Range silliness

I work the Chabot Gun Club in Castro Valley (check out www.chabotgunclub) and will be working USI in Concord. In both cases range rules are strictly enforced.

Everyone handles guns at the firing line ONLY and only when everyone is shooting. During target change no guns are handled and everyone is either down range or well away from the shooting benches. One shot per second.

No holsters as it is too easy to bring the gun outside the 180 degree safety zone in handling a holster.

No silhouette targets (don't want Feinstein to decide we are a training ground for militia).
 
My gun club rules:

Rifles:
* No cases or bags. Rifles to be taken out of bag/case in carpark. Bolt in and open or bolt out altogether or levers open. (Why no cases? Because we can't see the condition of the action in a case.) Actions kept open at all times until on the firing line.

* No loaded magazines of any kind unless on firing line and Range Officer has given command.

* Range Officer required if more than 2 shooters wish to shoot (even to practise).

* No firearms to be removed from firing line unless cleared by a second person

* Strictly speaking, no solo shooting; i.e. there must be two responsible people present (in case of accidents, which has happened -- not a shooting accident, but the shooter fell and broke his hip. He was out for 12 hours in near freezing conditions until found.)

Handguns:
* At the designated table, guns out of bags/cases and into holster, NO magazines if semi-auto; unloaded if revolver. Magazines are to be kept empty until ordered to load by RO.

* Handgun is NOT to be removed from holster under any circumstances except at firing line under RO orders/control.

* High-ride hip holsters only on shooting hand side (no crossdraw etc.)

* No draw-and-fire matches/shooting. Everything starts from a ready position with gun out and ahead at 45 degree angle.

* Guns reholstered after clearing by RO.

Shotguns:
* Uncased and broken or with safety tags.

Range silliness?

We've had:

* Guy with 7mm Rem Mag shooting the rimfire silhouette targets at 50 metres!!!

* Ditto with 6.5 x 56mm at the "spinning" rimfire handgun target at 25 metres!!

* Guy ejecting a live rimfire round in a match -- then stepping forward off the line to pick it up, while the other 17 or so shooters were still firing.

* New shooter in "rapid fire" rimfire rifle (12 shots in four bursts of 3 in 15 seconds each burst -- bolt action remember) who ejected the first 3 rounds, still live, onto the floor. Got so excited, he "forgot" to pull the trigger. (I've seen this in the field, never on the range before.)

B
 
Wow, thank God I'm a Good Ole Gawga boy. We just grab a case a beer and step out on the back porch.
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(it's a joke; laugh, don't take it too seriously.)

Honestly, I am glad that since I have started shooting, there has always been someplace around these parts to set up a range and shoot rifles, pistols, or whatever without much disturbance. I mean ask some people with hunting leases if you can go shooting sometime during the off-season. I recently found a range close to the house that the Gubberment has made available to the public. Yeah, its a WMA, Wildlife Management Area here in West Central Gawga
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. And around here we gripe about poor lighting in the ranges, who's thunk about all dem rules.

After hearing ya'll's stories about some of the ranges out there, and some of the unsafe people that use the ranges. I'll be sure to be thankful that I have so many fine ranges to choose from, and I'll be sure to be extra careful handling my weapon on the range while watching the other fellow to make sure things he is handling his firearm safely.

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Know Yourself, Know Your Weapon, Know Your Enemy; then Know Victory! DaHaMac

[This message has been edited by DaHaMac (edited April 19, 2000).]
 
You guys go to some wacky ranges. The one I use has a "no stupid people" rule. Screw up, you will be the proud owner of a spankin' new rectal cavity.
Screw up again, you are gone.
If you are not stupid, you may do whatever you please. Automatic weapons, draw practice, multiple targets, etc.
I've never even heard of some of these ridiculous rules. Sounds like another case of catering to the lowest common denominator.
 
The range that I work at is an indoor range with 10 bays. Overhead of each bay is the motor that runs the targets. We've lost two in the last year to gunfire. How? Pistol pointing straight up with finger on trigger. (Kinda obvious, huh?) Needless to say subjects were not happy with their bill.

