Sight-In Days at Gun Club -- Whoa...

[pilediver]

I've been a RSO at the local state owned range for 6 years and every year the deer season approaching brings out so many shooters getting "ready" for deer season that we need to double the number of safety officers.
We have booths with chains and color plates to indicate the range state, green for cease fire, and the RSO walks by every booth to verify all weapons are open with mags removed and the chain is up.
Go down range and post a target and every booth then needs the color plate to be orange to indicate ready.
The range master then calls the line hot and shooting can begin.
Without these safeguards the inexperienced or arrogant would be less than safe, and I wouldn't want to do my job. But with the proper oversight it's not bad helping people get into shooting or sight in their new rifle properly, or clear up small problems.
And yes, you see a lot. backwards mounted scope, 90 degree off scope mounting, wrong caliber ammo etc.

During the Covid lockdown I went to an unstaffed state range and the general lack of safety and outright dangerous behavior made me say never again.
Some people may gripe about the rules but an even greater number will say thanks and appreciate the safety that those rules and oversight bring.

 

[K22]

I would wager that at least 90% of us older ( Boomer ) guys learned safe use, handling, and maintenance of firearms from our fathers, or perhaps an uncle. In most cases, those lessons almost become a part of our DNA. When I first started quail hunting with Daddy, I was probably 9 or 10. He would say time and again, when the dog pointed, “ Get up even with me. Don’t ever be behind when the dog points. “ Of course, that was to keep me from shooting somebody when the birds flushed. Fast forward almost 20 years. I’m stationed in Missouri with the Army and taking guys quail hunting who had never been and who had little, if any, shooting experience. What am I saying to them? “ Get up even with me. Never be behind with the dog on point. “ He’s been gone since ’84. I can still hear his voice. I’m 76 and I still miss him.

Correct - my father drilled into my head big time.

 

[K22]

I've come to believe it's due to the images on the TV and in the movies.
Handling guns is just so casual. I've seen handguns used to point at another person to make some point while they are talking - just like they would be if they were using, say, a pencil.

This is so true!

 

[F Class John]

I didn't know they stopped sight-in weekends, but I only show up at the club after 7 on weekdays.
When they show up to your 600yd nights, do you suggest they come back the third Saturday?

I don't really mind either way. Saturday's are in full light but with our targets fully lit people can show up Tuesday nights as well. The biggest thing either way is trying to teach one a year shooters/hunters what MOA or MIL is and how our targets have a 1.8moa/.5mil offset so they won't have a true 600yd shot.

 

[RRoe]

Our range is the same way this time of the year I think it's when all the one time a year shooters come out of the house or off the couch me and a friend was working up a load for our rifles one was out there with a new 30-06 lining up his scope at 100 yards had shot 1box of shells when Jimmy said look I said at what he was adjusting the scope and hadn't taken the caps off the turrets we went down there ask if we could help he said no he knew what he was doing I said ok and screwed off his caps told him he might do better and we left before we got shot their crazy and have shot everything up

 

[chop house]

I had to do that on purpose on a Sako with very low rings. It was the only way to load the magazine

i often do the same anytime i want better access to single load. pretty funny to see someone point out my 'mistake', or ask how in the world do you know how to adjust the scope.... hahaha

 

[Rwfish]

Hate it when your downrange setting targets and when you turn around Someone new has set up at the bench and you have no idea of the condition of the firearm now pointing at you is in.. I usually take the long route back to the bench at that point…

 

[DiffEQ]

I don't really mind either way. Saturday's are in full light but with our targets fully lit people can show up Tuesday nights as well. The biggest thing either way is trying to teach one a year shooters/hunters what MOA or MIL is and how our targets have a 1.8moa/.5mil offset so they won't have a true 600yd shot.

Those electronic shot markers you use are pretty trick!

 

[Downhill]

I build the target frames at our local range. 2x2 square tubing, 2 ft tall and 8 ft long for 100 yds, 6 frames. 4 ft tall and 8 ft long for 200 yds, 5 frames. The tubing gets shot to hell, requiring replacement at least once a year. Simply dumbfounded that the average American shooter can not hold 24 inches of vertical at 100 yards or 4 FEET of vertical at 200 yards. That is 2 FEET at 100 and 4 FEET at 200. And most of the damage is just before deer season or after a big sale or gun show.

