That was NORMAL procedure in all clubs in the old First Congress of New England groups. That was all NH,VT. MA. ME .CT, RI and NY
Pure and simple common courtesy.
Sorely needed day at the range.
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Pure and simple common courtesy.
Wouldn't work at the range I go to. The benches are concrete and the poles are steel.
HOWEVER... They do provide a barricade for Unmentionables to clamp onto the bench. It would make a fine spark arrestor I think, though it is cloth I'm pretty sure it would survive the flintlock shower.
WRustyLane
32 Cal.
I guess I'm really blessed because I can open the back door and shoot out the woods in the back of my property. The only hindrance I have to deal with is the WIFE. She tells me the noise of the rifle scares the dogs. I guess I need to get them some hearing protection, Lol. So I really don't need to go to the range as I need to set me up a small range away from the back door so the noise of my shooting does not affect the dogs. My dogs are getting older now and all 3 are beyond 10 years old.
I, too, do all my ml shooting at my home range. My horses have heard so much shooting it no longer bothers them but the cats still get a little anxious the wife says.
I used to go to a local state range but the safety practises of some of the shooters was making me more and more nervous. Finally one day the range was cold and I had hobbled down to replace a target. Actually this was my first time shooting after a total hip replacement and I was slow, so the other few shooters were already back to the firing line. I had my back to the firing line when the idiot on the next bench shot the target next to me!!! Everybody started yelling and either I was so slow or he was so fast that he had thrown all his gear in his jeep and was gone before I could get to him. The range officer never came out of the trailer where he was watching Bugs Bunny.
Anyway I did some improvements to my range and now shoot there exclusively. I find it much more relaxing.
I used to go to a local state range but the safety practises of some of the shooters was making me more and more nervous. Finally one day the range was cold and I had hobbled down to replace a target. Actually this was my first time shooting after a total hip replacement and I was slow, so the other few shooters were already back to the firing line. I had my back to the firing line when the idiot on the next bench shot the target next to me!!! Everybody started yelling and either I was so slow or he was so fast that he had thrown all his gear in his jeep and was gone before I could get to him. The range officer never came out of the trailer where he was watching Bugs Bunny.
Anyway I did some improvements to my range and now shoot there exclusively. I find it much more relaxing.
Wow!!!
That would scare me enough to chase me away too. I am happy to report he would never have gotten that far at the range I use. Some say the RO's are a bit too Gestapo like, I prefer that over a lax RO that might allow something like your experience. At our range there is no touching of firearms during the cease fire, they even ground all bags and other shooting items. If you leave the range during a cease fire, for instance to use the rest room, it is without your belongings and they don't let you back in till the cease fire is over.
Still, if I lived on a piece of land I could set up a range on I would never go to the public range. Glad you have a place where you can shoot safely and relaxed..
Griz44Mag
70 Cal.
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THIS!!!
I take every opportunity to extend an invitation to those that gather to see "what the heck is that?"
With an explanation and permission from Dad or Mom, I get real delight loading up a powder puff and having the young ones take a few shots at a steel plate at 40 meters. That resounding ringing of the gong is something we all enjoy. The smiles are miles of satisfaction, theirs and mine.
I have a few that ask when I am going to be back. So I give and get a phone number and send a courtesy text when I make my next trip. Hopefully, this will help grow some future BP shooters.
I wholeheartedly agree with that last reply. I too get alot of satisfaction out of letting others shoot a blackpowder gun. And not just necessarily youngsters.Fully grown men also get a kick out of it. Seems others like the smell of blackpowder too. And the sound of a gong.
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Yep. Its about an hour from me.... I call that close
Yeah, our state ranges have the same rules. They are written in large black letters on a huge white sign right where you enter the range. Each range has it's own sign. The RO is supposed to explain them with emphasis on "Grounding", but this one RO can't explain what is written in plain words. Then he disappears into his trailer. He say's it's not his problem to watch the range for safety violations but it's ours, the shooters responsibility. Sounds good to him, but I've witnessed how unsafe this practice actually is....Sorry about the rant but I've still got a slow burn whenever I remember how that shot and bullet sounded impacting the target and berm 5 yards away.
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It sounds to me like the RSO is looking to get the range closed down. I serve as a RSO at a range and we try to keep safety upmost. It only takes one serious accident to get the place closed along with others in the state. Can you see the newspaper headlines if someone is shot while down range during a cease fire. Worse yet if it is a minor with a parent checking their targets. Also, if someone sues, the RO will personally be at the top of the list of defendants along with the state, owners etc.
The opposite can be a pain also. Instead of too lenient there are ROs out there that take the fun out of shooting by being too strict. But at least they're safer than the lenient ones. That is the name of the game isn't it? Safety. But lets keep it fun too !
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My way of doing it is to number one, keep people safe and number two do it in a way that people have fun. I only get grumpy if people don't respond to polite requests to obey the rules and be safe.
8 BORE
50 Cal.
He's probably not even RSO certified by the NMLRA or the NRA. Just some idiot with a big head.If the range has liability insurance, maybe they should know about it.
