Are the people at your range nice or mean?

The folks at my range are just downright mean, I understand that with ranges closing all over, their membership has increased significantly, but that doesnt mean they have to be jerks about it....


Took the day off from work, and got there 15 minutes early, and set up on a table and waited. A few minutes later all these "senior" members started strolling in (and by senior I mean in both age and membership to this club). I was told in no uncertain terms that friday mornings are "their" time at the range, and I would not be allowed to shoot until they were done. Apparently its some...I knew this was BS, and a case of older members throwing their weight around (other than offical CMP mathces there is no "reservations", but not really being in a mood to argue, and having handguns with me, I moved all my stuff to the handgun range...I had just set my stuff down, when one of the "senior" members runs over and starts giving me heck about not putting my range flag up to show that the pistol range was now occupied. I kindly told him that as soon as I had put my shooting bag and gun cases down and had free hands I was planning on doing just that. His response "well I just wanted to make sure you knew that", and he stormed off (been a member at this range for three years, and am fully aware of the procedures).

I shot off a box of 50 rounds of 45 LC, and went around the back to the port-a-potty to relive myself. While back there the all clear buzzer sounded, and started walking up to put up the "all clear" flag, when I hear a chorus of yells from downrange. It seems the old boys club started walking down range, saw that the all clear flag was not up in the pistol range yet, and started yelling at me again for not changing the flag on time.....

Its usually something at this place....One time I got yelled by a "range master" for picking my rifle cases up to leave when the all clear flag was up, I was pretty much told that "there will be no picking up of anything when the all clear is sounded". Before the all clear had sounded that time, I had put my guns in the cases, and put them behind the firing line in preparation to leave.

Another time I was there with my dad a few months before his death. A year earlier he had signed up for a lifetime membership, but they sent him a one year sticker for his membership card, not the lifetime membership sticker. He didnt notice, I didnt notice, but the rangemaster that day noticed and would not allow him to shoot without paying the $20.00 guest fee. My dad at that point was 75 years old, and could only get around with the use of a cane....couldnt carry his guns to the bench, etc...


Are all ranges this bad these days?

not that bad here , some jerks but with 700 members you wont see the same person two times in a row unless you shoot the matches. Now the game and fish range is a different story , he is the best recruiter for our club.

We have several thousand members but not all join for the shooting. Over the years I've seen mixed results from easy going Range Officers to unrealistic and unsafe range officers. I treat them each on an individual basis. I don't get upset when someone yells at me. I either know better or apologize for the mistake. In your example I would have said, "You mean you went down range when my safety flag wasn't up? You committed a safety violation. Don't let it happen again."

When in FL I shoot at the state maintained range in the Ocala state forest, which is a nice 35 mile cycle ride for me. The only official I ever saw there was a park ranger who was there to police the range before the days activities and we pitched in and helped him. Usually the rules there are "Hot Range" and "Cold Range", and thats it. Everything else (including scrounging brass) is gentlemens agreement. When in NJ I have my backstop in my back yard and I guess you could say the people here are "Nice and mean" because they usually consist of me and sometimes my nephew. When up in WI I shoot at a little bullet trap in my G/F's yard, or go down to th range about 3 miles away for long distance rifle shooting. I sometimes take a couple pistols there too. The most people I have ever encountered there was the Barron P.D. qualifying, and they had no objection to me picking up all the 45 brass and disposing of it for them. :beerchug:(In my truck, of course). Most times there are 0 to 1 or 2 people there. I cant imagine having to rub elbows with more than 4 or 5 people.

I belong to a range in southwestern Indiana.
No range officers unless a match is being held.
When you notice someone approach the firing line whether on foot or by car you stop shooting and make sure they have ear protection on and then resume shooting.
If you want to go down range no flags are involved, just tell everybody when a stopping point is reached, yell "I'm going downrange, the range is cold" make sure they acknowledge and then go.
When you return make sure all have returned from downrange and have their hearing protection on and yell "I'm gonna start shooting the range is hot".
Several people who post here are members of this range and I, for one, think we have one of the best ranges in the country.

