Can I Share Something -- Avoiding Crowds at Range
- Thread starter AccelR8
- Start date
The older I get the more I'd rather be by myself.
When I was younger, I couldn't sit still if I was home alone. I'd either be calling friends to go out, driving around or riding my motorcycle. If all of my friends were busy, I'd just head to the bars by myself. I'd almost always run in to someone I knew.
Now, when I need to run out for errands, I do it as quickly as possible so I can get home again. Not because of Rona... I've been like this for the past couple of years.
As for the range... I never go on the weekends, and I purposely avoid when the warm days show up after a long winter. In fact, I usually plan to go when it rains or snows. I like to have the range to myself if I'm zero-ing a new scope. When I am there with crowds, I get muzzle swept all the time, and people calling cold ranges every couple of minutes. It's not worth it.
When I was younger, I couldn't sit still if I was home alone. I'd either be calling friends to go out, driving around or riding my motorcycle. If all of my friends were busy, I'd just head to the bars by myself. I'd almost always run in to someone I knew.
Now, when I need to run out for errands, I do it as quickly as possible so I can get home again. Not because of Rona... I've been like this for the past couple of years.
As for the range... I never go on the weekends, and I purposely avoid when the warm days show up after a long winter. In fact, I usually plan to go when it rains or snows. I like to have the range to myself if I'm zero-ing a new scope. When I am there with crowds, I get muzzle swept all the time, and people calling cold ranges every couple of minutes. It's not worth it.
Just called the Ft Bliss Gun Club and they're going to continue with the range appointments and masks. I don't mind it since you're not having to keep your eye on a lot of people on a crowded range. I don't like the 2 hours they give you but if I need more time I'll need to find a place in the desert or travel to Las Cruces.
Thanks to all who replied. It is nice to know I'm not the only one. Seriously, I mean that.
Our range has a spotless safety record. On my last visit though I noticed three bullet holes through the 50 yard shelter roof. I will have to check the others and see. This is new.
We only admit new members who are sponsored by a member in good standing of at least a year. The candidates must submit an application, be interviewed, and attend safety training. Still, I have seen guys carry AR15s not in a case from their vehicle to the bench with bolts closed and magazines in. People handling guns while others are down range. On the pistol range, plenty of sweeps especial when there's a malfunction. Not to give the wrong impression, these things are relatively rare but increasing. I often wonder, who sponsors these guys and vouches for them, attesting to their responsibility and character? When corrected these offenders are mostly apologetic and willing receive instruction.. A few are just kind of matter-of-fact, like Oh, OK. Sure Bud. It wasn't loaded anyway. And while I've never experienced it I've been told of full-blown confrontations over such things...although honestly I wonder if somebody is embellishing the story!
At a public DNR range I used to shoot at, now that was a different story. I don't go there anymore.
edit; I've been thinking this thread was kind of ill advised, maybe we should let it die.
Our range has a spotless safety record. On my last visit though I noticed three bullet holes through the 50 yard shelter roof. I will have to check the others and see. This is new.
We only admit new members who are sponsored by a member in good standing of at least a year. The candidates must submit an application, be interviewed, and attend safety training. Still, I have seen guys carry AR15s not in a case from their vehicle to the bench with bolts closed and magazines in. People handling guns while others are down range. On the pistol range, plenty of sweeps especial when there's a malfunction. Not to give the wrong impression, these things are relatively rare but increasing. I often wonder, who sponsors these guys and vouches for them, attesting to their responsibility and character? When corrected these offenders are mostly apologetic and willing receive instruction.. A few are just kind of matter-of-fact, like Oh, OK. Sure Bud. It wasn't loaded anyway. And while I've never experienced it I've been told of full-blown confrontations over such things...although honestly I wonder if somebody is embellishing the story!
At a public DNR range I used to shoot at, now that was a different story. I don't go there anymore.
edit; I've been thinking this thread was kind of ill advised, maybe we should let it die.
I wish I could just find some land. I’ll even go into a partnership, or find a hunting club with a range. I don’t want to hunt there, I’ll help pay expense, take care of the place, clean, fix, whatever I just want to use it as a range some of the time when it’s not being used for anything else. Anything to have a range of my own so to speak so I don’t need to deal with people.
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
I knew I liked you for some reason.
As a retired cop from the 7th or 8th largest city in the US, I hate crowds as well. I like people but on my terms. I had a former co-worker visit me with her daughter. I told them stay as long as they liked. The had a camper. I tried to persuade them to park a little further from my house than what the did.. Long story short I started getting nervous after a few days. after a few more days I felt trapped in my home. So I told them I know I told you to stay as long as you want but PLEASE DON'T..! They left with in 48 hrs.. I felt relieved.. I did not move off grid to have some one camp right outside my door.! There were other issues like them not understanding solar power and that you can not run a TV, Internet, stereo and a microwave off my one outside receptacle....!!! AT NIGHT!!!
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
Reading these responses makes me feel very fortunate to be a member of The Tomball Gun Club.
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I think most of us are that way, tired of crowds, busy places. I can do it if there's something I need or want bad enough. I'm glad I'm not the only one lol.
