Things said that make me want to shoot alone

[Jason holgate]

I would have done exactly what you did leaving a fool and preserved my peace

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

Many years ago when I was in what was then called West Germany, a young lady, SP4 Rhonda Ladd, from Oklahoma, told me that "Advice is most appreciated when it is asked for." Haven't heard from her since about 1977, but Specialist Ladd was a pretty smart girl. She'd be in her mid to late sixties now, so most likely she is a pretty smart woman now if still alive.

 

[Mad L]

I have never ran into muzzleloaders at the public ranges I used to go to, other then the ones that came out with me. But I do find them a bothere; sometimes I meet some nice folk who are curious what I am shooting but more often I get the evil-eye from those who don't like the smoke or appear to find the 'BOOM' to annoy them. Even had some complain about me keeping powder at the back bench and loading at the back bench (range rules...but unmentionables never read the BP part).
Luckily where I am now I have plenty of PL (some call it BLM but since it don't really belong to the 'bureau' I prefer to call it Public Land). I still have yet to run into any other muzzleloaders and occasionally have had nice folk come over and chat but very seldom as I shoot mostly weekdays (low traffic).

I did however find myself sharing a hillside once with an Instructor (of some sort) who was using Public Land as his school's shooting range, he was very irate over the sound of my "G.D. Cannon!", he said, so I put my .50 cal Pennsylvania back in the car and pulled out my .75 cal Blunderbuss.....he packed his 'students' and their pew pews up in the van and left....gee, the guys shooting Skeet on the other side of me didn't bother me...?

 

[Eric Krewson]

This is a range story but a very sad one. I was shooting at the local public range when a younger guy drifted over to see my flintlock, I could tell he was very depressed and a beaten man, he just had that aura about him. As we talked, I told him I was a vet, he said he was too and having a very bad time of it.

I let him shoot my flintlock, he told me his M/L beat his shoulder up and it was painful to shoot. I questioned him and found out his rifle had a deep crescent butt plate and he was holding it on his shoulder. I told him TN rifles like his were made to hold just above the bicep, this made sense to him and he almost smiled.

He talked more and said he couldn't handle the killing when he was in combat, he had been a Marine in Fallujah and had a breakdown after he killed his first man. He said they sent him to Bosnia to decompress and them put him back into combat where he had to kill in hand-to-hand combat. He had a major breakdown and the Marines discharged him with a mental disability. I have never seen a man so beaten and destroyed by PTSD, my heart went out to this guy but there was nothing I could do.

I mentioned that I made bows, he said he had always been interested in making his own bow. I told him I would give him a call so he could come to my shop and learn bow making.

He lived with his dad, I called, his dad said his son wasn't taking calls, I called again later, and got the same message from his dad.

I don't remember his name, this took place about 5 years ago, I haven't seen his picture in the local obits and I might not have caught it if he was. I could tell he was thinking of taking his life when I was talking to him, I felt so helpless, I reached out but couldn't do a thing for him.

I was hawkish when I joined the Army in 67, I was a helicopter crewchief but went to Germany instead of Vietnam. Our company in Germany was comprised of at least 50% combat vet crewchiefs who were sent to Germany to finish out their left-over enlistment time. After talking to these guys about how it really was, I left the service with a completely different outlook on US involvement in other countries' problems. So many brave and gallant men used as cannon fodder for no valid reason. I still believe in a quick and decisive strike on those who attack us but no more protracted un-winnable wars like Vietnam and Afghanistan, our amazing men and women in the service deserve much better.

 

[springfield art]

I never was comfortable shooting with other people. Especially in muzzle loading, there's always some talkative gawker putting his two cents in.

 

[Sam squanch]

Shoot naked. People will leave you alone. Except in my case , the ladies flock around me….

 

[Ed C.]

Well, you might benefit from a thicker skin but that's just my view on it. Other than my family, I don't care what anybody thinks about me and my family respects that.

But, not everyone wants to be the unshaven guy in the supermarket wearing bedroom slippers, pajama bottoms, a holey t shirt and uncombed hair. That's how you will end up if you follow my advice!

So you did see me shopping at Winn Dixie?

 

[user 31232]

Shoot naked. People will leave you alone. Except in my case , the ladies flock around me….

Man ill bet those flint sparks are a real pain the you know what and elsewhere

 

[Khufu]

one of the few guys I ever saw shooting real muzzleloaders ( I don't count inlines as true muzzle loaders) showed up at the range while I was shooting several rocklocks including my Charleville. I thought I would go over and introduce myself at the next cease fire after I changed my targets out. the ceasefire was called and 10 minutes later we were still not given the all clear to go down range. The RO came over to me and asked if I thought I could get the load out of the bess. as soon as I got there I noticed he had a bottle of Pyrodex RS by his accoutrements and I asked if he had used it in his bess and he said yes that's what the guy at the gun store told him to use. I told him that it is simply not suitable for use in flintlocks, but you could tell he was skeptical because the guy at the gun store was clear this was the right stuff, I went and got my vent pick and picked out some of the fake powder out and used my 4f powder to work into the vent then primed it for him. I warned him there would likely be a bad hang fire and let him try to shoot it out. it was a BAD hang fire, but the tube was cleared, after the ceasefire I loaded it for him with some Goex and it worked real good, no problems with the gun, I gave him the phone number of the place I order my powder from and he said he would never use the pyrodex again, Ill never know, because I never saw him again, now every time someone has one stuck in a inline the range officers come get me to clear it and I still have not been able to convince them that I know less about inlines than they do, to them its all the same.

