Rifle Range Jerk-What to do.

salzo · November 2001

I was at the range this morning, got there 20 minutes before shoot time started so that I could hang my targets, relax, etc.Buzzer goes off, and ten minutes after shooting begins a guy walks in and hits the buzzer. Now the rule at the range is that anyone can hit the buzzer at anytime. It also says that a half hour is a good volley time. Basically, you hit the buzzer if there is a problem, or you wait a half hour to call a cease fire. He goes and hangs his targets, and then we have to wait for all of the other bozos who show up at the range at shooting time to hang their targets. Now, my personal rule is that when I get there, I wait a half hour from when I get there to hit the cease fire. It is a courtesy thing.Alright, so the guy goes to his bench, and I notice he is shooting a shotgun. The rules at the range say, that slugs can only be shot at the 75,50, and 25 yard sheds. He is shooting at 100 yards. Now I get annoyed about the fact that I vcant shoot slugs in the 100 yard shed, but rules are rules, and I follow them.Anyway, after 15 minutes he is finished, and he packs up his things and gets in his car to leave. I informed him politely, that he has to remove his targets. He told me to mind my own business, and then proceded to drive well over the club posted 5mph. Baically I watched this guy committ three rules violations, and one etiquette violation. This burns me, because the way I see it, you should obey every single rule at the rifle range, no matter how trivial it seems. If you break one little rule, you will be more inclined to break a bigger rule.And when guns are around, I want everyone to totally obey rules. Lets not get sloppy.Anyway, I dont know for sure what I am going to do, but I got his membership number and will probably send a letter to the club about this fellow.

22WRF · November 2001

Just goes to prove *'s own guns too

Home of the Blue Angels, P'colaSemper Adveho AbsconditusNever miss a good chance to shut up (Will Rogers)

Norman Dog · November 2001

Reporting to the club officials is just about all you can do short of not going back. I quit our local rifle and pistol club because of apathy over safety on the range and a sense of elitism among the club's officers. The safety issue came up when Saxon Pig and I were shooting on the member's-only range. Some yahoo was, after each shot, tilting his revolver back over his head until it pointed at the roof of the firing line shelter while tilting his head back and peering at the gun. Saxon called this action to the attention of the range master who just shrugged his shoulders and went back to ignoring the range. Back at the range house, no one seemed to be too excited about the incident, so we quit. It seemed like the club was more interested in keeping paying members than safety or reputation, even though on that day they lost two to keep one!

JustC · November 2001

I would have lay prone and shot holes in his target. WOOPS, SORRY GUY. WHAT'S THAT? OHHHH, I THOUGHT MY TIME WASN"T UP YET, MY BAD!!

Evil ATF · November 2001

The problems of LEO elitism, Range Officer ego, and moronic gun handling at all of my local ranges has brought me to the conclusion that I am safer shooting alone in the mountains than in the city with numerous other people. I collect rifles of a "military" persuasion, so I get a lot of flack from cops at the ranges everytime I go. I still pop by the range frequented mostly by LEO's from time to time just to get their blood pressure up when I bring out one of my toys.

nunn · November 2001

I am a member and past president of our small rural gun club. We have rules too. When two members were found to be in flagrant violation of said rules, that is they were drinking beer on the range, they were emphatically ordered to never return and their memberships were permanently revoked.Another member was a jerk and had alienated several other members. He moved away and let his membership lapse. He moved back and re-applied. He was approved for a PROBATIONARY membership only by a slim margin of the voting members. He declined to join under those conditions.Rule violators and rude people should be excluded.

Certified SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of the General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the premier gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net Jesus is Lord!

spclark · November 2001

Nunn's got it right: "Rule violators and rude people should be excluded".No excuses.If we could only somehow get this same ethic enforced on our public roadways we'd ALL be able to relax a bit more than usual. Driving is supposed to be a priviledge - but the lack of respect evidenced by far too many drivers these days to me is the ONLY, SINGLE reason I can possibly think of to support ANY restrictions on whom is permitted to own a firearm. Of ANY kind.Sorry for the rant.

mudge · November 2001

Lack of respect for rules and people and just about everything else you can think of is because a great number of people, of all ages and races have somehow gotten into the "ME ONLY" mind set. "I'm gonna' do what is convenient/easiest for me and if you don't like it, screw you". They obey only the laws they choose to obey. I'll start the list. You folks add to it.Parking in the Fire Lane (right under the sign).Parking in the handicapped zone.Going thru the express lane with 42 items.All the shooting range stuff listed above.Lordy...don't get me started. I could be here for hours. Besides, my ulcer's kicking up!And you wonder where I got the nickname "Mudge"?Mudge the disgruntled

I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!

