People at the Gun Range
- Thread starter cochise
- Start date
NFrameFred
Member
I was always told to be wary of giving advice as "a wise man won't need it and a fool won't heed it".
mkk41
US Veteran
PA is on it's way to require purchase of hunting license or permit to use State Game Land ranges.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/porta...ses/newsrelease/articles/release__016_11.html
Techically , they are not public ranges. They are not paid for or maintained with tax money. But Game Comission funds , from the purchase of hunting , trapping , fishing licenses.
They are for maintaining proficiency with HUNTING firearms. The Game Comission should be able to set any rules they want. For years , they have had a ' load no more than 3-shot' rule. It's routinely ignored.
Lots of damage gets done to these ranges by non-hunters , chewing up the target holders and posts with semi-automatic 'assualt-style' firearms and 'tactical' shotguns , intent only on seeing the destructive power of their weapons. I once watched as a carload of young Hispanic males pulled up , in wannabe 'gangsta' style clothing , get out , take hi-cap magazine equipped SKS's , walked up to the busy firing line , stand between the benches , and indiscriminately hose down the target area , reload , repeat , and leave.
Since these weapons are not legal for hunting in PA , I see no reason to allow them on PGC ranges.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/porta...ses/newsrelease/articles/release__016_11.html
Techically , they are not public ranges. They are not paid for or maintained with tax money. But Game Comission funds , from the purchase of hunting , trapping , fishing licenses.
They are for maintaining proficiency with HUNTING firearms. The Game Comission should be able to set any rules they want. For years , they have had a ' load no more than 3-shot' rule. It's routinely ignored.
Lots of damage gets done to these ranges by non-hunters , chewing up the target holders and posts with semi-automatic 'assualt-style' firearms and 'tactical' shotguns , intent only on seeing the destructive power of their weapons. I once watched as a carload of young Hispanic males pulled up , in wannabe 'gangsta' style clothing , get out , take hi-cap magazine equipped SKS's , walked up to the busy firing line , stand between the benches , and indiscriminately hose down the target area , reload , repeat , and leave.
Since these weapons are not legal for hunting in PA , I see no reason to allow them on PGC ranges.
Last edited:
stantheman86
US Veteran
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This is why I shoot in my backyard whenever possible!
BuckeyeChuck
Member
If your are referring to a club in a northeastern suburb of C-bus, I am a member of this very same range. Upon occasion I find one of the guys behind the gun counter to have an unpleasant vibe, but everybody else is very nice. There are a lot of rookies through that place, which isn't surprising since they offer classes!
They are also a money-making machine. You don't have to be a member to skip the video. For $5 they will sell you a card that exempts you from having to watch the video again. I despise that video for its blather. It takes 10 minutes to deliver 90 seconds of content. Judging by the number of $5 Get Out of Jail Free cards I see them sell everytime I'm in there, other people despise it also.
Business must be good, because they just raised their annual membership fee by 25%! If you are currently a member, you have a couple months to renew at the old rate; thereafter, it's the new rate for all of us.
In addition to the 50' pistol range, that same club has a rifle range, which is where I get assigned nearly everytime I go in there. My last trip, I was shooting from 20 yards.
Everybody there is very pleasant. When somebody starts pouring .44 magnum downrange, we all stop to watch and grin!
I don't say anything negative to anyone at the range unless they are commiting an unsafe act. I tell them once and if they continue, I either leave or find a range officer.
I'm not there to judge the appearence or attitudes of other shooters.
Rule 303
I'm not there to judge the appearence or attitudes of other shooters.
Rule 303
Wayne02
Member
After action report. Went to the indoor range yesterday and was assigned to bay #1 which has 6 lanes. I selected the lane on the near end of the bay by the entry door, up against the wall.
Upon entry there was only one other shooter, older gentleman leaning against the partition, to steady his aim I assume. His target was set at 20' and it looked like everything was in the circle just fine. I sent my target out to 65.25 yards for the Ruger LCP because that's how I roll.
Shortly after I was set-up, I see out of the corner of my eye two youths enter the bay. Young man and his girlfriend. I immediately profiled them based on how they were dressed, haircut, behavior, eye color, and general demeanor. Profile scan results = likely no threat.
They set-up in the farthest two lanes from me.
Not long after I see a group of four more youths enter the bay. Three guys, one girl, they rented two lanes. Repeat profile scan = likely no threat but they talked kind of loud.
All youths had their targets set at 20'. Plenty of holes in the targets but I didn't pay much attention to their respective accuracy. They all seemed like they were having a good time, very conscious of muzzle direction, put their spent targets in the right collection box, swept up their brass, I didn't hear any of the target carriers getting dinged.
It can be somewhat irritating when you have multiple shooters using fewer lanes and the people not shooting are standing around behind the firing line. But to their credit, at least they did not pace back and forth or wander the firing line behind the other shooters who were not in their group.
During my shooting I noticed a couple of flashes of light off to my left and a little behind me. It came from the adjacent bay, there are windows between the two bays. I look over to see a slightly older gentleman taking a picture of his wife who was proudly holding one of those large zombie targets that she had blasted the heck out of.
All in all, not a lot of precision shooting to be sure, but it seemed like a safe and fun time for all.
Upon entry there was only one other shooter, older gentleman leaning against the partition, to steady his aim I assume. His target was set at 20' and it looked like everything was in the circle just fine. I sent my target out to 65.25 yards for the Ruger LCP because that's how I roll.
Shortly after I was set-up, I see out of the corner of my eye two youths enter the bay. Young man and his girlfriend. I immediately profiled them based on how they were dressed, haircut, behavior, eye color, and general demeanor. Profile scan results = likely no threat.
They set-up in the farthest two lanes from me. Not long after I see a group of four more youths enter the bay. Three guys, one girl, they rented two lanes. Repeat profile scan = likely no threat but they talked kind of loud.
All youths had their targets set at 20'. Plenty of holes in the targets but I didn't pay much attention to their respective accuracy. They all seemed like they were having a good time, very conscious of muzzle direction, put their spent targets in the right collection box, swept up their brass, I didn't hear any of the target carriers getting dinged.
It can be somewhat irritating when you have multiple shooters using fewer lanes and the people not shooting are standing around behind the firing line. But to their credit, at least they did not pace back and forth or wander the firing line behind the other shooters who were not in their group.
During my shooting I noticed a couple of flashes of light off to my left and a little behind me. It came from the adjacent bay, there are windows between the two bays. I look over to see a slightly older gentleman taking a picture of his wife who was proudly holding one of those large zombie targets that she had blasted the heck out of.
All in all, not a lot of precision shooting to be sure, but it seemed like a safe and fun time for all.
mkk41
US Veteran
Give them kudos for not holding the guns sidways , gangsta style.
OLDFED
Member
I quit public ranges long ago. Even the private one I belong to has its "oddfellas". Back a month or so, a 40-ish male came in with big bags and proceeded to unload SKS, AR and some unknowns. He was all cammied out, in dark glasses, Bowie knife on his hip, various tools on web gear, a slouch "boonie" cap, brown paratroop style boots and he drove a camo-painted jeep. About 20 minutes into his getting prepared, he started burning ammo like it was toilet paper, emitting growls, yells, etc. I fully expected a bayonet charge. All his rig looked new. I got tired of all that and left. I'll bet he was sorry that the Nazi SS wasn't still recruiting!
azasadny
US Veteran
I've met some great folks at the range and I'm fortunate, I guess because all of my public range experience has been positive and I'm glad because I almost always take a family member or friend with me. When you're introducing someone to firearms for the 1st time, it's especially nice if the other folks at the range are polite, safe and helpful!
