Shooting Range Observations

[BudrowBob]

Feel the same way, only I have to admit that it`s amusing to watch someone, usually a guy that looks to be in his 20`s or so, obliterating a paper target 25 yards away, brass flying as fast as he can pull the trigger, out of something that barely looks like a rifle. Whatever floats your boat I suppose, as long as you`re safe. I don`t know, I guess if I was in my 20`s maybe I`d be doing the same thing!

Yeah....
Personally, I'm glad I no longer have to go to ranges to shoot.

 

[Zerodefect]

I am a land share member of a Sportsmen's Club. Prior to Deer Season we have "Sight In Days" . Judging from the participants we are not a nation of Riflemen. The rest of the year the Bench Huggers take over. There are some of us that shoot from standing at the 200 Yard line. That's becoming a lost art form.

Just got to get my zero and my holds.

Save the standing for 3gun where it counts.

 

[792mauser]

The majority of the firearms I see at the range I frequent are ARs, various 22s, precision rigs, and scoped hunting rigs. Almost all at 50 yards or less.

I always get looks and some questions when I take my 22s to the 300 yard targets. Especially when I sling up, stand up and use the Win 52 preA ladder sight on the steel at 300 yards. I like placing 22lr cases on top of my frame and picking em off at 50 yards. Very rarely do I strike the frame.

The savagery inflicted on the poor target frames by most shooters is scary.

Trapdoors, Turkish mausers, Swedes, Swiss, Springfields, Enfields, and Martini-Henry always draw a crowd and questions as well.

I do have a number of iron sighted and scoped "modern" rifles.
I'm partial to weird odd things that are a pain to get shooting right.

 

[BJung]

The majority of the firearms I see at the range I frequent are ARs, various 22s, precision rigs, and scoped hunting rigs. Almost all at 50 yards or less.

I always get looks and some questions when I take my 22s to the 300 yard targets. Especially when I sling up, stand up and use the Win 52 preA ladder sight on the steel at 300 yards. I like placing 22lr cases on top of my frame and picking em off at 50 yards. Very rarely do I strike the frame.

The savagery inflicted on the poor target frames by most shooters is scary.

Trapdoors, Turkish mausers, Swedes, Swiss, Springfields, Enfields, and Martini-Henry always draw a crowd and questions as well.

I do have a number of iron sighted and scoped "modern" rifles.
I'm partial to weird odd things that are a pain to get shooting right.

I like iron sights. To me, if you practice and under normal hunting conditions, a scope isn't needed. I once went hunting with a friend and his son when a storm came in. Their scopes fogged up so they couldn't aim their rifles. I brought my T99 Arisaka and was fine.

 

[MauriceSam]

I think the OP's observations are pretty typical of most ranges everywhere. That's one reason I enjoy taking out my milsurps - because they're often something at least some of the shooters have never seen, and it's always fun to strike up a conversation with new people about your firearms.

Yes, when I bring out the 1903, it makes a loud boom, and attracts young guys who are very unfamiliar. They can school me on AR type weapons though, as that is something I know little about.

 

[MauriceSam]

We get frequent infestations of range toy guys that like to see how fast they can burn up ammo. Usually small groups that shoot up the target stands as they can't hit the target. And usually AR's and hi cap pistols. Also frequent are high dollar shooters trying to get their spendy brand rifles to shoot. Some are very good. Many times they are not and complain about the money they spent. Mostly city folks, hunters seem to be in the minority. The range is only 100 yards. But I also am a member in a rural range near my summer cabin. That range is usually empty week days and has up to 400 yards range. and it is way cheaper. Plus I have a buddy there that has his own complete range. I still need the range near my home for sight ins and to participate in a match and shoot with son and grandkids.

Have similar observations. Used to do maintenance at local public range. Brass picking told lots of stories of what was popular. Going through trass barrels told a lot too. Amazed at how much ammo I would find in the garbage, two or three rounds shot and rest in package. And not just cheap stuff. As stated before, people trying to cut in half the target holders, blasting the tree tops out of saplings along the property. This, the range was closed for two years for repairs to the lead trap. Would find 7mmRemMag brass and up shooting within a couple feet of the trap. Cost over $150k to fix. Total disrespectful of a free place to shoot.

 

[I6turbo]

Most of you guys' range stories remind me why, if I can't shoot on private property, usually with me as the only shooter but sometimes with friends or family, my guns mostly just stay home.

 

[BJung]

The owner of the shooting range I visit told me he had a 600 yard+ range at his 300 yard range. I said where? He pointed behind the firing line to a table under a line of trees over 600 yards away.

 

[Varminterror]

The owner of the shooting range I visit told me he had a 600 yard+ range at his 300 yard range. I said where? He pointed behind the firing line to a table under a line of trees over 600 yards away.

Pretty common. Lots of ranges are set up to shoot over one firing line, or more, using a common terminal berm. Obviously, only the longest firing line is open at any given time.