First Trip to the Range

[Polishrifleman]

I met up with another High Roader at an indoor range yesterday at 6pm. This was my first time at an indoor pistol range in about 10yrs. I normally shoot in the wild or go to the outdoor range to shoot long arms.

Not to profile or stereotype (but that is what I am doing). There were, during the session about 12 or so of us. Two thirds had clothes without pockets, low riding basketball shorts and tank tops, showing their body art etc...

Is this typical at the pistol ranges you frequent?

I am used to stuffy scowling chrono tinkering notpad writing guys with pockets too full to find anything.

 

[BulletFan]

My experience

I used to be a Range Safety Officer at a range that I used to live near. We got in all sorts of people. Everything from rappers to cripples to kids. As long as everyone shoots safe, obeys my commands as the supervising range officer and doesn't bother anyone else, everything is cool. Now granted you always run into those guys/gals that need a little extra supervision, but for obvious reasons, we can't just not let someone shoot based on their looks etc. I had a group of younger thug looking type people come in to shoot one day. The big guy had a Desert Eagle .50AE and several others, the girl with him brought her loaded .22 deringer into the inspection station (against the rules BTW) and I just got an aweful feeling in my stomach about them. Upon passing my inspection of their weapons I forwarded them into the pistol range and just moved on. Later on I checked in with the Range Officer watching the pistol range and asked about them. He said they were a pleasant group and safe shooters. My gut was wrong in this case and it's lucky I did not act on it. Some people have you fooled, some people don't. I am only concerned with how they handle their weapon on the line. Not their choice in clothes, lifestyle etc.

There is a typical group out at this range though, mostly it's the middle age to older gentlemen that have been hunting/shooting/loading for decades and could probably disassemble / assemble an M1 with their eyes closed and write down their shots every time. Retired, money, lot's of guns, lot's of free time, so they shoot a lot.

 

[Polishrifleman]

I'm not picking on the individuals and maybe I didn't word it well enough. They seemed to be safe, when I was watching them, and also having a good time. It just really stuck out in my mind that there was such a difference in the demographic between the two different ranges and want to know if it locationally specific or could be seen elswhere.

 

[chickenfried]

I think what you described is a good thing. Most young people in my area dress similar to what you described in the summer and are more likely to have tattoos. It reassures me that young people are getting into firearms. If everyone at the range dressed like us thirty and over fuddy duddy's, I'd be more fearful that one of my favorite hobbies, firearms, was likely to die out. As you said they were safe and they obviously like going to the range. That's all that matters not how they dress, style their hair, or how many tattoos they have.

 

[Justin]

Is this typical at the pistol ranges you frequent?

No.

 

[mljdeckard]

I agree. The fact that they are willing to actually practice means I will give them the benefit of the doubt.

I asked a couple of dealers here if they were wary of shady looking people, and they said the ones that can't pass a background check don't come in, and the rest don't scare them.

 

[Shadowwolf80]

Hey!

Polish:

Not just for the sake of argument, but being one of those inked-up young folk....

I have noticed people looking at me a little oddly if I happen to be wearing a tank top and jeans to the range, which admittedly is common. But I probably look more like Biker than .50 cent.

Of all the things to make me stop just lurking.

Just goes to show we enjoy shooting (sorry I do not own a Glock for-tey I am a wheelgun man first) come in all possible variety, if you ask me.

I will mention that my pants fit though.

 

[Polishrifleman]

Thanks for the replies, I guess what I really never noticed was the lack of younger people at the outdoor rifle range until last night.

 

[kansas45]

Hey Shadow! Glad you quit lurkin' and came on in!
I dont wear tank top's & baggy short's to shoot in but heck, I don't like powder burn's & hot brass sitting on my 50 year shoulder's!

 

[Outlaws]

I hate indoor ranges but not because of the wider variety of people, I hate them for being over priced, too restrictive, and flat out boring.

But ya, i have noticed more and more people of a wider background showing up at both indoor and outdoor ranges....more the indoor though since they are closer to most people.

I notice though tht lots of poeple have aweful tastes in firearms. errr, different tastes. (you would think wood has already been extinct for 50 years)

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

Polishrifleman,

Last time I went to the range I had on baggy jeans, and a long gray tanktop. I'm kinda "swarthy" as it were, and am often thought to be Hispanic, but no body art. (my jeans had many pockets though), I wonder, am I the sort your talking about?

I mean, I think body art, and loose fitting clothing is more a generational thing than a "bad element" thing. It quit being about the inner city a long time ago.

After all, I'm just an unusually large Jewish kid with funny hair.