Are You Fed Up with Bad Behavior at Shooting Ranges?

[Onomea]

The Koko Head shooting range is the only public rifle and pistol range on Oahu and it's free to the public.....

I used to shoot at Koko Head. I, too, found the RSOs watchful and helpful. It is, in my opinion, a very well run public range.

I read there's been some maintenance going on. I hope it is back up and available to Oahu shooters now.

 

[jc2721]

Koko Head was closed for 8 or 9 months while they did lead remediation, rebuilding the berms, etc. A supposed "ricochet" INTO a parked car spurred an "investigation" into the range, possible human and environmental hazards from lead contamination, etc.

It took a lot of effort and input from the shooting community just to get the place partially fixed up, painted and back in limited operations.

Unfortunately, the silhouette range, trap and skeet ranges and the "action" bays are all closed for now. The pistol and rifle ranges are open. I almost stopped to take pictures yesterday; I'll do that this coming Sunday when I head out for the last blast of summer vacation.

 

[WR Moore]

Since gun muzzles have been brought up, I'll mention a personal peeve about the opposing hands method of slide operation. The process is generally demonstrated right in front of the chest. So, if you're facing down range, whoever is on your support hand side is endangered. Folks generally don't think about the issue.

 

[pantannojack]

Since gun muzzles have been brought up, I'll mention a personal peeve about the opposing hands method of slide operation. The process is generally demonstrated right in front of the chest. So, if you're facing down range, whoever is on your support hand side is endangered. Folks generally don't think about the issue.

I think about; And I won't tolerate it.

 

[Protocall_Design]

You can turn sideways to keep the muzzle pointed downrange at the berm.

 

[Krogen]

Since gun muzzles have been brought up, I'll mention a personal peeve about the opposing hands method of slide operation. The process is generally demonstrated right in front of the chest. So, if you're facing down range, whoever is on your support hand side is endangered. Folks generally don't think about the issue.

I talk about this in the safety briefing at our Bullseye matches. People tend to get their foot positions locked in, so they have to twist their torso to prevent this.

I tell them two things 1) Point the sights at the x-ring when racking the slide - even if you have to twist your body. and 2) Slingshot the slide. It's far easier to keep the muzzle in a safe direction than the overhand method.

I can't recall the last time, if ever, that we had a problem. People adhere to the safety rules, but a regular reminder is good.

 

[somorris]

Things have changed a lot over the past few years, no doubt. There are a lot of folks who bought handguns for protection because they were scared. For many of them, this is possibly their first exposure to guns. Maybe some of you could improve things by inviting them to your private range and gently educating them? I am not trying to stir things up here, just trying to figure out a way to make things better.

 

[Bald1]

All the above is why I have my own personal range and skeet field on my farm. You don't shoot unless I invite you. And you can count those with the fingers on both hands.

Same…… except I can use 1 hand.

 

[Golddollar]

Not surprisingly, I have concluded that if we do our jobs properly, we can control at least the private clubs with which we associate ourselves.

My pistol club has had for many years a rule that no new member can get the combination to the range and be able to shoot unsupervised until the new member has completed a course of fire as determined by the Chief Range Safety Officer or his delegate. And for everyone, as a condition of renewal of membership, each member must participate in a match under the supervision of the Chief Range Safety Officer or delegate, or be actively employed in a job that requires proficiency with firearms.

One day I acted as the Range Safety Officer's delegate and I developed a course of fire for a new member to observe his handling of a handgun and his ability to comply with range commands. Part of the course of fire was to hear a cease fire called, comply with the cease fire command and on command clear the firearm. The new member's compliance with commands was fine, but in complying with the command to clear he was probably in too much of a hurry and suddenly the gun was pointed at my chest. Of course, I had to fail him that day. But when I explained what happened he was good with it. It was a number of years ago, but I'm pretty sure that I took him through the course of fire the next week and I passed him.