RSO's at My Local Range

Yah.

Another comment on going down range to check targets:
In my experience,once all the weapons are clear and pointed downrange
Actions open,perhaps chamber flags inserted,
All clear verified,
It is "Hands off the guns" time.
Ideally,people are clear of the benches or firing line.

Its actually NOT a good time to fill magazines,tweak scope knobs,case up guns to leave,etc.
I realize not all ranges enforce that rule,
But part of what we do as a group shooting together is exercise courtesy and common sense.
Included in that would be acting in a way that does not cause other shooters to wonder if they are safe.
To have it in your own mind that you are being safe is not enough.
If the guy on a cold range checking targets looks back and sees you sitting at a firing point beside a rifle,he has to wonder.
If you are waiting clear of the firing line,he can be at peace.
Part of what the RSO 's job is,is to be the guy who sees any situation that even has the appearance of being unsafe.
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This^^^^!
Yes.
Guns are down, Cylinders open and empty, Magazines out, slides back and no one allowed to handle their gun during the target change. The RSO checks this before any one is allowed forward.
Muzzleloaders....if they have a charge in, then the gun is fired before people are allowed downrange.
No one is allowed in to a shooting point....not for any reason.
When everyone is back, then the RSO clears the hold and points reopen
 
A couple of years ago I had (ironically) a dude have a ND and almost shot his girl's foot while showing my his Single Six. That and a couple other incidents have made me wary of public ranges. I never did like that as we shot in the woods or wherever back in the day, but those days are gone so I had to get used to it. After that incident I sought out and joined a private range where you pretty much have your chosen range to yourself. I like it.

They just completed a public range about 20 min from my house so I figured I would check it out and run some rounds through a new 442 last week. As the RO clears the line to set targets one gentleman tells him he just loaded his single action and he says will go ahead and shoot it and THEN tells everyone 'hold up a minute' without really verifying that everyone heard him. At least I didn't think so. I am certainly wary about shooting with the public anyway, so I was glad I have my little range. Even if it is twice as far away. I am pretty sure I won't be back.
 
I am an NRA trained RSO. I am an RSO at the local range and I gently remind folks of the range rules as well as the general safe gun handling rules. When folks go down range no guns are touched. If the magazine is out it can be loaded (at this range) but the gun itself cannot be touched. If you pull up in your car and start to unload stuff you will be reminded that the guns stay put until the range is hot. I have only gotten a hard time from one person in all the time I have been acting RSO. He was shooting a tactical/combat practice routine and I was watching because his target was a bit on the high side of my comfort zone. He was doing a good job of controlling his gun so while he stopped to reload some magazines I asked him how he was doing? when he didn't answer I mentioned that the weather was good for shooting without much wind... After a short delay he turned to me and stated that he was here to shoot not talk. I said OK and left him to it. He later called the president of the club and reported that I had tried to keep him from shooting and that I was rude. The president and I are good friends and she knows how I am with people because she has gotten a lot of comments about how nice it is to have help and advice when needed. I am sure there are RSO's who are "power drunks" that watch folks to see if they can catch them doing something wrong. I am also sure there are those individuals who don't tolerate authority figures at all. Talking to a guy on the #4 pistol range one day he was excitedly showing me his handguns and as he did he swept me with the muzzle several times. After the first couple of times the guy that was with me talking to him left because it was a potentially dangerous situation. I stopped him in mid-sentence and asked if he was mad at me (the guy showing off his guns). With a puzzled look on his fce he said no and then I pointed out what he had been doing. He was very apologetic and corrected his routine. he felt so bad he even went out of his way to apologize to the guy who had been there with us at the beginning.
I had watched him clear the weapons when he was done shooting, we both knew the guns were clear and the chambers were open. It just goes back to those safe handling rules. I try not to get overly excited or yell. It is easier to get along with people if you work with them rather than going out of your way to embarrass them.
 
My favorite range up here in Anchorage is the one that has had the most criticism for having strict RSOs. But those who are critical of the RSOs are the ones who believe they are above the rules.

When you choose to go to a range, you agree to abide by the rules, simple as that. If a shooter does not wish to follow the rules of that range, they can go shoot somewhere else.

Some of the more agitated RSOs might be nice guys, but having to deal with the true morons day in day out might make them seem like they arent that nice. So cut them a little slack. A little! Not a lot. If they become unprofessional, thats another story.
 
All handguns being holstered and long guns being in stands with the barrels pointed upward would be safer.
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Yes it would. All of the public ranges that I have been at do not allow holster carry while on property. Drawing is a no-no not allowed. I no longer a
use the public ranges
 
At the local range all guns must be safed and on the bench before anyone goes down range. Guns must be in cases or bags when transporting off the firing line unless you have a CCP. Pistols can only be holstered with the permit and only in holsters with a mechanism to retain the pistol in the holster.
 