I think our rules are pretty simple.
1) No loaded firearms except on the firing line.
2) Load only in firing bay.
3) Muzzles must be kept down range at ALL times.
4) Never go in front of the line for ANY reason.
5) Pistols or pistol caliber rifles only.

We once had an IPSC class A shooter firing on point five, who went down range while two other shooters were on the line. Just to pick up a target that fell. Needless to say he was unceremoneously (sp) booted (I think my boss may have banned him for life, but not completely sure).

Keep in mind, especially when shooting on Non-Public ranges, ie someone actually owns them: We have to carry a hellacious liability policy. Also most things you think won't happen probably already have. Do something stupid, expect an ass-chewing. DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. We want your business, but SAFETY is paramount.

Gator
 
Dave AA,

Your are correct. We do have rules which cater to the lowest common denominator because, unfortunately, that is exactly what shows up on a regular basis. I spend a very significant amount of my time trying to educated people before they kill someone--all without getting their egos on the line.

Not unusual for a group to show up with rifles of semi auto military heritage show up and sweep everyone on the range in the process of getting to the firing line. They haven't the foggiest idea of what they are doing and probably don't even notice the other customers diving for cover.
 
DaHaMac:

You're indeed lucky in "Gawgia"
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Here, a farmer is NOT allowed to build a target range for his own use on his own property.

Our club is private, and the rules are necessary to (a) satisfy the police and (b) satisfy the insurers for our $10 000 000.00 public liability insurance!!

B
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DaHaMac:
I recently found a range close to the house that the Gubberment has made available to the public. And around here we gripe about poor lighting in the ranges, who's thunk about all dem rules.[/quote]

DaHaMac,

Are you referring to one of the WMAs? (For those not in Georgia, it stands for Wildlife Management Area. Several of these state-operated recreation/park/hunting areas have outdoor ranges.)

I was at one a couple of months ago with some friends (first time there), and one fellow a few lanes down was shooting a .50 cal. rifle. If people weren't paying attention to what was going on before he pulled the trigger, I promise you that everyone was alert afterwards--after they stood up again, that is.
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I can understand no shoulder holster or cross-draw rigs at a public range, but, IMHO, strong-side hip holsters are safer than no holster at all. People with a pistol in their hand have a tendancy to let the gun "dangle." Dangling is dangerous. It often results in a pistol with a very short barrel swinging around in the vague direction of the ground or floor, but actually pointed at the shooter's and others' feet. And what's that floor made of, anyway? Hardened concrete? Wouldn't want to stand to close to an ND shot down onto THAT!

1st time I took my best friend out to teach him the finer points of pistol-shooting (we were 18) Dad hollered after me: "Be safe, wear holsters, and don't let those guns dangle!"
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Of course, blanket rules are easier; they require no personal thought or attention.
 
After hearing al these stories, I guess I've got it pretty good. I go to the Annandale Small Arms Range, a little hole-in-the-wall range under a Korean restruant about 15 min. from home. It's only got 7 lanes, 50' long, well ventilated, handguns or handgun caliber rifles and shotguns (no slugs). They allow strongside hip holster work, and the guy that runs it is very attentive. First timers get the standard safety briefing, and if it doesn't seem like it sunk in, you get it twice. It's the oldest range in Northern VA & the only one inside the beltway that I know of. So far, so good. M2
 
Hey Mike, I've been at that range a couple of times. I've always wondered what the restaurant patrons think about having a range under their feet.

Who owns it now? I heard that Art sold it a few years back.
 
Matt VDW......... They allow no pistols
in cases either.

I can see the no cased firearms for the specific reason that it can't be checked.....but....I had removed that "case" made out of paper in the parking lot and put it in my pocket. The gun was in plain sight and bolt was open.

I am a gunochondriac when it comes to ranges. When I have a hangfire or smokestack, I hold the gun with my shooting hand while I grasp it with the other hand. I then hold it downrange while clearing.

