Public Gun Range Amazement

[Kracken McGraw]

Was at my local range yesterday working on load development of a new 6BRX barrel. Noticed a guy about mid 30s with a young son several benches away. He was shooting at 100 yds with no rest. Shooting sitting with elbows on bench or offhand. I saw him adjusting his scope then getting an instructional book out. I asked if I could help, he said yes. He said his last shot was 2 inches left and 2 inches high but be did not know how to move his scope. I explained and suggested he move it 7 clicks down and 7 clicks right. I watched him move thw windage turrent about 3/4 of a turn. I said 7 clicks. He said I did, from 2 to 9 on the dial. I went into an explanation of clicks and moa. He said he understood and moved it correctly. I got him set up on sandbags and he shot. He told me it was in the bullseye. I said shoot another shot. He did and told me it was also in the bull. He thanked me, shook my hand and quickly left. Later when I went to retrive my target I decided to pull his two since he had not. There was not a bullet hole in either one. I am still shaking my head.

That’s a shame that he wouldn’t swallow his pride and accept help. He was so close to learning something if he had just showed all his cards.

 

[JEFFPPC]

That’s a shame that he wouldn’t swallow his pride and accept help. He was so close to learning something if he had just showed all his cards.

You are correct, but in this age a participation trophies I guess it is not surprising. Todays formula is never admit you don't know or understand, expect a pat on the back for no achievment, and never get a busted knuckle or work up a sweat trying to do something.

 

[AccelR8]

8-10 years ago. Picture this; public range. A guy of about 30 years of age is trying out his brand-new 300 WinMag package-deal rifle with the no-name scope. Brought it to the range in the factory cardboard box.

The range has ambidextrous shooting benches where you can sit on either side. He is not sitting at the bench, he is kneeling on the ground behind the bench holding the rifle with his elbows resting on the bench. He is firing the gun with a cigarette in his mouth. His young son is sitting on the right side of the bench. The boy has his hands in his pockets, he is turned 90 degrees from the target so he is directly facing the gun, he is leaning his upper body forward resting his torso on the bench. His head is bent forward, facing downward, looking like he is bored out of his mind. His face is right next to the rifle's action and about 12 inches away. Hearing protection on but no eye protection.

I walk over, say hi, nice gun. By the way, these holes here are gas vents and their purpose is in the event of a cartridge failure they release hot, high pressure gas and bits of metal. It's not likely but it can and does happen. He should probably not be sitting so close, have him move him back behind you.

His exact reply was “Mind your own business.”

 

[rwj]

8-10 years ago. Picture this; public range. A guy of about 30 years of age is trying out his brand-new 300 WinMag package-deal rifle with the no-name scope. Brought it to the range in the factory cardboard box.

The range has ambidextrous shooting benches where you can sit on either side. He is not sitting at the bench, he is kneeling on the ground behind the bench holding the rifle with his elbows resting on the bench. He is firing the gun with a cigarette in his mouth. His young son is sitting on the right side of the bench. The boy has his hands in his pockets, he is turned 90 degrees from the target so he is directly facing the gun, he is leaning his upper body forward resting his torso on the bench. His head is bent forward, facing downward, looking like he is bored out of his mind. His face is right next to the rifle's action and about 12 inches away. Hearing protection on but no eye protection.

I walk over, say hi, nice gun. By the way, these holes here are gas vents and their purpose is in the event of a cartridge failure they release hot, high pressure gas and bits of metal. It's not likely but it can and does happen. He should probably not be sitting so close, have him move him back behind you.

His exact reply was “Mind your own business.”

You can lead a horse to water, but...

 

[JEFFPPC]

You can't fix stupid....and we are surrounded by it. All who are offended stop and pick up your participation trophy.

 

[Papa Charlie]

I think there are two times in your life where you need to have an intelligence test; 1) when you plan to be a parent, 2) when you plan to buy a gun.

Although, one can probably add a few more moments.

 

[SGK]

I got to shoot at the Trafalgar match in Bisley several years ago. I was amazed. You had people shooting at 300yds, 500yds and 800yds, all on the same range. The guys shooting 800 yds were behind the ones shooting at 300yds. And there was NO safety issues! RSO on hand, bolts out of rifle until ready to shoot. 3 man team shooting at same target. It was great. I must admit though, I could not hit the 1000yd target with my P17 in 30-06. My bad. The others shooters were routinely scoring hits with their 303 Enfields.

Same range but likely not the same lane/target! Just don't wander to the left or right of the firing point...

Remember even just one range - Century - at Bisley has 128 lanes for use between 100 and 600 yards. The Stickledown range has 75 lanes between 800 and 1200 yards. That's just two of the ranges there. Bisley is a big place: 3,000 acres.

 

[jackieschmidt]

My shooting buddies and I used to shoot at the old Lake Houston Gun Range back in the 90’s before it closed. One thing you noticed was the numerous holes in the roof covering the benches.
The owner aid was the guys with lever actions Pointing them in the air to cock them and hitting the trigger.
Another item you would find on the ground was 300 Win Mag cases with about a 1/8 long neck, the result of shooters shooting a 300 Win Mag in a 300 Weatherby.

 

[JTEX]

My shooting buddies and I used to shoot at the old Lake Houston Gun Range back in the 90’s before it closed. One thing you noticed was the numerous holes in the roof covering the benches.
The owner aid was the guys with leer actions Pointing them in the air to cock them and hitting the trigger.
Another item you would find on the ground was 300 Win Mag cases with about a 1/8 long neck, the result of shooters shooting a 300 Win Mag in a 300 Weatherby.

Remember when the beer joint was still open?

People would leave their rifle on the bench go into the beer joint, down a couple and come back and shoot!

