I Don't Get It

[K22]

I was at the range on Tues and the "Rambo" crowd showed up. They started blasting away with their AR's, emptying 20 round clips in rapid session. I just sat back and watched as brass flew everywhere. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to their shooting except to make a lot of noise. The man size targets, placed at 100 yards looked like they had been blasted with a shotgun. The target backers didn't look too good either.

I didn't say anything of course, to each his own, live and let live, etc. They were valid members and were not voliating any range rules. I just wondered if they realized what they were doing to their barrels or what the purpose was. Perhaps that's my problem, I'm a purpose driven shooter.

I'm not against AR's, I trained on one in the Army in the early 70's, a nice weapon for sure. They were just legalized in PA for varmint and predator hunting. I can see that. I see self defense practice at self defense ranges. But I guess I just don't get it with this kind of shooting. Of course they probably would think I was nuts chasing ghogs in the summer in 90 degree + heat or hunting predators in sub freezing temperatures.

My vent for the year - I promise no more vents in 2017.

 

[Richard Coody]

I don't see the attraction either

 

[watercam]

At least they are providing a ready source of once fired cases for those who know what to do with them!

 

[snert]

Same crowd forty years ago with Marlin 60's and coke cans.

Dad bought me a model 67 Winchester and gave me half a box of 22's. I learned what it meant to hit what I wanted to hit.

Now I shoot long range varmint guns and was once heck on wheels with a Glock...I managed to learned to shoot both and hit what I aimed at.

As long as they keep the muzzle downrange and vote for freedom, I guess I don't mind.

 

[taz442]

I usually just sit back and wait until they leave. Then ....... pick up their discarded brass. It's any easy way to subsidize shooting the local carbine matches.

 

[Witchhunter]

I am always puzzled by "plinking" rounds. Guys are always interested in cheap plinking rounds in .223. I always think of plinking as missing. Why would you want to do that? I had a similar incident happen to me a while back. I am at the range, working up loads for my squirrel rifle and some biker guys show up with an UZI. they were polite, asked if they could set up a target at 100 yards too. Sure, OK. Then they sprayed 5 or 6 boxes of Remington green box ammo at it, barely hitting the paper. I suggested they move it to 25 yards to be more efficient. One guy (the expert) tells me that the range of a 9mm round is 1.3 miles. Oh, I say, well good luck. They leave and I get 400 rounds of once fired brass. I'm with you, to each his own, but I am more interested in hitting than missing, at whatever range.
Aim small miss small.

 

[ShootDots]

I was at the range on Tues and the "Rambo" crowd showed up. They started blasting away with their AR's, emptying 20 round clips in rapid session. I just sat back and watched as brass flew everywhere. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to their shooting except to make a lot of noise. The man size targets, placed at 100 yards looked like they had been blasted with a shotgun. The target backers didn't look too good either.

I didn't say anything of course, to each his own, live and let live, etc. They were valid members and were not voliating any range rules. I just wondered if they realized what they were doing to their barrels or what the purpose was. Perhaps that's my problem, I'm a purpose driven shooter.

I'm not against AR's, I trained on one in the Army in the early 70's, a nice weapon for sure. They were just legalized in PA for varmint and predator hunting. I can see that. I see self defense practice at self defense ranges. But I guess I just don't get it with this kind of shooting. Of course they probably would think I was nuts chasing ghogs in the summer in 90 degree + heat or hunting predators in sub freezing temperatures.

My vent for the year - I promise no more vents in 2017.

I share your exact sentiments! However, there is a silver lining in every cloud.. "Blasting" as I call it, can be "fun" for the neophyte! They gain a love for weaponry and ergo want to KEEP their guns! This will almost always translate into them being a GUN VOTING REPUBLICAN and will, at some point in time, join the N.R.A., thus keeping our shooting sports that much safer!

 

[JFM33]

America ,freedom ,get some .
I still do it to this day except now I have 100rd drum and a SBR.
Lots of fun.

 

[msinc]

Whatever gets you thru the night...as long as nobody gets hurt. When I think of "plinking" it is almost never at a paper target...I usually take my Garand to the gravel pit and shoot bowling ball size dirt clods at from 100 to 400 yards. I don't shoot fast or get the barrel too hot though...they don't give away Garand barrels.