NO ONE could ever see me perform an unsafe thing at a range. I don't. But there are some people who LOOOVE authority at any level and abuse it.

This range fits that to a T.
 
Ben Avery Shooting Facility North of Phoenix, AZ - nothing but professional staff, common-sense rules and good service.

You get a few yokels every now and then, however... But that's anywhere you go.

The last time I was out there with my wife shooting our Glock 19's and HK-USP, the Range Officer made a point to come down and mention that it was perfectly alright for us to practice holster draws. Even gave my wife some tips to make sure that her off-side carry mags were pointed in the right direction for faster reloads. I was impressed.

Almost as impressed as by the guy next to us with an M16 firing full-auto, and an MP5-SD with suppressor (quieter than a .22, IMA).

After hearing these stories, I now realize that Arizona is about the *only* place that I'd want to live! Thanks, for that,
 
I was at a public range last weekend when an INS agent came to the range dressed in black BDU's wearing his INS Badge. The range is a 100 yard range with target stations at 5, 25, 50, and 100 yards. It ALWAYS has a range officer or no shooting allowed. Anyway, the INS fellow signs in, the RO asks him if he has read and understands the range rules and the INS guy says yes, he's shot here before. There were about 12 shooters randomly arranged on the twenty shooting benches. The RO calls clear/post targets. The INS guy sets up his target at 50 yards. He's already put his Glock on the bench and has a strng-side holster on. Well the guys kinda look around and think -hey, this guy must be really good starting out at 50 yards with a glock. Everyone has targets set up. the RO calls line hot. The INS guy takes the glock off the bench, holsters it, proceeds to run downrange (with live fire from other shooters!) The RO realizes what's happening about the same time most of the shooters do - everyone's yelling cease fire, the INS guy is now at the 25 yard station, draws and puts 15 rounds into about a 6" circle. (After everyone called cease fire). The RO was amazingly calm when the guy returned to the bench. "I tought you said you shot here before and understood the rules. Response - "I must have gotten this range mixed up with another range I shoot at."
 
I use sevaral ranges which prohibit the use of holsters. They state "issues of safety" as the reason.
 
The "no cases" rule seems silly to me. Sure, you can't check a cased firearm, but you can't shoot anyone with it either! And if some fellow is going to be shooting multiple guns, I'd rather have him use a bag or box to take them to the firing line in one trip than to have him going back and forth or lugging an armload of loose guns.

BTW, I saw a picture of the ultimate "idiot proofing" in "American Handgunner" magazine about a year ago: at a rental range popular with Japanese tourists (who, of course, have no gun handling experience), the proprietor suspended the rental guns on wires and had them rigged so they couldn't be pointed anywhere but downrange. Anything for peace of mind, I guess.
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I agree Matt on the "no cases" rule being silly if not dumb. The range I frequent won't allow you carry a gun around off the line unless it's in a case or in your carry holster. I have never heard of anyone being shot with a gun that was cased, but there are plenty of examples of them being shot with "unloaded" guns.
 
Jeff,CA Man, I'm still laughing - plywood sheets in front of the benches with little holes in them to make you shoot only from the bench????? I have never heard of such a thing! This has to be a range in California? Right? I have this image of people shooting through knot holes like in the Hatfields and McCoys. Try something like that out here and I guarentee the shooters would have the holes shot out and enlarged to the size of a Mac truck within fifteen minutes....
 
I agree that most of these rules are silly, but that some are required to "cater to the lowest common denominator." The range I go to, Canadian Ranges, is an outdoor range with a covered firingline, 2 100 yard sections with about 20 benches each, 1 50 yard, and one 25 yard section.

We don't have an official RO but the guy that runs the place walks out every once in a while to check on things. I often find myself playing RO and trying to keep the place safe. I've even had to ask a few of those "lower denominators" to leave because of their actions. The owner fully agreed with these instances and appreciates the help. Most of the time, however, just pointing out safety measures to others is enough to change their actions.

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