What has happened to the rifle ranges? All ARs now, no chronographs.

[retired]

this is the reloading forum, not the social forum

 

[KevinThomas]

I own a number of ARs, and do a lot of rapid fire practice with them. To my mind "Rapid Fire" means ten, well-aimed individual shots in 60 seconds, sitting, or seventy seconds prone. Been a HP Service Rifle shooter for nearly 40 years now, and have no intention of stopping. Used to do it with the M14s or M1As, but in todays world, they're just not competitive against the ARs.

 

[shoot4fun]

When I go to the range I do not see a bunch of shotgunners, a bunch of AR shooters, a bunch of pistol shooters, etc. What I see is a bunch of freedom loving supporters of, specifically 2A, the Constitution of this great country. As long as ranges/gun clubs have existed there has seemed to be an "us v. them" attitude. I've heard so many times that the shotgun (insert your favorite tool here) guys think they own this place. It is unhealthy!
The club I have had membership in for 18 years now has those factions and those that mumble under their breath about other "groups" of shooters/disciplines. Thankfully, our BOD not only welcomes all types of shooting but they use club funds and resources to make sure ALL those groups have an outlet for running the best matches possible.
TO the OP; it sounds as if you're longing for a mentor instead of wishing the AR guys would just go away. Maybe what you should be looking for is the opportunity to mentor some of those AR guys in understanding what and why you do what you do. My gun safes are full of pistols, rifles and shotguns built around all types of disciplines. Everyone of them got in the safe because someone took the time to share what they loved with me.

 

[KevinThomas]

^^^^^This, right here.^^^^^^

 

[Liven The Dream]

I recently joined a very safe range just south of Albany, Oregon. Very safe with rigid range rules. The rifle range only goes out to 200 yards which is a downer. I'm the only one there with a chronograph in my 10 range travels. I'm the only guy trying to develop loads for my bolt action that I can see. 90% of the shooters are firing off .223 and .308 ARs. Is this a good thing? I suppose anything and anyone to keep the range going and in action is good but I sure wish there were some bench rest shooters around. I'm a beginner and would be fun to watch the pros.

Welcome to Oregon ???
I live on the other side of the Mountains. The Range over here is COSSA . I finished the 1000 yard Range and had the first NRA Matches.
I was removed form range operations . They hold Matches on that Range once a month. It is lucky to get 10-12 shooters ??
There are many other range on the property , steel plate , bench out to 500 etc.
The trash cans are loaded with .223 Boxes and brass to be picked up.

Some say Blasting with a AR is more fun.
The Steel Plate group pulls more people for there Matches. They have Rifles in the $1000 - $ 4000 range.

We have one real Bench Rest Man. He loads and test right at the range.

I am older and as they Times be a change en .
I still test loads and keep a book.

 

[Bamban]

Let’s see, an AR cost from 400 to 1200, how much does a bench gun cost?

At least 5K for the rig, range equipment and loading set up add 2K minimum.

 

[dcali]

In all my life, the guys at the range have been primarily casual shooters. The difference is that today (as opposed to 20 years ago), there are more serious shooters because the knowledge is easier to come by because of forums like this one. There's a lot more to marksmanship than load development and chronographs. Many of those AR shooters and the guys with "snipery" gear know what they are doing and are advancing their chosen discipline as it demands. Maybe you're not looking at the right things. This is a great time to be involved in the shooting sports.

 

[Linko]

Lots of AR shooters in SE FL. However this past year many more interested in accuracy. Zero BR. Lots of new shooters every weekend.

 

[alinwa]

Once they get sick of blasting they usually get interested in better accuracy. Next thing you know they buy a creedmoor and maybe after that start reloading if we’re lucky. Blast away young bucks. Have fun with it.

+1

 

[shoot4fun]

Once they get sick of blasting they usually get interested in better accuracy. Next thing you know they buy a creedmoor and maybe after that start reloading if we’re lucky. Blast away young bucks. Have fun with it.

Ah, the way you pigeon-hole the AR guys is almost humorous. There are AR's out there that are quite accurate; in fact they are stunningly accurate. There are also AR's out there that cost as much (or more) as the best BR rifle cousin Billy ever built. Face the fact that the AR and the PRS "sniper" (precision) rifle have brought so many more shooters to the game than any BR discipline. That sir, no matter how you slice it, is "a good thing".

 

[jimbo88mm]

I see a good mix of rifle types at the two ranges I go to. One range maxes out at 300 yards but it's setup is better for load development. The other range goes out to 1000 but its all steel targets past 100. Definitely a lot more ARs than 10+ years ago but I believe I see more hunting style bolt action rifles than anything else at the 50-300 yard range. There's always a few guys doing load development, most without a chronograph. At the 1000 yard range I see a lot more bolt actions, mostly chassis guns. Maybe some of the guns you are seeing are actually Ruger precision rifles and Savage stealths.

One things for sure, on the weekends, both ranges are packed. I'm seeing a lot more traffic than what it was like before 08.

 

[joshb]

Man the snobbiness and derp is deep in this one....

If turnabout is fair play then I have to say I have never seen the allure of F class or bench rest and equating it to marksmanship. Spending a metric load of cash to build a rifle and the same developing a load to shoot tiny groups is lost on me. The gun is doing most of the work and winning by and large comes down to who has spent the most $$$ and tuned stuff the best. Sure it takes some level of proficiency on the booger hook to get the most out of the platform and sometimes physical conditions are a factor but seriously. Yawn.

