Self Policing at Gun Range

[danny]

The range I just joined has already had to fight a claim that someone fired a bullet from that range that struck their house. The range was able to demonstrate that it was impossible that it was fired from the range.
I do not want to see the range closed because a very few number of people insist on acting like idiots.
The range closes, they'll still do exactly what you suggested. Meanwhile, a bunch of responsible people will have to figure out what to do next thanks to a couple of idiots.

To dumb things down even more, you need "muzzle limiters", for lack of a better term, physical objects placed so that assuming the position for an out of bounds round impact is impossible.

Danny

 

[DShortt]

Well again, that only works if people follow the rules and shoot from the designated position/line of fire that's established.
I think things get a whole lot simpler if the people who refuse to follow the rules loose their access/privileges.
As the saying goes, 'If you make it idiot proof, someone will make a better idiot.'

The idiots can go be stupid somewhere else.

 

[jghoghunter]

I am the president of MCSA and we have all the problems described here. Think what you want but raising the rates works. Raising the rates got rid of the slob shooters for the most part. Those who bring tv's and propane cylinders. But we still had problems with guys not following the rules. Setting up targets on our 200 yd aux. range but not in front of the berms. Shit like that. So signs went up etc. nothing really helped a whole lot. So we installed a huge camera system. Then we adopted a one and done attitude. We have thrown people out we have had people arrested for destruction of property. THAT MY FRIENDS MAKES A DIFFERENCE. We still have problems once in a while. But for the most part things run fairly smooth. Once your membership understands that you are not f$$$$$g around anymore things change fairly quick.
Four now we use 2x4 attached to steel post out to 100 yards and we hang osb board between them. The one thing that helped the most was to take red paint and spray around the osb board where you don't want people to shoot ie: 2x4's, cross braces if there are any. This made the biggest difference in how long a target systems hold up. So simple!
Pm me if you have any questions.

 

[DShortt]

I am the president of MCSA and we have all the problems described here. Think what you want but raising the rates works. Raising the rates got rid of the slob shooters for the most part. Those who bring tv's and propane cylinders. But we still had problems with guys not following the rules. Setting up targets on our 200 yd aux. range but not in front of the berms. Shit like that. So signs went up etc. nothing really helped a whole lot. So we installed a huge camera system. Then we adopted a one and done attitude. We have thrown people out we have had people arrested for destruction of property. THAT MY FRIENDS MAKES A DIFFERENCE. We still have problems once in a while. But for the most part things run fairly smooth. Once your membership understands that you are not f$$$$$g around anymore things change fairly quick.
Four now we use 2x4 attached to steel post out to 100 yards and we hang osb board between them. The one thing that helped the most was to take red paint and spray around the osb board where you don't want people to shoot ie: 2x4's, cross braces if there are any. This made the biggest difference in how long a target systems hold up. So simple!
Pm me if you have any questions.

That's what I plan to advocate at the club I just joined. Accountability.
When I was less experienced, I shot a frame board or 2. But damn. I figured out what I was doing wrong and made corrections.
Someone shoots a frame multiple times? They're either really intellectually challenged, they could care less, or they're doing it on purpose.
The first person *might* be worth coaching. The other 2 need to be uninvited.

 

[jghoghunter]

If you look at the picture of the backer boards out to 100 yards you'll see about the red that we paint on them sometimes, sometimes it gets forgotten! This is one side of our range it goes from 25 to a thousand yards. The other side which you can't see in the pictures but it's directly to the right goes from 25 to 500 yards. Then we also have a 200 yd auxiliary range as mentioned before. All of these have covered concrete benches pistol range is covered we also have a shotgun patterning range that is covered with a concrete bench.

 

[TTE]

I'm wondering if a few cameras running on a 30 day recorded loop might serve as a deterrent as well as a away to see who the idiots are. Add multiple signs suggesting they smile for the cameras as a reminder to be grown-ass adults.

