We've all seen knuckleheads with guns... Being unsafe idiots. I'm sure they all told the range operator that they. were the best fast shot in the west ... Heck, when I take a person out shooting that I've never been shooting with, I give them one bullet at a time until I'm comfortable. Not sure if go to a range that doesn't have rules....
Strangest range rule I've come across...
- Thread starter johnwilliamson062
- Start date
Evan Thomas
Inactive
Taco, let's be a little careful here. When we start telling fellow shooters that they're "not true supporters of the 2nd [amendment]," we're getting onto dangerous ground. The genuine anti-gun-rights crowd would like nothing better than for us to start attacking each other. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who operates a gun range, no matter how they choose to run their business, is doing a heck of a lot to support my rights. There are exactly three ranges open to the general public in my area, and it's a pretty long drive to get to any of them; in fact, one of them is actually in the next state. My choices are already limited, and I'd rather they stayed in business than, for example, be priced out of it by insurance premiums they can't afford. A business puts rules in place to protect itself from liability and property damage and stay in business.Taco-XL said:
And to say that they might be "getting their backs rubbed" by anti-gun politicians is... well, all I'm going to say about that is that we don't do conspiracy theories here, not least because they tend to be silly.
I said it was a reach, but we all know shady deals are made behind closed doors every day of the week in all walks of life...thinking it doesnt happen is just being naive. It was just a thought and it is not out of the realm of possibility. Money talks, always has and always will and everyone has a price. Do i think this is the case in this particular discussion? No but i would not be shocked if it was. Or at least being pressured by local anti-gun figures of authority.
Being safe and having common sense rules and making flat-out dumb unjustified rules like "no AKs" are two diff things. Too much of anything is bad for you, and yes, that goes for rules as well. Every situation and shooter is different and you cannot paint everyone with the same broad brush. Because no matter how many rules are implemented, accidents (or stupid people) happen. A senseless shooter will eventually find a way to present a danger to himself and/or others around him. The old saying 'you cant fix stupid' applies here. No amount of rules will make someone smarter. And not letting CCL holders carry into the range? Dont even get me started on that 'gun free zone' horse crap.
In the end, they have the right to set forth whatever dumb rules they want, but I dont have to give them my money nor should anyone else that doesnt agree with the way they operate. If you are OK with the rules, then thats OK too. But theres something that sits uneasy with me being labeled as 'unsafe' because my AK doesnt have a sight? Oh look, i put a $30 red dot on it, im TOTALLY safe now
And letting Joe Bob pepper the ceiling with a burst of uncontrolled rapid fire does?
Most ranges have the rules they do for two reasons: to keep people safe, and to keep the facility intact. Stricter rules are there because of the lowest common denominator. Just because I can do something safely doesn't mean everybody who walks in off the street can. They have to take that into account.
Rather than ranting that they're puppy-kicking enemies of freedom, try having a reasoned discussion. I've gotten easements from certain restrictive rules that way in the past.
leadcounsel
Moderator
A point worth repeating. We all think the gun range rules are dumb, and some truly are.
However, EVERY range I've been to has bullet pock marks and holes in directions where there should NOT be bullet impacts: Nearly every direction, sideways, up, down, etc. So clearly at some point there was some really bad and dangerous handling.
How much damage to the 2A movement did the irresponsible range Uzi handling which caused the 10 year old girl to shoot and kill her instructor? I'd suggest a lot - it was all over the news and talk radio for weeks, smearing the 2A, the Uzi, assault weapons, handguns, teaching kids to shoot, blah blah blah... As they say, it just takes one bad apple... and we cannot afford really stupid accidents like this.
taco-xl said:
Maybe I can clarify it for you.
If you have two people you don't know show up at your house to shoot their AK's (or other semi-autos), one with sights and one without, which one would you expect to have more experience with firearms and place more rounds on target?
Kind of like having a race car driver show up for a race in a car with no steering wheel. He'll probably make it around the track, but don't be surprised if there's some damage to the surroundings!
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I am glad that we have the ROs at ranges near me. The rules sometimes are annoying and often times go over the top but for the most part they are there to make sure that newbs or those that are unsafe dont injure me or my family. If I see something that I think is unsafe or against the rules I usually let the shootest know. I have had a woman next to me and my daughter take 3 steps back from the firing line (with a revolver) and start shooting. Told her twice and then got the RO and had her leave. Another person handed a locked loaded and in fire position SKS off to someone who immediately put their finger on the trigger and let 2 fly before she even knew what was happening.