 

[Gina1]

I'm an RSO at our local public range. I don't get it ether, but it seems to be drive by young men running full bore on testosterone. They will fire off 100's of rounds, just to shoot.
All I can do is sit and watch them. If I see a safety violation I will point it out. I also talk to fellow shooters on that range, arrange cease fires, for target changes (for the serious shooters).
If that were not bad enough, being a woman RSO, with these young men, respect is an issue. I have the local police on speed dial if I need it.
Not much you can do about it, but just keep it safe and I can tell them to leave if it gets out of hand.

 

[jdh47]

I think that some people just like to shoot and plinking ammo is cheap. If they don't reload that is what they have and what they do. Cheap ammo ran through a cheap rifle is going to be doing good to hit a man sized target at 100 yards. That scenario is the same for AR's and bolt guns alike. As long as they are safe and having fun, good on em.

It would be nice to channel some of that energy into a little more structured shooting discipline. Sooner or later they might just try their hand at something a little more precise. But the sad fact is that for some people hitting a five gallon bucket at 50 yards is good enough accuracy for deer season.

Joe

 

[Shynloco]

I'm an RSO at our local public range. I don't get it ether, but it seems to be drive by young men running full bore on testosterone......

IMHO. there is NOTHING to get. Have you guys ever noticed it is usually a group of these trigger happy youngsters who really aren't interested in accuracy, but just the thrill of pumping out ammo as fast as they can. It's sort of like a psychological HIGH and a temporary departure from sanity and any resemblance to common sense and an overwhelming desire to show, "WE BAD!" And then most just walk away and leave good brass or then junk stuff for others clean up. Which brings me to one of my favorite sayings........There are folks out here who buy guns and ammo, who have more money than brains,,,,,like Gina says......testosterone and a mere extension of that thing between their legs. How Nice!

Alex

 

[IPSCNUT]

Now whats really interesting is watching a video of Bubba busting a rock at 2000yds !!!!!!!!
Come on I'm waitin.

 

[Terry_M]

I have a very close friend that is deeply passionate about his stamp collecting. He's over a dozen now. I really enjoy our trips to the range. He's not your typical spray and pray guy though.

I have to admit there is something exhilarating about putting 50 rounds on a 6" plate at 50yds in a matter of seconds.

He thinks I'm equally off kilter to go to the range with only 10 rounds and spend an hour shooting them.

Enjoy the free brass fellas and hope they vote to keep their ability to leave it for us.

 

[snert]

stamp collecting. I like that.

I do have to say the day my Bureau buddy showed up with an MP5 and a bucket of ammo was an inspiring day. Gosh, what an enlightenment. Still have the old tape of it (yes, tape) if only I could watch it.

 

[Rogmay]

I will say every gun I've every owned had a purpose, either my first competition 22 when I was 10 to my most recent 284 for f class, I'm now 49. All other rifles have been for specific types of hunting! That being said, I told my wife a few years ago "I think I want a gun just to have fun with and blow up a watermelon". So I went out and bought my first AR with a slide stock (700 rounds a minute). Now with that being said I sure couldn't imagine bringing it to a gun range with many other people around, here in Montana I can drive 15 minutes from home and be in the middle of nowhere, shoot all I want and have fun with the kids, AND collect all my brass for reloading, I guess it's a matter of perspective on what one likes, but we do need to have respect for others first and foremost! As far as some of the other yahoo's, as long they shoot safely I guess I'm ok with it, I just choose not to be around them!

 

[theMadAlaskan]

My friends and I did the same thing when we were in our teens and twenties, shoot 100's of rounds just to shoot. It was FUN! Turning money into noise. Discipline and practicing real shooting skills came later. Like others have said, as long as they're pointing downrange let them at it.

 

[hunter243sgk]

I not only dont get it but am now very particular about who i shoot with. I had a relative embarrass me at a range one time by doing those mag dumps and really annoying the three other members. Two pack up and left rather quickly and i apologized to the last one. I wont even go to some ranges because some of these types CAN be dangerous.

 

[johnfred1965]

There is a way to shoot like that with a purpose, it is called 3-gun!

 

[Rsadams]

+1 iam trying to shoot some test loads and some guys trying to melt the barrel on his $300 dpms.. Gets old fast , good time to let my barrel cool and see if they shoot each other.. I had one last month walk out in front of me on a hot fireing line just as I put my finger on the trigger.. He got an ear full.. What an idiot.. I hate when the range is open to the public.. Why I try not to go those two days..