For the last 6 and a half years we've owned our own little 10 acre piece of heaven. Actually just 2 pivot corners with a house in the middle, but I shoot from the covered front porch. The wife and kids don't mind. The only fly is that a little over a year ago some schmo built a house 1/2 mile directly down range! No issues if I'm shooting into my berm, but now I have to be ultra cautious of a ricochet. And I'm sure the noise can be a bit un-nerving, but hey I was here first!
And before we moved here I set up a range on my bil's land that stretches to 800 yards. I was a member of the local range for a few years, but that's a pita. I like a range all to myself, and would probably not shoot much if I had to do it all at a public range. It took forever to work up a load that way. Now I can have a rifle wrung out in a session or two.
For the last 6 and a half years we've owned our own little 10 acre piece of heaven. Actually just 2 pivot corners with a house in the middle, but I shoot from the covered front porch. The wife and kids don't mind. The only fly is that a little over a year ago some schmo built a house 1/2 mile directly down range! No issues if I'm shooting into my berm, but now I have to be ultra cautious of a ricochet. And I'm sure the noise can be a bit un-nerving, but hey I was here first!
And before we moved here I set up a range on my bil's land that stretches to 800 yards. I was a member of the local range for a few years, but that's a pita. I like a range all to myself, and would probably not shoot much if I had to do it all at a public range. It took forever to work up a load that way. Now I can have a rifle wrung out in a session or two.
I’m too young to be this guy, but am also sure this will be me when the time comes. People are flooding to my area and I honestly can’t stand going to the range when it’s crowded. The uninitiated like to get kinda close, because a couple rifles look pretty cool. Then they tend to move back when the braked boomers start barking. 
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TylerFromMS
Gold $$ Contributor
Agoraphobia - Wikipedia
Happens to me at the grocery store.
I stopped shooting at public range after I had a gun pulled on me during a cease fire. I was walking back during a ceasefire when some guy started handling his rifle while myself and other are down range. I yelled out and the guy pulled a handgun and pointed it straight at my head.
I was done with public ranges after that.
I was done with public ranges after that.
Monte F
Silver $$ Contributor
Went to the range this morning and had it to myself and the RSO sweeping up the grounds. Nice to not have to worry about others going down range without calling/or waiting for the line to go cold. I seen people just head down range while live fire is going to retrieve their targets.
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Monte F
Silver $$ Contributor
I would have reported it to the Sheriff, sounds like a felony offense to me.
D-4297
Gold $$ Contributor
Well ; I generally still like being around rational , intelligent people , But I completely acknowledge the fact that I have reached the point in life where I have no tolerance , nor the time to suffer fools or idiots . And they are way to damned many of both in this world today . We as a group are engaged in a hobby / sport that involves high-powered rifles , so we also have the right , and the obligation to be selective of who we associate with . I am very lucky ; in that I get to shoot with literally , some of the best in the nation , and the world on a weekly basis . But I try to stay away from the "Public" range on the property . Get tired of telling the "wanna-be's" , "NO ! You can't shoot my $8,000 custom TR rifle , or my $6,000 Open rifle to impress this weeks "main squeeze" ! And you can't afford the hand-loaded ammo , either . HUM-freakin-Bug !
I have witnessed this before and it's absolutely amazing that someone could be so ignorant of the dangers and just casually walk to their target during live fire. Everyone freaks out about his safety yelling to cease fire! Cease Fire! .... and he doesn't even think once, let alone twice about his own personal safety.
If a guy doesn't think/care about his own safety there's no way in hell he's thinking about yours or anyone else.... a true hazard.
You can also see a magnified version of this on the streets and highways with the way people drive. Completely distracted, not a clue what's going on around them and not a care about it.
Sure, this happens on occasion. And my reply is always "No". But if a stranger approaches respectfully, doesn't interrupt my shooting, and seems like a good sort, I just might offer to let him or her shoot my rifle. If they ask to shoot it, nope. And if they touch my gear without my permission in advance, then it's time to channel Francis Sawyer, not to lighten up.
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
I had the President of our Gun Club start down range while it was STILL HOT!! 
Called him on it just in time. He is a REAL NICE Guy, just wasn't thinking at the time.
Our range was shut down for needed work one day so myself and a friend headed up on the hill to a public shooting range to pop a few rounds.
New shooting bench was still burning after some $&!@* had set it on fire.
The new toilets that were just finished had been run over by another DUMB *#&%@ with a 4X4 POS and the down range area was COVERED with shot up TVs and empty Propane containers. Brass and shot gun hulls about 3" deep.
As you might guess, that's the LAST TIME we went there.
We have has a few IDIOTS tossed off our range. The wannebees with the 3 shot mods to their ARs are usually the first ones to go. We direct them to the Public shooting area up on the hill.
Called him on it just in time. He is a REAL NICE Guy, just wasn't thinking at the time.
Our range was shut down for needed work one day so myself and a friend headed up on the hill to a public shooting range to pop a few rounds.
New shooting bench was still burning after some $&!@* had set it on fire.
The new toilets that were just finished had been run over by another DUMB *#&%@ with a 4X4 POS and the down range area was COVERED with shot up TVs and empty Propane containers. Brass and shot gun hulls about 3" deep.
As you might guess, that's the LAST TIME we went there.
We have has a few IDIOTS tossed off our range. The wannebees with the 3 shot mods to their ARs are usually the first ones to go. We direct them to the Public shooting area up on the hill.
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