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That's how I first got hooked on muzzleloaders, as a kid back in the 1950's. A gunsmith friend of Granddad's let me shoot a double-barrel 12 gauge muzzleloading shotgun on which he had just installed new nipples, and I was hooked for life!
Sidney Smith
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One reason I quit going to the state owned range near me was because of idiots shooting while people were still downrange. Had some kid pick up a .22 and started cutting loose on the 25 yard boards while a bunch of us were checking targets at 100. The kids dad caught an earful and a few threats of violence that day. They hurriedly left as well. That coupled with too many bad actors behaving so insanely, made me decide to quit going there.I joined a local club not long after. Hadn't been back in a long while. One day I decided to head up there just because I hadn't gone and I did enjoy the ride up there, however it had only gotten worse. I vowed to never go back and haven't been there since.
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8 BORE
50 Cal.
In Missouri we have 4 state of the art shooting ranges. Trap, skeet, rifle, pistol, archery, and 5-stand. These ranges are open to the public and operated by NRA certified CRSO'S and RSO'S.
I'm lucky enough to have a NRA certified range within 2 miles of my little town. I was one of the original people that help set it up About 25 years ago, and we are lucky we can purchase insurance that is NRA certified. That is our main expense every year, being our range is leased from a private individual, and close to a public road, we don't have any way of stopping access by other shooters that aren't members. We been fairly lucky, we encourage those that use it to please pick up their targets and other clutter. We've only had three cases of vandalism and the damage was only minimal.We believe that we are providing a service to those that don't abuse it, and we've had many good comments from people that come out from the eastern states hunting in Montana on finding a place to check their rifle before hunting. Our dues are only $20 a year, so many of them join. We have target stands set at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 500 Yards. We also have a 3x4 steel gong set at 1000 yards.
It isn't real fancy, we have four shooting stations underneath a tin roof, on a cement pad with gravel around the shooting area and a path to an outdoor outhouse, And a three sided inclosed table area for lunches and things. The shooting stations, Outhouse and picnic tables are inside a fenced in area in about a 35 x 70 yard area with large pipe frame gates that are opened to shoot through. I am a member of a nice target range 45 miles away, but I only get there a couple of times a year. It's quite nice with a dozen shooting stations and closed on three sides, but it only has a range of 200 yards.
For those that are lucky enough to have a muzzleloading club in a few mile radius, congratulations. Montana doesn't have a muzzleloader season and I think that explains the lack of shooters. We have a few muzzleloader areas, that are also open to archery and shotgun,, but they are small and pretty hard hunted. Everyplace else we go we are in competition with the big guns. Actually, if it wasn't for my love of experimenting with different loads, bullets,sights and patch lube; it wouldn't be much fun shooting.
It isn't real fancy, we have four shooting stations underneath a tin roof, on a cement pad with gravel around the shooting area and a path to an outdoor outhouse, And a three sided inclosed table area for lunches and things. The shooting stations, Outhouse and picnic tables are inside a fenced in area in about a 35 x 70 yard area with large pipe frame gates that are opened to shoot through. I am a member of a nice target range 45 miles away, but I only get there a couple of times a year. It's quite nice with a dozen shooting stations and closed on three sides, but it only has a range of 200 yards.
For those that are lucky enough to have a muzzleloading club in a few mile radius, congratulations. Montana doesn't have a muzzleloader season and I think that explains the lack of shooters. We have a few muzzleloader areas, that are also open to archery and shotgun,, but they are small and pretty hard hunted. Everyplace else we go we are in competition with the big guns. Actually, if it wasn't for my love of experimenting with different loads, bullets,sights and patch lube; it wouldn't be much fun shooting.
I do most of my shooting at a public range here in KY. It's located on state wildlife reserve land and maintained by a local gun club, but open to all comers every day of the year. We have 10 rifle benches and 6 pistol stations under cover with berms out to 300 yds. There is no range officer at any time except during special events.
I have rarely witnessed any truly unsafe activity and a civil reminder of best practices is usually sufficient. We do sometimes get a few yahoos, but that's mostly personality rather than safety relatersed. I shoot either during the week when it's empty or on Sunday mornings with a small group of serious shooters. Our informal little group includes a couple of ex military shooter/reloadeders who are very friendly and generous with their time and knowledge but have exactly no patience with unsafe actors. They still have their sargent's voices, let me tell you. (I was raised by a former DI, so I have some basis to judge!)
Regards.
I have rarely witnessed any truly unsafe activity and a civil reminder of best practices is usually sufficient. We do sometimes get a few yahoos, but that's mostly personality rather than safety relatersed. I shoot either during the week when it's empty or on Sunday mornings with a small group of serious shooters. Our informal little group includes a couple of ex military shooter/reloadeders who are very friendly and generous with their time and knowledge but have exactly no patience with unsafe actors. They still have their sargent's voices, let me tell you. (I was raised by a former DI, so I have some basis to judge!)
Regards.
