Range safety scenario

[jackieschmidt]

I’d say that there’s at least a 95% probability that that never actually happened, and the guy who told the story has watched too many movies.

^^^^^^
How many of you have ever been to a Benchrest Match?

We live by the “bolts out rule”.

 

[jelenko]

Check this out...talk about skin crawling....

Just wow.

 

[Will Henry]

In the early days of BR shooting, it was commonplace for everyone to stay at the bench while targets were changed. Guys would be adjusting scopes, cleaning rifles or whatever. It was in the late '70's that we suddenly realized this might be seen as unsafe and at least required bolt removal. Cleaning at the benches, between relays, was still SOP. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see people freak out because someone is handling their rifle while personnel are downrange. I don't mean pointing the rifle downrange, I mean cleaning the rifle or adjusting the scope with the rifle pointed away.
At a recent "F" class match, I was fascinated at the instruction that we could take our equipment to the firing line but barrels had to point back, up range, while there were people down at the butts. Now, there were people down at the butts but there was also the next relay standing around behind us. Apparently, they lost the coin toss when the decision was made as to who was expendable!
Seriously, safety is important and accidents can happen (although, in sixty years of shooting, I've not seen one). There is some pretty solid evidence that the average IQ is declining so I can understand the necessity for safe handling rules but, often, they are inconsistent and not well thought out and the range safety Nazis can put a damper on an outing. WH

 

[jelenko]

take our equipment to the firing line but barrels had to point back, up range

Like, WTF?
Someone had to have miscommunicated something. The people behind the line are much more likely to be hit than someone hundreds of yards away.

 

[divingin]

It's foolish to physically and aggressively confront someone that has a firearm when you can walk away.

It's tough to walk away faster than a bullet...

 

[KY_Windage]

I am all about safety any time firearms are present, and if I did something stupid I will take a tongue lashing, but if you try and take my firearm we are going to have a problem.

As any LEO can tell you, forcefully taking something from someone is assault, while accidentally pointing a gun at them is not. I'm not saying there can never be justification for forcefully taking a weapon from someone, but this wasn't it.

Also seems like a splendid way to create an accidental discharge with the bullet going who knows where.

 

[divingin]

Legally this is a minefield. Any lawer paid enough could cause some real issues. Just look at how much trouble police get into. Most of them are doing what they think is best and they get no benefit of the doubt. Imagine a private citizen dealing with that.

I find it rather incongruous that shooters are so adamant about their right to protect their homes, families, and lives by way of deadly force, but are reticent about protecting their own life by way of disarming someone who is obviously safety-negligent in order to prevent an accident.

I have been flagged by shooters at the range, and have grabbed their firearm to keep it pointed away from me or others (though I never wrestled it away, just got/kept it pointing in a safer direction.)

 

[matthias]

I find it rather incongruous that shooters are so adamant about their right to protect their homes, families, and lives by way of deadly force, but are reticent about protecting their own life by way of disarming someone who is obviously safety-negligent in order to prevent an accident.

I have been flagged by shooters at the range, and have grabbed their firearm to keep it pointed away from me or others (though I never wrestled it away, just got/kept it pointing in a safer direction.)

context is important. Sometime the best way to deal with an unsafe situation is to get yourself out of the situation.

I am really happy we have citizen cowboys (divingin) that are out grabbing muzzles and "making things safer." Safety rules like many things should have no ego attached.

Sorry for being sarcastic. But I think maybe we all need to remember how we react to situations is different. If I dont have skin in the game you would be really hard pressed to get me to grab a muzzle.

 

[Ccrider]

Don't go to a range on weekends. ?

Nope Don’t go to the range at all.

 

[tronicst1]

I usually have more than 1 gun at the range, I assume others do too. Taking one gun could
get a gun fight started, especially these days. I have seen my share of novices at the range
and have pointed out numerous rule infractions to the Range Master who has no problems
taking care of such things.

 

[300_whisper]

context is important. Sometime the best way to deal with an unsafe situation is to get yourself out of the situation.

Seriously, that goes for any situation involving the safety and welfare of you or your loved ones. If you can get out of an unsafe area, get out and get far away.

 

[300_whisper]

Nope Don’t go to the range at all.

where do you shoot? Private property?

 

[divingin]

context is important. Sometime the best way to deal with an unsafe situation is to get yourself out of the situation.

Sorry for being sarcastic. But I think maybe we all need to remember how we react to situations is different. If I dont have skin in the game you would be really hard pressed to get me to grab a muzzle.

So how would you react if you looked at the next bench and saw a rifle or pistol pointed at you? Ignore it? Walk away?

I'm not a cowboy, but I would like my body to maintain the number of orifices it currently has.

 

[300_whisper]

So how would you react if you looked at the next bench and saw a rifle or pistol pointed at you? Ignore it? Walk away?

I'm not a cowboy, but I would like my body to maintain the number of orifices it currently has.

So context is obviously important...

if he is trying to kill you, get away or fight back

if he’s unintentionally flagging you, just say politely hey man watch your muzzle and / or move out of the way.

 

[Erud]

So how would you react if you looked at the next bench and saw a rifle or pistol pointed at you? Ignore it? Walk away?

I'm not a cowboy, but I would like my body to maintain the number of orifices it currently has.

Telling the guy something like; " Hey, get your @#$% gun pointed the right direction!" will generally do the trick, and the average shooter will be embarrassed enough by their own carelessness that they won't do it again.

 

[Ccrider]

Telling the guy something like; " Hey, get your @#$% gun pointed the right direction!" will generally do the trick, and the average shooter will be embarrassed enough by their own carelessness that they won't do it again.

Find somewhere else to shoot. You can’t fix stupid. And, I am sorry, I did not mean to shoot you want cure a bullet hole.

 

[Erud]

Find somewhere else to shoot. You can’t fix stupid. And, I am sorry, I did not mean to shoot you want cure a bullet hole.

Maybe not, but you can definitely fix ignorant. So what's your approach, disarm a guy that inadvertently flags you - John Wick-style?

Keep in mind that the story in the original post didn't actually happen.

 

[300_whisper]

Maybe not, but you can definitely fix ignorant. So what's your approach, disarm a guy that inadvertently flags you John Wick-style?

Keep in mind that the story in the original post didn't actually happen.

I’d kill him with a pencil. But that’s just me....

 

[divingin]

Find somewhere else to shoot.

Tough to do in the SF Bay Area without incurring a 45 minute drive (to a club range that fawns over members but disregards many safety aspects for those members and limits rifle targets to a single aim point) to multi-hour drive.

 

[300_whisper]

SF Bay Area

Theres all your problems right there...lol