Idiots at the range...

[AggieJustin]

When me, my wife and one of her friends took our CHL course, we did the shooting test at the indoor range at Bass Pro before it opened for the day. The instructors did the test prior to the classroom instruction so that if you failed the test, you were out of the class. They did do the brief firearm safety class prior to going to the range. So we get there and divide up into two groups. I'm shooting in the first group and we're going through the paced course of fire. As we fire, I hear a couple of dings that sound like hits on metal. A few rounds later, I see a little ceiling material firing. There is a woman at the other end of the range who is hitting everything but paper. She popped the carrier a few times, I think she may have put a couple in the floor and some in the ceiling. The instructor is constantly behind her trying to give her pointers. She said she had shot before when we were getting ready to go to the range, so I think the instructor just chalked it up to nerves. We finish our round and the next round comes in. She obviously failed the first round and since there were a couple of spare lanes, they let her shoot the second round to try and pass.

So as I'm sitting outside waiting, they're firing the secound round and I hear the range officer yelling "Who the F brought that woman in here?" Her husband fesses up that she's only shot a couple of rounds before and had never shot the Glock (loaner gun from class) she was using. Needless to say, the husband got a long talking too from the range officer. And she didn't pass either. I guess it freed up her Saturday for better things.

I imagine there was other things she did that I didn't see...but the instructors pretty well ran the entire course of fire while standing behind her to keep an eye on her.

[Will-XD45]

What's wrong with holding the pistol sideways?

[white_russian2]

[quote]I almost feel like I should thank the RO next time I see him! /QUOTE]

Go one further? Those guys get hot and hungry while they are out doing a somewhat thankless job. I sometimes bring them homemade jerky and smoked cheeses. Right after Thanksgiving I smoked a big batch of pork loin and brought them out one of the slabs.

I appreciate the work they do, no different than most of us. I'm going to the outdoor range (the indoor guys get nothing, lol) tomorrow and bringing a watermelon. Cheap, they're happy and as a by product I never have to wait for a lane, lol.

WR2

[txlonghrnsny]

Originally Posted by vincent317

Seems like the slide would get his right thumb.

YouTube - Todd Jarrett on pistol shooting.

This is a video from Todd Jarrett on how to grip and shoot a handgun.

• IPSC World Champion 1996
• USPSA Open Nationals Champion 1991 1997 1998 2000 2002 2003
• USPSA Limited Nationals Champion 1997
• USPSA Limited-10 Nationals Champion 2003
• USPSA Production Nationals Champion North American Champion 2003
• Pan-American Champion 1998
• Steel Challenge Limited World Champion 1998 2003 2005 2007
• German Open Production Champion 2008

[cooks128]

I haven't been to a public range in about three years, I am lucky enough to have a private sportsman's club with two ranges, a rifle range a pistol range sperate from each other. In reading these posts I am reminded why I stopped shooting at public ranges and when I did, I would go during off peak hours and if busy would ask the range master if I could use a bay away from the usual rif raf.

Often times the private range I shoot at is empty and often go alone myself becuase of my work schedule. I must say, I do miss talking shop and meeting new competent shooters at the public range though, and just might make a trip over on sunday.

[Will-XD45]

I have been a member of Arnold Rifle & Pistol Club for almost 3 years now. It too is a private club. Without a key, you cannot get past the gate. The only exception is for USPSA, IPSC, IDPA matches and the like. But even then, as soon as the match is over, the gate gets locked. Yes it does tend to keep the riff-raff out.

And for those who shoot alone, this is very safe instead of having to look over your shoulder worrying if someone is going to shoot you from behind and steal your guns. Never underestimate "Force Protection" when shooting.

[MILLER-MT]

I'm also with a "members-only" shooting range. The only times there are occasional problems are during the public shoot days.

The worst thing to see is the guy that wants to show off for whatever reason. Usually, they prove to be the greatest threat to public range safety than anything else.

[Igniskhin]

Wow...

I'm military, so I've been on the range a few times. and I've seen people get dropped (very rudely i might add) to the ground with a gun to the back of there head for things MUCH less severe then the things I've read about here (forgetting to remove the mag before backing away from the fireing line, moving the weapon away from the fireing line, Yelled at for cleaning up brass between shooting rounds)

and now that I own a private firearm (XD .45 service model) i've only gone shooting at my father in laws place (20 acres 2 wide 10 deep roughly) into a large pile of soft dirt... and after reading the stuff here i'm half affraid to ever go to a public shooting range.

but it does at least reasure me in the mind set of getting my wife into a saftey corse/CCL befor buying her a gun.

[ryr8828]

Originally Posted by Will-XD45

I have been a member of Arnold Rifle & Pistol Club for almost 3 years now. It too is a private club. Without a key, you cannot get past the gate. The only exception is for USPSA, IPSC, IDPA matches and the like. But even then, as soon as the match is over, the gate gets locked. Yes it does tend to keep the riff-raff out.

And for those who shoot alone, this is very safe instead of having to look over your shoulder worrying if someone is going to shoot you from behind and steal your guns. Never underestimate "Force Protection" when shooting.

Chances are that you know this guy then? He taught the Florida class I took.

Local Match Results

[carmike]

After reading all of these stories, I am glad I have access to a private range on a friend's farm. Just me, myself, and whoever I happen to bring with me. When I do go to a public range with a friend who's a member, we always go early Friday morning when no ones around.