Self Policing at Gun Range

[Krogen]

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.

Proactive is good! That said, I can't share photos. Apologies. . . . I don't think they'd help very much anyway. Your design needs to be unique to your range. It depends on your terrain, firing line and the kind of rounds they need to stop.

 

[DShortt]

Proactive is good! That said, I can't share photos. Apologies. . . . I don't think they'd help very much anyway. Your design needs to be unique to your range. It depends on your terrain, firing line and the kind of rounds they need to stop.

The range I just joined has baffles. And wouldn't you know, some moron or morons are intentionally shooting the baffles. How do I know it's intentional? If there's 4,5,6 or more holes grouped close together, it's intentional.

Like I said, this club needs to address damage problems yesterday.

 

[Charlie-NY]

At a public range in my area, they have always had baffles. The baffles are more like elongated troughs. The three-sided wooden trough is filled with blue stone. Nothing is going through the trough, but you can see that they have taken many, many hits.

Our private club put a nice roof over all the benches a few years ago. One of the things I noticed shortly after installation was a nice 30cal (give or take) hole directly over one of the benches. Things do happen and I guess it was lucky that the discharge went in a safe direction.

 

[Luisyamaha]

Club I belong to each member has to provide his own target frame. They have to be built to a standardized design so they are all the same and fit some brackets(?) behind railroad ties and dirt berms. They are mostly 2X2 wood and the target area ends up 2'X3'. If you shoot it up, it is your target, make a new one. The only downside is it is another thing to haul to the range, but you can make it so it dis-assembles into smaller parts and it isn't that much of a hassle. Apparently, before I joined, the club used to supply these frames as there is a storage shed full of shot-up frames at the range. No idea if anybody ever uses them, or why they haven't been used for firewood yet... But, again, I use my own.

Luisyamaha

 

[danny]

Club I belong to each member has to provide his own target frame. They have to be built to a standardized design so they are all the same and fit some brackets(?) behind railroad ties and dirt berms. They are mostly 2X2 wood and the target area ends up 2'X3'. If you shoot it up, it is your target, make a new one. The only downside is it is another thing to haul to the range, but you can make it so it dis-assembles into smaller parts and it isn't that much of a hassle. Apparently, before I joined, the club used to supply these frames as there is a storage shed full of shot-up frames at the range. No idea if anybody ever uses them, or why they haven't been used for firewood yet... But, again, I use my own.

Luisyamaha

That's just like our range, and yes, it is a hassle to carry a target frame, but that is how it is and it saves the range the cost of replacing them. I also made mine easier to carry by cutting it in half and putting a hinge on it so that it can fold together.

Danny

 

[Longtrain]

Our range has an electronic gate and video cameras covering each bench and adjacent areas as well as a few pointing down range. “Down Range” alarms and lights are controlled at every bench and must be activated when anyone goes down range. (Annoying, but they’re there for a reason). The range is baffled out to 200 yds, “no blue sky”. Only paper targets are allowed. Generally there hasn’t been many issues with our setup. Anywhere you look there’s a camera looking at you. Small price to pay for security and safety.

 

[Big_Daddy]

The range I just joined has baffles. And wouldn't you know, some moron or morons are intentionally shooting the baffles. How do I know it's intentional? If there's 4,5,6 or more holes grouped close together, it's intentional.

Like I said, this club needs to address damage problems yesterday.

At our range (same range that Krogen referred to) baffle strikes cost the person $250 and if they are unreported, a temporary suspension of membership accompanies the fine. If a guest of a member shoots the baffle, the member is on the hook for the consequences. This definitely helps people pay attention to what they are doing.

It may seem harsh to some however it is well detailed in the new member orientation.
We have had no real push back on this policy.
Safety is the #1 driving force behind all of our rules, policies and operation.

Our baffles have performed very well when a strike does occur.
No rounds have come out the backside of the baffles.

Our baffle are regularly inspected and any new strikes are repaired.

Cameras w/ audio are of great value when an incident of any kind occurs.

UPDATED for clarification.....

 

[JB10]

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

It was a 10 inch plate that i shot the paint off of. He could hear it and thought i was shooting a steel target stand out there. Dont think he bothered to look before he questioned me.

 

[jk80]

At our range (same range that Krogen referred to) baffle strikes cost the person $250 and if they are unreported, a suspension of membership accompanies the fine.

