Things you see at the range

Gil Martin · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 5:38 pm Post subject: Things you see at the range

I spend a bit of time at a local gun club or the local public range on the weekends. Mostly I am sighting in rifles, picking up brass and hanging out. I saw a fellow try to single load an FN Mauser (instead of loading it from the magazine) and was beating the bolt handle and using bad language. When asked if he needed help he said no, it was a defective firearm. I asked if he wanted to sell it cheap. In disgust he left the range.

Many people leave live factory ammo lying around and I have several boxes that I have collected over the past few months. Once in a while I shoot it off in my guns.

The best happened last weekend when a fellow was shooting a .45 ACP Glock. I was picking up empty brass and noticed all the cases were swelled a good deal and about 25 percent had splits in the cases. Then I realized what he was doing. the brass cases were .40 S&W that were being fire-formed in his .45 Glock. I asked how his gun was working for him and he said there were a number of failures to cycle and jams.

Anyone have any experiences at the range worth retelling? All the best...
Gil

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: Things you see at the range

I was range master at a northern california pistol range.... Have you ever had to evict a gang member at almost gun point? I have. I had my hand on my .45 ACP Colt as I escorted him off the range for failure to obey the range master (me) on a cease fire order. NOT FUN!!! I've had to do it twice while I was up there...

Happy · Rookie Member Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 16

Gil I am a range officer too at out gun club.
I have seen the things you have and more .
-One lad borrowed a 6.5 X 55 from my bench and fired it in his 3006.
(Intersting case)
- One lad fired 30/30 rounds in his 32 Spl. Could not hit a barn he said.
Well I did not have the gutts to offer him some $$$ for that worn out rifle.

Last week a lad had a Midland ParkerHale in 3006 that he was trying to site in. After a box of Ammo I offered to try a few rounds and moved to the 50 yard line . The scope cheap X brand was all over the place . Well after trying to set it , we took it off and found the weaver two peice base was almost falling off the rifle.
Bet- ya I could have bought that rifle cheap .
A little voice I listen too , always says " don't take advantage of the poor guy - help him out"
Then here comes a brand new 4x4 top pf the line truck . Guys get out unload the new rifle cases and rack there new Browning and weatherbys.

I call them to the line make ready and load . Out come these old thirty year old ammo box's that belonged to Dad years ago. the case's have fur on them .Going hunting next week they say " just need to check the Zero"

Then they give you that " What " look when you turn and walk away.
Spend all that money on a new truck to travel way up North to shoot a bull moose using the services of a guide- the whole ball of wax.Then having spent at least a thousand or more on a top of the line rifle with a scope worth the same. And you want to use papa's old shells you found in the garage. A quick prayer " for give me father for I have sinned . I swore using your name in vain , and called those guys orifice's"

But there are the god days when you help a guy in need solve his problem .
Or let a young lad shoot your rifle with your ammo , Just because he never shot one-of-them befer.
Then comes next week with a shinny new Marlin in 35 ( Smart boy)
I then give him the lead bullets I have on hand.

Maybe he get out hunting with this gun and land a deer . The free rounds will get him started, and the first deer gets him hooked.

We got to do our part . Most of the hunters are from the baby boomer years after the war.
We need to get young hunters in the camp.
We need to protect our culture in hunting fishing , the great out doors.
And here in Canada - protect our rights to arms and all the shooting sports.

GOD Bless you all

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

The range I use in Ottawa has 25 shooting benchs. Before deer or moose season it gets very crowded with hunters sighting in their rifles. A short while ago a young guy was at the bench to my left. As he got set up he drove a few nails in the baffling and hung a plastic sheet from it that he had put gromets in. It only took a minute. Then I noticed why. He had a semi-automatic rifle and all the spent cases ejected to the right. I've had it happen before. You get cases bouncing off your head, your rifle, you name it. Boy is it irritating, but this lad took safeguards to ensure it didn't bother anyone. It kind of restored my faith in youth. Nice kid too. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: Things you see at the range

Cal It's nice to see somebody thats tryin, i have had that happen to me more times than i can remember. And it always amazes me there will be 4 open benches to my right and they set up at the next bench to my left Mad

. There has bin several ocassions where the shooter used card board to make a shield and it was greatly apreciated we need more people like that. I have a shell catcher for my rem 1100 so when i'm shootin slugs i don't hit anybody i use it at the trap range as well.
Joe

yotebuster · Member Joined: Oct 16, 2005 Posts: 216 Location: Georgia

Had a good experience a few weeks ago. I had been shooting my 45-70 with a new loading and adjusted the scope for desired POI. The range I belong to is a semi-private facility. As I was the only one there, I was just about to close and lock the gate when this young man, probably 19 or 20, drove up inquiring about using the rifle range. He explained that he had a new gun, Browning A-Bolt in 270, didn't know much about it and was just getting in to deer hunting. On top of that, he had just left the hospital where his lovely wife had just had their first child the day before. That sweet woman told him to get out for a little while, go shoot his new gun and come back later. What a gal! Anyway, I decided to help him any way I could and told him to get his stuff. I gave him a target, shooting bags, eye protection, ear plugs and we sat down to see where this bore sighted rifle was shooting. Anyway, long story short, this was a nice young man. We got it shooting and discussed deer hunting, shot placements and talked about his new son. I gave him my card and told him if he ever had any questions to call me and I'd try to help. Also gave him the name of the gun club manager and gunsmith and encouraged him to contact him and introduce himself. This young man is at least starting out on the right foot, has a properly sighted in rifle with good loads and more contacts to many people that can help him in the shooting sports.
I was late for personal function but it was a very good trade off.
Take time to show someone about shooting and the outdoors. Our future depends on it.
Yotebuster

