Range pet peeves

I have been fortunate to do most of my shooting on private property or ranges with, um, relaxed standards. I have never heard of the 'case' thing until this thread.

My peeves:

Sweeping weaps
Not safing weaps
Too much socializing between firing
Armchair instruction: looking over and telling me what I 'need to do.'

Observations (not peeves):

Decking out in multicam and all sorts of gear to stand at a bench or table and shoot for 30 minutes.
Shooters who will pack up and bail out at the first cloud or if it's under 60 degrees. To me the nastier the better.
 
FatboyFlash said:
You guys and gals complain about some stoopeede stuff. Let’s get get real and talk about important pet peeves!

When was the last time you were at a range and there was a hotdog stand?!!! The word “NEVER” comes to my mind. They won’t even let you set up a grill or a smoker on the firing line. I mean REALLY! I was at Blackstock in Charlotte and had just barely gotten the charcoal chimney going and all hell breaks loose. I just don’t understand. I brought enough for everybody.

My only other pet peeve is that there’s no nekked shooting days or events. Go ahead and try that one at your local range. It turned out worse than trying to get the grill going! I just don’t understand
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Duuuuude. You forgot the beer.
 
No one has mentioned this as a peeve, but I'm sure its happened to others: Take a weekday off and drive an hour to the range, get all your gear out, go to staple the targets up and the stapler is empty. Dig through all your stuff and remember you took out the staples for a home project and forgot to replace. No one else is around to borrow there staples. Pack it all up and go search for the closest hardware store for more staples.
 
Justin Case said:
No one has mentioned this as a peeve, but I'm sure its happened to others: Take a weekday off and drive an hour to the range, get all your gear out, go to staple the targets up and the stapler is empty. Dig through all your stuff and remember you took out the staples for a home project and forgot to replace. No one else is around to borrow there staples. Pack it all up and go search for the closest hardware store for more staples.
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That's how I wound up with a range box and 2 bags! Now I just gotta remember to get all the bags....
 
Me. said:
Range pickup .223 cases. Poke them through the paper, and into the cardboard. Holds really well.

If your target-backers are wood, do the same thing and strategically place the cases into holes in the wood.


Now for the real question.... why do you go through life without a roll of duct-tape in your car?
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The reason I don't have Duct Tape in the vehicle is that I sold my Ford and now drive a reliable vehicle. ;0

Thanks for the tip on using spent cases. Hopefully I won't have to use it.
 
Justin Case said:
No one has mentioned this as a peeve, but I'm sure its happened to others: Take a weekday off and drive an hour to the range, get all your gear out, go to staple the targets up and the stapler is empty. Dig through all your stuff and remember you took out the staples for a home project and forgot to replace. No one else is around to borrow there staples. Pack it all up and go search for the closest hardware store for more staples.
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Try a can of Spray Adhesive to your target backing, then press on target.

CD
 
People inconsiderate of others. Like when your gun is firing brass at a 90 degree angle right at the people down the firing line.
 
I stay away from public ranges, to many stupid people. About 20 years ago, at a called cold range, I was in front of the firing line, setting up my chrono, when the guy (old Fudd) 3 benches down started shooting. When I confronted him, his response was I was not in his line of fire, and I was taking to long.

I belong to a private range now, and have had people playing with their gun while I was down range on a called cold range. But, fore the most part I feel safer on the private range. Other member that I have shot with understand and follow the rules. Most of time I go shoot, early Saturday or Sunday, I have the range to myself.

I carry a handgun, strong side, loaded at all times when at the range. I hate having to leave all my stuff at the bench while 100 or more yards away.
 
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Another one I ran into recently was people taking more than their share of space. I'm not knocking benchrest shooting but really. There are more benches than tables. If one guy takes an entire table to spread out his reloading gear that means the rest of us have nowhere to put our things.
 
Most of my pet peeves are centered on common courtesy. First, it drives me nuts when the range is hot and someone new comes up and asks if everybody will go cold so they can go put up a target. Everybody stops shooting and safes their rifles/pistols, and then, instead of running on down a setting up a target real quick, the jackass then heads back out to the parking lot and spends the next 5-10 minutes unloading their crap from their car to the line, looking for their staple gun, digging in the trunk/bag for staples, etc. Being courteous is that not hard. Don't ask everybody on the line to go cold if you are not absolutely 100% ready to go put up your target. If the range is hot when you arrive, then just go ahead and move all your gear to the line and get all your targets and stuff ready to go FIRST, then ask the other folks to go cold. And conversely, if the range is already cold when you show up, drop whatever you are doing and go set a target RIGHT THEN. You can always move your stuff to the line after it goes back hot.

Second, I am a firm believer in the application of interstate rest stop urinal etiquette to firing ranges (especially indoor, but it should apply to all). I hate it when I am off to one side of the range, and there are plenty of open lanes, but somebody comes in and sets up right next to me. Especially if they have an AR or something with an obnoxious brake. Whenever I am shooting my braked stuff, I try to give folks as much room as I can.

