Bullies at the shooting range...

[wristtwister]

Last weekend, a couple of my buddies went to the range with me, and while we were shooting our rifles, there was a particularly arrogant and pushy guy shooting from the table beside me. You would have thought he was our drill sergeant, the way he was telling everybody what to do... and he was totally obnoxious.

One of my friends had his pistol on his side in a tactical holster, and started downrange to reset his target when Mr. Bigmouth shouted "Hey... ALL guns on the wall... that means your pistol too!"

My friend just kept walking, so Mr. Bigmouth went after the range officer who was helping a group of Boy Scouts at the shotgun range. Now, I know the range officer well, and told him that the guy was just being totally obnoxious and ordering everybody around, and explained what had transpired with Jesse walking downrange with his pistol holstered. The range officer had no problem with us carrying our pistols downrange... so Mr. Bigmouth slammed all his gear into his range bag and stomped off to his car... clearly P/O'd that his orders weren't going to be followed.

He was bellowing things at us like "I don't give a $h*t how many of you a$$holes get killed"... and it was clear that he had "issues". No one was doing anything dangerous, it was just a matter of him wanting to bully everybody within earshot. The range officer finally went over to him and told him that if he was going to act like that, he didn't need to come back.

For the most part, the shooters at our range are very courteous... will stop shooting to allow you to put up targets, etc. and very careful. Occasionally, we get a "range bully" like this that has some kind of agenda and "knows more than everybody else"... and has to try to impose his will on us.

He told me to stop shooting Wolf ammo in my Saiga because "its got a lacquer coating on the bullets and it'll ruin your barrel". When I told him I cleaned my guns well, he said "you can't clean that $*** out of your barrel"... just a totally obnoxious jackass.

After the shooting session, the range officer came over and asked me what "history" I had with the guy, and I told him "none". He said that while he was telling him not to come back, he had accused me of "being the most unsafe shooter he's ever seen", and just "went off" on all of our group because we didn't fall over and follow his orders. I usually run the pistol range when I'm there, so the R/O knew better... but it brings up an interesting point... that range bullies will do or say whatever they need to to get their way... so be careful.

The guy clearly had issues, and when armed, you never know when they'll "go off" themselves... so pay attention to range bullies and, and get the range officer there if you have a problem with them. Clearly, our situation could have gotten out of hand very quickly... and shooting "side to side" at the range line is real bad form.

WT

 

[JesseL]

I don't think this personality type is unique to the shooting sports, you'll see them anywhere if you look long enough (the nastiest ones are busying themselves in politics and law enforcement).

Just be glad nobody made Mr. Angry Control Freak a range officer.

 

[IndianaDon]

At our range, where I'm sometimes a range marshal, the rules are that ALL guns be unloaded with actions open behind the firing line when a cease-fire is called. They also require that a yellow plastic flag be placed in the breach so the marshal can see that all guns are clear before letting people go down range. Guns are not to be touched during the cease-fire, either.

 

[basicblur]

One of my friends had his pistol on his side in a tactical holster, and started downrange to reset his target when Mr. Bigmouth shouted "Hey... ALL guns on the wall... that means your pistol too!"

Based on the history of folks targeting gun ranges/plinkers for their weapons, I no longer check targets unless I have a loaded weapon with a couple of extra magazines on my hip (and an escape route through the woods picked out)!

 

[chris in va]

Oh absolutely. Every now and then we get these EBR totin' LEO types that take over the outdoor range. I had one scold me for putting targets up on a berm...that I have been doing the past 3 years. These guys are from NOVA and like to commando everything.

Yet another reason why I'm not terribly friendly to LEO's. They have this "you can't touch me" attitude, regardless if they're wrong or not.

I'll never forget though, when I was *just* starting out with a 22 at a public outdoor range, we had a guy sighting in his rifle for hunting season that CLEARLY didn't like following rules. Range was called cold, we went down to change our targets. This guy decided it would be a great idea to start fondling his rifle and messing with the bolt.

The RO came over and loudly told him to put the gun down. Loudmouth started arguing. RO got RIGHT in his face and said he would be well within his powers to call the Sherriff and have his arse arrested. Staring match ensued, crickets chirped. Guy left in a huff.

 

[justin 561]

I no longer check targets unless I have a loaded weapon with a couple of extra magazines on my hip (and an escape route through the woods picked out)!

Wow, sounds like a range you wouldn't want to go to. If you HAVE to worry about not only people shooting at you, but more than once, break out the trauma plates!

 

[Henry Bowman]

At the ranges near me, we call this type of person a "Board of Directors Member." That is, most of the clubs around here condone that kind of viewpopint as the rule. It takes the fun out of shooting, which seems to be their goal. :banghead:

 

[wideym]

Sometimes even an armed society isn't polite.