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 9:22 pm Post subject: Re: Things you see at the range

Yea Yea...Clap Clap...Aplause...Good on you...May I doff my wide brimed black hat to you...Gotta get it away from my horse first...He's chewin' on it again. We do need the good air time...Well done Cheers

Crackshot · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 9:39 am Post subject: Re: Things you see at the range

I found several rounds of some 340 weatherby at our local club just the other day, as well as some empty brass, What are these people thinking? the last time I looked the 340 wby was selling for 40.00 box of 20 rnds, And then leave 2/3 of the expense laying on the ground and the bench?
MORON.

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

I've never shot at an offical "range" before. I admit I think I'm missing out on some interesting experiences.

-DallanC

Handloader · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:35 pm Post subject: Re: Things you see at the range

Crackshot wrote:

I found several rounds of some 340 weatherby . . . And then leave 2/3 of the expense laying on the ground and the bench?
MORON.

It's hard to believe that shooters would leave valuable brass lying on the ground, however, there is another side to the issue.

We who handload our rifle/pistol cartridges sometimes err in believing that a majority of hunters also reload. Wrong. Not only do a minority of hunters actually care about reloading, most seasonal hunters fire very few rounds during the course of the year. We probably all know some hunters that have several rounds left in a box of factory ammo after several seasons and many of them have been successful with the limited ammo they have used. Often to them the rifle and ammo are simply no more than tools to put meat on the table. And some of those hunters are very very good.

Forums like this one attract the type of hunters that live, eat and dream of the next hunt. For us handloading and the attendant "stuff" is simply an extension of the hunt and we spend inordinate time and effort in perfecting the loads, posting and reading about all the goodies and ideas. Afterall, its just another reason to get some good trigger time.

Flint54 · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 3:06 am Post subject: Re: Things you see at the range

Well I also have worked at a few ranges, I've had many Great Times and a couple of bad ones.

I have to laugh at how many times I've seen someone get up to the line with their new Magnum. Rifle or Pistol it doesn't matter, they try 1 or 2 rounds and have this look of shock on their face. They pack up and watch for a while then try to slip out unseen or make up an excuse that they had something to do, even if you ask them if they need some help. A bit down the line they come back with a rifle or pistol for sale cheap because they have some other expence that needs to be taken care of.

Then there is the younger person that comes with an old family heirloom and wants to learn to shoot, you help them out and see the joy in their face. You know that they are remembering the past, and the person that used to have that firearm.

I liked the day that an individual came to the range and wanted to sell a big rifle that he didn't want anymore. It turned out to be a Ruger #1 Tropical in .458 Win Mag. He wanted $300 and I offered him $250 and he took it, gave me the rifle and said he would be right back as he left the ammo in his car. He came back with 12 boxes of 510gr Soft Points and 8 boxes of 500gr FMJs. One of the boxes of FMJs had two rounds missing. I did feel a bit guilty but then he did take my offer, he could have said no.

Mad

My worst day was the day I had a Know It All on the line. The line was called safe and this id10t walks up to his bench and picks up a .22 revolver. I quickly got to him and told him that he was not allowed to pick up or touch any firearm during a safe line. This guy yells at me telling me that he is leaving and it didn't matter as his gun was "UNLOADED". At this point anouter Range Officer started to come over, this guy is right in front of me and his revolver is close, suddenly wtf

"Bang", It felt like someone kicked me in the gut. Mad

Yup, you guessed right, this *(^*&^* shot me! The next thing I know I have the whole Range Staff holding me on the ground and this Mad

&*&%

is all bloody and being carried out of the range. I beat the krap out of him and the Staff had to pull me off of him. As far a me, well for some reason that day I had worn my Second Chance mini vest under my range officer shirt as it was a bit cool and I didn't want to wear my jacket as it would have been too warm for it. The vest was part of my duty gear for doing boardings in the South Florida area where I was stationed in the USCG. Mad

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:19 am Post subject: Re: Things you see at the range

Handloader wrote:

Forums like this one attract the type of hunters that live, eat and dream of the next hunt. For us handloading and the attendant "stuff" is simply an extension of the hunt and we spend inordinate time and effort in perfecting the loads, posting and reading about all the goodies and ideas. Afterall, its just another reason to get some good trigger time.

I couldn't agree more, well said. I can remember as a youth in deer camp some of the fellows had boxes of ammo that were older than i was. My father got me to help him with reloading when i was 10 or 12 and i'm so glad he did. It has became a way of life. I have taken between 60 and 70 whitetail deer in my life and aprox 30 were taken with a center fire rifle and none with a factory round Very Happy

and your right we all need more trigger time Very Happy

515034s10ring · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: Things you see at the range

Back in the late 80's i saw a guy having trouble with hang fires, then actually looked at his barrel and blew the hat off his head! Shocked

Later i found out it was a LEO! Jaw Drop

Bushmaster · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Things you see at the range

LEO??? We don't take any stock in that...Now I could understand "IDIOT" ROFL

515034s10ring · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: Things you see at the range

Yeah, kind of shows the qualifications of authority doesn't it? Sad

And some (not all) these people are supposed to protect me? ROFL