Orphanedcowboy · November 2001

The exact reason I built my own range, I own it, I control it, no one else is around,plus the local ranges only go out to 100 or 200 yds, made mine 500yds, with stations at every 25 first 100, every 50 from there. I have had more than one expierence like Salzo's and it is disturbing that no one respects anyone else, they act as if they are the only one around!

Orphanedcowboy@msn.com

Iconoclast · November 2001

Like Cowboy, I tired of club officers who thought the range was their personal property and the peasants should wait while they tied up the entire facility shooting 2-5 rds at 500 yards, sauntered down to the pits to look at the target and sauntered back. I got a nasty letter on my lack of courtesy after I drove an hour, waited two hours to shoot, was told this one guy would tie up the entire range for another three hours, called him an inconsiderate flatlander ma**h*** (MA plates in his car) & suggested he invest in a spotting scope. Mighta questioned his ancestry, eating preferences and sexual practices as well, I admit. *MY* lack of courtesy?! I only have 75 yards on my own range, but for that aggravation, I can compensate.

.250Savage · November 2001

Surprised at this, on the range I frequent, RSO's and ONLY RSO's are allowed to hit half-hour buzzer. They would get VERY testy at anyone who violated that rule! Have to agree, tho, every day is a study in putting up with a**holes and not killing them, don't want to make Sarah Brady's case for her. As satisfying as it would have been to shoot this jerk, I think you did the right thing. Report him (for what it's worth), suggest as a start try to have implemented RSO-only policy to determine when buzzer is sounded. Regretably, inexcusable rudeness has become the norm.

gunnut · November 2001

These are the reason's I choose to live in the country. Only neighbor is retired Air Force/fellow "collector" Between our land and his tractors/bulldozers I think we got it made. I thank the man upstairs that im fortunate enough to live where I do!

~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~

landis · November 2001

Better to just shoot the clips holding his target. Apologize profusely, then do it again. Apologize, and then just sit back and enjoy the frustration on his part. Paybacks are a B@#$%!!!

Iconoclast · November 2001

Landis, I love it. Next time I go there w/ my short range stuff, I'll bring along the Swift just for the fun of it if Mr. Super Match is there. Amazing just how much the zero moves on that weapon when I'm po'd; still shoots .5 MOA, though.

landis · November 2001

You know, it's the little things in life...There are jerks everywhere, the challenge is to ruin their day and to simultaneously make yours.

badboybob · November 2001

The indoor range where I shoot has 12 positions. One day when I was the only shooter 5 LEO's came in and said they wanted the range to themselves. I told them in that case they could wait until I was finished shooting, as I had paid to be there. I took my time and they did wait. Guess they didn't want me to see how bad their shooting was.

sandman2234 · November 2001

My last trip to a Gun Club was on a quiet Wed. morning. Paid twenty for the two of us to shoot. We were the only 2 people on the range except for a guy on the 200 yard range which is quite a distance away. Range master would not leave us alone. Everytime he came by he nitpiked. Nothing against safety, but we were chastised for everything from "waving a (mt) firearm" in the parking lot (between our vehicle and our station I was admiring my friends latest .22 leveraction) to other things like not being able to put more than one target up at a time. And only one target per station. IT got so bad, we nicknamed the rangemaster "AlGore" Later, made a few phone calls, and have been going 15 miles to a friends farm, where 50 cal BMG, full auto/ quick bursts of fire, multiple targets, and just general safe fun is not only allow, but expected.Shooting the other guys clay is ok, as long as you don't miss your own. And if you can't stand a lot of "ribbing" about things and don't like to dish it out, then "the farm" ain't for you. We go to have fun, shoot up a lot of ammo and try to hit more clays than we miss.Bring what you got, shoot everybody else's and don't go home till it's dark-thirty. AND ALWAYS LEAVE THE PLACE CLEANER THAN WHEN YOU GOT THERE.

Have Gun, will travel

TLynn · November 2001

I go to a public range - the range master is at the range from the time it opens until it closes.Violate the rules you are out of there.

Judge Dread · November 2001

Sooner or later this guy will make Murphy lawby the rule and the range will be forced to close $$$ case in court ,payment to the victims. , Best cure is prevention ,BOOT HIMOUT ,being you I just pack and leave the premises every time this guy shows UP or goto another range that is free of this VERMIN.

I judge Thee!, Not for what you are , but for what you say !

idsman75 · November 2001

It's been so long since I've lived anywhere near a range that I'd almost welcome one right along with the rude folks. My last job had me working many nights so I'd go to the range during the middle of the day in the middle of the week with my buddies and we'd have it all to ourselves. *sigh* No such luck in this area now. Everyone around here sights in their grand-daddy's old .30-06 on their own property and leaves it in the gun rack until they take it to the field. They don't practice much and so there is no real demand for a range.

Rifle Range Jerk-What to do.

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