Whoever owns the 'range' I would contact them, and see if it's ok to put up camera's ..... and , well, fake cameras. They are cheap and adding the sign you suggested is probably the cheapest way to go.
If the abuse continues, get a real camera.

(I didn't read the entire thread, so if suggested previously, sorry)

 

[Herzo]

We used to build 24 x 30 target holders out of 1 x 2's and it was an ongoing challenge to keep enough on hand and in condition. 4 x 4's on 9' centers with 10' - 2 x 4 stringers to support the Coroplast has virtually eliminated the maintenance other than replacing the Coroplast annually on the rifle range and 3 - 4 times on the pistol range. The 4 x 4's are due for replacement after 6 years. The stringers every couple of years as needed.

 

[danny]

We used to build 24 x 30 target holders out of 1 x 2's and it was an ongoing challenge to keep enough on hand and in condition. 4 x 4's on 9' centers with 10' - 2 x 4 stringers to support the Coroplast has virtually eliminated the maintenance other than replacing the Coroplast annually on the rifle range and 3 - 4 times on the pistol range. The 4 x 4's are due for replacement after 6 years. The stringers every couple of years as needed.

At our range, shooters have to supply target frames, and of a specific set of dimensions to place shots in certain areas on the backstop, so if shooters whack the frames, well, that is on them.

Danny

 

[Timberyote]

I, too, belong to a similar range with similar problems. We don't have/want hydro because it will bring in the range noise haters.

Our solution was to install SpyPoint trail cam around.

 

[jghoghunter]

I, too, belong to a similar range with similar problems. We don't have/want hydro because it will bring in the range noise haters.

Our solution was to install SpyPoint trail cam around.

What is hydro?

 

[Timberyote]

What is hydro?

Power/Electricity.

Taken from hydro electricity. Water power driven generators.

 

[archerforkids]

Power is not an issue. Heck, we have a nice club house we don't lock up.

 

[jghoghunter]

Power/Electricity.

Taken from hydro electricity. Water power driven generators.

I would have never figured out that your range has no power by what you said. Also are you saying that if the range has power that would bring in more people and then the people around you would be bitching about the noise I'm not quite sure I understand what you're saying.

 

[Turkeytider]

Sounds like a increase in yearly dues would help the situation.

I wouldn’t necessarily count on it. Our private shooting club, which has lots of shooting and social amenities, most of which I don’t use, has dues 7X that of the OP’s. Unfortunately, it’s the only alternative iin our area if you want to shoot beyond 100 yards , shoot pistols, or compete. The expense in dues does not appear to deter some from being slobs. Even though it’s a rule that one polices one’s brass at the ranges, doesn’t happen too much of the time. I think a lot of it goes back to how people were raised. My daddy always used to say, “ Leave a place a little better than you found it. “ Guess that’s why I spend a few minutes sweeping other people’s brass.

 

[AlNyhus]

I'll add that sometimes the 'improvements' you add don't quite work out as planned. We had some of our hand gun shooters ask for some sort of gong system. We as the BOD put a fair amount of time into researching possible setups and decided on a type of rubber 'gong' that had good reviews and is in wide use around the country. Everyone was happy.

Fast forward a couple weeks later and a long time member who shoots a lot of handgun stuff called and said he had a bullet hit him in the shoulder while shooting at the 'rubber gong'. Long story short...he was using his own hand loads (38 Spl) at extremely reduced velocities for practice. The low velocity bullet hit the heavy rubber, turned around 180 degrees and smacked him in the shoulder. The shooter is a long time shooter, experienced and very, very safety conscious....the type of member we love to have. He also was very forth coming about what he thought caused it. And he was correct. The velocity was low enough that the bullet couldn't penetrate the thick rubber. The good thing was the 'hit' never so much as raised a bruise. He said it felt like someone gave him a hard jab with a finger. But it doesn't take much imagination to imagine scenarios where it could have been much worse.

One thing I learned working in the medical field is: The enemy of 'good' is 'better'. If you have things in place at your range that are working 95% of the time (even if it's not perfect), think long and hard about changing them and the unintended consequences of those changes.