Can't say that I remember any mean people but I do run across some real morons once in awhile,usually the wannabe Rambo types.
I've been there many times when it's so busy you have to wait your turn to get a shooting spot on the rifle range but I have never had any senior members(I'm one myself:lol:)give me any problems or attitudes. There is another club local to me that I have heard is exactly what you describe though. From what I hear,if your not in their little "click" you get treated like crap,even though you pay your dues like them. I've been offered to shoot there several times as a guest but have declined.
We have had some problems at our club with vandalism,most recently some butthole shooting up the 25yd pistol range shed with a shotgun. Holes in the new roof we just put on last year and in the walls etc. A few years ago some punks broke in during the winter and set fire to the clubhouse,burned to the ground. The new one is all steel now:D

If this were an issue at my club, I would bring it up at the monthly BOD meeting. Each of our ranges has particular rules due to safety concerns and amount of use (and ignorance of the users). Ultimately it is the responsibility of each member to see that range rules are observed and any supposed infraction can be brought before the board for advisement. We have morons at either end of the spectrum and the board regularly is required to deal with them.

The range I use mostly is owned by the members. I usually shoot on weekdays so there isn't a crowd. It is very informal. The first guy there is the range officer and when he leaves he hands it off to the next guy.

Before I shot at a public range which was ok, just expensive and restrictive on what you were allowed to do there. I still shoot there occassionally for clays.

So I guess for me the answer is no, not really a lot of mean range folks around me.

Just the opposite at the IWLA Club/Range I belong to in NoVirginia. `Couldn't be a nicer/more helpful bunch -- and new shooters/women/youngsters are especially welcome since they are the breath of new life.

Range tims runs in (semi) strict 30-min cycles, then the RO calls Cease Fire/the flashing red light goes on and everyone is free to go downrange/paste targets/pickup brass in front of the shooting line -- BUT NO ONE CAN TOUCH A RUN OR APPROACH A SHOOTING TABLE FROM THE REAR. ("White Line" is out-of-bounds about two feet behind the tables.) LIKEWISE NO HANDLING OF GUNS BEHIND THE WHITE LINE, EVEN IF CASED.

Half the serious shooters are rotating ROs, ...and NO ONE, repeat NO ONE has dibs on a shooting spot other than 1st-come-1st served. (Except the actual RO, who has one table for his trouble -- but invariably gives it up if/when the range overflows.)

No "Cowboy" shooting. Newcomers are watched like hawks to make sure they learn/abide by the rules/gun-handling/safety and rarely have I seen anything approaching unpleasantness.

Personally, I would have told the "senior" shooters politely to go to hell in your case, called the club President before the hour was out, then taken the issue to the next board meeting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Art

The range I use mostly is owned by the members. I usually shoot on weekdays so there isn't a crowd. It is very informal. The first guy there is the range officer and when he leaves he hands it off to the next guy.

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That's how it is at the gun club I belong to; we have about 325 members and everybody gets along great for the most part. The few soreheads we do have you can count on the fingers of one hand and have fingers left over, and they rarely show up anyway.

I am biased, but the Couny range I work at has a good bunch of personnel. We are County employees, or Volunteers.

There are range rules that everyone must obey, or it is "EXIT TIME"! Firearms are not to be handled when people are downrange posting, patching or pulling targets. We have, and will always ask people to leave when they are putting others at risk, or flatly violating the rules when they have been told not to violate those rules.

I and all of the other Rangemasters have sent people off the range, at one time or another. I see that as a partial failure on our part, failure to get the point across to the violators, that they are not to violate our rules. Still we have an occcasional person who needs to leave (maybe one a month or maybe 3 or 4 in a year). Our rules are for the safety and security of everybody who comes to our range, including we who work there. I try not to yell, because I do not want to upset somebody who just happens to have a loaded firearm in his/her hand. I have raised my voice (I called a CEASE FIRE) and was heard more than 100 yards away on another range (and they ceased firing too), so I can yell.

Children are welcome, as long as they are paying attention, and not running around playing tag or whatever.

We do get large family groups sometimes and they return again and again.

