ya know what irritates me at the range?

[MJRW]

When the person firing has some form of malfunction or is confused, and figure the best way to figure out the malfunction is too point the firearm all over creation while looking at the side waiting for a freaking printout from the freaking extractor port or something that will tell them exactly what happened. Happened twice when I took some friends to the range Saturday. And twice I jump up out of my chair saying loudly enough "direction!" for them to realize their mistake. Nothing wrong with the gun either time. Both of them have shot before and clearly know and have practiced the range safety rules but for some reason, when they are confused, all common sense goes out the window and is replaced by some idiotic notion that staring at the gun hard enough will solve the confusion. I am going to tape a note to both sides of all my guns when letting people shoot them. It is going to say "If you are reading this, you are not pointing the gun in the safe direction." What confuses people about the phrase "there is literally nothing more important here than pointing that gun in a safe direction and keeping your finger off the trigger"? I swear, I really want to institute safety infraction beatings as a range sanctioned method of education. Three violations and you get pummelled by the owner of the firearm (unless it was their negligence), the person you pointed it at, and at least one RO with bags of doorknobs. Who is on board with the mandatory beating rule?

 

[hillbilly]

I see all sorts of problems with the mandatory beating idea.

Instead, make them into 100 yard rifle target holders instead.

hillbilly

 

[Mikul]

I see this at compeitions if you can believe it. New shooters especially will get a jam and look at the RO like a they just saw a possum reading the dictionary. They have no idea what to do. While not a jam, I love seeing IPSC shooters who schedule out their rounds exactly for the stage and inadvertantly fire an extra round. They get to the last target and have no idea what they should do. It's the same look on their face.

This is the most dangerous time because since they're so confused they tend to forget about muzzle discipline and point it all over the place. They figure since the gun is jammed, that it can't possibly hurt anyone.

 

[Mark Tyson]

While a good beat down is tempting, proper use of shame and public scorn can be just as effective. A properly admonished shooter may pass on the lessons to others.

This also avoids lawsuits.

 

[jdege]

I swear, I really want to institute safety infraction beatings as a range sanctioned method of education.

I have to say, the sound of a cleaning rod coming down against my helmet certainly got my attention, the first time I ever got stupid on the range.

 

[Kamicosmos]

New shooters especially will get a jam and look at the RO like a they just saw a possum reading the dictionary.

ROFLMAO. Mr Pibb, keyboard. Now I have that look on my face!


Do people not practice Tap Rack Bang? Maybe new shooters, or a new gun type or something may confuse someone....but competition guys especially....if I'm under the clock and my gun clicks...I clear and keep going.


people....it's amazing when have lasted as long as we have.

 

[admar2]

that reminds me of a time I was doing my recertification on the M-16 while in the AF.

they were doing a refresher classroom bit, and the Combat Arms instructor posed the question, "what do you do if your weapon jams on the range"

of course I raised my hand, but seeing as I was a "lowly" E-3 at the time, the instructor chose to call on a "experienced" E-7. the E-7 smartly replied "raise my hand and wait for the instructor to come to me".

EHHH wrong answer. of course I raised my hand and was called on this time. I said "TAP RACK BANG" and I swear most of the people didn't have a clue what I was talking about, I specifically remember the vacant look in the E-7's eyes.

after which, the instructor spent 20 minutes explaining my answer.

:banghead:

 

[Standing Wolf]

I was having gun hassles at the range Sunday afternoon, but didn't encounter any difficulty keeping the muzzles pointed in the general direction of the targets.

 

[Pilgrim]

The fellows I really admire are the ones who show up prior to hunting season to zero their newly installed scopes. They don't have any targets, or staple guns or pins, and try to mooch both off of shooters on the range.

They then start off at 100 yards and haven't a clue what to do if the first shots aren't on the paper. They also expect the rest of the firing line to cease fire every few shots so they can inspect their target because they don't have a spotting scope.

After quickly going through their 20 rounds without any effect, they then try to bum or buy some rounds off of other shooters on the range.

Pilgrim

 

[pax]

Pilgrim,

At least those guys are at the range.

The evening before opening day this fall, I was at our local hardware/sporting goods store with my son for a fundraiser. Because we were loitering outside the entrance for several hours, I had the dubious pleasure of watching a half dozen guys walk into the store -- after dark on the night before opening day! -- carrying their rifles in one hand and their scopes in the other.

Dunno what the store was doing to their rifles for them, but I know none of them had time to check zero before wandering out into the woods with an unsighted rifle. :banghead:

pax

This is an age in which one cannot find common sense without a search warrant. -- George Will

 

[Ryder]

I had a malfunction while firing on a deer once. Didn't even realize it or remember it until a couple days later when I went back to pick up my empties.

The 2 empty shells were laying there in a nice little pile... Along with one loaded round which showed a distinct indent on the primer where the firing pin had impacted it (I got the deer).

I've seen that look (ahahaha... "a possum reading the dictionary") while target shooting. First words out of my mouth are always "keep the gun pointed away from anybody". There's plenty of time to worry about the problem in such a situation, but they don't feel that way. Their main malfunction seems to derive from a combination of impatience and inexperience.