 

[TexasRifleman]

This is why I stopped going to public ranges

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I was three lanes over from a pair of rednecks who touched off a black powder rifle while I was downrange putting up another target.

That got heated.
I'd take a loudmouth RO wannabe over a moron who thinks "aw, he's plenty clar of mah muskit bawl!" any day o the year.

Still, previous reply was correct. I see these types everywhere. I've seen that guy at the archery range, at car shows and tracks, and definitely in camping areas like shelters.

Tell em to shut their pie hole and get on with the fun. If they get mad and leave, good for you.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

I would be more concerned about informal ranges, but there are turkeys everywhere. We ran into a lifetime NRA member who was a poster child for banning guns at Chabot. He was escorted off site by a park ranger.

When you get away from the great unwashed public and weekend warriors it seems to be a different story. Serious shooters in my area don't put up with any nonsense--everybody behaves because they want to be able to play and know they won't get an invitation if they are not courteous and safe.

 

[scrat]

I love them. FEEED On them. I dont know. You tell me something i cant do or something that is impossible and somehow someway im going to prove you wrong. Been that way all my life. My father always used to tell people. "dont tell him what he cant do, because he will prove you wrong". I always go shooting prepared. Have my ducks in a row. I dont think you did anything wrong depending on the rules that your range has. I would have loved to see that guy get kicked out. NOWWWW


Here at the ranges i go to. There are a few i do not go to as i think they are unsafe. Now its my choice to go to these ranges. So i know that. Some of these ranges are like what you mentioned. You kind of all say ok lets stop shooting then go down range to change targets. BUTTTT if someone comes up to the line and starts shooting then they do.

I go to a monitored range. its safer. you put your guns actions open un loaded on the forward bench and step back and wait. Then when the sieze fire is called everyone finishes off what they have loaded or unloads the guns. Lays them on the bench actions open magazines detached unloaded. Then stands behind the yellow safety line. A RO walks down and checks all firearms. Then down range is called you can walk past the guns set up targets and everything. Then come back stepping behind the yellow line. Not touching a single gun. when everyone is behind the line and the line is declared safe. The range is called Hot. you may step up to the line and start firing.

 

[TexasSkyhawk]

He was bellowing things at us like "I don't give a $h*t how many of you a$$holes get killed"... and it was clear that he had "issues". No one was doing anything dangerous, it was just a matter of him wanting to bully everybody within earshot.

Dunno.

I just don't seem to have those kind of problems when and where I shoot. For one, I shoot at one of several ranges where I know the owners and they know me. If there is ever a problem, they know it isn't me and it's not because of me.

That helps a lot.

Secondly, I try to sneak off and shoot at odd times when my chances of having to deal with other shooters are remote. Can't always do this, but I try--and I always, always, always, always, always enjoy my shooting far more than when I have to deal with a gaggle of numbnuts or mall ninjas.

If/When I see shooters who are struggling or are (obvious) novices, I'll try and help them out. If I happen to be wearing one of my ballcaps that has my old military insignia or fed agency acronymn on it, the shooters (needing needing help) are usually pretty receptive and I end up making some new friends.

On those rare occasions in which a B-Squared (Bonafide Butthead, as we used to call them back in the day) shooter shows up or starts mouthing off, I'll make a point of switching from the electronic ear muffs to the normal muffs, all while looking them directly in the eyes. Normally I get left alone after that.

My wife tells me that I definitely do not have a Welcome Wagon face, expression or posture about me. Oh well.

Only once have I ever had a problem with a B-Square that looks alone wouldn't solve. It was at an outdoor range, B-Square was blasting with his .308 "sniper" grade rifle, barking orders and BS at everyone, then jacking with his weapon while we were downrange all while telling stories about what a badass he was in the military.

Next cold range that was called, I slipped my favorite ball cap on, walked over to his bench, slipped the bolt out and put it in my pocket. Told him he could have it back when we got through checking our targets--or if he wanted it sooner, he could show me just exactly how bad of a badass he thought he really was.

This B-Square went raising hell to the RO, who slipped on his favorite ball cap, which was identical to MY ball cap and informed B-Square that he shouldn't "(expletive deleted) with his old shipmate" referring to me, and to ask me nicely for his (expletive deleted) bolt and then get his (expletive deleted) backside the (expletive deleted) off of his range and property.

The Range Officer and I go all the way back to basic training. We got history, believe me. (And yet, the sorry SOB still charges me to shoot on his dirt patch . . .)

That's the one and only time in over forty years of shooting that I've ever personally had any sort of a bad confrontation with another shooter.

And yes, I do thank my lucky stars for that.

