, and friendly banter from everyone too. Fortunately, the ranges I go to are full of similar minded kinds of people - it is very very rare you get a true dick turn up.
 
I guess there are two distinct schools of thought. As somebody mentioned, though, if we are going to let ourselves get offended by brass coming our way on occasion, do we also acommodate the guy with the suppressor on his gun asking us to please not shoot if our gun is going to make that loud noise? I think part of the problem is not enough of us have been exposed to having been in a high power match, or in the military. In both, shooters are on a line, they are using semi-autos, and each man to the right often gets struck with hot brass. If you grew up around such, or were subjected to it, you know what to do. You button your shirt at the top, arrange your hat so that it keeps them off your head, and you man-up and take it. It is learning to DISREGARD it that make you a considerate shooter, not complaining about it. Think of it this way: you have been accepted to an elite shooting school, with some of the worlds best shooters/instructors there to teach you. Are you going to go up to them and whine about the guy on your left's brass hitting you while you are shooting? Most professionals I know would laugh at you.
 
I don't mind brass, but I do mind lead shrapnel from Italian SAA clones. I've had blood drawn twice from somebody shooting one of those near me.
 
I don't mind brass, but I do mind lead shrapnel from Italian SAA clones. I've had blood drawn twice from somebody shooting one of those near me.
Click to expand...

Ditto. Getting hit by brass is just part of the game. What I won't tolerate is someone shooting a crappy, poorly-timed revolver next to me. I have had blast fragments spray my eye by entering the side of my shooting glasses. Needless to say, I was more than a bit upset about it.
 
It happens. Doing it to somebody else and not noticing (or pretending not to notice), and doing nothing to try to mitigate it, is quite rude, though. And beaning somebody with hot brass and then telling them to suck it up is ruder still.

If I ever go to the range with a semiauto and there's someone to my immediate right, I ask them to please let me know if I am pelting them with brass and I will try to reposition. And you know what? Everyone has been friendly and appreciated it, and has never gotten bent out of shape about the occasional brass that may land or roll their way. But if you move in like you own the range, bean someone on the head or neck or ding their rifle/scope repeatedly with hot brass, while projecting an "I don't care, get over it" attitude, then yes, you'll get resentment. Ditto for revolver side spitting and muzzle brake blast.

To revisit the car analogy...if your car smokes a bit and you can't help it, but you try to be courteous to people, that's way different from pulling out in front of that convertible or cyclist and flooring it.
 
Of the people that resent and must complain about flying brass, how many have been in the Army or Marines, or have participated in formal high power shooting? I'd be interested to know if anyone has done their time on a formal high power rifle range that still has the "my space" philosophy. I think it is more of acclamation to the exercise of shooting these weapons (flying brass is part of the game) around others. Sure, if space permits, trading places or re-positioning in another way might change the direction of the brass, and I, too, would try, within reason. But semi-autos do what they do, and you can't change them too much. Nature of the beast.
 
I wear wrap around shooting glasses ever since I caught a 22 case between my street glasses and the area just below my eye during the rapid fire section of a bullseye match. Those little suckers burn, too !
CZ 52 pistol has to be the champion brass thrower.
 
this annoys the crap out of me!

there is one indoor range kinda far from me, they have screen placed at the top of the each lane so it doesn't happen at that one. however, the one near my house doesn't have this so i try to ask for the lane against the wall (to the left of me) when shooting.

it's a simple fix at these indoor ranges, they should all put those screens at the top.

just to mention, i never say anything to the guy raining brass one me, it's not his fault. i'll simply ask the range to move me to another lane.

kinda unavoidable at outdoor ranges that don't have dividers. just a part of the hobby. i'm certainly not going home and crying in my pillow about it :eek:
 
Last edited:
i almost always try & watch that i don't do this, however i dont mind if brass hits me. i say almost becuse one time while i was shooting my mini 14 & didn't think about it, since i was all the way to the left of a 8 person shooting bench. i was standing just to the right of the last spot, while their were two other younger guys standing just past the last spot on the right. we had been talking a little earlier & it probably was a good thing. later i was sending some led downrange maybe 6 or 7rds & i didn't hear them shooting so i stopped looked and saw that they were about 6ft behind me & to my right laughing. thats when i figured out what had happend. so i apologized right away & they just laughed & said to not woory about it. i enjoyed talking with them over the course of 2hrs & asked if they wanted to shoot my mini 14. which they seemed to enjoy. now i try to get the spot they were in since it isn't possible to have anybody to my right. i only have to worry about this with my mini 14, since my other rifles are normal.
 
jeepguy said:
. . . since my other rifles are normal.
Click to expand...

16.gif
 
It honestly amazes me how many people here have little or no regard for their fellow shooter at the range.
Click to expand...

I flunked sensitivity training.

I would rather dodge brass than shoot next to a .338 with a brake.
 
I won't shoot my Saiga .223 unless I can get the last lane at the range. That thing flings brass a good 10-12 ft., and I got tired of apologizing.
 
I always request the lane to the far right. That way I am not flinging my brass on someone else.
And any brass that comes my way from one, two, three or more positions away...if they don't come and claim it by the time I'm ready to go, then I sweep it up and take it home.
 
A guy six positions away (20 feet) told me I was throwing brass his way. He was shooting the same type of rifle and wasn't upset about it. I rigged a tall barrier and then the brass was hitting me.
 
It really depends on the situtation. If it's busy, you take what you can get and I'm ok with some brass rain. I'll try to work with my neighbors to avoid it as much as possible. If I set up all the way on the left to avoid someone(s) already there, and you set up right next to me when there's plently of open benches; tough, eat it. If I get the far right bench as to keep from hitting anyone and you set up next to me and rain brass on me when there's other open benches; I'll say something. If you don't move or try to work out timing, I will move to your left and return the favor OR open up with my pistol AR or equally extra loud firearm. This works most of the time b/c the people only bring ear plugs and you can feel the blast from those things.
 
I'm a high power rifle competitor and consider that brass shower part of the game. For a long time, I shot M1 Garands in matches and was very careful to warn people on my right about the red hot "quarter pounders" coming out of my rifle. I few times in prone, I caught red hots in the leg and butt from other Garands. It teaches you to concentrate on the match even if your butt is on fire and it's a great conversation topic after the match!

Flash
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
Poor manners...
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
rocky branch
R
R
  • Locked
Question on range etiquette
Replies
11
Views
1K
bonza
B
S
  • Locked
Brass thieves on the range - your thoughts??
2 3
Replies
54
Views
5K
Phyphor
P
R
  • Locked
Range etiquette question: Flying Brass
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
CRAYZCANESSPORTS
C
G
  • Locked
Range battle scars
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
Gouranga
G
Back
Top