Gun Range Etiquette
- Thread starter Ironbark
- Start date
rrockefe
Member
At our range there are signs up all over that the only brass you are allowed to pick up is that out of your own gun. Any brass that's on the ground belongs to the range. They have a charity group come in and police up the area once a week and they save all the brass for whatever profit they can make on it. Actually, I don't think its enforced too vigorously.
Twoboxer
Member
I would have thanked him for picking up my brass, and handed him a box to put it in . . . whether I needed the brass or not.
Seagulls . . . great line . . . last time I heard it used it was by folks at a manufacturing plant located away from the home office . . . they called the bosses "seagulls" because they flew in, screamed at them, ate their food, and then $h%t on them
Seagulls . . . great line . . . last time I heard it used it was by folks at a manufacturing plant located away from the home office . . . they called the bosses "seagulls" because they flew in, screamed at them, ate their food, and then $h%t on them
I always ask before I do the crab walk.
The Reloading Song (I Don't Reload) - YouTube
The Reloading Song (I Don't Reload) - YouTube
First... welcome to America! And welcome to the forum!
Second... the person you ran into at the range is common to every society. In the office they are the people who use up supplies in the staff coffee, etc. and never replace anything. In parking lots they are the sort of people who park their car in such a way that it is about impossible to use the next space to them. They always expect forgiveness. They never ask permission.
Second... the person you ran into at the range is common to every society. In the office they are the people who use up supplies in the staff coffee, etc. and never replace anything. In parking lots they are the sort of people who park their car in such a way that it is about impossible to use the next space to them. They always expect forgiveness. They never ask permission.
Sven
Member
I would have said "Thanks for picking up my brass for me. You can put it in by bag right here." And I would have expected them to do it, too!
AzRedleg
Member
This happened to me once. I was at the gun club and turned around to pick up my brass and another members kid was stealing (that is what it is) my brass. Me and the other member where shooting at opposite ends of the range and he watched his kid pick up my property. I asked the child what she was doing. "Picking up for my dad" she said. I walked up and asked her father if he condoned his child stealing from others. The look on his face: priceless. Told him I expected all my brass be returned immediately. He said he wasn't sure how he could since it was all mixed in with his now. I picked up one of my marked brass and told him it should be pretty easy since they were all marked. By now I think he was feeling like a pretty big idiot and told me no problem. Had his little girl sitting there for about an hour sorting through all the brass he had "seagulled" to return to me. I don't think I got it all back, but don't think he will be stealing from other members anytime soon. Little girl was cute as heck though, scurrying around stealing my brass! I need to get a kid, or borrow someone else's when I go to the range!
American character...
Many Americans are very acquisitive. Alexis de Tocqueville noted this about 170 years ago, and it has gotten much worse. That does not excuse it. We are not all like that.
Pequod.
Many Americans are very acquisitive. Alexis de Tocqueville noted this about 170 years ago, and it has gotten much worse. That does not excuse it. We are not all like that.
Pequod.
Old TexMex
Member
Acquisitive: "Everything is mine that isn't nailed down, and anything I can pry loose isn't nailed down!"
................(J.P. Morgan)
................(J.P. Morgan)
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Frank46
US Veteran
Our range is usually the same guys shooting. One day I had my spotting scope checking group sizes. Went down to change targets. Scope not on my bench. Three benches down there is my scope being used by three twenty somethings. I went down there and told them taking someone's stuff without permission is stealing. As I picked up my scope one said we was only checking zeros. And I said with something that was not yours. Had they asked I would have done it for them.
Another time a guy and his about 10 years old son showed up. Kid had a bb gun and proceeded to just start shooting up my targets when I had just put them up. Then the kid is running back and forth messing with other peoples firearms. When he got to my bench I told him "don't even think about it" Then went and talked to his dad. Asked is he was a member he said no. Someone left the gate open. I said your son is messing with other folks stuff and that is not tolerated here. And that I think you should leave. A good buddy asked what was going on and I told him. He told the guy flat out to leave or he'd call the cops. When they left we both went and locked the gate. Which is supposed to be kept locked except when coming and going. Then there is always the genius who shoots the pistol target boards with a shotgun. He was a guest of one of the members. He was asked to leave. And I'm afraid that with the newer shooters we'll see more of this. Frank
Another time a guy and his about 10 years old son showed up. Kid had a bb gun and proceeded to just start shooting up my targets when I had just put them up. Then the kid is running back and forth messing with other peoples firearms. When he got to my bench I told him "don't even think about it" Then went and talked to his dad. Asked is he was a member he said no. Someone left the gate open. I said your son is messing with other folks stuff and that is not tolerated here. And that I think you should leave. A good buddy asked what was going on and I told him. He told the guy flat out to leave or he'd call the cops. When they left we both went and locked the gate. Which is supposed to be kept locked except when coming and going. Then there is always the genius who shoots the pistol target boards with a shotgun. He was a guest of one of the members. He was asked to leave. And I'm afraid that with the newer shooters we'll see more of this. Frank
para82frame
Member
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My little range has a sign that says "Brass scroungers will be shot" and we mean it. Of course it doesn't mention they would be shot with a camera and have your pic posted, not with a .357 as I suggested.