ARE WE MEAN?, Naw, though we usually get respect. ICEMAN66 can verify how we operate, as he uses our range OCCASIONALLY!

Iceman66 where are you?

Gyrene OFC

semper fi

`

Glocke12,
Your problem is a question of club management style and the attentiveness of club officials to "fair play" and harmony within the club. Those things don't just happen, they must be enforced. Failure to do so will eventually kill a club.
I held the positions of range chairman and club president at various times. I strictly enforced the principle that no member was more equal than any other member, this in accordance with the club by-laws. Some of the old timers openly grumbled about my position and tested me repeatedly. I heard about their former service to the club and how important they were, that the by-laws were merely "suggestions" and not written in stone, blah, blah, blah.
One day I got a call that a situation just as you discribe was going down, a number of members already on the range were being displaced by a group that was claiming senior rights. I arrived within about 10 minutes and talked to the affected members, all of whom agreed to sign a written, joint complaint to the club.
When I approached the offenders I was told to kiss off and there was nothing that I, as club president, was going to do about it. With that I envoked a section of the club by-laws which gave any club official the right to immediately eject from the grounds any member/person acting in a disruptive or dangerous fashion. They laughed at me.
I then immediately called the local police, who upon viewing my club credentials and having me sign a complaint form, ordered the offenders to leave and not return until duly notified by the club. Of course I was then threatened with law suits and other forms of retribution, but the group left the premises.
The end result that about half of the bullies failed to attend a required hearing and were, in accordance with club by-law, immediately dismissed from the club. The others all ended up paying a fine, being placed on probation and each made to stand and make a verbal apology to the club at the next general meeting. The end result of this action was that the number number of members dropping out of the club for "personal reasons" went WAY down (no bullies to deal with) and new member applications went up.
The tone of the club is set by its' officials.

Fortunately Gary and I have never had any serious situations at the range we use. It is a public range in Gardnerville, NV maintained by the Douglas County Sheriff's Dept. No range official on site. Any shooters are expected to maintain protocol on their own and most of the time there is no problem. Usually everyone is considerate of others and breaks are taken to accomodate setting and/or removal of targets.
We did have a small incident the other day. We went to the range early on a Sunday to find one older gentleman at the far left table on the rifle range and two adults and one juvenile on the far right. We set up in the middle and, with permission from the others, went out to set up targets. After a while several other people showed up including one of Gary's shooting buddies. Once the range was declared cold more targets were set up and, once again, shooting proceeded.
Apparently the guy on the right did not like the placement of one of the tagets and made a few rude comments. Upon further inspection it was apparent that HIS target was the one totally out of position. His target was set about 20 degrees off straight which put it about 20 feet to the left of where it should be and in direct line with our friend's target.
Another gentleman politely suggested that he move his target. His response was "Shut the f**k up. It's none of your business!"
That was when we decided to pack up and go home. Our friend left, too.
This was a very unusual situation. Most of the time the people are polite and considerate. We sure don't want to lose this facility.
Karen
OFC

I can tell you all kinds of stories about jerks in the gun world and at the range. In my experience, there are jerks everywhere. It must be a very outstanding situation for those of you that are at ranges where the people are just plain old good and considerate people with such nice personalities.

OK, I'll start with this one-
I was on a range with 25 or so firing points, only ONE other person firing and he was at the 25, I was at the 100, on the opposite side from him. I put 2 targets up and the range master waited till the other guy was nearby and could hear and proceeded to counsel me about how I should only have one target in case someone else wanted to use one! And he goes on and on saying the same thing but with different words, over and over like an idiot, pretty much showing his authority, showing off etc. Keep in mind that there were dozens of target stands available, about 25 firing points and there was only ONE other person there firing.

I remained polite and cordial throughout the entire evolution, but had evil thoughts. Who wouldn't?

This was at "Flatwoods Gun and Country Club", near Camp Lejeune. I had been a member there off and on for years, and the range master idiot was new to me.

I have plenty of these tales, and they get better.

I live in eastern PA, and I guess I am lucky, as there are several club ranges and one public range run by the conservation dept, all within 10 miles of my home.