As a HP competitor I find it much more gratifying to develop, build and tune MYSELF To the point of utilizing my equipment to its fullest potential. I am “fairly” proficient with the AR platform. It is my main competition platform and to say I am not a real “marksman” is downright insulting. It is gratifying when you are winning in a game where most of the equipment is equally capable.

I take every opportunity to try and suck all of the “blasters” i run across into slinging up and realizing just how precise they can be.

No nose in the air, here! I like to see more responsible shooters on the line. I just don't like hot brass bouncing off my head or going down my shirt!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ah, the way you pigeon-hole the AR guys is almost humorous. There are AR's out there that are quite accurate; in fact they are stunningly accurate. There are also AR's out there that cost as much (or more) as the best BR rifle cousin Billy ever built. Face the fact that the AR and the PRS "sniper" (precision) rifle have brought so many more shooters to the game than any BR discipline. That sir, no matter how you slice it, is "a good thing".

Boy you can really twist things up. First i never pigeon holed the accurate AR rifles- i have some of the best i assure you. I was actually staying on topic talking about the “blasters” at the range usually get into accuracy later on. Never said that they would drop the AR since its not accurate as you would’ve liked to paint me.

 

[shoot4fun]

Boy you can really twist things up. First i never pigeon holed the accurate AR rifles- i have some of the best i assure you. I was actually staying on topic talking about the “blasters” at the range usually get into accuracy later on. Never said that they would drop the AR since its not accurate as you would’ve liked to paint me.

Coming out of the closet? You actually own Ar's; I'll bet you own a Creedmoor too!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Coming out of the closet? You actually own Ar's; I'll bet you own a Creedmoor too!

No i dont but wouldnt be opposed to one. The creedmoor has gotten so many new shooters out i love it.

 

[snert]

ya, when I commented on the OP i was not talking about Ar's not being good. i was simply noting that the vast majority (ok, every one I have watched so far at my public range) was NOT accuracy minded. (That is accuracy defined by what that particular AR could do)

Why do I mention this? Well, most show up with multiple accessories hung on the gun, but they forget things like a means to SEE the target, (as in where am I hitting ?", and they never heard of a rest, except a bipod. So they put up a huge target, fill the backer and hill with rounds as they stand, sit or slouch on the bench, firing so fast they cannot build a sight picture. So they have no idea what the gun can or even is doing. They fiddle with scopes and play with accessories, and they leave brass all over which isn't a bad thing mind you, except it is 223 and I hate 223 as a matter of principle, being a curmudgeon i am.

I am happy to see them there, because they will vote, they will join the NRA and they will keep the shooting sports alive. How do I know this? well, because forty years ago thier grandfathers came to the same range, shot five shots thru a Model 760 Remington with see thru scope mounts at the same hill, declared it "good" when one unlucky pie plate got a hole in it and went hunting in a cheap orange coat and hat. Because those guys voted and fought and shot, the guys are there today with ARs. And I can still go do accuracy stuff, riding the shirttails of the so-called great unwashed.

I am good with that.

Cause I get to go there and pursue my passion, making one little hole go in another with a single shot Fudd gun.

I am thinking I need a portable wall though, to stop the crappy 223 brass from bouncing off my head...

 

[Shynloco]

I recently joined a very safe range just south of Albany, Oregon. Very safe with rigid range rules. The rifle range only goes out to 200 yards which is a downer. I'm the only one there with a chronograph in my 10 range travels. I'm the only guy trying to develop loads for my bolt action that I can see. 90% of the shooters are firing off .223 and .308 ARs. Is this a good thing? I suppose anything and anyone to keep the range going and in action is good but I sure wish there were some bench rest shooters around. I'm a beginner and would be fun to watch the pros.

IMHO, there are far less Benchrest Shooters coming up from the millennials than in past generations. I have and shoot both AR's and Bench Guns. But my focus is still accuracy and consistency from my own handloads. How much BRASS are you seeing left behind these days? Not much anymore on this end and thats because the AR folks want to put out "firepower" and hope it's accurate enough to hit what they are shooting at. Perhaps it's a generational thing. But you may want to look around and see where the remaining Benchrest Shooters are gathering to shoot. Sound like you've already found the AR gather place.

Alex

 

[Milo 2.0]

Some common courtesy goes along ways, along with picking up your mess. That means brass and ripping riddled targets off of backers.
It's downright fun watching most zero a rifle scope, I had 3 hour pleasure of watching one try zero at 100 with a 4 moa red dot, oh yeah. Hitting a spot on spot when your dot covers 4"at 100 yards.

 

[DR_2297]

Some common courtesy goes along ways, along with picking up your mess. That means brass and ripping riddled targets off of backers.
It's downright fun watching most zero a rifle scope, I had 3 hour pleasure of watching one try zero at 100 with a 4 moa red dot, oh yeah. Hitting a spot on spot when your dot covers 4"at 100 yards.

Not so difficult if you are using the appropriate target for the job (NRA bullseye). Otherwise, yeah....

 

[hikfromstik]

Golly gee , as much money as most on here spend on gear then why not buy a field or rent a farmers land to shoot on . Buy a 50acre farm and rent it to a farmer for 1/3 2/3 to farm . You get 1/3 the crop price and the farmer gets 2/3 . Use the money to make payments . If you get tired of shooting and want to sell then guess what ? Land prices are doubling every 10 to 15 years if it's productive land . Everyone comes out happy .