As I new shooter I thought my biggest issue would be a lack of confidence and looking "stupid" when going to the range on my own. Prior to a few weeks ago I had spent the last year shooting off and on with a friend who is the vice president of a local gun club, a respected instructor in the region, and was an armorer in the service for a decade.
While waiting for a nearby rod and gun club's monthly meeting for new applicants I decided to visit a few placed that had public lane access. I had heard some people talk about how the despise or are wary of larger indoor ranges like this... "Too many new people," one guy said at the shop. "It's scary."
My last visit to a nice indoor range was an experience that bolstered my confidence. Not only was I able to check the "intermediate" box on their form, but I witnessed some interesting habits from (obviously) new shooters around me.
While testing out my new Mosquito I was next to a young man, probably in his 40s, who had rented a Glock 17. As new and impressionable as I am to shooting, I already wanted to correct his stance and grip. He puts a target on the cardboard and pushes it out to 15ft. He fires off all 17 rounds deliberately, taking his time in between shots and he appeared to be aiming.
As he pulls the target in I glance over to see 1 single hole through the left-hand side of the target... Probably 8in from the center. He does this again at 12ft and then 10ft. A staff member asks if he's okay, manages to take a few shots and hit center mass no issue. A short, impromptu lesson ensues and the shooter doesn't seem receptive.
While I'm on the last of my ammunition I push my target out to 25ft and aim for the corners; I wanted to see what kind of groupings my new plinker could achieve with cheap rounds and a dirty barrel. He also pushed his target out to where mine was, shot another 17 rounds.
2 hit his target and 1 grazed mine.
I couldn't have run out of rounds soon enough.
Any of you guys have some disturbing experiences at ranges or situations where you felt unsafe and wanted to step in?
While waiting for a nearby rod and gun club's monthly meeting for new applicants I decided to visit a few placed that had public lane access. I had heard some people talk about how the despise or are wary of larger indoor ranges like this... "Too many new people," one guy said at the shop. "It's scary."
My last visit to a nice indoor range was an experience that bolstered my confidence. Not only was I able to check the "intermediate" box on their form, but I witnessed some interesting habits from (obviously) new shooters around me.
While testing out my new Mosquito I was next to a young man, probably in his 40s, who had rented a Glock 17. As new and impressionable as I am to shooting, I already wanted to correct his stance and grip. He puts a target on the cardboard and pushes it out to 15ft. He fires off all 17 rounds deliberately, taking his time in between shots and he appeared to be aiming.
As he pulls the target in I glance over to see 1 single hole through the left-hand side of the target... Probably 8in from the center. He does this again at 12ft and then 10ft. A staff member asks if he's okay, manages to take a few shots and hit center mass no issue. A short, impromptu lesson ensues and the shooter doesn't seem receptive.
While I'm on the last of my ammunition I push my target out to 25ft and aim for the corners; I wanted to see what kind of groupings my new plinker could achieve with cheap rounds and a dirty barrel. He also pushed his target out to where mine was, shot another 17 rounds.
2 hit his target and 1 grazed mine.
I couldn't have run out of rounds soon enough.
Any of you guys have some disturbing experiences at ranges or situations where you felt unsafe and wanted to step in?