Random thoughts and observations, positive and negative, from my day at Ben Avery, Phoenix. No particular message. Just observations...
For those not familiar, 67 position outdoor main range. Target holders from 5 to 200 yards. Concrete benches, shade, very good range control officers in the tower and roaming. Cost seven dollars per day per shooter.
- Range commands are excellent. Breaks every 15 minutes. Range commands over the PA are preceeded by a 5 second loud horn. The commands are repeated and clear/concise. Makes me feel comfortable that inexperienced shooters can hear and easily figure out what the range officers want us to do.
- Roaming range officers are easily identified in bright orange vests. They are all very helpful, friendly, never lose their cool even when faced with some pretty nerve wracking situations regarding muzzle discipline etc. I've had more than one of them help me, only when asked, to clear a jam or speculate what might be causing some kind of problem with a weapon. Any time I've been "corrected" for anything, they've never made me feel dumb or small. "Don't forget your glasses" or "Do you mind if I open the action on this rifle?" etc.
- Groups of college age kids...I always keep an extra eye on, and so do the ROs, this demographic. Yesterday there were 2 boys and 2 girls at one bench. The boys were doing a lot of "rapid bang bang" noise making. I have no problem with that. It's fun, even if expensive. They had targets at the closest distance but I'm not sure if they were aiming or cared if they hit them. One of the girls was texting while holding a loaded Glock in one hand. How do I know it was loaded? She fired a couple times, then picked up the phone to read and answer a text, then fired again. I got really close to getting anxious stepping in when it looked like her muzzle was about to sweep her unsuspecting neighbors. An RO saw the situation and he politely but firmly took care of her lack of focus problem.
- Very young kids...Table two spots to my right was a dad and his two young boys, very young teens, maybe less. I didn't see anyone do anything unsafe, but the two young boys were yelling really loud about "Dad, look at this" and "Hey Joey, [blah blah]". Just typical young boy stuff. Problem is that with neighbors in ear protection, we suddenly hear what sounds like someone screaming/yelling. I, and several neighbors, had to stop and get safe more than once to back up and observe if there was any kind of problem.
- Other frequent shooters...Several people that I see there all the time saw me and said "Hi Sarge. How you shootin' today?" or "What you shootin' today?" A couple came to my table when they saw me shooting 50 yards to ask questions. A couple of others came by when I was shooting "hostages" (two targets overlapping, one bad guy, one hostage...shoot the bad guy only).
- Someone had an accident...Somebody kissed the scope with their eye. Cut the skin, bled a little. The ROs were on it quickly and calmly with first aid, clean the bench and concrete floor. Then darned if the same guy didn't do it again a little while later.
- Here shoot my pistol...More than one person asked me to shoot their guns. I'm always honored by that. In some cases, they're asking me to verify their sight alignment or something. Other times I guess maybe they just want to let me shoot their gun (or maybe they just like my DI hat). I shot my neighbor's 22cal 1911 at my 50 yd targets. He left before I retrieved them. If you're out there, 1911 guy, I put 9 out of 10 on the 8" target.
- Not just kids...Elderly couple on the other end of the range. Man showing wife how to operate a 1911. He had a habit of keeping his finger on the trigger (I only assume safety on, but doesn't matter) while waving the gun around as if talking with his hands.
- Make it a day (or half day)...I tend to stay for the entire morning. 0700 to 1100 or 1200. Then I might go by a gun store to pick up anything I might need to clean guns later or whatever. I sometimes only shoot one cylinder or magazine full of ammo per range break. There's even times when I don't shoot at all during the 15 min live fire time. I just walk up and down the line and look at other guns and shooters. I see a lot of interesting pistol stances and often ask people about them. Some people don't stay that long. I've seen people come and setup sillouettes at 5 yards, fire a few rounds at it, then leave. Everyone's got different interests.
I guess the most important part of going to a range, or what makes it a good range, is the feeling that I'm safe there. Especially at a place with lots of benches, as this range does, I get that feeling. I've had that safe feeling at other ranges. Still others have made me so anxious that I leave after just one or two range breaks.