Third, I hate people that bitch about the safety/range rules without first pulling out their checkbook and offering to pay all future liability insurance premiums and agreeing to be financially liable for all injury or damage to the equipment, property or persons that occurs afterwards if the rules are changed to suit them. I went to a range once, and after they finished giving me what I deemed to be draconian rules, I thanked them politely and left to find a range that better suited my needs. I may not think their rules are appropriate for my perceived level of firearms self-expertise, but at the end of the day, it is their property, their liability and their right to mitigate that to THEIR satisfaction, not mine.
 
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AR10ShooterinNC said:
I hate having to leave all my stuff at the bench while 100 or more yards away.
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This always bothered me. Quite rightly so at a public range, not so much at RCWA. There are times when the gate is open for the public to use the shotgun or competitions. There are many times when the line is all downrange leaving some very expensive stuff unattended.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
SEE???? A man shoots hissef one time in da nuts and things get suspended. It ain't right I tell ya!!!!!!!!!!!
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Must've carried that AK pistol appendix-style

appendix-carry-since-1836-wheres-all-my-appendix-carry-folks-17599634.png
 
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Schattenreiter said:
A range that teaches concealed carry classes so you can carry concealed in other peoples place of business and then won't trust you enuff to carry in their place of business.
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Thats messed up.

Before I was a member at my current range, I went to a retail range to shoot. In order to get to the range area, I had to cross the retail floor/showroom.
I was open carrying in a quality leather holster with a thumb break. Gun was buttoned in place, nice and secure.
A salesman stopped me halfway across the floor and told me I was not allowed to open carry and I had to go outside, clear my weapon, case it in the range bag I was carrying, then come in and go to the range.
I asked him if he knew what was going to happen if I walked back out to my truck...
I left, went ten miles down the road to another place. They didnt seem to care about OC as long as I didnt unholster.
 
I'm fortunate because the range where I shoot is deserted 95% of the time I go.
If others are present, I will setup several bays away from them.
My peeve is da WIND!!! And can't do a danged thing about it.
 
B00ger said:
Oh, just remembered one...was all alone at an indoor range...10 bays or so total. Guy comes in, and sets up in the bay next to me...I was like "seriously"...its as bad/worse than some dude saddling up next to you at a line of urinals...personal space doods!
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I have had this happen to me as well BUT the person at the counter assigns the lanes to shoot from. Take it up with them if this is the case where you shoot. They will let me move if I ask.
 
And today I couldn’t make sure my sights are still aligned because 4 old guys were monopolizing the only two rifle benches that had target stands up. Asked if they were done and they said no. I went to the pistol bay while they “finished up” and heard two shots in thirty minutes. If you want to hang out, do it somewhere else.
 
FredB said:
I have had this happen to me as well BUT the person at the counter assigns the lanes to shoot from. Take it up with them if this is the case where you shoot. They will let me move if I ask.
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My range does leave adequate space between shooters if it's not crowded, and they sometimes ask if I have a preference on lanes. (Which I do: if I'm working on accuracy, I ask to be out of the 1-9 lanes where the air seems to keep the targets swinging a long time. LoL. Right now I'm just working on getting to know the new gun, so I don't care if the target is swaying....might make for good practice for later matches, though, I guess.)
 
Not really a pet peeves more observations these days but it pains me to see people shooting with such horrible form. Everything from grip to stance is wrong and they can’t understand why their target at 10 yards looks like a bird shot shotgun pattern. I want to say something to help them out but I don’t want to be “that guy”

In the same vein if you are just punching paper not on a timer, not from the draw, not movement if you are not shooting all your shots inside a paper plate size move your damn target closer.

Also change or paste your target. If you are not pasting or swapping out your target how the hell do you know how you are shooting. I am cheap and use making tape on targets. I tape them as often as I can within reason so I can see where I am hitting. If you have shot 200 rounds into the same target without pasting you wasted 175 of those rounds. LMAO IMHO
 
Well, this was an interesting thread. I remember having to experience all these complaints years ago and it was scary or just rude most days until you couldn't take anymore and then you left. I was very fortunate to find a small private range that only costs me $145 a year. I hardly see anyone at the range during the week but compete there sometimes twice a month in one shooting sport or another. I highly suggest everyone here to at least explore a private shooting range or club IF you can follow the rules. You might have to travel or drive a bit to get there, but well worth it.
 
Justin Case said:
No one has mentioned this as a peeve, but I'm sure its happened to others: Take a weekday off and drive an hour to the range, get all your gear out, go to staple the targets up and the stapler is empty. Dig through all your stuff and remember you took out the staples for a home project and forgot to replace. No one else is around to borrow there staples. Pack it all up and go search for the closest hardware store for more staples.
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At least they left the empty stapler. They disappear.
 
Don't have any Range Pet Peeves. When I used to have a job near FOP 10, I'd just watch the BLET and CHP class training schedule and avoid those times and otherwise go during off hours. Worst thing that ever happened was dragging a swiss-cheezed blue drum that had a wasp nest inside it. Ouch. I got over it.

I live on 110 acres and have three ranges. One for rifles, one for handguns, and a setup in a deep gulley if I just want to go spray bullets through an AK or AR.