Ill take the bossy ROs and stupid rules over catching a bullet. Our sport is very safe when rules are followed and very dangerous if they are not.
zincwarrior
New member
Its a free country. They could ban AK's just because "we don't tolerate no kommie gunz here."
Rather than bashing the ranges and the RO's. Lets talk about some of the rules that make sense that are a little out of the box. One of the ranges that I used a couple of years back forced qualification with a rifle at 100 yards before you could move to 200 yards. Pistols you had to qualify to to go to 50/100/200 yards. They were in a relatively flat area and counted on the berms to catch everything. Past the berms were farm lands with migrant workers working. A tough job without dodging bullets sent down range by someone who can't shoot.
Corrections Cop
New member
All DNR Ranges in MI are slow fire, that's why I belong to a private range.
Theohazard
New member
This is correct, but you're completely missing the point here. Ranges have rules for a reason: They're there to minimize problems in the easiest way possible.Taco-XL said:
Apparently this specific range has had issues in the past with people with AKs, and my guess is it has to do with under-controlled rapid fire. So what's an easier fix for a business, make a test to evaluate every shooter's level of common sense and trigger time, or just enact rules that minimize the problem, no matter how ridiculous they may seem? As ridiculous as this rule seems, my guess it that it serves a purpose, otherwise they wouldn't have it.
Remember, it's all about trends, not individuals; they've probably noticed that that -- on average -- people using AKs with sights are less likely to miss the target and hit the facility and cause damage.
This is similar to a rule that a lot of the ranges here in the Seattle area have: You can't rent a gun unless you have a friend with you or you already have a gun with you, even if you're not planning to shoot your gun. As stupid as some people think this rule is, it has drastically cut down on suicides at the public ranges in the area. And some people still argue about the rule and claim it's stupid, but what makes more sense; administering a comprehensive psych evaluation for every shooter who wants to rent a gun, or just implementing a simple rule like this that works? It's a no-brainer.
Yep, but people do it every day, in every aspect of life.
Some guy with a certain gun inflicts damage on the facility. That gun gets restricted. Some guy whips a loaded gun out of the holster and waves it around behind the firing line. The facility bans loaded carry. Some guy leaves his Big Mac bag on the bench. They ban food and drink.
Is it 100% absolutely fair and copacetic? No. If you don't like it, convince the range owner that the rule should be repealed. So far, I see no mention of that approach here. I simply see gnashing of teeth and complaining.
The only range around me that I haven't personally boycotted has several annoying rules. First, they ask what calibers you are shooting when you get there, not the guns. No 7.62x39 anywhere past 25yards....period. yet I can walk a mosin down to the 100 w/o issue shooting steel core. I can't shoot ar pistols on pistol range, kind of understand, but also can't shoot a 10" lever action pistol in. 357 on the pistol range. Much less powerful than many large revolvers and generally easier to shoot accurately than a pistol. On rifle ranges 25-100yards, can only sit at bench.....wobbly bench. I laid out a rug and went prone and they bout crapped their pants.
These days I much prefer to hike out to the woods despite the hassle and the longer drive. The only thing good about the range abover mentioned, its 6$ an hour, can use your own targets and if you get there early when no one else is there, the range is yours alone, not even an officer.
These days I much prefer to hike out to the woods despite the hassle and the longer drive. The only thing good about the range abover mentioned, its 6$ an hour, can use your own targets and if you get there early when no one else is there, the range is yours alone, not even an officer.
The range I work at also asks what caliber rifle you're shooting. It's done to determine if you may possibly be trying to shoot FMJ ammo.
There are no FMJ rifle ammo signs in the office, at the check-in area and on the firing lines.
FMJ is not allowed on the range per insurance policy.
There are no FMJ rifle ammo signs in the office, at the check-in area and on the firing lines.
FMJ is not allowed on the range per insurance policy.
gbclarkson
New member
While in the Army I was on a qualification range that was shut down for hours because an endangered bird was spotted downrange. A local wildlife expert had to inspect and clear the downrange area. Adjacent ranges were closed also.
Found a range about 40 miles away that you pay $6 per person and go shoot . Theres no range master or gaurd or what ever you call them . Most of the time I shoot at home but this place is interesting if several people want to get togeather to shoot and I dont need all the extra shooting at home .