Shooting Range Etiquette...

[whoppo]

In the "plinking targets" thread there is some discussion of shooting ranges that are plagued by irresponsible shooters who leave the ranges in bad shape and sometimes actually vandalized. I was going to reply in that thread, however it would have really been off-topic, so here's a new thread

I was thinking that we, as a collection of (hopefully) responsible shooters, could collaborate on a Shooting Range Etiquette pamphlet that can be downloaded, printed and distributed at our local shooting ranges, gun shops, firearm-related events, etc., as a "gift" from the S&W forums.

Thoughts? Comments? Content contributions?

Cheers!
Ron

[brent701]

sounds cool. but the bad apples are still going to be the bad apples. Doesn't matter what rules or etiqutte there is if they want they still are going to show no respect for the range

just my thought

[mg357]

i think its a good idea

[xopher88x]

Sounds like a good idea. As I see it, there isn't much content for me to provide. As long as you leave the area cleaner than how you found it there should be no issues. It's common sense to me. As the previous poster stated, sadly not everyone agrees. It's remarkable the number of people who read rules, understand them, and choose to not follow them. I just try to lead by example.

This sort of thing applies everywhere, not just our shooting ranges. State parks, town greens, our own backyards. We simply need to clean up after ourselves and look out for each other.

[enfield]

We put in a new pistol range at my private gun club -- within a month there were bullet holes in the benches and roof of the shelter.

No public access, and paying members act like that!

Sure would be nice to have a hidden video camera at all of the ranges to identify the members without character and get rid of them.

[Fkimble]

I'm not sure if that is vandalism or just some folks that can't control their forearms. Maybe they were doing quick draw or had an auto go full auto on them. We recently had a quickdraw guy shoot himself in the lower leg. Seems gun went off before clearing the holster. It was a stout closed end holster which slowed the 45colt bullet a little. This range recently added a new quickdraw range with dirt sides to contain wild shots. No drawing from holster on the other ranges.

[Starr]

I go to a public range and anyone can attend anytime of day as long as it daylight. 90% of the people who go there take care of the place and clean it up (leave it cleaner than you found it). But there are a few who come and destroys the place, lighting fires and shooting anything in sight and leaving all kinds of trash. It's a real shame that some people just don't know how to act and respect the freedom that we have in this country.

[one eye joe]

Gotta roll with Enfield on this one. I've belonged to several gun clubs, and it seems that there is always a small percentage who indulge in vandalism to the very club that they pay dues to belong to. I doubt that a pamphlet would cure this problem. Every range/club that I have ever shot at has had ''Range Rules'' prominently posted. Doesn't seem to help. Cameras appear to be the answer, IMHO.......

[drusier]

Quick question: Should I be picking up my spent casings? I always clean off the concrete or shooting rest. Just wondering what you guys do with that 22 brass

[HalfSwiss]

Seems there are always those that must raise their handgun up and then come down to the target. Then there are those that lower it and bring it up to the target. The ones that put bullets in the ceiling and benches are the ones that violate the rule of not putting your finger in the trigger guard until you are on target. They are not intentional, but they are not accidents. They are negligent discharges. My 2 cents worth.

The manual that comes with every new gun has the list of shooting rules. There are range rules. The fish and game annual booklets seem to also have the shooting rules. While I think the intent of a pamphlet is good, I doubt that the problem people would read it, or even care about it, or are incapable of comprehending it.

[11B Lifer]

A pamphlet might help.
I certainly don't haved any solution-other than I trained my kids and my wife keeps track of me.
The CCW instructors in this area have some major problems-you'd think they should set the example-
Standing in front of a firing line, and telling students to load!
Instructor handing a model 29 to a student and telling him to "point it at me (the instructor) and on and on.
So, as to shooting at the proper back stops, cleaning up etc. hell, they can't even be safe!.....

[motonut]

Originally Posted by xopher88x

Sounds like a good idea. As I see it, there isn't much content for me to provide. As long as you leave the area cleaner than how you found it there should be no issues. It's common sense to me. As the previous poster stated, sadly not everyone agrees. It's remarkable the number of people who read rules, understand them, and choose to not follow them. I just try to lead by example.

