Range Etiquette

C

Colorado Redneck

New member
The other day I went to the pubic shooting range on the Pawnee Grasslands, northeast of Greeley, CO. Very nice range, but there is no range master present. Most of the shooters are very aware of safety requirements at a shooting range, and adhere to the practice of calling a "Cease Fire" before going down range.

There were 4 other shooters at the 100 yard range, and the guy to my right was an old geezer about my age. He had a shooting rest and a bolt action rifle, and was shooting at 25 yards when I arrived. After getting set up to shoot, I asked for a cease fire to take my target stand downrange. Everybody complied, and when we were all back behind the firing line we started to shoot. All of a sudden the old geezer takes off walking down range. I hollered "Cease Fire" and everybody looked over, saw what happened, and backed away from their guns. The old guy got back to the firing line, and I looked at him and said "We Hot??" He just turned and went back to his gun.

We all started doing our thing, and after a few shots, the old guy takes off again without announcing a darn thing. I hollered and then said "Sir---would you please come talk to me?" So he came over and I explained that he needed to communicate with all of the shooters, because nobody really wanted shoot his dumb ***. He said he was going to...and kind of hummed and hawed and started talking about his new gun. I was sincerely hoping he would not do that again.

Evidently, what I told him went in one ear, picked up velocity as it passed through the vacuum and went out the other ear. He did that same trick every time he went down range. He had me trained by the end of the morning to do his Cease Fire for him. The rest of us just shook our heads.

How would you all handle this situation?
 
I'd find another range, or find out if he comes at regular times then avoid him.
Doesn't sound like he learns fast, cares about his life, may have a death wish, or he thinks he can collect insurance $$$.

OR, get a hat that says RANGE MASTER on it then tell him the rules.
 
Had a similar situation earlier this year. I was shooting at the right end of the range when I suddenly heard the guy to my left yell frantically "cease fire" at me. I looked up and was surprised to see the guy at the far left halfway down range. "I didn't hear him call a cease fire" I said... "he didn't" said the other guy.

Thankfully he left soon after.
 
The years are not kind to us, (Al Swerigen). Reminds me of my Grandfather when it was time for him to stop driving. He eventually hit some fixed objects, and realized he should not drive anymore. That and Grandma had my uncle disable the Caddy after it was repaired. It sounds like he is no longer safe to be at a shooting range. For the safety of everyone including himself, he needs to be stopped. I would contact his family or the law if nobody knows him well.
 
As a Range Master incidents like this are annoying and just as frightening to us as you guys shooting. Everyone SHOULD know the rules of basic gun safety and range rules and They are posted on a ranges that also posts or its own safety rules in addtion to the basic ones and some even have a range safety class before you can join or use the club/range. And only to go do something stupid later on.

With no RSO or official on site you did the best you could. Thankful that the guy didnt get worked up over your intervention. Please remember that you are dealing with a ARMED person, so be nice even if they do something stupid and or dangerous. Get plate numbers or description, maybe a cell phone pic (not in there face, for a safe distance) and find a RSO OR range member or contact the office. If truly dangerous call 911, but your safety is #1 and leave if unsafe.

Usually after a calm intervention and review of rules and cause n effect the person in question understands it, but there are the people who " I KNOW BETTER" " CANT HAPPEN TO ME BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IM DOING" "NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN" that show up also. Then the best ones are the people you have to go talk to only have to go back again in 5 minutes. Those are truly the fun ones and it looks like you had your chance to meet one. I'm a shooter too so I really hate to cut someones range trip short. But if you didnt report him, you left a dangerous shooter for the next guy to shoot with him.
 
I'd find another range, or find out if he comes at regular times then avoid him.
Doesn't sound like he learns fast, cares about his life, may have a death wish, or he thinks he can collect insurance $$$.
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Bingo. I'd find another range, if possible. That guy is gonna get himself killed.
 
The worst I've ever seen was at a handgun metallic silhouette match '.
RO was on the left , target setters out, BANG !!!.:eek: While everyone was busy with the match an old guy with his grandson set up a target at 25 yds just behind the RO , for a BP rifle. No one noticed .
The RO's face then was a mixture of extreme terror and extreme anger !
They were immediately chased off the match .The old guy kept mumbling "what did I do, what did I do ??"
There are those who think BP is a toy despite the wars fought and game taken with those guns.Was it that or old peoples' problems ?
I have all too often heard someone say if they take away his father's car the father will lose his freedom . Better that than his life !!
 
