Weekend idiocy at public range in Arkansas

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I was just wondering, why does everyone say its wrong and dangerous to have a beer while you're shooting? I am not a heavy drinker and can have a few beers before I feel a thing. It stands to reason that I could have a few beers while I am shooting and not be bothered by it. And even if I have a buzz I am not going to be unsafe with a gun.

Its kinda like the BAC of DUI. A few beers will put you over the limit, but you can still drive fine.

Not saying that these guys were in the right for drinking+shooting. I don't even like shooting with people I don't know, drinking or not.

I don't like beer while shooting anyway. Sun Drop for hot days, Coors in the evening with my wings and/or pizza.
 
Coordination and judgment are adversely affected to a significant degree by the time the effects of alcohol are noticed.
 
Coordination and judgment are adversely affected to a significant degree by the time the effects of alcohol are noticed.
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Quite so. This is why my pool game improved after 4 beers but went south after 18. Now that I don't drink my pool game sucks. :(
 
I was just wondering, why does everyone say its wrong and dangerous to have a beer while you're shooting?
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Well let's put it this way, one of the reasons you should not drink alcohol or use other pleasure inducing drugs while shooting is because they alter your state of consciouness. In doing so you often do not even realize such is happening. It can start with one beer whether you think so or not. A lot depends upon your condition at the time you start drinking. Therefor, after just one beer, your judgement can become somewhat impaired without realizing such is the case. The same can also happen to your physical abilities. So while you think that you are functioning like a well oiled machine you are actually functioning like a slightly oiled human. Everything seems fine even when it is not. You believe you are more sharp than ever, that you are more agile than ever, and that confidence may even lead to some really great shots - with firearms or on the pool table. It may also lead to a scratch in pool or maybe even to me putting my stick through the felt; at a firearms range it may lead to a miss we all can laugh about, or it may also lead to someone being killed. That is why you should not mix gunpowder with alcohol or with certain types of drugs such pleasure enhancing mind altering drugs, depressants, speed and so forth. It is a very old firearms safety rule that is all to often overlooked.

I guess it boils down to why take a chance with something as stupid as drinking while shooting when a mistake caused due to alcohol impairment might kill? Enjoy the shooting, then enjoy the beers; just much safer in the long run.
 
yeah, well, i've always felt it was safer to drink AFTER shooting, but for quite a while, this presented me with a quandry. how do i shoot the beer cans? i'm pretty forgetful so saving them beforehand was out. then i realized that if i drink really fast and shoot all my ammo up real fast, i'm done shooting before i'm drunk.
 
Drinking and shooting:

I used to shoot Pistol bullseye competition at the local range, and been to Camp Perry a few times. I also had a range in my basement where I could shoot during inclement weather, or work up loads when there was a need to do so. That being said, I once became curious about all the fuss about a few beers, and firing a weapon. One evening, I decided to experiment,and found some beer and my .45acp. I drank one and fired 10. Well, after 3 and two more strings of 10, I realized why It is outlawed. My ability went from Expert to High Master. I never drank while shooting again. Truthfully, it was too scary, or maybe just cheating. We need to better ourselves without the use of drugs.
That's my 2 cents worth.
 
Public ranges are a poor place to drink.

A couple three beers in the Idaho Owyhee Mountains is practically required when shooting.

I don't post here often, and I'm not playing the troll bait game. The sanctimonious posters that write, "there otta be a law", are part of THE PROBLEM with freedom in America.

I say, "Drink. Shoot. Enjoy. But if you harm someone, be assured you will take the consequences." A few adult beverages over the afternoon have never harmed anyone in my company. Reefer madness, indeed.

That is my take on shooting and drinking in the great outdoors with a party of one's own choosing.
 
Because the minute a beer touches your lips, you lose all control or reason a la Reefer Madness.

In fact, you should be careful you don't drink caffeine or use tobacco products before or during shooting.

Better not even take some aspirin or ibuprofen.
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To compare nicotine/caffeine/aspirin or ibuprofen to alcohol is rather silly, in my opinion. Alcohol is an intoxicant plain and simple, and gun powder and alcohoil don't mix. If you don't like that fact then go ahead and drink and shoot all you want, it is your choice as a responsible adult (responsible for your own actions). Expect heavy consequences if you ever harm smeone not just for yourself but for the whole shooting community. All we need are more people acting irresponsibly with firearms to make us all look worse.