I tape targets to my never-ending supply of Amazon boxes with scotch-tape. The boxes are "wind-proofed" with a shot-up and then crushed with a tractor-loader-bucket five-gallon steel thinner can (which I also have an endless supply of) to give a box ballast. Paper targets, tape, and other supplies can be stored close to the target zone in a pooped-out microwave-oven-on-a-barrel, which can be had for free from the local transfer-station. These "rat-proof-boxes" keep supplies unmolested by the elements without me having to schlep supplies around. This morning I was at my pistol range shooting a .357 literally in my pajamas. :)

Pet Peeves? People that drive down entrance-ramps at the speed of smell. People who drive in rain and fog without their headlights on. Roadside trash. People who order something stupid at a fast-food drive-thru. People who attempt complicated transactions at a bank drive-thru. ...and especially: "VJs" on Serius/XM (I mean just shut up and play the music I'm paying for)... I don't care that your mother loved Huey Lewis, or that RHCP are playing in Maui this weekend, or that MLB season opener is on X date this year: If I cared I'd already know... Jeez.
 
New one for me last week. Had been shooting for a while, couple hundred rounds of rifle, and had pushed all my spent brass into a little pile behind me. While focused on shooting the next 20 that pile simply disappeared.

Of someone needed it that badly I’d have given it to them, but if someone will take spent brass, what else won’t they take? Maybe I was just naive, but it changed my thoughts about where it’s okay to leave things.
 
I frequent RCWA and don't have much interaction with anyone during the week so it's all good. On the weekends I go up to shoot clay's but swing by a pistol range early to get my 50 weekly practice shots with my EDC. Just because I don't have a bunch of crap on the bench doesn't mean I'm through. Even members will assume I'm leaving because there isn't anything but a box of ammo and a box for brass on the table but I'm shooting on a target at a closer distance.
The other thing that grinds my gears is NON members trying to come onto a pistol bay. By the time they reach the pistol bays they have passed at least 3 signs that say the pistol and rifle ranges are for MEMBERS ONLY!! How damned stupid can you be?? They are unceremoniously told to leave...
 
JimB said:
New one for me last week. Had been shooting for a while, couple hundred rounds of rifle, and had pushed all my spent brass into a little pile behind me. While focused on shooting the next 20 that pile simply disappeared.

Of someone needed it that badly I’d have given it to them, but if someone will take spent brass, what else won’t they take? Maybe I was just naive, but it changed my thoughts about where it’s okay to leave things.
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I am a member of the Outer Banks Gun Club (Dare County Shooting Complex) and normally shoot during the week. I can leave my stuff on the bench and go eat lunch under the shelter and never worry about someone taking anything.

We have had people actually leave a rifle or two and at the end of the day the RSO picks it up and stores it and tries to figure out who it belongs to and call them. How you can forget to pack up your rifle beats the hell out of me.
 
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Me. said:
Like my mom would say "you would forget your head if it wasn't screwed to your neck" (or something like that).

I could see me leaving gear behind by mistake. I haven't done it, but I wouldn't rule it out.
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Yeah...on those days I take way too much crap, I’m surprised I haven’t lost a silencer. There was one time I couldn’t find one, but I was the only person that brought stuff (was hosting a new shooter) and there was nothing on the ground. I knew it had to be in a bag or box, and ended up finding it at home when unpacking.
 
I’ve forgotten a rifle once, but only until I was putting stuff in the car.
 
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Other than safety concerns, my biggest pet peeve is someone that looks down their nose at me for what I am shooting. Yes, I have a Hi Point pistol, but it shoots more accurately than my M&P. Its a turd of a gun, but it is still my gun and I like shooting it. Same thing for when I was shooting a 9mm carbine at the 500 yard range, once I figured the hold-over, I had no problem at all hitting steel at 300 yards. Someone walked up and saw the 9mm brass on the deck and had this "who is the dumbass shooting 9mm" look on their face.

Now I will admit that I have been "one of those guys" with an obnoxiously loud gun. I have a S&W 460 and love to shoot it. I usually warn the people in the lanes next to me, if any, that I am about to make a lot of noise. But I generally only shoot 5 or 10 rounds. Guns are loud. Some are louder than others. If a guy shows up with a 338 Lapua with muzzle brake, I'm ok as long as he is courteous enough to let me know. I may stop and watch.

The tacticool guys clad in full camo that show up to the range to shoot their ARs at 25 yards rapid fire, more than once I've stopped shooting so I could help them get their red-dots zeroed. I also ask if they save their brass and they usually will sweep it up and give it to me.

One time I started to get a little irritated at someone because they were sweeping up my brass. When I told them that I save my brass to reload it, he apologized, he just thought he was helping out, since everyone is responsible for picking up brass at this range. He even gave me all of his brass since we were shooting the same caliber.

Unless it is a safety concern, I just try to go with the flow. Life is too short.
 
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Anybody that comes over when I have a Mosin on the table and asks if I have ever heard of Simo Hayha. It's like clockwork...
 
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