How do you approach people & unsafe firearms handling?
- Thread starter Kimio
- Start date
ninjarealist
New member
@CowTowner
Well I used the term unsafe practices in plural because what I was trying to imply is that, if this is a regular occurrence (not simply a rare one) then it suggests negligence on the part of the range in my opinion. Of course range officers are human and have to take breaks and maybe that's why every range I've gone to has at least three if not more range officers on duty at all times.
Now maybe it sounds to you like I'm making unreasonable demands because I don't want to have to get involved myself. It's true that I don't want to get involved but that's not the problem here. The problem is that if the range officer isn't watching everyone then who is? The other shooters? You say that Range Officers are only human and can't catch everything. Does that mean to suggest that the other shooters at the range should be expected to constantly monitor each other?
That's why the buck has to stop with the range operators/officers and that's why it's their responsibility to always be vigilant. Because no one else can be expected to do that. And if the range officers can't be held responsible, then who can?
Well I used the term unsafe practices in plural because what I was trying to imply is that, if this is a regular occurrence (not simply a rare one) then it suggests negligence on the part of the range in my opinion. Of course range officers are human and have to take breaks and maybe that's why every range I've gone to has at least three if not more range officers on duty at all times.
Now maybe it sounds to you like I'm making unreasonable demands because I don't want to have to get involved myself. It's true that I don't want to get involved but that's not the problem here. The problem is that if the range officer isn't watching everyone then who is? The other shooters? You say that Range Officers are only human and can't catch everything. Does that mean to suggest that the other shooters at the range should be expected to constantly monitor each other?
That's why the buck has to stop with the range operators/officers and that's why it's their responsibility to always be vigilant. Because no one else can be expected to do that. And if the range officers can't be held responsible, then who can?
Where I work, I have at least 3 other officers and a Range Master on duty. I agree with the premise "safety in numbers".
Nope, didn't take it that way. Sorry if you got that impression. It is my responsibility to make sure you and everyone else leaves the firing line in the same condition you arrived in. Minus a sore shoulder if applicable.
That said, I had a customer not long ago, mistakenly load a .308 Win cartridge into a 25-06 rifle. Did I catch this? Sadly, no. His muzzle was pointed down range and he wearing appropriate safety gear (eyes/ears). But I did not check to be sure he had the right ammo in his hand before he loaded and fired it.
Was there a KABOOM? Oh yes, there was. And I was 4 feet away from it.
No, he was not injured, thank goodness. But I grabbed my kit and had him in my control within seconds.
Is this my fault? I say no. I can't check every round that a shooter puts into his/her breech against the chamber size on the gun.
**I should add that the customer had both caliber rifles with him. How a .308 Win cartridge made it into the 25-06 box is a question I'll always have.**
Some things are out of our control as RSO's
On a controlled range, no. On some club ranges I have been to, yes indeed!
But those did not have RSO's and members were expected to "police each other" I don't belong to any of those clubs, BTW.
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The last series of public hunter sight-ins at our range {AGC at Marriottsville} last fall, had at least one of the hunter sight-in volunteer's check the caliber designation of the bore, and the ammo that the shooter intended to use in it.
Also...the first pre-fire smokepole cap must have the muzzle pointed at the backstop berm when fired.
Also...the first pre-fire smokepole cap must have the muzzle pointed at the backstop berm when fired.
Happiness is having an empty range all to myself and younger brother. 
He's been chewed out a few times, but never made to feel stupid, just enough that he understands a tiny mistake can kill either one of us.
IMO shooting paper fails to leave the correct impression of what a gun can do.
Guns are funny things... they sit there so silent, so deceptively innocuous, lulling many into complacency... until the instant they are not silent or funny.
He's been chewed out a few times, but never made to feel stupid, just enough that he understands a tiny mistake can kill either one of us.
IMO shooting paper fails to leave the correct impression of what a gun can do.
Guns are funny things... they sit there so silent, so deceptively innocuous, lulling many into complacency... until the instant they are not silent or funny.
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g.willikers
New member
Most of the places to shoot that I've attended have not been supervised.
It's been up to those present to take care of things.
Even if there are range officers on duty, it's still up to us.
Otherwise it's like expecting someone else to take care of us.
Sound familiar?
It's been up to those present to take care of things.
Even if there are range officers on duty, it's still up to us.
Otherwise it's like expecting someone else to take care of us.
Sound familiar?