Shoot 'em up...bang bang
Sgt Lumpy
For those not familiar, 67 position outdoor main range. Target holders from 5 to 200 yards. Concrete benches, shade, very good range control officers in the tower and roaming. Cost seven dollars per day per shooter.
- Range commands are excellent. Breaks every 15 minutes. Range commands over the PA are preceeded by a 5 second loud horn. The commands are repeated and clear/concise. Makes me feel comfortable that inexperienced shooters can hear and easily figure out what the range officers want us to do.
- Roaming range officers are easily identified in bright orange vests. They are all very helpful, friendly, never lose their cool even when faced with some pretty nerve wracking situations regarding muzzle discipline etc. I've had more than one of them help me, only when asked, to clear a jam or speculate what might be causing some kind of problem with a weapon. Any time I've been "corrected" for anything, they've never made me feel dumb or small. "Don't forget your glasses" or "Do you mind if I open the action on this rifle?" etc.
- Groups of college age kids...I always keep an extra eye on, and so do the ROs, this demographic. Yesterday there were 2 boys and 2 girls at one bench. The boys were doing a lot of "rapid bang bang" noise making. I have no problem with that. It's fun, even if expensive. They had targets at the closest distance but I'm not sure if they were aiming or cared if they hit them. One of the girls was texting while holding a loaded Glock in one hand. How do I know it was loaded? She fired a couple times, then picked up the phone to read and answer a text, then fired again. I got really close to getting anxious stepping in when it looked like her muzzle was about to sweep her unsuspecting neighbors. An RO saw the situation and he politely but firmly took care of her lack of focus problem.
- Very young kids...Table two spots to my right was a dad and his two young boys, very young teens, maybe less. I didn't see anyone do anything unsafe, but the two young boys were yelling really loud about "Dad, look at this" and "Hey Joey, [blah blah]". Just typical young boy stuff. Problem is that with neighbors in ear protection, we suddenly hear what sounds like someone screaming/yelling. I, and several neighbors, had to stop and get safe more than once to back up and observe if there was any kind of problem.
- Other frequent shooters...Several people that I see there all the time saw me and said "Hi Sarge. How you shootin' today?" or "What you shootin' today?" A couple came to my table when they saw me shooting 50 yards to ask questions. A couple of others came by when I was shooting "hostages" (two targets overlapping, one bad guy, one hostage...shoot the bad guy only).
- Someone had an accident...Somebody kissed the scope with their eye. Cut the skin, bled a little. The ROs were on it quickly and calmly with first aid, clean the bench and concrete floor. Then darned if the same guy didn't do it again a little while later.
- Here shoot my pistol...More than one person asked me to shoot their guns. I'm always honored by that. In some cases, they're asking me to verify their sight alignment or something. Other times I guess maybe they just want to let me shoot their gun (or maybe they just like my DI hat). I shot my neighbor's 22cal 1911 at my 50 yd targets. He left before I retrieved them. If you're out there, 1911 guy, I put 9 out of 10 on the 8" target.
- Not just kids...Elderly couple on the other end of the range. Man showing wife how to operate a 1911. He had a habit of keeping his finger on the trigger (I only assume safety on, but doesn't matter) while waving the gun around as if talking with his hands.
- Make it a day (or half day)...I tend to stay for the entire morning. 0700 to 1100 or 1200. Then I might go by a gun store to pick up anything I might need to clean guns later or whatever. I sometimes only shoot one cylinder or magazine full of ammo per range break. There's even times when I don't shoot at all during the 15 min live fire time. I just walk up and down the line and look at other guns and shooters. I see a lot of interesting pistol stances and often ask people about them. Some people don't stay that long. I've seen people come and setup sillouettes at 5 yards, fire a few rounds at it, then leave. Everyone's got different interests.
I guess the most important part of going to a range, or what makes it a good range, is the feeling that I'm safe there. Especially at a place with lots of benches, as this range does, I get that feeling. I've had that safe feeling at other ranges. Still others have made me so anxious that I leave after just one or two range breaks.
Shoot 'em up...bang bang
Sgt Lumpy
and even safe 
.