Good (safe) shootin' -Al

 

[JB10]

The range i belong to has had people shooting target frames also. Dont know if cameras have been installed, but warnings have been if you are caught you are banned for life from the range. I had a steel plate at 200 yards once and had another member question me what i was hitting. Showed him the plate and he walked away.

 

[jghoghunter]

The range i belong to has had people shooting target frames also. Dont know if cameras have been installed, but warnings have been if you are caught you are banned for life from the range. I had a steel plate at 200 yards once and had another member question me what i was hitting. Showed him the plate and he walked away.

At 200 yds you had to show him the plate! He couldn't hear or see it?

 

[DShortt]

At 200 yds you had to show him the plate! He couldn't hear or see it?

Shoot a small enough plate, hard to see at 200 yards.

No, I'm not capable. Know a fellow who probably is though.

 

[Krogen]

I'm saddened by some of the problems other clubs have with knuckleheads. I belong to a private club where we have none of these problems. Target stands do get shot, but it's poor shooting or incorrect zeros not vandalism. We consider them replaceable items; the cost of doing business. Now and then a new member, or at times an old hand goofs up regarding club rules. They get corrected by others and typically all is good. We've had only a couple instances where it didn't resolve and the member left. Sometimes voluntarily, other times involuntarily. We're a fairly small club (<500 members) so most everyone knows everyone else. We police ourselves and at the same time have each other's six. It's like a family, really. We have no need for Range Officers during casual shooting. We are open to the public for scheduled matches, where of course, there's a match director running the show. I think the keys to our success are:

* Limited headcount. It means a lengthy waiting list which screens out yahoos. Newbies really want to join.
* As noted above, we coach newbies on the rules and expect newbies to call us on it if we mess up.
* Routine, frequent work parties and presence of the leadership team mean there's a constant visibility if things start going astray.
* We have a high end camera and audio system which has been very useful in identifying errant shots or protecting us against a few outside accusations.
* We have baffles. No blue sky. I wasn't keen on them before we put them in. But I'll tell you, it's much more relaxing running a match when you know a round can't leave. A baffle hit is considered a serious infraction with a fine. If unreported, it's a fine and suspension.

All this results in a club that's safe, enjoyable and like a family. The leadership team and the members focus intently on keeping it that way. It works.

 

[archerforkids]

I'm saddened by some of the problems other clubs have with knuckleheads. I belong to a private club where we have none of these problems. Target stands do get shot, but it's poor shooting or incorrect zeros not vandalism. We consider them replaceable items; the cost of doing business. Now and then a new member, or at times an old hand goofs up regarding club rules. They get corrected by others and typically all is good. We've had only a couple instances where it didn't resolve and the member left. Sometimes voluntarily, other times involuntarily. We're a fairly small club (<500 members) so most everyone knows everyone else. We police ourselves and at the same time have each other's six. It's like a family, really. We have no need for Range Officers during casual shooting. We are open to the public for scheduled matches, where of course, there's a match director running the show. I think the keys to our success are:

* Limited headcount. It means a lengthy waiting list which screens out yahoos. Newbies really want to join.
* As noted above, we coach newbies on the rules and expect newbies to call us on it if we mess up.
* Routine, frequent work parties and presence of the leadership team mean there's a constant visibility if things start going astray.
* We have a high end camera and audio system which has been very useful in identifying errant shots or protecting us against a few outside accusations.
* We have baffles. No blue sky. I wasn't keen on them before we put them in. But I'll tell you, it's much more relaxing running a match when you know a round can't leave. A baffle hit is considered a serious infraction with a fine. If unreported, it's a fine and suspension.

All this results in a club that's safe, enjoyable and like a family. The leadership team and the members focus intently on keeping it that way. It works.

Would you be kind enough to get me pics of those baffles please sir? Although we haven't had any reported "lost rounds" in a long time, I am all about being proactive.