I hate policing my own brass so I can reload it so much I shoot revolvers and bolt/break barrel guns almost exclusively now.
I hate policing my own brass so I can reload it so much I shoot revolvers and bolt/break barrel guns almost exclusively now.
k53
Member
Im new to the gun range thing... and you know.. it just blows me away that someone would have the BALLS to run up behind you wile your still there shooting, and grab your brass as its falling.. That not a range etiquett thing.... thats just a every day respecting other people thing.
Peter M. Eick
Member
I have had folks go after the brass that bounces out of my catcher.
I usually walk up to them and say "that brass is mine and I find it amazing that you would attempt to steal from me when I am holding a loaded firearm. Please put it back before this gets ugly and thank you."
A stern look has always yielded a surprised look and a mumbled appology.
I usually walk up to them and say "that brass is mine and I find it amazing that you would attempt to steal from me when I am holding a loaded firearm. Please put it back before this gets ugly and thank you."
A stern look has always yielded a surprised look and a mumbled appology.
JJEH
Member
That's just rude and disrespectful. I'm lucky and never had any problems. But that's probably b/c we use the POW range on post. I once had a guy asking me if I keep the casing (of course I do) so he gave me his...
Doesn't matter if you keep them or not, no one has to take your stuff w/o asking first. It's theft in my book!
Doesn't matter if you keep them or not, no one has to take your stuff w/o asking first. It's theft in my book!
For years I was a volunteer RO at my large private gun club. That behavior was totally wrong and very rude.
Protocols is to ask, or if the shooter finishes up and leaves its fair to pick up. Heck it just saves us getting a rake and policing up.
With that said as I help out many shooters with their problems, many would say do you want my brass. Range at that point was open to allow non member a few weekends to sight in their deer rifles. They had policed it and normally put back in a box. I took any reloadable ammo offered as if I did not shoot it became trading stock.
We had couple rather rich skeet shooters that bought their ammo in pallet lots at a very good price, they bought seconds that said not reloadable(but 90% was perfect, as I grabbed plenty). They did not reload but any that followed then could have their brass.
Protocols is to ask, or if the shooter finishes up and leaves its fair to pick up. Heck it just saves us getting a rake and policing up.
With that said as I help out many shooters with their problems, many would say do you want my brass. Range at that point was open to allow non member a few weekends to sight in their deer rifles. They had policed it and normally put back in a box. I took any reloadable ammo offered as if I did not shoot it became trading stock.
We had couple rather rich skeet shooters that bought their ammo in pallet lots at a very good price, they bought seconds that said not reloadable(but 90% was perfect, as I grabbed plenty). They did not reload but any that followed then could have their brass.
varmint243
Member
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I find this thread interesting, but I'm not really sure why.
When I first started shooting/reloading and had very little brass and I tried to pickup any brass that I could. I learned some range etiquette pretty quickly. I also learned that different ranges have different variations on range etiquette.
I suppose now after shooting for a bunch of years I consider helping new shooters a privilege. Helping them understand rage etiquette can be a chance to open a dialog and help someone out, maybe make a new friend.
I read the post about the little girl and the only thing I think is "wow now this guy has potentially turned off young shooter to our sport over a few dollars worth of brass". The other thought Is of the potential lead issue for a young person. I sure hope she was wearing gloves and understood the hazard of the effects of lead on young people.
My guess is most of the people commenting in this thread are new young-ish shooters themselves, and that they are shooting the plastic fantastic gun of the week at seven yards and not even hitting the 2 foot by 2 foot backer.
Take the time to share politely share your experience and make it an opportunity to meet another shooter and teach them the rage etiquette - help them enjoy our sport.
When I first started shooting/reloading and had very little brass and I tried to pickup any brass that I could. I learned some range etiquette pretty quickly. I also learned that different ranges have different variations on range etiquette.
I suppose now after shooting for a bunch of years I consider helping new shooters a privilege. Helping them understand rage etiquette can be a chance to open a dialog and help someone out, maybe make a new friend.
I read the post about the little girl and the only thing I think is "wow now this guy has potentially turned off young shooter to our sport over a few dollars worth of brass". The other thought Is of the potential lead issue for a young person. I sure hope she was wearing gloves and understood the hazard of the effects of lead on young people.
My guess is most of the people commenting in this thread are new young-ish shooters themselves, and that they are shooting the plastic fantastic gun of the week at seven yards and not even hitting the 2 foot by 2 foot backer.
Take the time to share politely share your experience and make it an opportunity to meet another shooter and teach them the rage etiquette - help them enjoy our sport.
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