It seems that my attempt at humor, on the NRA Dues thread, has offended some members here. I apologize for this. I was merely poking a little fun at my friend "savagdasher".
Apology
- Thread starter Eddie Harren
- Start date
No apology needed. The COUNTY (not country) owns the land. Bigger berms & plans won't stop the people that shoot over berms, shoot the wind socks or other people's targets. There is no orientation or weeding out of shooters not qualified to shoot. I have actually seen people try to "sight in" at 600 yards. Many of the best shooters have left Manatee for other ranges. Ask Alex Wheeler what he thinks! You don't need NRA involvement to properly maintain what you already have. You have to go through multiple target stands to find one that will hold your target. The road to 600 & 1000 is PERILOUS to travel and combined with carts that should have been retired years ago make setting or checking targets an epidural episode. Gongs remain broken for months. There is plenty of money. To say the club made $350 is asinine. There is a lack of unified direction. Major distractions aside, you have to be open first. Sorry for the randomness not the rant.
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
Seems that some folks will be offended, no matter what you say.
Bob,
One of my biggest complaints besides the range idiots is, like you, trying to find a good target holder.
If you are working up loads, you need guy wires to keep the stands from swaying back and forth. Putting out a chronograph or wind flags? Scary.
Try putting a rifle away if your case holds two rifles in opposing directions, you're screwed. The RO will bitch you out no matter what you do. It's a lose-lose situation.
I try not to use the carts. They look like they were built in 1975. Most of my shooting is done at 300 or less. If I go beyond that I'm stuck riding in them like you.
When I actively shot BR, I did most of my shooting over at the 200yd range. Those days are long gone and I wouldn't even ask to use it any more.
Manatee is almost an hour away from my house. I still prefer it over all others.
I have a small 100yd range less than 15 minutes away that I've been using for informal plinking. It's less crowded, takes less time and there are a lot less spray and pray shooters there.
Did I mention I prefer Manatee?
One of my biggest complaints besides the range idiots is, like you, trying to find a good target holder.
If you are working up loads, you need guy wires to keep the stands from swaying back and forth. Putting out a chronograph or wind flags? Scary.
Try putting a rifle away if your case holds two rifles in opposing directions, you're screwed. The RO will bitch you out no matter what you do. It's a lose-lose situation.
I try not to use the carts. They look like they were built in 1975. Most of my shooting is done at 300 or less. If I go beyond that I'm stuck riding in them like you.
When I actively shot BR, I did most of my shooting over at the 200yd range. Those days are long gone and I wouldn't even ask to use it any more.
Manatee is almost an hour away from my house. I still prefer it over all others.
I have a small 100yd range less than 15 minutes away that I've been using for informal plinking. It's less crowded, takes less time and there are a lot less spray and pray shooters there.
Did I mention I prefer Manatee?
I use to live in Palm Beach County and drove 185 miles one way to shoot Manatee. I was there with my 3-4 buddies twice a month and sometimes we stayed the weekends. I now live 235 miles away a only make it there about twice a year. I can go to Bradford, which is out to 850 yards, 65 miles away, $40.00 a day. I go there once in a while, still prefer Manatee, just hate the ride. Larry is a good guy and I have always enjoyed shooting with him, and personally I don't mind at all what it takes to get down and back on the range.
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
First the NRA Membership thread turned into a Manatee thread and now the apology thread is turning into a Manatee thread. WOW! If the passion for Manatee could get out of this forum and into action there would never be a threat to it.
I believe that ANY range is important to the "ecosystem" of shooting. As far as supporting ranges, I am a life member of one club and an annual member of two more. One of them is a 3 hour drive! We support the ranges with our money and our vote. We support our ranges by being a good neighbor. We support our ranges by making sure that everyone knows and follows the rules of safety. Range membership has exploded and with it come the problems of accommodating everyone that wants to be a member. The smallest of my three memberships has 250 members and the largest has 1500. This shows just how much of a need there is for them. Bottom line is that protecting our ranges is OUR responsibility.
I believe that ANY range is important to the "ecosystem" of shooting. As far as supporting ranges, I am a life member of one club and an annual member of two more. One of them is a 3 hour drive! We support the ranges with our money and our vote. We support our ranges by being a good neighbor. We support our ranges by making sure that everyone knows and follows the rules of safety. Range membership has exploded and with it come the problems of accommodating everyone that wants to be a member. The smallest of my three memberships has 250 members and the largest has 1500. This shows just how much of a need there is for them. Bottom line is that protecting our ranges is OUR responsibility.
Yup, your right all the way around. I can tell you one thing ,I'd be kicking your azz off the range the first time you did not impact the berm.....
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
But being an ass is not the way to handle it. Show some respect, at least in the beginning, to those thousands of new shooters on the range that are still to learn all the things it has taken you a lifetime to possess yourself.
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
Going three for three.......
I know when to stop!
It took running a gun club 14 years to learn all that.
CaptainMal
Silver $$ Contributor
FYI...
Manatee had an election today. New President - Gene Pitts is gone.
The road to 600 and 1,000 is rough. You really should not walk as it holds up the range. Take a cart or bring your own. I bought a Honda Quad from a guy that kept one there to use. You can bring and use your own.
Club does have money. Maybe with the new leadership some will be used to upgrade the carts? It is a crowded place at times as it is public with 900 members and lots of different ranges. To me, some are not as safe as others yet, there have been no injuries there. Accidents happen but it is a PUBLIC range owned by the County. When you allow the general public access, you have the likings of what you see during elections, welfare lines, ghetto's etc. The general public is quite often a mess. Range safety officers have to deal with it. Sometime the reality of idiocy is unpleasant to deal with. Pointing guns in a safe manner can be a problem difficult to control and there are more. Public range means you cannot do your own thing.
Buy a few hundred acres and have your own range. I have access to one and am lucky. Still, really like the events at Manatee and try to stay away from all the human interaction that creates friction so common among humans. Man is a nasty animal. Put us together and it's trouble. Manatee Range Officers have a tough job and do it well. The rewards are there if you understand reality and can enjoy the opportunities and make the compromises needed to do so.
Manatee had an election today. New President - Gene Pitts is gone.
The road to 600 and 1,000 is rough. You really should not walk as it holds up the range. Take a cart or bring your own. I bought a Honda Quad from a guy that kept one there to use. You can bring and use your own.
Club does have money. Maybe with the new leadership some will be used to upgrade the carts? It is a crowded place at times as it is public with 900 members and lots of different ranges. To me, some are not as safe as others yet, there have been no injuries there. Accidents happen but it is a PUBLIC range owned by the County. When you allow the general public access, you have the likings of what you see during elections, welfare lines, ghetto's etc. The general public is quite often a mess. Range safety officers have to deal with it. Sometime the reality of idiocy is unpleasant to deal with. Pointing guns in a safe manner can be a problem difficult to control and there are more. Public range means you cannot do your own thing.
Buy a few hundred acres and have your own range. I have access to one and am lucky. Still, really like the events at Manatee and try to stay away from all the human interaction that creates friction so common among humans. Man is a nasty animal. Put us together and it's trouble. Manatee Range Officers have a tough job and do it well. The rewards are there if you understand reality and can enjoy the opportunities and make the compromises needed to do so.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.