Sign of the times (I guess)

One time I went to the public range on a quiet week day. I show up and immediately ask the Range Officer for assistance. He was reluctant because he "..has very little experience with cap and ball revolvers." but we shot a cylinder together anyways.

He asked me how long I'd been shooting those smoke wagons. "About a year." I told him. I later regretted saying that.

Suddenly this guy is an expert; showing me the short-cuts he *imagines* would help, ie. "don't completely charge one cylinder then the next etc., put yer powder in all six, then wads in all six, then balls in all six." He was coming up with solutions to problems that did not exist, and theorizing on what Sam Colt was thinking about when he designed it. (After he asked me if it was a Colt)

I nod and say, "ohh, yeah." during all of this, though, I don't do it his way.

Then he starts telling me I can lower my POI by filing down the front post.
"You mean filing down the rear notch?"
"No", he says, "the front post."

EVERYONE IS AN EXPERT ON GUNS. IF YOU TELL SOMEONE YOU AREN'T AN EXPERT, THEIR EXPERTISE JUST GREW EXPONENTIALLY AND WOE IS YOU IF THEY ATTEMPT TO SHOWCASE IT.
 
Glad I read this. I have shot across lanes before plinking at hanging metal targets with .22LR. Didn't realize this was a big problem. Never had a problem, but I won't do it again. I am sure that there are others that probably wouldn't know either.
 
colbad said:
They let you shoot bottles and cans??? Wow....never saw that at a controlled range.
Click to expand...
I was wondering about that, too. Cans are one thing -- you can pick them up even full of holes. How do you police up a bunch of broken glass after a shooting session?
 
The last time I went to a public range it was all gunsmithing students. By comparison with the stories I read above, we had an uneventful shoot. We arrived at different times and we all looked out for each other. My classmate was shooting his golfball gun and I a beer can mortar. The younger guys played with cartridge thingys.
 
I was wondering about that, too. Cans are one thing -- you can pick them up even full of holes. How do you police up a bunch of broken glass after a shooting session?
Click to expand...
The range I'm a member of allows pretty much anything you want, except for electronics and glass (and no clay targets on the centerfire ranges). You just have to clean up after yourself.

It is not uncommon to see someone take a bunch of water-filled plastic bottles or even cheap cans of soda to shoot.

Some members adhere to the rules better than others, of course. If you don't watch your step on one of the 100 yard ranges, you'll shove pieces of computer cases through your foot. :rolleyes: But, overall, the range remains fairly clean and hazard-free.
 
FrankenMauser said:
The range I'm a member of allows pretty much anything you want, except for electronics and glass (and no clay targets on the centerfire ranges). You just have to clean up after yourself.

...

Some members adhere to the rules better than others, of course. If you don't watch your step on one of the 100 yard ranges, you'll shove pieces of computer cases through your foot.
Click to expand...
Computers aren't electronics where you live?
 
And all of these posts illustrating a point I mentioned in another thread that there are some people who shouldn't be allowed to own guns, 2nd Amendment notwithstanding.
 
Then there are some stories in the opposite direction.

I took a newbie to a State range where the rules are posted for everyone to read and follow. Picture a 5 position 100-yard rifle range with a 6 x 6 one target, 25 yard site set at about 30 degrees angle to the right of that range.
To avoid interfering with those at the rifle range, as well as not chancing anyone thinking we were somehow crossing in their line of fire by changing targets, I put as series of balloons up as targets for my friend. After he shot them all, and we called for a halt to the firing range, we cleaned up the mess, putting everything in the available trash cans. As we walked to our car we were called to the auto of the Game Commission officials who were policing the course. They (two of them) asked what we were doing. I explained everything as described above but they pointed out that the only targets allowed were paper and the balloons violated that rule. My friend got a fine for $125.

Another episode at this range involved 5 groups of strangers who were all fined when no one could identify the "range officer." The "rules" demanded any time such a group was in existence, someone needed to be assigned the job of "range officer" whom would be responsible to direct range etiquette.

It didn't matter that once the "officer" left, and new shooters arbitrarily arrived, there was no "rule" to direct these folks how the process was to be implemented. They all received a fine.
 
I put up new posts that marks the edges on the range-backstop, posted a big sign that said put up your targets between the posts, don't shoot at the posts, even had them painted all nice

comes back two days later and wouldn't you know it, all shot up:mad:
 
A nearby range has one area with a shallow shooting area with an overhead roof, supported by large posts.
The posts have had to be occasionally replaced due to being shot up.
 
I will share something we did to one of our friends at the range. He was always bragging about how he shot at 200 yards with his 30-30 Marlin and Scope. :D

Myself and another friend each had sniper grade laupa .338's we were shooting. After we got setup my friend said he had to visit the "Call of Nature". :D

We turned the "Dope on his Scope" about 15 klicks north and south. We get back and prepare to fire. While he is aiming at his target, I am shooting at his and my buddy was shooting at mine. Every time he shot, I shot a split second later. By the time the recoil allowed him to gain Sight of his target, there was the hole, sitting in the six ring.....;) He would adjust his scope accordingling and line up again. Again the shot was a little higher, 5 and 1/2 ring but was at 5:00 where before it was at 8:00....:rolleyes:

This went on for about 1/2 hour until he finally started cussing his rifle. My buddy took it and set it back to the original setting we had written down and proceeded to drill three in a roll into the bull. Oh was he ****** off!!!!!!!!!! :D
We decided we had better tell him what we did before he tossed a cork, he hung his head looked up at us and called us Jackholes. Then he said started laughing so hard that we knew our turn would come. Still waiting....:(
 
I always take extra targets along that I have printed out on my computer to give to folks that show up at the range with none. Don't know how many times I have had a dad show up with his young son and the boy's new gun to sight it in and all they have to shoot at is the cartridge box.


Yeah, folks shootin' at my targets would tick me off and I would politely ask them to stop. Have had it happen when I shoot bowlin' pins hung from a Sheppard's hook.(my favorite reactive target). Usually works. Never found gettin' into a argument at a gun range a good thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top