The one I belong to has about 5,000 members, and ranges from 25 to 300 yards. There are no "range officers", everyone just get along, and I have never seen anything approaching a safety problem.

The fish and game range is sometimes a problem, as it gets some rather ignorant, as far as gun safety is concerned clientel, and since we are probably the closest ranges to NJ, some real rambo types.

The club has had to make a big effort to keep out non-members, but other than that, no problems that I know of.

People are people. Some are nice. Some are, well, people. I am a member of the Marion Road Gun Club in Macon, GA. There are a little over 200 members who participate in a number of scheduled matches as well as simply enjoying using the facility. I live 133 miles from the club, but I drive up at least once and sometime twice a month to participate in various rifle matches. There are likely clubs closer to my home, but I maintain my membership and continue to participate in the activities of the MRGC because I very much enjoy the shooting sports and because I very much appreciate and enjoy the fellowship and comradeship that is shared among the members. In the few very isolated incidents where there has been friction, I have found that a polite, kind response has been helpful. I do try to be mindful of our club rules, understanding of those who need information and thoughtful of those who are just having a bad day. Sincerely. Bruce.

Infantry Marine - The Rangemaster who called you out about multiple targets is a CONTROL FREAK! Often times we will have only a few shooters present and offer them the option to post multiple targets so they do not have to wait for a cease fire to post fresh targets. It is one of many options that generate good will and quality cooperation between our customers and us, the Rangemasters.

I don't care if people on my range are nice or mean,as long as they are safe shooters I go to the range to shoot and not worry who is mean or nice

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Originally Posted by Gyrene

Infantry Marine - The Rangemaster who called you out about multiple targets is a CONTROL FREAK!

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I agree totally Gyrene.

There was a young Marine in his mid 20's sighting in a Mossberg slug gun-railed, scoped out and the whole thing, even the sling, was real tree camo.

He was having trouble adjusting the scope and commented on it so I walked over and politely had him do 2 miss drills into the dirt berm. I spun the adjusting screws and talked to him a bit about his new gun he paid $600 for.

Now I don't really like gee-wiz fudd guns, but was cordial and did not state that deer are color blind etc.

Had him fire another miss drill and it was good enough to go back to paper so I explained again how to work the adjustment screws and proceeded to my bench and broke out a rack grade M1A.

His eyes narrowed when he saw the evil 20 shot mag and he asked in a snotty tone, "Do you use that to hunt with?"

I remained polite, although he probably read my disgusted facial expression, and told him "no" that I use an M1, 03 or Krag for deer, all the while thinking how I just helped this "black gun hating" "why do you need an assault rifle" puke excuse for a real Marine and he makes a snide comment about one of the finest combat rifles ever fielded by the military.

Semper Fi

I held the positions of range chairman and club president at various times. I strictly enforced the principle that no member was more equal than any other member, this in accordance with the club by-laws....

... I then immediately called the local police,

...The end result of this action was that the number number of members dropping out of the club for "personal reasons" went WAY down (no bullies to deal with) and new member applications went up.

The tone of the club is set by its' officials.

KCW, I commend you for the example you've set for leadership. It's fortunate for those put-upon members that they had a president ready, willing and able to bite the bullet and act.

My club, about 35 miles southwest of Philadelphia, is rather informal. No range officer, in fact when my brother and I shoot there, we are often alone whether using the three rifle or two pistol ranges. Other times, only a few guys are there.

All I've been exposed to have been polite, willing to help the other guy if need be, by lending a tool, a scope, or letting him try their gun. One man offered to let me shoot his BAR, an offer I quickly accepted, and I've had similar offers from others. In turn, I've let some of the younger folks try my M1s; when I rapid fire, it brings them over from the other ranges.

On Wednesday, under special rules, a fellow comes to unleash his jeep-mounted .30 caliber BMG. He's got several of the .30s, plus an assortment of Gatlings.

When other shooters are there, we adhere to the standard safety rules.

On the down side, the ranges have experienced some yahoos damaging the backstops by careless shooting. They might be some members but most likely are young people, non-members, who sneak in after hours.

As a result, the club has installed concealed cameras on the ranges, money they could otherwise have used for improvements.