The range I belong to is a private range and the RSO staff is all volunteer. While I was part of the working RSO staff I was polite about safety violations when pointing them out the first time. If I had to point out the same violation a second time I was more stern and less polite. The third time, which happened more than I care to remember resulted in the member or members packing their crap up and being thrown off the range. Any argument at that point would result in surrendering their ID badge and having to speak too the Owner/director and plead their case with him. If things escalated from this point then LE would be called and the member would be removed and charged with armed criminal tresspass. Fortunately it never came to that. Stupidity and carelessness can result in tragedy/catastrophic endings. Not on my watch
 
the best rso's are veterans who know the importance of safety and have seen the results of poor leadership and control.

those that go thru rso training as civilians learn what military form is all about, but sometimes lack the veterans ability to size up a situation. a good leader knows when to smile and when to use his size 11 boot.

many rso's lack leadership or the right stuff to be rso's. but you cant fault them for being concerned and willing to help a range.

there is a certain line many cross where it becomes over management.

what I do is always introduce myself at a new range and make sure I know what to do.

this way if I screw up, he knows im at least trying.
hope this helps.

btw...im an rso at my private skeet range. my wife was part of a turkey shoot with 5 wives on line. she shot and forgot to step back and open her pump and she started dancing around. I stuck my boot in her backside....and got her attention. then I called line cold to go forward.

the rest of the day, no one gave me trouble. :>
 
No complaints at my local club range or the sheriff's dept range when open to the public. For the most part at the club RSO's (volunteers) are only on duty when open to the public. Members act as RSO in that there is no hesitation to point out another unsafe practice without escalating confrontation. Once when range was cold, shooter next to me took and interest in my gun, as we were standing behind the line. I began to step forward, he knew my intent, and simply said You know better than that. Embarassed, I thanked him and prolly made up an excuse for my mental lapse.
Some of the comments make greatful for my small town, friendly ranges.
 
I prefer ranges with stern ROs

I avoid the closest local range because the ROs are lax with the rules. I've personally been downrange and saw someone walk up to the line, load her Taurus 92, and impatiently wait for me to get back up range so she can start shooting. Now I drive 45 minutes to the range where they immediately yell at anyone that gets close to the firing line during a cold range.
 
Once upon a time,I was helping my daughter learn to drive.Manual trans,Toy Tercel.
Making a left turn across oncoming 40 mph traffic.Things were pretty good till she killed the motor .

I'm saying sometimes,like with a loaded gun situation,adding stress and crisis to the situation is counterproductive.

What my daughter heard was a clear,calm,air traffic controller voice.

"Push in the clutch. Turn the key. First Gear? Give it quite a bit of gas.Let the clutch out till it goes.. OK,we made it,Good Job!!" Do you need to pull over a minute?"

Versus " OH @#%&@&& !! Are you trying to KILL US.!!?? What the $%%*&& are you doing??

The first one worked fine.

Sometimes,in a calm,clear voice."OK,I need for you to just stop,hold still,don't do anything. Now,please move your finger off the trigger,and out of the trigger guard. Alright,now,if you will notice,your gun is pointed at your foot,so please point it downrange in a safe direction. Very good!.
If you would,keep it pointed down range,and lets unload it for a minute,if you'll just remove the magazine and pull the slide back. Very good! May I double check? Great!. Lets set it on the table pointed down range,and talk a second....

The Sergeant Carter routine has a way of making ears close up,mind stop functioning,and dumb sudden moves happening.

In the military training environment,induced stress simulates fog of war.The idea is to be able to function as trained IN SPITE OF STRESS,not because of stress.

Generally,there are training deficits,and motivation deficits.

On the range,training deficits can be corrected in a calm,respectful manner.

Motivation deficit? Anyone who lacks the motivation to be safe and comply with range rules can motivate their....self..down the road.

There is a book "Mountaineering:Freedom of the Hills" Sort of the mountain climbers manual.They case study fatal accidents. One lesson,among a casual group of friends,with no leader..if it is everyones job,it is no one's job. Among friends,maybe no one says"Weather is not looking good.I do not like those clouds.We are turning back"
So people die.
Informal range,same situation. A) Gee,that guy just...Should I say something?
Or,B) Excuse me,sir,line is cold,please step back from the firing line.May get you: "Yeah? Who the heck are you? You don't tell me what to do!!" sort of a challenge.
A clear,responsible RSO is necessary
 
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I like range officers who know how to enforce rules without acting like they got kicked out of the police academy 20 years ago and have been trying to make up for it ever since.

Even better, I like shooting with people who don't need range officers to be safe.
 
An RSO does not have to be rude but enforcement of the rules is paramount. I have been to lax ranges and will not go a second time. I especially do not like m people handling weapons in a cease fire. I would much rather the RSO err on the side of caution and say something, myself included
 
Most RSO's I have had dealings with come off as jack asses. I guess thats just the SWAT instructor in me talking. My philosophy to running a safe range is throw the idiots out and then use common sense. No amount of rules will protect you from an idiot.
 
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