Befriending armed strangers

F

FlySubCompact

New member
I found an old thread here where the poster was disheartened about snobby shooters at a private range he'd finally joined.

Never personally had the chance to join or shoot a private range. Always practiced at public ranges, a buddy's or inlaw's farm or at my place, etc. So my experience is limited with how folks might act at a private deal like that poster mentioned.

This subject made me wonder how others here might act at any gun range and how you might break the ice with total strangers at a range, public or private.

Personally (and judging how most initially greet me), I have a grumpy-looking exterior. On the inside I'm actually a friendly and content. This motivates me to want to break the ice with armed strangers sitting at the next table. Let them know I'm not really a brooding, armed psycho. :) Especially when engaged in a fun activity like shooting. If they want to be left alone, fine. Move on. Some just want space, some are just tools.

It has amazed me how simple little things can open folks up and run the stuffiness from a range trip. Some things I've done:

Offer a shooter's tag-along friend some spare earplugs.

Offer a spare paper target. Spare clothes pins for targets too.

"Man, you can shoot that thing."

"I read about those. Never actually seen one."

A simple pack of balloons is also great in case a "Hey, let's see who can pop one at a hundred yards with a pocket pistol" contest breaks out. (Even more fun if a quarter-per-shot money pot is involved) :D Also great to offer a few to a dad with little shooters in training. Kids seem to react better to a popped balloon than punching paper.

Any of you have tips for making a trip to the range more friendly with strangers?
 
Not to sound mean, but most of the time I just like to be left alone. Private or public. I usually try to go when no one is around or I go with friends. Now that I have joined a private range things might change, but I usually have a limited time, so when I get to the range I set up what I want to do, do it, and then I leave. I don't mind talking to folks but I am there to shoot with my limited time I have. Hopefully I will have more time this summer to stay longer.
 
Some of us think a gun club is a social opportunity in the making.

Some of us think a gun club is a social opportunity in the making.

If you agree, then great.

If you disagree, then it's your loss.

I can tell in a heartbeat if a person wants to socialize,,,
If they do I will often strike up a conversation,,,
If they don't I leave them to themselves.

It ain't no big deal either way.

But I enjoy friendly people and gun people in particular,,,
I dislike curmudgeons in any setting.

Aarond

.
 
I really like your mentality, Fly. Makes the shooting community look good. I always try to be friendly to people at the range. I have no problem with gun snobs, and we usually get along pretty well because I am a mitigated gun snob, myself.

IMO, making friends at the range is similar to making friends at a bar (the noise level is often the same, as in a bar there is blaring music and other sounds). I make eye contact with people when they look my way, and if they smile, especially if it is a girl, I smile back. Back when I was single, I picked up a few dates at the gun range, as I always go out well dressed and well groomed. My favorite pick up line was, "I'll trade you three shots for your phone number". Girls love the suppressed Mp5, it's like shooting a BB gun.

And if my girlfriend happens to be reading this post, FYI, I don't let girls in short shorts shoot my guns anymore.
 
When I am at the range, I am usually shooting something from my collection that gets attention. I enjoy telling the history of the piece and letting others try their hand. I have not yet had anyone shoot a muzzle stuffer or trapdoor and not have a big grin on their face.
 
I am frequently approached by other members when at the range. Im usually playing with something "neat" or at least outside the norm. SBR's and suppressed weapons usually

So, folks kinda wander over to look. Usually i strike up a conversation and let them shoot the toys a bit. Great way to meet good folks and a good way to introduce people to NFA weapons
 
This subject made me wonder how others here might act at any gun range and how you might break the ice with total strangers at a range, public or private.
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You act polite, respectful, and humble. You let folks get to know you, you do not brag or come off as some half-ass know-it-all, you follow the rules of the club, and you are cautiously generous with comments or praise and are never negative.

Amazing what a friendly "hello" and a firm handshake can do.......
 
I don't mind some socializing at the range but am not looking to turn it into a social event either. However even though I have been married for over 20 years if a girl in short shorts wants to shoot one of my rifles I am gonna let her. (Assuming of course that my wife didn't come to shoot also).:eek:
 
After shooting Register Trap for a lot of years you have not seen anything . Tarp clubs can be brutal everyone trying to get in your head . I go to win nothing else winning is hard work you do not get better having fun . I shot Registerd Trap for myself I shot to get better you win or lose on one target .
If you need to be one of the guys ok just pay your money I will take it . Now that I have retired from the game I feel good about my time spent . Was it fun winning is always fun.
 
Panfisher, if that girl wanted to shoot one of my rifles, my wife would let her!

She knows this old dog can remember the chase, but can't catch much these days, or remember what to do, if he actually did! :D
 
Keybear,

Different strokes for different folks, as they say. Your trap events would not be for me.

