A Weird Story

[Pete G]

I'm going to have to try that superman thing this summer at the range, should be a fun day!
A little to cool here for that right now.

That would probably be a good way to get the range to yourself. :wink:

 

[Rifleman1776]

The range I go to is uncontrolled. I'm pretty sure a lot of the people that show up don't even have a current membership, and I'm not asking either! When I see something starting to unfold I don't like, I just pack up as quickly as possible and leave. I basically will not even go on a weekend anymore...stick to M-Th and generally don't have problems. With the scary people around now-a-days, I'm not getting into an argument with anyone with guns in their hands!

There is a very nice forest service range not far from me. But, it is uncontrolled and I have had b ad experiences there with iggerant/unsafe shooters. Sadly, I, and many others will not use it for that reason. And, agree, not wise to argue with idjits who have guns. :nono:

 

[Grumpa]

:grin: :thumbsup:

 

[nkbj]

T'would appear that whatever transpired at the range was enough to provoke the newbie. Kinda like what happens here on occasion.

 

[TNGhost]

I friend of mine who just told me about an incident at his club last weekend. He and two other guys were shooting at the 100 yard station when a new club member showed up with a very shiny new (what appeared to be Indian) flintlock side-by-side shotgun and a plastic Sephora bag. The new member sidled along side these guys and commenced loading. He first took a small flask out of the plastic bag and primed both pans. He then took out a larger flask and started pouring powder down the barrel. At that moment, one of the guys, the designated range officer, told him what he was doing was extremely dangerous (skipping the part about the near futility of trying to hit something at 100 yards). The guy just looked at him and kept going, wad (newspaper), shot, wad (more newspaper). He put some old, small, foam and plastic Walkman headphones over his ears, cord dangling,(nothing for his eyes) then fired both barrels... and thankfully left the range. About an hour later, when the 3 guys were done shooting and driving out onto the main road, there he was, sitting on the curb, gun in the open, butt on the ground and muzzles up. The large flask was stuck in the muzzle of one barrel and the small flask in the other; he was giving these guys the finger as they drove by. He must've been waiting for them. They called the police and don't know what happened next. If it's in the police beat he'll let me know.

I've never experienced anyone like that and truthfully, I'm not sure I'd know what to do if I did.

Smollett

Darn, I guess them Indian guns aren't too bad after all. :grin: Held up to all that powder and shot, and for an obvious neophyte, reliable flint ignition on both barrels, first time. :wink: Wish I had that gooda results, first time, with some flintlocks I've shot.

In all seriousness though, and I am not saying the guy wasn't an EDP, but would've a more friendly, "looks like your new to this, I'm the RO and have some experience and can help" approach been better that telling the guy he's dangerous? :hmm:

Too often I've seen, at ranges, gun shops etc., so called experts alienate, to the point of anger or tears, new people to the game, who are trying to learn and not be embarrased in the process. :nono:

Learning about guns at an older age from strangers, rather than at your father's side, is a stressful and easily embarassing situation. Especially given the mystique of firearms in this country.

And I gotta tell you boys, at this point, we need all the help/friends we can get.

 

[coloradoclyde]

In all seriousness though, and I am not saying the guy wasn't an EDP, but would've a more friendly, "looks like your new to this, I'm the RO and have some experience and can help" approach been better that telling the guy he's dangerous?

Too often I've seen, at ranges, gun shops etc., so called experts alienate, to the point of anger or tears, new people to the game, who are trying to learn and not be embarrased in the process.

Learning about guns at an older age from strangers, rather than at your father's side, is a stressful and easily embarassing situation. Especially given the mystique of firearms in this country.

And I gotta tell you boys, at this point, we need all the help/friends we can get.

Well!, all I can say to that is......

Guns aren't toys and men aren't boys.
A person incapable of handling criticism, shouldn't be handling a firearm.

Every garden has weeds to pull.

 

[Mickc01]

Wow! I haven't had a chin drop like that in a long time. I too am really glad no one was hurt....Mick C

 

[Col. Batguano]

Check the 2016 Darwin Awards when they come out.

 

[Adui]

You know, as idiotic as this guys actions may have been, I tend to agree with those that ask for a gentler approach. Its not just Youtube that has poor practices any more. I've seen on an episode of a show that does auctions for antique arms that are confirmed to work where they primed the pan, loaded with a measured load (over a primed pan) and fired.

It's not too hard to get the wrong information when researching these things. For each page with proper safe loading techniques there's at least one (if not three) that show dangerous techniques.

Instead of scaring, embarrassing, and alienating someone who is OBVIOUSLY new and unlearned, try first to educate kindly and help..

Yes we are men and should be able to take a little criticism BUT: The whole world could do with a lot less unnecessarily cruel criticism and a few more people who are patient, kind, and at least try to teach before criticizing, ridiculing and embarrassing folk who just don't have a clue..

 

[nhmoose]

Range needs new range officer IMHO, he gave order to stop and he let the guy continue? Range would have been called safe and the violator removed from the range. Won't go for the range officer? The Police will remove him with a charge of criminal trespass at the clubs I belong to.

 

[hunts4deer]

The club I belong to requires all member to 1) sign in and sign out, before heading to, and after returning from, the range; 2) display their range card on their person at all times. Guests are allowed only twice before they then must apply for membership and guests can only be there under the supervision of a member who has a range card. Range cards are issued only after attending an orientation in the clubhouse and passing a short exam. It is the duty of every member, if they spot any dangerous procedure or violation of the rules, to gently point that out to the person in question and then, if a problem develops, to call the police. We seldom have "Range Officers" on duty, as every qualified member is considered a range officer.

The official range officer in this case should have stepped in and put an immediate stop to a dangerous situation. If this is a club, they need to revisit their operating procedures and duties of a range officer.