Jeff

 

[jimbob86]

I was at my local club range last year when a group of LEOs (they made sure Everyone knew they were cops...) showed up. The loudest/rudest of the bunch had an opinion on EVERYTHING, including my choice of pistol...... I told him I selected this particular model for CCW and and had just gotten my permit, and it was a shame the range did not allow drawing from holsters, as I needed the practice. He answered that he had a Florida permit, but did not carry here in Nebraska, as he "could beat up anybody in this state, and get away with it, too." Time to leave: I don't hang around losers, as it may be contagious.

 

[Rugerlvr]

Every time I hear a range horror story it makes me grateful for my highly structured range, which is run just like the one IndianaDon describes. I love it.

 

[briansp82593]

no more public ranges for me, private land, during winter months I do go to the pistol range (usually dead) and everyone keeps to themselves

 

[zxcvbob]

Get a .30 Carbine pistol and some really hot ammo for it. They are tremendously loud; you would not believe it how loud. I think there are some rifles even louder -- Mosin Nagant carbine, maybe? Or a snubnosed .357 loaded hot with lightweight bullets.

Tends to drive away people who are crowding you at the range (even with ear protection.) Especially if you have a slow and really unpredictable rhythm to your shooting.

 

[Thernlund]

Wow. I've never had any run-ins with that sort at the range. Pfff. Worst I ever got was an RO who told me that I needed to keep the cylinder on my revolver open when I laid it down so he could see it was unloaded. He said it nice though, even if firmly.


-T.

 

[drgrenthum]

i couldnt imagine being on an unstructured range with people i did not know. I think i would be too nervous to go out and check my target.

Range i go to there are always at least 3 RO's on duty. I could not imagine someone giving me crap at the range. I guess i will have to pray it never happens and keep my eyes open.

 

[krolden]

I have had a few run ins with self-proclaimed range cops, I usually go to the range on days their aren't many other people there. I avoid Friday, Saturday, and Sunday like the plague. Everyone and their mothers comes out to shoot and egos will be bruised.

However as soon as I notice unsafe gun handling, ran bullies, or nosy peace officers, I leave immediately. Its better to avoid a bad situation in my experience...

 

[welldoya]

I wouldn't go to a public range if it was free. When I want to shoot , I just go up to my hunting camp, set some targets out and have a relaxing afternoon.

 

[bogie]

I've had a couple of time where Joe Unfamiliar With The Club has wandered over, and started to chew me out for "touching a firearm during a cease fire."

Well, Bubba, the bolt's out, which is considered "safe enough," there's a bore guide through the action, and that thing you see with the red handle going in and out is called a cleaning rod...

A local conservation range officer didn't allow me to keep a bore guide in the rifle during their "hands off" cease fire. He also had a problem with me removing the bolt. Methinx he needs a concept.

 

[kentucky bucky]

If you want to see a control freak go berserk, just take away his control.
He probably bosses around everyone he can and gets away with it around weaker personalities at home or at work. I've had experience at my job with this sort of personality and it is an everyday drama if he doesn't get his way. I get tired of ignoring it and we have had words, which helps for a while, but it always tries to creep back in. Other folks walk around on egg shells so he won't throw his little hissy fits. He knows I don't care what he thinks, but he'll still try after a while. Those leopards can't change their spots.

 

[Deanimator]

I belong to a private indoor club. The rules are prominently posted. I'm one of the range officers. If you can't follow the rules, go to one of the public ranges where people go to shoot themselves (literally). That being said, anybody can call a halt for safety. NOBODY is allowed to bully people. We don't do it often, but we can and do kick people out, the last one I'm aware of, for being drunk on the range.

When I used to shoot on the NASA range in Cleveland, there was a guy there who was a loud mouth, know-it-all, etc., who made sure we couldn't follow the then current NRA rules for NRA across the course rifle shooting. He said they "weren't safe". Of course, who was the guy not waiting for range officer commands, going downrange on a hot range, etc... He probably contributed to getting the NASA range closed eventually.

 

[kingpin008]

Quote:
I no longer check targets unless I have a loaded weapon with a couple of extra magazines on my hip (and an escape route through the woods picked out)!

Wow, sounds like a range you wouldn't want to go to. If you HAVE to worry about not only people shooting at you, but more than once, break out the trauma plates!

Justin - Have you ever heard of Mattix and Platt? If not, I suggest you google their names. They were involved in a shootout with police in the early 90's, and one of their tactics for getting guns was to frequent shooting ranges that were out in the woods, and then kill whoever was shooting there and take their guns.

Crime can happen anywhere, even at the range. Doesn't mean that the range itself is unsafe - just that the people who may choose to frequent it aren't always on the up-and-up.