Where you personally Shoot is the Range Controlled, or Uncontrolled

[Bob J]

Controlled - I shoot at the Indian River County Public Shooting Range that was built by the County in cooperation with the Florida Widlife Commission. The range officers are very professional (and helpful!). They encourage you to report any unsafe condition immediately. They pay very close attention to safety. It is a very nice place to go shoot :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

Private, members only range.

 

[Greenmtnboy]

thank god fer public land cuz that's where we shoot.

 

[rabjr]

:haha: Last time I was on public land, I was shot at!

 

[Greenmtnboy]

did you shoot back :cursing:

 

[rabjr]

Hell no! Was to busy gettin the hell outa there.

Actually was so shook up after having buck shot hit just a couple feet from me that I don't think I could have.

 

[Greenmtnboy]

sorry to hear that. I can't stand people who give out sport a bad name. :shake:

 

[Ohio Joe]

Like many here there is thousands on thousands of acres of public land to shoot on, and in my case I have access to thousands more arces to use for shooting and hunting through the good will of my friends.

However, I choose to use our local range as it is only a mile from me and everything I need is there.

We have RO's during matches but not when the range is open to the membership for practice. Everyone gets along fine, both the modern and traditional shooters, as well as the trap and handgun shooters.

We work well together at Northwest Nebraska Shooter's Assoc., to insure we have a safe responsible place to shoot and we've not experienced the problems some clubs do in the larger populated areas. 'Course, everyone knows everyone here where I live. We're just a small community with a range that can rival most large ones. We have 37 acres.

Our local law enforcement is good enough to patrol our range and keep and eye out for the public's interest. They don't have to do this, but we asked them to and they were more then willing to help out. They too are members. :thumbsup:

 

[guncobbler]

I shoot at an Izaak Walton League range in northern VA. Nice facility with well trained range officers. We all keep an eye on the new folks but have never been scared by someone swinging a muzzle my way or fiddling with their gun while I was down range. Nice to have a range close by when I don't have a house that I can shoot off the back porch in the rain GC

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Out har is the wild and wooly west, most of my firends have ranges on the back side of thier speads.

About the only controled shooting we do is at rondy!

 

[Deadeye]

Same here, Tanstaafl, millions of acres, shoot all day, any distance you like, never see another person, never even leave a burnt patch unless I can't find it. I once lived in a place where you had to go to a range and pay to shoot, YUK, I can't even imagine anyone living like that now.

 

[ronrryan]

Venice, FL has a very nice Sarasota County range nearby, covered benches, pistol and rifle at 25, 50, and 100 yards Metal target hangers for cardboard backing, Certified range officers who are county employees, nice setup. It is part of a park tht also houses the local trap and skeet range. I think it's the nicest range I have seen in many, many years and think I am fortunate to have it only abot a fifteen minut drive from the house. Unfortunately, hardly any black powder shooters. Good smoke, Ron in FL

 

[Slamfire]

Southcentral Pa here...at the SGL's no R/O here either. Everyone seems to be very safe, although sometimes people show up with 5 or 6 weapons at a time and most do not follow the 3 shots in a rifle/6 in a pistol. Of course...this doesn't matter to me. I am planning on joining a private club in dillsburg. My friend shoots there and he says it is empty all the time. The less the better.

Is that the Dillsburg Fish and Game Association? They paid for my NRA life membership, when I was shooting junior position matches. I hear they moved the range to Coffetown.
The range I shoot at now is tightly controlled, only one shooter ever goes there. Me!
:rotf: :rotf:

 

[Bobcat]

Most of the time I use public ranges that are uncontrolled. There are a couple within driving distance, if I'm just going to shoot a few shots I drive a couple of blocks to the edge of town, there is a small informal range there. My "local" gun club range is 70 miles one way so I don't get out there too often but if a scheduled shoot is going on then there are range officers present and the members are very good about self policing.

 

[TexiKan]

Our range, here in Kansas, is basically "controlled" with the use of a Range Master. Some of our Range Masters have had certified training and some do not. None are paid. For major events, the Range Officer usually watches all shooters and once in a while, to give him a break or for him to shoot, he is relieved by another designated member.

We are one of the few BP clubs in Kansas with a covered range. That has a nice advantage but sometimes we are perceived as only a "paper club." Our woods walk area has been developing more and more. I've been a member of this club since 1975 and safety has always been extremely important.

We have recognized that no one likes or appreciates a surly Range Master, which for some reason, seems to have been the persona of many Range Masters at ours and other clubs. Several years ago we made an effort to be safe and civil and our Range Officers now have a much better demeanor!

TexiKan

 

[BrownBear]

I refuse to shoot on a range without some kind of controls, whether by a range master or by cooperation of all present. I have no qualms about butt stroking anyone who carelessly points his muzzle at me or anyone else, and fire a shot while someone is downrange and I'll take pleasure in breaking your rifle across the nearest tree.

With that outlook, it's better that I stay away from uncontrolled public ranges.

 

[Dave K]

I feel so lucky! At my club there is no range officer. There are rules posted and there are those that are the "usual" guys who shoot all the time. We know each other as friends and we know safety. We will converse with each other as we shoot, about a cease fire, etc. If a new shooter comes to shoot, he is watched, but he soon learns the way of things and I can't say we ever had any problems. Of course, there are MANY times, I am the only one on the bench. People who show up, come to the club just to see who is shooting, because they heard the shooting. If there is a problem at our club it is those members (or is it non-members), who when shooting alone, don't pick up there trash/empties/targets, etc. Some of these guys need to bring their mothers to pick up after them.

 

[JCW]

The range I use is a small private one open to the public for a fee. There are no so called "range officers". Most of the shooters are regulars and the rules are posted and we self enforce them. If somebody is operating in an unsafe or ignorant manner, they are corrected. Usually there is no problem, just a bit of embarrassment on the part of the corrected shooter. If someone continues to foul up, the range owner 86's the offender off the property with an invitation not to return. System has worked for us for many years. I do, however stay away when the once a year shooters show up to see if their rifles still more or less will work this hunting season. for just recreational shooting there are thousands of acres of public land nearby for me to use.

 

[biliff]

I shoot at a large private facility with a lot of different ranges (BP, 100 yard, 200-300 yard, indoor .22, bullseye pistol, practical pistol, etc....). During the week the entire facility is patrolled by a volunteer "range officer". They do not physically controll any individual range but are there to make sure everything is going O.K. and to deal with any problems (like people sneaking onto the range). Individuals on the ranges are responsible for keeping things safe IAW the rules pertaining to that particular range.
During more formal competitive shoots (usually on the weekend) each discipline tends to have RO's present who run the show for the competition in question.
When we have "hunter sight in days" there are RO's all over the place and the rifle range being used is tightly controlled (PA system, flashing red lights, chamber flags, etc.)as these sessions are open to the public and you can get some real dip^%#s.
As to training and certification, the patrolling RO goes thru an indoctrination period so they are familiar with their duties. Individual disciplines (IPSIC, CAS, etc.) have their own
RO certification program.