This sort of thing applies everywhere, not just our shooting ranges. State parks, town greens, our own backyards. We simply need to clean up after ourselves and look out for each other.

Good for you!

Around here we have recycle containers for AL cans and plastic bottles. Signs plain as day right next to the openings say "No Plastic Bags". There are even trash cans right next to these bins for the plastic bags. Guess what, there are always plastic bags in the containers. Some people are just lazy and inconsiderate and don't believe the rules apply to them.

Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now.

[MnCowboy96]

Can ranges charge a deposit for membership so if they do catch someone destroying the range that they can at least recover the cost?

[ChattanoogaPhil]

CRC

[ladder13]

Originally Posted by MnCowboy96

Can ranges charge a deposit for membership so if they do catch someone destroying the range that they can at least recover the cost?

We just expel them from the club, and WILL notify local authorities of acts of vandalism.
We have clear rules posted just about everywhere, and also hand out Club etiquette when one joins the range.
However, rules are broken, you can't fix stupid.

[one eye joe]

Ladder13, we follow that exact protocol at my club with similar results.

[chuck s]

The main range I shoot at told us there's no reason to pickup our brass unless we're taking it home with us. They salvage the brass themselves, so don't think you 're doing anyone a favor by picking it up.

-- Chuck

[john3136]

We had some brass buckets on the range.
People were encouraged to pick up their 22 brass an put it in the bucket (along with any split etc centerfire brass)
When we had a bucket full it went to a scrap metal dealer and the club got a few bucks out of it.

[ladder13]

I pick up all my brass, it's mine, not the range's. I've seen people taking brass out of the range buckets, I'll be darned if they're gonna get mine.

[Scuds03]

Its so cheap to setup cameras now-a-days I'd just do that. If somthing happens review the video, find out who did it, and ban their ***. Have a camera in the parking area too in case you don't know their name you can see what car they get into. Make it very clear with signs that all actions on the line will be video recorded and people won't act up as much. You can post written rules all day long but unless you can enforce them, there will be those people who don't give a ****. If you can hold them accountable and/or kick em out on the other hand, then things would change.

[wbear]

Originally Posted by Scuds03

Its so cheap to setup cameras now-a-days I'd just do that. If somthing happens review the video, find out who did it, and ban their ***. Have a camera in the parking area too in case you don't know their name you can see what car they get into. Make it very clear with signs that all actions on the line will be video recorded and people won't act up as much. You can post written rules all day long but unless you can enforce them, there will be those people who don't give a ****. If you can hold them accountable and/or kick em out on the other hand, then things would change.

Too much like a police state IMO but would be great on the Arizona border.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by Scuds03

Its so cheap to setup cameras now-a-days I'd just do that. If somthing happens review the video, find out who did it, and ban their ***. Have a camera in the parking area too in case you don't know their name you can see what car they get into. Make it very clear with signs that all actions on the line will be video recorded and people won't act up as much. You can post written rules all day long but unless you can enforce them, there will be those people who don't give a ****. If you can hold them accountable and/or kick em out on the other hand, then things would change.

+1

At the outdoor private club we got electronic gate cards and cameras. There's no secret about when someone arrives, when they leave, or what they did while they were there. No range officers (not counting organized shooting events on weekends). 180 acres and 6 ranges.... 7 days..... it's awesome. At the indoor private club we got cameras everywhere.... upstairs in the store and downstairs in the range, lobby and gun cleaning room. Not sure if there is a camera in the gunsmith shop or not but I'm thinking there is.

Wbear- "Police State". Not at all. Clean well kept ranges with polite and safe folks following the rules.

[AirLitenewbie]

Originally Posted by drusier

Quick question: Should I be picking up my spent casings? I always clean off the concrete or shooting rest. Just wondering what you guys do with that 22 brass

Since all I shoot are revolvers, my spent casings never hit the ground unless I'm practicing with a speed-loader (in which case I pick them up later). I eject them directly into either a nail apron that I'm wearing for that purpose, or the plastic bag they'll go home in. This makes it super-easy to keep different size casings separate for either reloading or turning in for scrap. My presumption is that my casings are refuse that results from my activity, so I'm responsible for them just as I am for any other trash I generate.