My grandad would get me set up with my .22_and head in to the beer joint.....course he'd check on me every once in a while.....

 

[Diggs223]

My shooting buddies and I used to shoot at the old Lake Houston Gun Range back in the 90’s before it closed. One thing you noticed was the numerous holes in the roof covering the benches.
The owner aid was the guys with leer actions Pointing them in the air to cock them and hitting the trigger.
Another item you would find on the ground was 300 Win Mag cases with about a 1/8 long neck, the result of shooters shooting a 300 Win Mag in a 300 Weatherby.

Have one of those from a guy I know

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Remember when the beer joint was still open?

People would leave their rifle on the bench go into the beer joint, down a couple and come back and shoot!

My grandad would get me set up with my .22_and head in to the beer joint.....course he'd check on me every once in a while.....

I would take any Grandad like that over one of these suburban soccer moms that spoil the kids with 6-700$ tennis shoes!

 

[jackieschmidt]

Remember when the beer joint was still open?

People would leave their rifle on the bench go into the beer joint, down a couple and come back and shoot!

My grandad would get me set up with my .22_and head in to the beer joint.....course he'd check on me every once in a while.....

I sure do. It was called the PONDEROSA then. That building that housed the beer joint burned down in the late ‘90’s.
The man that owned it let me put in a concrete bench on the far left side. I poured it in place. It was a great setup until a developer bought Joe out Just to get rid of the range.

 

[KMart]

I sure do. It was called the PONDEROSA then. That building that housed the beer joint burned down in the late ‘90’s.
The man that owned it let me put in a concrete bench on the far left side. I poured it in place. It was a great setup until a developer bought Joe out Just to get rid of the range.

The range is gone but the gunfire hasn't stopped. A different breed of people out there now.

Can't wait for New Years eve

 

[bobm]

This thread could go on forever.

Three years ago I came up on a group of young guys in their 20's firing handguns at paper targets taped to a...... heavy equipment tire. This was a grader tire used as a prop for one of the run and gun games we have at CRC. The lads flipped it up and rolled it out some 30 yards down range on one of our 200 yd. rifle lanes. The tire stood upright as three of them were 25-30 yds. away blasting at the tread side surface with 9's, .40 and .45's. The three others stood to the side watching.

I immediately hit my car horn to get their attention. It was hard for me to keep from "exploding" on this group for that display of stupidity and disregard of basic safety. There was the six of them and three vehicles all within projectile bounce back lethal range. It it amazing there were no injuries or damage to vehicles. Only one was a newer member with five "guests", well over the casual two guest policy we have.

After explaining the danger they were putting themselves and others into, I ordered them all off the property at once. Comply now or lose your badge permanently. They understood and promptly left.

I went to the barn for a tractor and got that monster tire off the range. I still think about this crazy act and what could have happened.

That same month I had a sign made up and three of us BoD members erected it at our entrance. We have seen an overall reduction in bad behavior since putting it up.

 

[KMart]

This thread could go on forever.

Three years ago I came up on a group of young guys in their 20's firing handguns at paper targets taped to a...... heavy equipment tire. This was a grader tire used as a prop for one of the run and gun games we have at CRC. The lads flipped it up and rolled it out some 30 yards down range on one of our 200 yd. rifle lanes. The tire stood upright as three of them were 25-30 yds. away blasting at the tread side surface with 9's, .40 and .45's. The three others stood to the side watching.

I immediately hit my car horn to get their attention. It was hard for me to keep from "exploding" on this group for that display of stupidity and disregard of basic safety. There was the six of them and three vehicles all within projectile bounce back lethal range. It it amazing there were no injuries or damage to vehicles. Only one was a newer member with five "guests", well over the casual two guest policy we have.

After explaining the danger they were putting themselves and others into, I ordered them all off the property at once. Comply now or lose your badge permanently. They understood and promptly left.

I went to the barn for a tractor and got that monster tire off the range. I still think about this crazy act and what could have happened.

That same month I had a sign made up and three of us BoD members erected it at our entrance. We have seen an overall reduction in bad behavior since putting it up.

Any bullet holes in the sign at the entrance, yet?

 

[bobm]

Good question, but not yet. The 4 foot square sign is a mile inside our property at the junction of roads leading to our different ranges. elev. 4910 ft.

 

[Shooting while seated]

There is always some young idiot at my range getting his girlfriend to shot the rented 50cal Desert Eagle thinking its funny.

 

[hpshooter]

There is always some young idiot at my range getting his girlfriend to shot the rented 50cal Desert Eagle thinking its funny.

The sad thing there is she will most likely never want to shoot again, at least not without a major flinching problem. on the other hand, years ago my 90 pounds ringing wet wife actually enjoyed shooting a .375 HH model 70 I had. Still have her, Model 70 is long gone.

 

[ebb]

The day the first gulf war started I made an offer on 10 acres that I eventually bought 30 minutes north west of Daytona International raceway. Once when the wife and I were up for the weekend we took guns to shoot at the range in the Ocala National forest. When we pulled in I could see men, women, and children down range checking targets, at the firing line 3 very tall, very over weight men with single action colt style revolvers practicing their quick draw. Pointing their guns down range at the people checking their targets. We had got out of the car but immediately got back in and started the engine. Some one asked why we were leaving there was plenty of room. I replied "I have enough health problems with having to carry a colostomy bag for the rest of my life."

 

[snert]

There is always some young idiot at my range getting his girlfriend to shot the rented 50cal Desert Eagle thinking its funny.

Good thing about this scenario is that after he makes her feel like a fool, she will refuse to copulate. That is a good thing, keeping his genes outta the pool.