 

[Stantheman86]

Most of the reason why I went back to shooting primarily "unmentionable" handguns and cap and ballers, is that both of the gun clubs I go to have dedicated "handgun " ranges. I got tired of the motards at the rifle ranges setting up 30 steel targets and mag dumping at all of them, or being a PITA by constantly walking around and fiddle____ with things , the guy that fires 3 shots and has to drive down to change targets....the overly chatty guys who are probably there to get away from wives and kids, etc etc etc

I work with enough people like this, I go to the range for peace and meditation, not to accomodate more annoying people.

At the pistol area obviously the "shooting space" is much smaller so there's no guys driving down to the 300, sitting in their truck for 20 minutes then driving back, or any of that. It's 50 yards and that's it. If someone else is shooting there it's not a big deal. I usually put 50-100 holes in a target before it's time to change anyway. At my other club that's a farther drive, if you're lucky you can snag one of the 6 "pits" and that is yours, no one else can shoot with you. You can sit in there from sunup to sundown as long as no match is going on. If no chatty range wanderers come into your space, you don't have to interact with a single person

The best option is my parents backyard, but it's pretty much an "occasional rimfire range" because the neighbors probably don't like when I light off a box of .357 back there even though they have 10 acres. Still, some days my Single Six and a few boxes of .22, and no people within a mile of me, is a better option than trying to shoot an Enfield rifle-musket on a crowded rifle range

I also bought a pair of noise cancelling ear buds that link to my phone's Bluetooth, so if a chatty cathy comes over I just point to my ear and pull the plug out like "I'm sorry I'm listening to music I can't hear you" even if there's no music playing in them

 

[Steve Wagner]

Then go home and declare war on the Union!

Thank you Josie Whales !

 

[hlhanna]

Man ill bet those flint sparks are a real pain the you know what and elsewhere

Talk about fire down below!

 

[Newtire]

I got out to shoot today PRB .440 .15 ticking and 20g pyrodex. I like my percussion locks, revolvers and In- Lines I can feed em all pyrodex different load sizes of course. As time went by someone else decides to show up shoot, public area, I have no complaints. We get to chatting exchanging pleasantries discussing loads patch material, Well he spouts Buck Horn 209 or Triple 7 there is no way anyone would ever catch me using a "Substitute in my Muzzle loader" it hurt my brain kind of smashed into the side of my skull I packed my stuff and took a leave. Now was he just screwing with me? or does he truly believe 209 and Triple 7 are not Substitutes? What I KNOW is 1) I am not that guy anymore 2) If it has "PROPELLANT" on the packaging it is a Substitute! and 3) It is much more delightful to walk away, leaving stupidity to stew in stupidity, cause similar to hornets what happens when ya poke a hornets nest with a stick and give it a stir? Nah Man no need to spread that stuff out. Let it Be.......

Most everyone I've met at ranges have been real interested in my muzzleloader that I was using that day. Have even met some nice women but I was already taken off the market. I have never been turned down when I offered them a shot or two. I have more fun than they do when they break a clay bird.
One time, while hunting doves, a stranger remarked, "a muzzleloader shotgun! I never knew they made something like that."

 

[billraby]

When I bring a 4 bore to the shooting range nobody wants to take a shot or two.

 

[Newtire]

When I bring a 4 bore to the shooting range nobody wants to take a shot or two.

I made the mistake of taking a second shot with a big unmentionable rifle that a guy offered to let me shoot. I should have quit after the first shot! That man Roy sure made some shoulder bruisers. Nope, I'll pass on a 4-bore. It would be fun to watch though. Black powder is more of a big shove but I think I have my limits. I pulled both triggers on a 10 bore one time and it wasn't that bad. How is that 4-bore to shoot?

 

[springfield art]

I buy black powder by the case. Crunches don't affect me. BE PREPARED!

I was foolishly affected by the Great Hillary Scare and the Covid-Rioting Scare; even though I had plenty of 'stuff', I'd still search for more. Never again! I'm good to go!

 

[springfield art]

If I know I'm right, I'll use this: " I've made so many mistakes in my life, it's nice to see someone else do it for a change..."

Love the A.E.Neuman image!

 

[ETipp]

I have learned that at a public shooting range, its to everyone's better interest if I remain off to the far end and away from anyone "except for" the person I would like to bring along to watch after my ML and possibles when I go to check or move my target. Distractions of any sort is something I found do not mesh well with muzzleloaders. And let me tell ya, in this day and age, and at a public shooting range, there's always plenty to distract ones attention. That's especially true when using BP and a side lock.

 

[Tenring]

People just love to come up and ask a pile of Questions even at the range I have been a member since the 90’s because there Will always be someone new to take the other question happy persons place, and the saga continue. sigh

 

[springfield art]

People are afraid of muzzle loading guns because you can't instantly tell if they're loaded or not!