Strangest range rule I've come across...
- Thread starter johnwilliamson062
- Start date
Would appear that the gun control advocates are not the only ones that can come up with silly sound laws/rules.
On a serious note and joking aside, there are a few suggestions that make a little bit of sense but the most sensible one I can think of is that the powers that be just have something against AK's. If this was applicable to all firearms, okay, that would be a little different. However, only the AK style firearms? Yeah, I'm not buying the "keep out the riff raff" stick, at least not entirely .
On a serious note and joking aside, there are a few suggestions that make a little bit of sense but the most sensible one I can think of is that the powers that be just have something against AK's. If this was applicable to all firearms, okay, that would be a little different. However, only the AK style firearms? Yeah, I'm not buying the "keep out the riff raff" stick, at least not entirely .
madmo44mag
New member
Some times there are stupid rules because of crazy circumstances and stupid people.
If the rule helps keep the range safe then the crazy rule works.
I’m just sayin.
If the rule helps keep the range safe then the crazy rule works.
I’m just sayin.
It's Vandalia Range -- indoors
https://www.facebook.com/VandaliaRangeandArmory
Not sure why the rule either, unless having an optic is thought to make the shooter more... likely not to semi-auto spray & pray.
You do have to wonder if there's a similar rule for ARs though...
https://www.facebook.com/VandaliaRangeandArmory
Not sure why the rule either, unless having an optic is thought to make the shooter more... likely not to semi-auto spray & pray.
You do have to wonder if there's a similar rule for ARs though...
I don't frequent too many gun ranges, but there was one I went to occasionally to shoot pistols.
I had gone to this range about five times before this incident before I got scolded.
This day in particular, I went to the counter and payed my fee to the clerk... Bought some ammo and targets, as always. I have my own stuff, but I buy theirs just for support. The clerk tells me which lane to go to.
There's an area with lunch tables so you can put in your hearing and eye protection on before opening the first door to the range. So, I'm all ready and I go in with my targets and sack of ammo.
I'm greeted by an older gentleman. He gives me a quizzical look. I attempt to proceed to my lane.... He says "where's your gun?" ... I say "in my holster".... He then developed an angry expression ... "Why is it in your holster?!?!" I then reply "that's where it always is."....he appears even more agitated then.. "You can't come in here like that!"
I said...."well, I am licensed to do so".... He said,"that doesn't matter, you can't do that, you're not a cop"... He also instructed me to have it unloaded and the slide locked back.
I did tell him that no one else had ever said anything about that.
I then just apologized and said it won't happen again, then all was fine.
I did check for rules and signs stating no concealed carry, nothing.
The rest of the visit was fine, I didn't mind, I just was unaware...
I went back a couple of weeks later, and this time I carried my gun in.... There was a different gentleman this time, so I showed him my gun on the way in, empty and slide opened.... So that there was no trouble... This gentleman asked why I did that, so I explained that I got scolded last time.... He asked "do you have a concealed handgun license?" I said that I did. He replied "don't worry about it then, you can carry it in your holster."
I had gone to this range about five times before this incident before I got scolded.
This day in particular, I went to the counter and payed my fee to the clerk... Bought some ammo and targets, as always. I have my own stuff, but I buy theirs just for support. The clerk tells me which lane to go to.
There's an area with lunch tables so you can put in your hearing and eye protection on before opening the first door to the range. So, I'm all ready and I go in with my targets and sack of ammo.
I'm greeted by an older gentleman. He gives me a quizzical look. I attempt to proceed to my lane.... He says "where's your gun?" ... I say "in my holster".... He then developed an angry expression ... "Why is it in your holster?!?!" I then reply "that's where it always is."....he appears even more agitated then.. "You can't come in here like that!"
I said...."well, I am licensed to do so".... He said,"that doesn't matter, you can't do that, you're not a cop"... He also instructed me to have it unloaded and the slide locked back.
I did tell him that no one else had ever said anything about that.
I then just apologized and said it won't happen again, then all was fine.
I did check for rules and signs stating no concealed carry, nothing.
The rest of the visit was fine, I didn't mind, I just was unaware...
I went back a couple of weeks later, and this time I carried my gun in.... There was a different gentleman this time, so I showed him my gun on the way in, empty and slide opened.... So that there was no trouble... This gentleman asked why I did that, so I explained that I got scolded last time.... He asked "do you have a concealed handgun license?" I said that I did. He replied "don't worry about it then, you can carry it in your holster."
