Getting vibed at the Range.

[unbrkn]

This Sunday I went to the range with a friend and his lady, I had just recently purchased a new AR-15 that I was looking forward to firing for the first time. My friends had already set up on their lane and began firing their pistols. I started to remove my AR from it's case, and turned around(with the muzzle pointed up)and another gentleman who was also firing an AR happened to be looking directly at me, and must have thought I was incorrectly carrying the firearm to my lane. He stops me, and rudely says, "You just muzzled everyone in here" in a very jerk like tone, with no explanation to the "infraction" he saw me do. Being that I do not want to be confrontational at the range, I calmly said "sorry" and went on with my range time. But the guy totally ruined my range experience. Now, I am younger(25) and haven't been in to guns and going to the range like the majority here. But, I think this gentleman could have used this time to actually pull me aside, and explain in detail what I may or may not have done correctly. I understand guns are not to be taken lightly, but we're all adults, lets treat each other that way, rather than talk down to me like a child. I usually have a good time at the range, everyone speaks friendly with each other, tosses bits of knowledge and helps each other, but this guy was just a straight up jerk. Just wanted to get that off my chest, that guy offered no assistance, other than make me regret spending 17 dollars to shoot paper. It's people like that who make me not want to go to ranges in this area(Metro Detroit).

 

[Cdog]

The world is full of arrogance. There's no such thing as too safe.

Many times the quality of advice given or received is ruined by the way it's delivered.

 

[Old cop]

Heed the advise but pls. don't allow the jerk to ruin your range experience or control how you feel. Some people like to play the "role," especially with someone much younger or inexperienced.

 

[arjay]

Just be safe with the muzzle and tune out the range rats,

 

[hpfenning]

He may have come off as a jerk to you...BUT...maybe you scared the **** out of him and he just responded that way. I'm not sure how I would react if someone pointed a gun at me. (loaded or not--I wouldn't know). Just be careful and be aware of where your muzzle is at all times. Have fun, but be safe.

 

[snubbyfan]

It just sounds like prejudice to me. To him, you probably just look like some clueless young punk kid waving an AR around.
Still, that's no excuse for his attitude toward a younger shooter. He should have taken a moment to explain range etiquette in a polite, patient manner. Rather, he just behaved like a jerk.
Being a minority myself, I've had to put up with bigoted jerks. Just let them go on their way, put it behind you and move on.
They're stuck with having to go through life with themselves don't bring them with you.

 

[GF]

Right after he said, " "You just muzzled everyone in here" in a very jerk like tone..."

You coulda' said "yeah but your the only one here who's *** I'm gonna' kick if you don't get the **** away from me."

Or something along those lines.

GF

 

[TucsonMTB]

Relax. I'm sure you can ensure that it won't happen again.

In the interest of making that possible, please allow me to recommend this video for some good guidance on range safety and an opportunity to see how a successful range session should unfold. As a shooting range, Ben Avery rocks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bK6Zn13MBqI

Although the video is entertaining, I don't just revisit it from time to time for entertainment. Good or bad, this "old guy" and fairly experienced shooter, is reminded of something important almost every time I watch.

Who says new guys are the only people who need to learn and that you can't teach an old dog new tricks? They are so wrong!

 

[Hillbilly77]

Not to sound like I'm attacking you, but I'm not bashful when it comes to guns pointing at me (or ANY unsafe direction for that matter).
It has NOTHING to do with age, gun type, etc. It has to do with safety.
I tell people "Watch your muzzle!"

I'm sorry, but I don't care about the offender's feelings - lives are at stake.


The good news is, you'll never do it again.

 

[bishopm14]

Once he used the word 'muzzled', I pretty much would have discounted anything he had to say. Speak like you're stupid, and I will adjust my interaction with you appropriately.

I'm all for safety, and without seeing what happened it's hard to say, but he may be one of those who is going to be impossible to please, safety wise, no matter what you do.

Try going on a range trip without your gun, at some point, pointing somewhere it shouldn't. I'm talking from the time it leaves the safe until it returns to the safe. Good luck.

 

[old bear]

Right after he said, " "You just muzzled everyone in here" in a very jerk like tone..."

You coulda' said "yeah but your the only one here who's *** I'm gonna' kick if you don't get the **** away from me."

Or something along those lines.

GF

Are you really suggesting that a young man with what may be a loaded weapon in his hand threaten to whip an older man who has a loaded weapon with him Does this sound like a potential recipe for disaster or what?