I kind of ran through a similar environment with competitive archery years ago. "Compound" bow tournaments were often high pressure. In particular, the unlimited class ranks. When some would stand up to a target to shoot everybody was all hush-hush. Kind of like a high end golf tourny.

My brothers and I also later got into shooting longbows/recurve bows and fell in love with that. Totally different air at those tournaments. Guys cutting up, joking and purposely poking fun at a shooter while at the shooting station. Beer, BS'ing and backstraps with your opponents at an evening campfire.

To each his own.
 
Corrections Cop,

You don't sound mean. Sometimes when I go to the range I'll be solely focussed on shooting. Not much time that day to goof around. Just need to run some through the bolt gun to make sure the load and scope jive.

Aarondhgraham, Fitasc,

Totally agree. What good is a thing if you don't have someone to share it with?

Machinguntony, Dragonflydf, Sharkbite,

Y'all sound like you have some cool shooting rigs....hope to run into you guys at a range sometimes. Always wanted to try a MP5.

44amp,

Panfisher might get you in trouble. :)
 
A simple pack of balloons is also great in case a "Hey, let's see who can pop one at a hundred yards with a pocket pistol" contest breaks out. (Even more fun if a quarter-per-shot money pot is involved) Also great to offer a few to a dad with little shooters in training. Kids seem to react better to a popped balloon than punching paper.
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AWESOME Idea! Now I gotta go to the Dollar Tree and get me several packs
 
Attend work parties. Almost all private ranges permit their members to do some amount of work cleaning up the range, fixing things, etc. Sometimes this reduces their annual fee; other times its just expected.

Go to meetings. Don't expect people to embrace you as their new shooting buddy if you don't go to meetings. This is where the dedicated members get to know one another, and come to trust that you aren't just there expecting everyone else to be your servant.

Attend events. Most private ranges have get togethers. It might be a swap meet at the club; a bbq at the club or someone's house - go to these things; better yet, volunteer to help out.

To enjoy the full experience of being part of a private gun club/range, you should try and do all three of these. But, even if you choose just one and are polite and cordial, most folks will be friendly right back to you. The biggest problem is that new members tend to look upon the range as something owned and run by someone else.

I read some of the other suggestions above and there really are some good ones while you're on the range shooting - I'll have to remember some of them.

Now, here's what not to do at a private range that may not be so obvious:

1. Complain about the condition of the range, benches, building(s), port-o-lets, etc. if you don't attend work parties.

2. Act like you paid $250 for the year so someone else can make things perfect for your shooting experience.

3. Disobey range rules.

4. Bother people while they are shooting if they don't want to be bothered.

5. Ignore the R.O. if there is one.

6. Set up right next to someone when there is plenty of space.

7. Show up at 11:00 Saturday or Sunday morning and complain how crowded the range is.

8. Leave any trash laying around - leave the place cleaner than when you showed up and remember - there isn't a clean-up fairy that magically picks up brass, targets, water bottles, candy rappers, cups, Chick-Fil-A packages or cigarette butts after you leave.

9. Basically don't complain about ANYTHING, unless you are the guy who organized the last work party that no one showed up to!!! If you are that guy, you have the right to complain...but it's best done at the next meeting.
 
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Corrections Cop,

You don't sound mean. Sometimes when I go to the range I'll be solely focussed on shooting. Not much time that day to goof around. Just need to run some through the bolt gun to make sure the load and scope jive.
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Thanks Fly!
 
I really like your mentality, Fly. Makes the shooting community look good. I always try to be friendly to people at the range. I have no problem with gun snobs, and we usually get along pretty well because I am a mitigated gun snob, myself.

IMO, making friends at the range is similar to making friends at a bar (the noise level is often the same, as in a bar there is blaring music and other sounds). I make eye contact with people when they look my way, and if they smile, especially if it is a girl, I smile back. Back when I was single, I picked up a few dates at the gun range, as I always go out well dressed and well groomed. My favorite pick up line was, "I'll trade you three shots for your phone number". Girls love the suppressed Mp5, it's like shooting a BB gun.

And if my girlfriend happens to be reading this post, FYI, I don't let girls in short shorts shoot my guns anymore.
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Holy crap that was funny!
 
Several of you have hit the nail on the head. I am not much of a "people person" either, but these are fellow shooters.

I always try to hit the events as Skans mentioned. IDPA, meetings, etc.

At the range, I try to approach to say hello and what are you shooting. I try to shoot with enough time to have some conversation. I've also worked on my lines to shut a talker down so I can shoot!

Last, offer help and if helpful, be willing to ask politely for help. Being able to do those will build lasting relationships. Like it of not, humans are a social animal and need the group to survive. Most animals can kill us, but get a gun designer, maker and ammo on your side and we level the playing field....still it takes lots of human interaction to get a bullet on target!
 
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