Regards

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...Locks097-1.jpg

My club has around 700 members. Sometimes I work as a RSO there. Most members are respectful and helpful to others, but you do have the occasional dunce, mostly those who can't remember to unload or lay down weapons when the line is cold. The old timers there congregate for some long BS sessions, but welcome anybody who is willing to listen and learn, and some of them have a lot to teach. We usually don't have a lack of range space unless previously scheduled matches are going on. We are at SCSSA Homepage, Birmingham, AL.

Never been to a range have private gravel pit

I spend each Thursday morning as a range marshal at the public shooting range just outside of Menomonie, Wisconisn. The range is owned by the county but staffed by volunteers from both the Menomonie Rifle & Pistol Club and the Dunn County Fish & Game Club. It's only open when a range marshal is present. It has been a positive experience and everyone who comes to use it has been appreciative and supportive based on my experience. I go out of my way to be friendly and helpful. Here's a link to our website: Menomonie Rifle and Pistol Club

This range has been ugraded substantially with a tremendous amount of time donated by volunteers and materials/support from local companies and corporations. We had a work day yesterday and an overwhelming number of people showed up and much was accomplished. It's in keeping with the spirit of the upper midwest (Remember all those volunteers filling sand bags in and around Fargo, ND?). Carl

I'm a member at P. Greaney's range. He hit the nail on the head. See you at the next match Pat.

I was at Charolette Rifle and Pistol Club in SC attending a match. Myself and a friend were told by the match organizer himself that my friend could take some sighter shots at an adjacent range. We talked to the rangemaster at that range, then he walked off.

Along comes the fired up bozo demanding to know what we were doing and where our "supervision" was. We pointed to the gentleman that was originally there, but this retard went on and on proclaiming his authority and how we were to be supervised at all times. Fine, however, we did NOTHING wrong.

This guy was looking for us to pay homage to his authority and bow down to his greatness. Just a nasty pathetic excuse for a man.

When we checked into the place, the people running the range house were sarcastic and rude. There were some people there that were fullfilling thier duties as applicants for membership and they looked like boots on the first day of boot camp, scared and not worthy. These people that run that place act as if you must acknowledge thier authority at all times.

My friend lives close by and checked on membership, but got the same rude treatment. He said later that he would rather not even shoot as to join that place!

Keep in mind, we were cordial and polite to these people at ALL times. Notice they have an initiation fee. I've already been initiated-at Parris Island. CHARLOTTE RIFLE AND PISTOL CLUB

Louis of PA,

Thank you for your kind comment(s).

As a club official it was always my objective to treat everyone equally, assure that safety measures where observed and promote the well being of the club within the membership and the local community. I held a "strict constructionist" opinion of the clubs' By-Laws. I always pointed out the amendment clause contained in them to anyone objecting to my stance.
As far as our range security goes we've found that our "any member may proof any person on the property" policy has led to a great reduction in "sneak in's".
Should a member come across a tresspasser they instruct the tresspasser to leave, also member gets the vehicle tag number. The local PD then provides the name and address of the violator, to whom the club sends a warning letter. If there is a repeat violator we file a complaint, which we've only had to do twice. It seems that word eventually gets around that the club is not to be toyed with. We occassionally hear from the community that the club has a reputation of not tolerating tresspassers. Of course the local police and town court does its' part to help.
Due to our intensive (about three hours), mandatory. pre-membership meeting, we don't have much trouble with new members as far as range safety issues/misuse goes. About an hour of that meeting is dedicated to Rifle/Pistol range use policy. By the way, every new member gets a copy of the club By-Laws and a copy of the range rules to take home. "I didn't know excuses" are never accepted, but we don't often clobber 1st time range rule violators either. A second offense is a differant situation.
Our biggest range problem comes from those members who joined prior to when our mandatory meeting policy began about 15 years ago. Even though we supply a list of range procedures in at least one newsletter (which goes out to all members) EVERY year, a few of those older people feel that they are exempt or otherwise worthy of special status somehow based on their long term membership.
That attitude seemed to change suddenly after word got around (ie in a newsletter) as to what happened with the group of old bullies mentioned in my previous post. We did have several older members who resigned in sympathy (just couldn't reason with them) with those members which were expelled but our subsequent increase in new member applicants and member retention that quickly followed that action is proof enough for me that the correct thing was done.

