Went to a shoot today. they shut down the range at noon. Around 1 the shooters started gathering around their guns, loading and such, the range officer opened up the range to popping caps, the speaker system is horrible and could not understand what he was saying, so just assumed the range was open. Anyway, I fired off a shot with my flintlock, a guy down the line fired off a shot. We were yelled at for shooting, when the range was only open to popping caps!!! What do yu guys think of this? flinch
range rules
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Talk to the Range. Help them straigten it out. Before something bad actually happens...
Talk to the Range. Help them straigten it out. Before something bad actually happens...
The thing is, I have seen more than once, (even did it myself once) popping a cap when you don't think there is a load in the gun, can lead to a big surprise!! So, just don't understand the difference. If yu point the gun down range and pull the trigger, the range should be open to shooting! flinch
My gun club's range has red lights flashing and intermitent bells ringing when the range is down. It's not a big club {350 members} but can afford to have these safeguards.
The firing line has 25, 50, 100 and 200 yd ranges and there's separate switches for each range and each switch shuts down the entire firing line.
When the switch is pressed, a siren sounds for 15 seconds and simultaneously the red lights come on....then the bell starts ringing after the siren stops.
Don't think instructions from a RO is the safe way to operate a firing range and "caps only" firing is ridiculous.......Fred
The firing line has 25, 50, 100 and 200 yd ranges and there's separate switches for each range and each switch shuts down the entire firing line.
When the switch is pressed, a siren sounds for 15 seconds and simultaneously the red lights come on....then the bell starts ringing after the siren stops.
Don't think instructions from a RO is the safe way to operate a firing range and "caps only" firing is ridiculous.......Fred
The range command to pop caps (cap off or fire a fouling shot :- flintlock) never has been a command or instruction to load and fire ,consider yourself lucky the RO did not scotch hobble you with your own gun .When on a range listen to the commands .
I've never heard the "command" that's it's OK to cap off,,
In our neck of the woods the range is either open or closed,, Hot or Cold,
There is no in-between where you point a gun down range and shoot it a little bit by popping a cap.
Once the range is open then and only then can shooters approach the line and either cap off or if prepared shoot.
However, If a load speaker system, or the speaker using the system is not capable of being understood ,, I would get loud real quick about that!
If I can't understand the command because of some idiot that thinks he has to put the microphone in his mouth and shout I'm going to let him know I can't understand what he's saying.
In our neck of the woods the range is either open or closed,, Hot or Cold,
There is no in-between where you point a gun down range and shoot it a little bit by popping a cap.
Once the range is open then and only then can shooters approach the line and either cap off or if prepared shoot.
However, If a load speaker system, or the speaker using the system is not capable of being understood ,, I would get loud real quick about that!
If I can't understand the command because of some idiot that thinks he has to put the microphone in his mouth and shout I'm going to let him know I can't understand what he's saying.
All of the ranges I've shot at had only two conditions.
"The range is closed" = no one can even touch a gun for any reason.
"The range is open" (or "hot") = cap popping, flintlock testing and any other type of shooting/loading downrange is acceptable.
As flinch mentioned, flintlock testing or cap popping can easily be the same as firing a loaded gun if the gun is loaded so what is the purpose of "cap popping time"?
It sounds like a good way to get someone accidentally shot.
"The range is closed" = no one can even touch a gun for any reason.
"The range is open" (or "hot") = cap popping, flintlock testing and any other type of shooting/loading downrange is acceptable.
As flinch mentioned, flintlock testing or cap popping can easily be the same as firing a loaded gun if the gun is loaded so what is the purpose of "cap popping time"?
It sounds like a good way to get someone accidentally shot.
IT is part of a preparation phase , you may not go forward of the fireing line ,you may not load your gun but you may cap off to clear oil etc. out of the gun and as a function test prior to loading . Now when most shooters cap off at some stage they will hold the muzzle close to the ground but in front off the line to watch to see their barrel is obstruction free as they bust a cap . Once it is clear that every one is ready the order to load is given. At no point is the range considered luke warm etc.You do not load until the command to load is given and one does not walk onto a range with an already loaded gun .
Ray-Vigo
Yankee
All the ranges I've been to in several states were either "hot" or "cold". Even during our monthly muzzle loaders only shoots, the range is either "hot" or "cold".
The reason a range goes "cold" is because people are down range or soon headed there. When such is the case, there should be zero chance a gun will be fired. Hence, a "cold" range and no handling at all, popping caps or otherwise. In fact, just popping caps is one of the most dangerous activities. Often people will load the bore to hunt, not shoot the gun, unload the cap, but then forget to clear the bore. The next time they head to the range with a gun, "pop" a cap, but inadvertently fire the stored charge.
The status of the range revolves around the potential for an individual to be down range. If someone is down range or headed there, the guns should be benched.
The reason a range goes "cold" is because people are down range or soon headed there. When such is the case, there should be zero chance a gun will be fired. Hence, a "cold" range and no handling at all, popping caps or otherwise. In fact, just popping caps is one of the most dangerous activities. Often people will load the bore to hunt, not shoot the gun, unload the cap, but then forget to clear the bore. The next time they head to the range with a gun, "pop" a cap, but inadvertently fire the stored charge.
The status of the range revolves around the potential for an individual to be down range. If someone is down range or headed there, the guns should be benched.
Just a respectful question,1601phill said:
Where is this done?
Whom, uses such rules?
It is also used because some matches have a time facter , it puts every one at the same start time ,it also stops cheaters from grabbing a sneaky sighing shot ,Manners and respect and following the match and range rules as well .
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I've always observed either hot range or cold range,,,touch gun or no touch gun..never heard of cap fire only..and wouldn't be a fan of it!
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