Is that like a really old sign? If it's to keep out the Riff-Raff, they are about 25 years late. AKs were the range Rambo weapons in the 90's! Today it's AR's.
I think we all know the difference between strict enforcement of standard safety rules and Barney Fife range Nazis. Ruleless annarchy is not the only alternative.
I remember an outdoor range in Orange Co., CA in the 80's that would not allow you to load more than 5 in any revolver. Rapid fire was also strictly forbidden. I can't remember but you may have had to load all rifleds as single fire.
I think we all know the difference between strict enforcement of standard safety rules and Barney Fife range Nazis. Ruleless annarchy is not the only alternative.
I remember an outdoor range in Orange Co., CA in the 80's that would not allow you to load more than 5 in any revolver. Rapid fire was also strictly forbidden. I can't remember but you may have had to load all rifleds as single fire.
Looking at the pictures of their range, I can see the challenge. It's an indoor range with a relatively low ceiling.
I don't spray and pray like a chimp hopped up on pop rocks and Red Bull. I imagine the folks on this forum don't do so either. But there are people who do. It only takes one guy to pepper the ceiling, taking out light fixtures or zapping a sprinkler head.
In my experience, that guy often has an AKM-style rifle. That's not an indictment of the rifle, or of its owners, but an acknowledgment that irresponsible shooters tend to gravitate to it.
The policy is, in my opinion, overbroad and unrealistic. His range, his rules. If it's such a source of angst, has anyone considered contacting the owner and convincing him to change the policy?
spacemanspiff
New member
I believe the perception of a 'range nazi' is much like the perception of a 'rude gun shop employee'.
Both contain the possibility that they may upset someone, however its been my personal experience that those who get on the bad side of Range personnel and gun shop employees are those who display poor gun handling skills, yet are too proud to be told how to be safe, because they 'know gun safety'.
Yet they are the ones fiddling with their guns on the bench on a cold range, or stepping in front of the line on a hot range to pick up something they dropped, or who flag someone with the barrel of whatever gun they are molesting at the gunshop.
If people would let their egos go for a minute, they might realize that range operators face a lot of ignorance and hostility when they seek to enforce what should be simple rules.
I've never had a bad experience at any range. I follow rules, I do not do anything unsafe, and I am respectful.
Both contain the possibility that they may upset someone, however its been my personal experience that those who get on the bad side of Range personnel and gun shop employees are those who display poor gun handling skills, yet are too proud to be told how to be safe, because they 'know gun safety'.
Yet they are the ones fiddling with their guns on the bench on a cold range, or stepping in front of the line on a hot range to pick up something they dropped, or who flag someone with the barrel of whatever gun they are molesting at the gunshop.
If people would let their egos go for a minute, they might realize that range operators face a lot of ignorance and hostility when they seek to enforce what should be simple rules.
I've never had a bad experience at any range. I follow rules, I do not do anything unsafe, and I am respectful.
Brotherbadger
New member
A few months ago, I saw that happen on the range. I always assumed that was just something you knew, like needing ammo to shoot. Guy brought an AR style 22, and his buddy had an AR 15. The 22 didn't have a rear sight, and the guy was complaining about not hitting anything(they were very new to shooting, from the questions they asked). I told him he needed a rear sight. His buddy actually took his rear sight off his AR and let him use it.
That being said, they did appear to have fun, hopefully next time they pick up a rear sight.
As far as rules, I don't have any that are really odd. I always dislike the 1 shot per second rule, but I understand it.
Im thinking past the riff raft rule . What do you bet that some knuckle head with no shooting expiereance bought a AK and came in with the rear site elevated to its highest point thinking it would shoot father and started blasting away missing the target completely and shaking up a bunch of the regulars .
As far as range nazi's you know what happens when you get a bunch of Alpha's that don't know each other togeather .
As far as range nazi's you know what happens when you get a bunch of Alpha's that don't know each other togeather .
Not just that.
About two months ago at a certain [un-named to protect the innocent] range in NoVa, we had a wife/husband combo wherein the first was being instructed by the second w/ a 9mm..
We noticed splinters being taken out of the second overhead range baffle after each shot even as we were moving quickly down to her range position. Standing her it was immediately obvious that the gun was pointed up at a clear 30° angle, and we stepped in to stop the shooter.