KCW

It is on an old family owned ranch in some of the most beautiful country in the world. It is the only range left in this area. They run a pretty tight ship as they should. There are guys who work there like Jack who is a retired Navy guy who runs it like a military range. Jack carries a loaded pistol on his hip so nobody argues with him. He is just great, the rules are there, read them, if you violate them you get a warning and then you get to go home if you do it again. I like that kind of efficiency, it protects you from getting shot by the people who come there and don't know anything about firearms. The rules also help to protect your firearms from being stolen while you are down range. I get along fine, have great conversations with people and enjoy the regulars. It isn't often you get to swap war stories with a chopper pilot who won 2 DSCs. It isn't the best range because it is oriented across wind N/S but it's all we got and God love them for having it there.

I have the pleasure of shooting with a great bunch of guys ( I mostly shoot trap and some skeet ). I find that the pistol ranges and the rifle ranges are often just too busy for my liking and if you are going to get trouble that is the most likely place.

Mind you our club has grown enormously over the past few years and the politics seem to be getting bigger.

We have a great caretaker ( Claude ) and his wife who live up there and keep things good.

But to be honest with you I think that shooters and hunters are great people. I would feel safer taking my kid to the range than taking him to school. What's that tell you?

http://www.pcdhfc.com/

KTK

Ken,

Nice looking range. I also read some of the requirements. Makes for a safer club/range. Would like to take the Pistol Course and it looks like the trap range would be a fun day/evening of shooting. Have not done any trap shooting in 35 or more years. Wonder if I could break as many as I use to break way back when.

Also the annual membership costs are very reasonable compared to those in my area.

Thanks for the link.

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Originally Posted by JohnMOhio

Ken,

Nice looking range. I also read some of the requirements. Makes for a safer club/range. Would like to take the Pistol Course and it looks like the trap range would be a fun day/evening of shooting. Have not done any trap shooting in 35 or more years. Wonder if I could break as many as I use to break way back when.

Also the annual membership costs are very reasonable compared to those in my area.

Thanks for the link.

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Hopefully one day you will get to shoot with me there. The best part is that it is a 5 minute drive from home.

KTK

I guess I just run into all the jerks at the ranges.

I was firing an M27 .357 Magnum at Flatwoods Gun and Country Club in Hubert NC outside of Camp Lejeune. There was a gentleman there firing a Ruger GP 100. Now he was pretty good at DA work, but his DA pull was painfully slow, might as well have just cocked the thing each shot and his draw needed to be more fluid-he was somewhat robotic in his movement. I did not try to coach him because he seemed standoffish and disagreeable, for example, cursing when he missed a plate.

I was doing rapid fire speed loader drills from the holster with full house magnums. I do pretty good, usually able to maintain acurracy with the rate of fire of an auto. My draw is pretty fast too.

I pack up to leave and walk my shooting bag to the car then start picking up brass. I start to walk to pick up my target, a hostage scenario with a man standing behind a woman and the guy with the GP 100 calls out to me, "Hey! You forgot your girlfriend!" with a nasty sarcastic tone while glaring at me!

I smiled and said thanked him, causing him to frown more and glare harder!

I went to the range house and the guy behind the counter asked what I was shooting. When he heard I was shooting a revolver, he asked if I saw so and so down there with the GP 100 and how fast and acurrate the guy was with a revolver. I politely stated yeah, he's good.

I guess Mr. GP 100 thought I was in competition with him and/or got his feelings hurt when he wasn't top magnum wheelgun man anymore. I put up with enough crap in the Marines and shouldn't have to go for some recreation and have to deal with some freaks personality disorder or these fools acting as if the range is boot camp.

A civilian range is pretty simple, cease fire, unload, open actions to show clear and bench them. Step away from the bench and proceed down range when cleared to do so. Do not handle weapons untill the range is hot.

The range is not the military. Be safe AND COURTEOUS!

What is so hard about that?