Many years ago I went to an outdoor, private rifle range. I was going to shoot a recently acquired muzzleloader. I was new at so I knew I would be slow. I also knew that others shooters don't always appreciate the smoke and smell of BP.

I started to set up at bench away from the other shooters. The range officer made me move in closer. I tried to explain to him that the firearm I was going to shoot might interfere with others, he didn't see concerned.

To make matters worse, he then placed a gentleman to my left. He was shooting a 22 semi automatic rifle.

That was the first and last time I went to that range.
 
OP: you did the right thing, and thats about the best you can do.

I find it very annoying when most folks on the line are shooting 50/100/200 yards, there too often seems to be one guy who has to check his 25 yard target after every couple of shots. ( he needs a spotting scope!)

It is hard to set up, get settled in position, and shoot a great group when he calls the line cold every 5 minutes. I claim that going cold every 1/2 hour is about right for a rifle range.
 
Sounds like that guy needs his range membership priveleges pulled. Try to find out who he is, and bring the matter to your club president. Creating a unsafe act, should be enough grounds to get expelled.
 
joe45c said:
Sounds like that guy needs his range membership priveleges pulled. Try to find out who he is, and bring the matter to your club president. Creating a unsafe act, should be enough grounds to get expelled.
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Did you read the opening post?

The other day I went to the pubic (sic) shooting range on the Pawnee Grasslands, northeast of Greeley, CO.
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I saw a old guy continue to shoot in a cease fire. His son grabbed him the first time. Geezer said - Arf, arf - I know how to shoot, blah, blah.

The second time, the son had to wrestle the gun away (that was charming) and management gave geeezer the boot.
 
I've seen more idiots at gun ranges (private and public) than I could count. Which is why I go at times and days where I know the range will be empty
 
Yeah, be glad it wasn't the other way 'round - with the old guy shooting when you went down range to change a target.
An old guy did that on me.
He had his bolt actually out of his rifle, cleaning it between shots.
Then just as I was maybe 25 yards down range, he must have put the bolt back, loaded and fired.
This was after he had agreed not to while I put up a target.
I did continue to stay and shoot, but took his bolt with me every trip down range, after that.
They're out there.
 
I worked as a line officer at Bullseye matches years ago to satisfy the requirements of range membership. I usually shot on Saturday then worked on Sunday. A guy that was very new to competitive shooting was on my side of the line, and I got warned to keep an eye on him. Between the second and third slow fire target I looked over and saw the guy handling his pistol while the line was walking down to change targets. I immediately corrected him, and explained to him why he shouldn’t be doing it. Two targets later he did it again. The RO walked over, asked him to pack up his gear and go home. The guy got defensive, dumb thing to do, and he ended up getting escorted to his car, in not a friendly way. I guess some people just can’t grasp what could happen, or don’t really care?
 
Evidently some people do not realize the deadly nature of firearms. And since this was a public range (notice I spelled that correctly :D )there is no requirement to take and pass a range officer test. I was a member at a paid shooting range for several years, and every other year had to pass the RO test to become a member. That is a really good means of educating new members and keeping us older guys in the right frame of mind.

I was at another range one time, and during a Cease Fire I touched my rifle---just to remove the bolt---the gun was unloaded---and one of the other shooters made it very plain to me that we NEVER touch our firearms when people are down range. I felt dumb--I knew that but had a mental lapse. Woke me up---which I needed.
 
Odds are you'll never see the guy again. His lack of experience and knowledge of range etiquette exhibits signs of very little shooting. Anytime you visit a range open to the public and unregulated, you have to assume there will be folks there with little or no experience. Patience and tact are a virtue in scenarios like that. Telling someone rightoff he is a dumb***(even when they are) is not really tactful and will automatically turn them off to suggestions. While I have my own private range I still shoot a a coupla nice small public ranges. Sometimes there are folks there that just make me back out and go home. Sometimes, with tact and being polite I can teach them what is proper as opposed to what is not. Most times, I see the idiots that refuse to listen there only once. Just comes with the territory.
 
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