By the way, as ore deposits for all of our favorite metals are becoming increasingly hard to find planet-wide and scrap/recycling will become more important in generating our materials, you might really miss those casings someday.

As to the subject of this thread, I think that creating a pamphlet might feel satisfying for the people who write it, but will make little difference because it would be preaching to the choir. The people who care already do the right thing, and the people who don't care won't read the pamphlet, or follow the guidelines if they do.

Our club has the few bad apples that you seem to find everywhere, who leave trash around (remarkable quantities) and have to practically crawl over the large "Handguns only" signs at the outdoor pistol range to destroy it with heavy-duty firearms. I actually caught someone in the act of that last one; a club officer was able to get there while the perps were still in place. They were terribly apologetic, didn't see the signs, and of course, they'd never do it again. Except that while I was watching, they literally destroyed our last remaining target stand. How they could not notice that they were literally blasting it to pieces, I can't imagine. Perhaps the same visual issues that prevented them seeing the signs.

Pamphlets aren't going to change people like that. I wish it was that easy.

[wbear]

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

+1

At the indoor private club we got cameras everywhere.... upstairs in the store and downstairs in the range, lobby and gun cleaning room. Not sure if there is a camera in the gunsmith shop or not but I'm thinking there is.

Wbear- "Police State". Not at all. Clean well kept ranges with polite and safe folks following the rules.

Yes cameras "everywhere" will catch the violators and that is good but there is a tipping point, i.e Britian. Too many cameras can make an oppressive atmosphere and become no fun. I don't want to be recorded when I scratch my a*s or pick my nose! How about putting up the cameras when there is a problem and taking most of them down after the perps are caught.

[Scuds03]

Originally Posted by wbear

Yes cameras "everywhere" will catch the violators and that is good but there is a tipping point, i.e Britian. Too many cameras can make an oppressive atmosphere and become no fun. I don't want to be recorded when I scratch my a*s or pick my nose! How about putting up the cameras when there is a problem and taking most of them down after the perps are caught.

If video was so oppressing no one would shop at the grocery store, malls, wal-mart, target,go to casinos.. so on and so forth. The only time tapes would get review is if something happened that warrented taking the time to sit, watch and find out who shot something they werent supposed to and why. No range is going to be able to afford someone to sit and watch the cameras all the time. If someone happens to see you pick a wedgie on camera who cares we all do it! Its just a tool to keep would be yayhoos honest and accountable if they decide to be detructive.

[MnCowboy96]

I personally would feel perfectly okay with shooting at a range that was using security camera's. The only time any footage would be reviewed would be when there was an event that called for it. If they wanted to watch me shoot, go for it.

[340six]

I do not know how else to put other than "I have been shot in the leg at an indoor range"
I was younger and was shooting with my dad when I feal this "burning" and see blood and torn pants leg.
Strange it did not hurt till later shock
I remember it like yesterday! First dad says whats wrong? Gun will not fire....ect. Since I was shootin at the time with him looking on.
The Idiot was still takin pot shots at the side wall {Filed cinder blocks} and says hey I was just takin a few shots to see what damage it would do!

[jagen heie]

wow thats crazy. but as to the camera's ummm eventually someone would probably shoot them

[enfield]

Originally Posted by jagen heie

wow thats crazy. but as to the camera's ummm eventually someone would probably shoot them

We'd probably know who did it, wouldn't we?

[Scuds03]

Originally Posted by jagen heie

wow thats crazy. but as to the camera's ummm eventually someone would probably shoot them

Then they would not only get banned from the range but be prosecuted criminally. Then sued in small claims court if the range owner is pissed enough to take the time to do it.

[melloyello]

Originally Posted by brent701

sounds cool. but the bad apples are still going to be the bad apples. Doesn't matter what rules or etiqutte there is if they want they still are going to show no respect for the range

just my thought

I could not agree more.