 

[doublesharp]

Right after he said, " "You just muzzled everyone in here" in a very jerk like tone..."

You coulda' said "yeah but your the only one here who's *** I'm gonna' kick if you don't get the **** away from me."

Or something along those lines.

GF

I knew that Dale Carnegie Course was money well spent.

 

[unbrkn]

I wouldn't have created this thread if I had "muzzled" anyone. The LGS where the range is at, watches the ranges like hawks from their cameras. Clearly, if I had stepped over a line I shouldn't have, much like Office Space, I would have had 5 or more employees come in and tell me my mistake. I am not one to get bothered by stuff, such as this. But I am new to a lot of this as I have said. And the more I get to know people with guns, the less I tend to like them. Just a young man enjoying his second amendment right, that was fought for by many for me to keep. Just a few bad apples seem to always spoil the bunch.(ALSO! the gun was unloaded, magazines on the lane bench, as I was transferring the rifle from the back bench, to the lane. Yes, I understand Rule Number one, treat every gun as if it's loaded.)

 

[pharmer]

Some folks are a bit "hypervigilant" when it comes to safety, mostly from experience. Public ranges are a crapshoot. Worst experience for me was maybe 8 years back at a local range, on the edge of the "hood." Place started out packed but thinned to just me and and another guy. I was just doing my thing and the other guy would fire a shot or two and start to fuss and cuss in a foreign language. Must have happened 7 or 8 times. All of a sudden, I have just reloaded and looked left for the switch to run my target out. This guy comes at me from behind, KelTec P 11 pointed at my midsection. That split second decision not to kill him was Something Greater than me working. Turned out he was a local business owner, newly naturalized from Ghana, that was sold the P 11 with a couple boxes of ammo and no instruction. He had tied it up somehow (limp wristing) and couldn't clear the stovepipe/double feed. I spent some time (with language barrier enhanced by muffs) getting him through several magazines and "putting many holes in Osama" target. I really can't describe the "degree of pucker" that 9mm put in me. I don't get in folks face but I will get "friendly" if I think you might kill me, not meaning to. Joe

 

[LVSteve]

Just wait till you get accused of muzzle sweeping somebody while the gun is still cased.

 

[Bruce51]

"I started to remove my AR from it's case, and TURNED AROUND with the muzzle pointed up and another gentleman who was also firing an AR happened to be looking directly at me, and must have thought "

"I was incorrectly carrying the firearm to my lane."

The range I use has a rule that guns are only to be uncased pointed downrange in the firing booth. I like this rule a lot as having uncased rifles behind me on the line can be cause for concern. How often have we heard of loaded firearms being brought into gun stores?

I once had a man loading magazines behind me and inserting them into his pistol as he walked up to his lane. I packed up and left.

I wasn't there, but there may be just the slightest possibility that when you uncased your gun and turned around, caused the other shooter to be concerned.

He could have been more tactful in his warning. Maybe this will help you remember to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction in the future.

BLM

 

[shouldazagged]

Right after he said, " "You just muzzled everyone in here" in a very jerk like tone..."

You coulda' said "yeah but your the only one here who's *** I'm gonna' kick if you don't get the **** away from me."

Or something along those lines.

GF

To call that approach unhelpful would be a considerable understatement. And if there was an issue of prejudice toward a young guy, that would reinforce it.

 

[vytoland]

I wouldn't have created this thread if I had "muzzled" anyone. But I am new to a lot of this as I have said. And the more I get to know people with guns, the less I tend to like them. )

brother are you in the wrong church.....

 

[doublesharp]

To call that approach unhelpful would be a considerable understatement. And if there was an issue of prejudice toward a young guy, that would reinforce it.

A range rat minding my business doesn't give me much concern for his feelings. Be polite but don't take no guff has been my guideline throughout life. But I'm pretty damned careful not to muzzle sweep and I also do my best to stay out of ranges in favor of shooting in the great outdoors.

If a range is your only choice, always be aware of where your gun is pointing and don't take no bs from loudmouths when you know you're practicing safe behavior.

 

[Squarebutt]

I've been known to throw my hands straight in the air and yell "Don't shoot!" when being swept. Worst case was a full-auto Ruger AC556 in the hands of a totally clueless young guy, pointed at my chest from about three feet. I was so shook and so mad I just left before I said or did something I shouldn't.