Just curious. If a member knows he's getting the boot how do you convince him to pony up the fine. If he's gone anyway has anyone thought it was in their best interests to pay the fine?

 

[KMart]

Club I belong to each member has to provide his own target frame. They have to be built to a standardized design so they are all the same and fit some brackets(?) behind railroad ties and dirt berms. They are mostly 2X2 wood and the target area ends up 2'X3'. If you shoot it up, it is your target, make a new one. The only downside is it is another thing to haul to the range, but you can make it so it dis-assembles into smaller parts and it isn't that much of a hassle. Apparently, before I joined, the club used to supply these frames as there is a storage shed full of shot-up frames at the range. No idea if anybody ever uses them, or why they haven't been used for firewood yet... But, again, I use my own.

Luisyamaha

Same for our club

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

last week in DFW, a shooter at an indoor range had his AR jam. (90% it was an AR style rifle.). Instead of asking the staff for help, he tried to clear the jam himself. In the process he got the muzzle pointing at this head. The rest you can imagine. He fired a round striking himself in the head. Gee, I hate going to indoor ranges. Could have easily sent a round to the right or left. Other shooters may not have known what he was doing.

 

[Big_Daddy]

Just curious. If a member knows he's getting the boot how do you convince him to pony up the fine. If he's gone anyway has anyone thought it was in their best interests to pay the fine?

Keep in mind, it is a suspension and not a termination of membership.
The suspension can vary depending on the circumstances.
Most result in a 1 month "time out" for a non reported baffle strike.

Our club currently has a waiting list of nearly 3 years.
Once you are in, most people want to stay in.

We have very few incidents.

 

[Tim Singleton]

We did this 3 years ago and it seemed to help a little. This club is FFA and 4H oriented. These are not folks that can swing a high membership fee nor should they. I think we are at about 500 members now. I'm pretty sure we have the budget to put in a decent camera system. Next meeting will tell.

at 500 members and problems, it may be time to start a volunteer RSO duty calendar before some folks goof it up for everyone

 

[jk80]

At our range (same range that Krogen referred to) baffle strikes cost the person $250 and if they are unreported, a suspension of membership accompanies the fine.

This was what was posted and sounds like a fine and then booted. If I paid the fine and then found out I got the boot I'd sure be upset as I'm sure a lot would be. Sorry if I misunderstood.

 

[Big_Daddy]

This was what was posted and sounds like a fine and then booted. If I paid the fine and then found out I got the boot I'd sure be upset as I'm sure a lot would be. Sorry if I misunderstood.

Suspension vs Termination of membership.

 

[DShortt]

Suspension vs Termination of membership.

Probably should require a reinstatement fee as well.

Simply because, my observation has been without consequences, people will do what they want.
'If you want to remain a member, it's going to cost you something. Do it again and you're gone. '

 

[archerforkids]

I haven't responded due to being overwhelmed. I haven't personally been to a range in 45 years or better that actually written enforceable rules much less RSOs. Unfortunately theres a little too much honor system going on. Sad part is 90% or better fit the honorable description. Yall know about the other 10%.
Things yall are sharing is very enlightening.

 

[Tim Singleton]

I haven't responded due to being overwhelmed. I haven't personally been to a range in 45 years or better that actually written enforceable rules much less RSOs. Unfortunately theres a little too much honor system going on. Sad part is 90% or better fit the honorable description. Yall know about the other 10%.
Things yall are sharing is very enlightening.

My local club isn’t much larger member wise than yours
we have a well staffed volunteer RSO program. The biggest thing that makes it work is you can’t shoot without an RSO on duty. BUT if you are an RSO you can shoot anytime this pushed you to become a RSO and take a rotation once a month out of self preservation if you like to shoot a lott

 

[Big_Daddy]

Probably should require a reinstatement fee as well.

Simply because, my observation has been without consequences, people will do what they want.
'If you want to remain a member, it's going to cost you something. Do it again and you're gone. '

Well there is a standard $250 fine applied to all baffle strikes.

 

[CJ6]

If you get caught breaking a range rule, you go before the board and are given a chance to state your side.
There are 2 outcomes 1) suspended for 1 year. 2) banned.
I only know of 1 suspension, the rest have been banned.
If you fail to meet with the board, you are automatically banned.