She had been told to 'use the front sight' ...and so she did.
Period.
It could have gotten messy after that if testosterone poisoning had been allowed to surface/develop w/ the husband... but even Range Nazis occasionally have a sense of how to make silk purse teaching moments out of a sow's ear's
..
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Should we mention the continuing list of ranges which persecute AR pistol owners for the perceived method of firing the gun?
Much less whether ownership at all is legal?
Plenty of stories cropping up on another forum. Misunderstanding about applicable NFA interpretations by the ATF have skyrocketed since the last letter was published, and things aren't better for it.
Now some Range Officers feel deputized to enforce Federal law and seem to be enjoying their newfound status.
Much less whether ownership at all is legal?
Plenty of stories cropping up on another forum. Misunderstanding about applicable NFA interpretations by the ATF have skyrocketed since the last letter was published, and things aren't better for it.
Now some Range Officers feel deputized to enforce Federal law and seem to be enjoying their newfound status.
There is a public gun range about five miles East of Jackson, MI built with Pittman-Robertson funds and run by the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources. It was built about fifteen or so years ago.
The "rule" in question is that a shooter may only single load his gun, fire the single shot and reload to shoot again. No loaded magazines, no fully loaded revolver cylinders, etc. This rule is an example of taking perceived safety to the point of being ridiculous. With that rule, a person has no way of function testing his weapons. Consider an M1 Garand...single loaded. No way to insure that the gun will feed from the clips...as the same with auto-loading handguns.
The only thing that range is adapted to, is perhaps bench-rest, or handgun off-hand target practice.
It is a poor use of Pittman-Robertson funds to the point of betrayal of us shooters.
I only used the range twice, they joined a rifle club in the next county. I now have for the last fifteen years or so, my own range on my own land...the hell with the state provided ranges.
I can only speculate on the possibility of nefarious reasons for such a rule. Perhaps the bureaucrat in Lansing is completely unaware (clueless), of the purposes for which people shoot, Cowboy Action, Falling Plates, testing C.C. weapons, etc. Or perhaps it was to grudgingly comply with the Pittman-Robertson Act, albeit in a manner that would discourage shooting as a sport...one can only speculate.
The "rule" in question is that a shooter may only single load his gun, fire the single shot and reload to shoot again. No loaded magazines, no fully loaded revolver cylinders, etc. This rule is an example of taking perceived safety to the point of being ridiculous. With that rule, a person has no way of function testing his weapons. Consider an M1 Garand...single loaded. No way to insure that the gun will feed from the clips...as the same with auto-loading handguns.
The only thing that range is adapted to, is perhaps bench-rest, or handgun off-hand target practice.
It is a poor use of Pittman-Robertson funds to the point of betrayal of us shooters.
I only used the range twice, they joined a rifle club in the next county. I now have for the last fifteen years or so, my own range on my own land...the hell with the state provided ranges.
I can only speculate on the possibility of nefarious reasons for such a rule. Perhaps the bureaucrat in Lansing is completely unaware (clueless), of the purposes for which people shoot, Cowboy Action, Falling Plates, testing C.C. weapons, etc. Or perhaps it was to grudgingly comply with the Pittman-Robertson Act, albeit in a manner that would discourage shooting as a sport...one can only speculate.
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Theohazard
New member
This. I've worked at two urban indoor ranges, one public and one semi-public. And we constantly had people breaking rules and then arguing about it. Keep in mind that the "range Nazi" who is correcting you has no idea what your level of experience is. All he knows is that he's seen people turn around from the line with their finger on the trigger and flag everyone behind them (happens a couple times a week), he's seen people shoot the walls, ceiling, and even floor (happens almost daily), he's seen people come in who are high or drunk (happens about once a month), he's seen people casually walk around the bay carrying a loaded gun in a haphazard manner (happens every few weeks), and he's even seen people try to rent a gun so they can commit suicide (happens a couple times a year, luckily they're usually not successful).spacemanspiff said:
And many of those people will argue with you when you call them out on those safety violations. Or they'll just act hurt, like you're being hard on them for no reason. Sure, that doesn't give any RO the right to be rude or combative when your violation was relatively minor, but keep in mind that he doesn't know who you are, and he's probably had to grab a gun from someone who was pointing it at him with their finger on the trigger, and maybe even recently.