 

[DShortt]

I build the target frames at our local range. 2x2 square tubing, 2 ft tall and 8 ft long for 100 yds, 6 frames. 4 ft tall and 8 ft long for 200 yds, 5 frames. The tubing gets shot to hell, requiring replacement at least once a year. Simply dumbfounded that the average American shooter can not hold 24 inches of vertical at 100 yards or 4 FEET of vertical at 200 yards. That is 2 FEET at 100 and 4 FEET at 200. And most of the damage is just before deer season or after a big sale or gun show.

Apparently, bore sighting skills at 25 yards are considered a waste of time by many.

 

[rwj]

I build the target frames at our local range. 2x2 square tubing, 2 ft tall and 8 ft long for 100 yds, 6 frames. 4 ft tall and 8 ft long for 200 yds, 5 frames. The tubing gets shot to hell, requiring replacement at least once a year. Simply dumbfounded that the average American shooter can not hold 24 inches of vertical at 100 yards or 4 FEET of vertical at 200 yards. That is 2 FEET at 100 and 4 FEET at 200. And most of the damage is just before deer season or after a big sale or gun show.

Sadly at some clubs, members use the target hangers as TARGETS!!!

 

[tmwinds]

Can anyone give me the standard dimensions of a “Broad Side Of A Barn?”

 

[Charlie-NY]

I build the backer at the 400yd line. I use a sheet of 1/2" ply that is 4' high and 7' wide. The ply is framed with 2'x4' lumber. The bottom of the ply is 3' off the ground. The base is welded steel which the 2'x4' uprights are set into. Every year, I have to repair the upright legs because someone, somehow, manages to shoot through a leg.
I can't get too worked up over it because I rebuild the backer with new lumber every other year but it's still a PITA when the whole backer is hanging down with one of the legs shot out.

 

[DShortt]

I build the backer at the 400yd line. I use a sheet of 1/2" ply that is 4' high and 7' wide. The ply is framed with 2'x4' lumber. The bottom of the ply is 3' off the ground. The base is welded steel which the 2'x4' uprights are set into. Every year, I have to repair the upright legs because someone, somehow, manages to shoot through a leg.
I can't get too worked up over it because I rebuild the backer with new lumber every other year but it's still a PITA when the whole backer is hanging down with one of the legs shot out.

Perhaps someone with a handgun has been watching too many YouTube videos and thinks they're now qualified to shoot a hand gun at that distance?

Nah. Probably the same morons who shoot the legs out at 25 yards.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

They should have to furnish their own target stand and targets if they want to shoot.

 

[misser]

Mostly looks like the table height is too low, making up for it with that stack of crap. Or at least a higher table is where I'd start if that's all I had to work with.
Can't see any sign of ear plugs, either. That wouldn't be any good in that structure.

yes the height is too low . the next bench over is 3'' higher and T shaped .odds are he still would not know how to use it . high enough to even stand at it to shoot, with a lead sled

 

[misser]

I've had similar experiences at public ranges and will no longer use one for my personal safety.
I'd add the guy who wants to talk at length about a subject he's completely uneducated on. Such as velocity testing ammo in a hunting rifle with a short barrel as opposed to the barrel length used during testing.

oh , that guy that cant stop talking the guy that thinks he's in charge ?? yep he was there Sunday

 

[dgeesaman]

I build the target frames at our local range. 2x2 square tubing, 2 ft tall and 8 ft long for 100 yds, 6 frames. 4 ft tall and 8 ft long for 200 yds, 5 frames. The tubing gets shot to hell, requiring replacement at least once a year. Simply dumbfounded that the average American shooter can not hold 24 inches of vertical at 100 yards or 4 FEET of vertical at 200 yards. That is 2 FEET at 100 and 4 FEET at 200. And most of the damage is just before deer season or after a big sale or gun show.

I think a lack of bore sighting and garbage reflex sights have a lot to do with it.

 

[CJ6]

Can anyone give me the standard dimensions of a “Broad Side Of A Barn?”

Sidewall? Depends, 20 ft x 80 ft.

 

[dgeesaman]

Sidewall? Depends, 20 ft x 80 ft.

I do know the bullseye is the greasy middle of a used pizza box.