Shotgun Slim
New member
for how long are you gonna wait for an SO to act if some moron or newbie is putting you at risk? Everyone is better off if everyone takes responsibility for safety. It can be done.
turkeestalker
New member
Twice I've grabbed the barrel of a gun. Once when standing in a line waiting to check in at a conservation department shooting range where the gentleman in front of me had his rifle over his shoulder and raised the butt up a bit as he spoke to his friend pointing the muzzle in my face a foot in front of me. I grabbed the muzzle and pointed it up and away which startled him. Then asked if he minded if I jumped in front of him if he was going to hold his rifle that way. He exclaimed that it wasn't loaded to which I replied that I don't know that, which ticked him off but didn't really bother me any because he pointed his muzzle at the ground for the remainder of the time we were in line.
Once when my youngest was maybe 8 years old, he was shooting a Mark II I have with a 10 inch bull barrel sitting at a bench with me standing next to him. He turned to say something to me with a live round in the chamber and raised the pistol as he did pointing it right at my head. I grabbed the barrel abruptly and pointed it back down range and did I suppose scold him a bit harshly, but not overly so I don't think. Nothing that anyone else noticed or was aware of. The thing is it hurt his feelings for which I felt badly, but the thing is again that he knew better. Though it stung a bit for him, he's never since in over 7 years made a similar mistake, and I've witnessed him pointing out to others where they could be more aware of what they're doing handling firearms. A little sting, but it stuck with him... knock on wood.
Once when my youngest was maybe 8 years old, he was shooting a Mark II I have with a 10 inch bull barrel sitting at a bench with me standing next to him. He turned to say something to me with a live round in the chamber and raised the pistol as he did pointing it right at my head. I grabbed the barrel abruptly and pointed it back down range and did I suppose scold him a bit harshly, but not overly so I don't think. Nothing that anyone else noticed or was aware of. The thing is it hurt his feelings for which I felt badly, but the thing is again that he knew better. Though it stung a bit for him, he's never since in over 7 years made a similar mistake, and I've witnessed him pointing out to others where they could be more aware of what they're doing handling firearms. A little sting, but it stuck with him... knock on wood.
SauerGrapes
New member
I have no problem telling friend or foe to be more aware of muzzle or any other problem that arises.
I usually wait until their gun is fully unloaded and on the table before saying anything. However, if it's pointed directly at someone, immediate intervention is required. There's nothing like walking past a booth to setup and noticing a tabled SIG P239 pointing straight back at the belly of the shooter with the action closed, hammer cocked with an empty magazine well 
It is solving something! It's getting your personal, irreplaceable body out of the line of fire. That's not nothing.
And there's the rub. Good people want to do good things for the folks around them. If you approach people in that vein, that you want to help them do something they really want to do anyway and listen at least as much as you talk, you'll be well received more often than not.
Nobody on the range goes there for the express purpose of endangering others. Keep in mind that you both have shared goals (a safe, pleasant day) and do what you can to emphasize that commonality when you talk to folks. You'd be surprised how far that goes.
pax
turkeestalker Seen a shooter at a trap shoot get shot with an unloaded 12 ga. The shooter never got over it mentally or financially . The target lost his leg .
This happen in the clubhouse as we were get ready to go home after a good night shooting . The shooter put a snap-cap in his chamber and pulled the trigger . But it was not a Snap-Cap .
Trap shooters are cheap they will buy a high dollar trap gun but not spend 5 bucks for a snap-cap . Guys used fired paper shells filled with cotton and oil .
After that real Snap-Caps were used or you went home early .
This happen in the clubhouse as we were get ready to go home after a good night shooting . The shooter put a snap-cap in his chamber and pulled the trigger . But it was not a Snap-Cap .
Trap shooters are cheap they will buy a high dollar trap gun but not spend 5 bucks for a snap-cap . Guys used fired paper shells filled with cotton and oil .
After that real Snap-Caps were used or you went home early .
Just don't be a donkey about it.
I was shooting with my nephew this fall and there were about 6 people shooting off of one position 30feet from me. One guy several time emptied an AR (as fast as he could) then turn around and swept every one in his group.
I cleared all of the guns we were firing and went down and asked the guy to step down with me.
I walked about half way between the two positions where no one could hear and told him what he was doing wrong and did it in a nice manner. He didn't realize what he was doing and he was actually nice and apologized for it.
Treat people nice.
When they give you crap take their name to the range master.
I was shooting with my nephew this fall and there were about 6 people shooting off of one position 30feet from me. One guy several time emptied an AR (as fast as he could) then turn around and swept every one in his group.
I cleared all of the guns we were firing and went down and asked the guy to step down with me.
I walked about half way between the two positions where no one could hear and told him what he was doing wrong and did it in a nice manner. He didn't realize what he was doing and he was actually nice and apologized for it.
Treat people nice.
When they give you crap take their name to the range master.