As for me I don't think there needs to be a law; I just think it should be like this: if you harm someone's loved one while you are intoxicated you will pay the consequences no matter how deep down you try to hide your head and those consequences will be severe and nasty and final. But of course, those who may choose to call others sanctimonious because they think alcohol and firearms do not mix, and those same people who choose to show themselves a freedom lovers will probably change their tunes once they f up and shoot someone while intoxicated. The now I am not sanctimonious, until it suits me type of people here would likely be the first to run to hire a lawyer to fight for their so called rights after having just shot someone out of sheer irresponsibility. They would also probably be the first to run to the police to say hey this guy is trying to hurt me cause I accidentally killed his loved one. They would be screaming 'there is a law you cannot hunt me down for revenge'.

What is the big prolem with acting responsibly and waiting until done shooting to drink or smoke your dope. This is not rtefer madness at all, if you thin it is then you do not even know the meaning of the term. Just take a look at highway accidents dues to intoxication, they speak volumes about how many people believed they were not too intoxicated to drive then killed or injured someone. But of course - maybe you know better than all of them. I don't so I choose to be responsible and I also choose to believe that means no booze or drugs while shooting.

Best regards,
Glenn B
 
With all due respect, Mr. Bartley, I think you are confusing having a few beverages with getting wasted. Having a few does not make me irresponsible. I don't know about smoking dope though. That's illegal so I don't do it. Not worth the consequences.

Have a good day.
 
very interesting thread guys- answers a ton of questions for me.

as someone who is opposed to alcohol, it seems to me like some people cna handle having a few, even a slight buzz, and shooting. and others cant.

but seesm like MOst of y'all are aware of your own limits.

personally i dont see drinking at a public rtange a very safe thing= yer making people nervous, just too many variables.

BUT i had often wondered if people who like to drink would maybe have a few while target shooting out in the woods.
i mean this is way different from CCW in a bar. i could totally see it with few problems, but then again there is the potential for massive disaster.

glad i dont drink enough to worry about this
 
i would add that with weed it is a different set of problems-

no one is about to get "crazy" and shoot all wild = but people could forget things, leave stuff behind. aim would certainly degrade some.
i think the big danger there is accidental discharge- unlikely but Worst case i could see some stoner trying to put away a loaded gun, or leave a loaded gun in a bad spot and knock it over. maybe maybe.
but really- the effect on motor skills is so limited. consequnces of actions are still very real and present while on herb, regardless of what TV tells you. not true with alcohol.

at any rate, it makes more sense to be sober shooting.

good thing about us herbers, it is really something you do AFter exertion, not before....... heheh
 
I managed to snag a weekend night shift at my job.

Primary reasoning? So I could have weekdays off to go to the range!

I am also very lucky to have met a local THR/TFL member who has his own range, and lets me come out and use it.

It's much more enjoyable when you're at the range by yourself and/or with a group of friends and don't have to worry about anybody else mucking it up.
 
Heh, I was there on July 3rd. I left right after the mexicans showed up. If you don't mind me asking, what is the name of the private club you are a member of that has a 300yard range?
 
I feel the need to clarify my stance on alcohol and firearms.

I don't see any inherent evil in discharging a weapon after consuming an alcoholic beverage.

There is a big difference between having a couple beers and getting so wasted that it drastically effects your judgement. I think folks get too wrapped around the axle on this subject.

That being said, I don't do it. That's right, while I don't see anything inherently wrong with it, I don't do it. If I was visiting my buddy in Benton County and we saw a large group of folks drinking, I would give serious thought to finding some other place to shoot, (That CAN'T be difficult in NW Arkansas.) On the other hand, if I went to a friendly meeting with friends I knew and trusted, I wouldn't bat an eye at a cooler full of beer. But I don't make a habit of drinking and shooting.

I even try not to drink caffiene on range days until after shooting. Caffiene has just as much, if not more of an effect on me than low levels of alcohol. The very least it does is spoil my offhand groups, at worst, it makes me scatter-brained and complacent.
 
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