Disturbing Incident at a Range I Frequent

[BigRugerLover]

Busieck State Park

BTW, that was Busieck State Park range that I was talking about.

If someone in the SGF area can recommend a good members-only outdoor range for pistol and rifle, I'd love to hear about it.

BRL

 

[Defensory]

Posted by Rachen:
I can be 100 percent SURE that whoever stole the gun was not a fellow shooter.

I'm 100% sure you're wrong about "fellow shooters" in general.

Like the time I was packing up after a gun show ended, and the public was already out of the building. I had to run to the bathroom, wasn't gone for more than a few minutes.

Came back and six of my expensive display racks were gone. An unknown dealer loaded them in his truck and took off while I was gone. Never was able to find out who did it.

I know a lot of gun dealers and shooters, and I don't trust most of them any more than I do a non-shooter from off the street.

 

[Defensory]

Just one more reason I shoot at a private outdoor range. It's completely fenced and gated, and has a caretaker that lives on the property. A police background check is required before you can become a member.

Members are fully responsible for their actions and those of their guests. All complaints against members and their guests are thoroughly investigated by the board of directors, who won't hesitate to revoke your membership if you or one of your guests commits a significant violation.

 

[waverace]

A guy i used to shoot with always carried a loaded pistol downrange with him , being completely clueless i asked him why ? he replied "look back up range what do you see ?" i looked and said "the firing point" he said " and whats at the firing point ?" i said "benches" he said "whats on the benches ?" then it dawned on me... about 30 different weapons and ammunition to go with them , he said "i'll be damned if i'm gonna get shot with my own gun !!"
we had a good chuckle but its a sobering thought , my sympathy to the victim in this story , hope the perp gets caught by someone with a ccw.

 

[machinisttx]

I would have viewed a man running out of a gun range, with a firearm in his hand, as suspicious enough to draw my carry gun and stop said individual. A person running out of any establishment with a firearm in hand generally means something isn't quite kosher.......

YMMV

 

[XD Fan]

If someone in the SGF area can recommend a good members-only outdoor range for pistol and rifle, I'd love to hear about it.

BigRugerLover,

There is one just to the west of Billings, but I do not have any contact information. I used to know a guy that shot there. Apparently, there are IDPA matches there. That might be an avenue of tracking it down. I got to shoot there once, but I do not know street names to give you directions

A person running out of any establishment with a firearm in hand generally means something isn't quite kosher.......

Agreed. I just never dreamed that I was witnessing a crime. Should have been more observant.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I would never object of anyone taking a picture of my license plate at the range when it concerns security. I have nothing to lose. Ask first and take pictures so as to not tick people off. Stealing guns off of a range is not uncommon, especially when you are walking down to check a 100 yard target.

 

[CajunBass]

For the most part there pretty safe, but sometimes there are some real hillbillies that show up.

I've also heard the "N" word tossed around which makes me extremely uncomfortable coming from those guys

Ummmm The "N" word bothers you, but you don't mind "real hillbillies" I guess?

(Maybe someone else commented on this. I didn't read all the replies.)

The other thing to do when at a range like that is to take a photo of all cars , trucks etc, Licence plates.

Sooner or later, this will get you punched in the nose.

 

[Win75]

I also shoot at a MDC range. I try to get there real early an get out before everybody shows up. For the most part there pretty safe, but sometimes there are some real hillbillies that show up. On one occasion I was shooting a .22 at 50 yards but the people next to my started WALKING DOWNRANGE firing their handguns at a box about 25 yards out.
I stoped shooting and they turned around like they expected me to continue....

Do you shoot at a range south of Russellville, MO? Basicly the same thing happened to me at the MDC range there.

I always keep a holstered firearm with me at the range. A Marshall, MO murder at a range and now one in WV encourage me to be watchful while enjoying my sport.

 

[machinisttx]

Stuff like this makes me happy I can walk out my front door and blast away.

 

[XD Fan]

That would be nice, machinisttx.

 

[Travis McGee]

Those scumbag bank robbers and killers from the Miami Shootout were most definitely top notch shooters.

And they got their guns by killing a stranger at an informal range in the 'glades.

I think word is getting out among the more creative felons, that ranges are places to get guns.

Witness our own THR loss 2 weeks back.

Word to the wise.....check six. Keep them eyeballs on swivels, and stay frosty.

 

[Phydeaux642]

There is one just to the west of Billings, but I do not have any contact information. I used to know a guy that shot there. Apparently, there are IDPA matches there.

I know some guys that are members of this range, but it's a little expensive to join. Plus, with the price of gas it's just not feasible for me. I think they shoot some NRA stuff there instead of IDPA. Closest IDPA stuff is a couple of hours either way.

 

[rondog]

I'm a member of a private club, with a 560-acre property that has 11 separate pistol ranges, two of which are 100 yards, a high-powered rifle range out to 600 yards, .22 rifle silhouette range, shotgun range, cowboy-action range, and a 500-yard black-powder only cowboy range. Probably the same place that Treo mentioned earlier.

The pistol ranges are essentially private, once you occupy one nobody bothers you. The rifle ranges are communal though, all the benches are on one firing line. The place is pretty remote, and a long ways from any cities, locked gate, etc. I've never felt unsafe there, it's actually rare to see anybody else there. But I still pack a loaded 1911 when I'm away from the bench, just a good practice.

 

[Emfuser]

I've wondered about this some times, as I shoot at a DNR range like the aforementioned, but I've never even bumped into folks in the range that weren't shooting except fo the crazy old guy who comes around harvesting brass. I always talk to the other shooters there, and if I get any sort of bad feeling at all, I leave.

 

[yhtomit]

"I shoot at a public range, with no RO. I shoot alone. And whenever I go downrange, I keep a loaded gun with me. I will look back and make sure my stuff is not being touched, multiple times - and this is for when going down 25 yards to the pistol targets.

On rifles, I put my targets up, then get guns out, then shoot, put guns up, then go look at targets before I leave."

Exactly the same here. At first (hey, I'm a gun nut, but didn't grow up with any, and am only now making up for lost time ) this made me feel like a skulker myself -- but after a time or two, That's Just the Way it is. Also, if I am leaving a gun on the bench, I've got the mags with me when I go to change / inspect the targets. If I have only one or two guns, they're both going with me. This is the *upside* to days where I don't have the range seemingly to myself, and instead there are a handful of middle-aged shooters -- their presence helps protect me.

timothy