Ithacalover, Don't acknowledge "Clear" until you've moved that rifle to it's final resting place if you don't want to leave it in the sand bags. You take control and say "NO". "Not Clear", until you have done so.
Yes, you were wrong. Any, and I mean any range I've ever been to, whether it's been the Range Officer, or a unmanned range where shooters police themselves, When a line is signaled 'Clear' or 'Make the line safe', Shooters/RO agree, that breaches are open, magazines out, chambers empty, guns safe on the bench or table, then at that point no one even touches a fire arm while shooters are down range.. Until the command 'Safe to fire' has been given once all on the line agree that there is nobody down range from the line. Private or Public ranges. Asking and granting to make the line safe, is a courtesy. I try to observe if a guy is done with his string and wants to go down range. I'll ask, and sometimes they'll say, "Hey, I can wait until you're done with your string". Other times I'm waiting. I make it known in a courtious way that I'd like to go down range when they're done with their next string of fire.
Responding to the original post:
Call me a snob then.. Well sorta. I think a shooter should have respect for the range and the target stands errected. Always know what's down range of your target. Isn't that what we're teaching the kids? Shouldn't we set the example? As for sweeping the line. No excuse. Always point your gun in a direction of something you're willing to shoot. (don't take that out of context)
There is a tactful means of asking the shooter that's shooting at 100yds, at an angle so his shots can hit the 200yd targes down range.. 'Excuse me sir, Are you aware of where your bullet is hitting after it goes through your target'? OUr club has dirt burms behind each of our targets. So this isn't a problem. I was a member of a club where the 200yd shooter actually shot over the 100yd shooter benches. (so if you shot 200, nobody could shoot 100 while you were) Yeah, weird.
I was recently griped at when my boys and I went to the range. We set up with .243's at the 100yd range. Another dad with his two youths were shooting rimfire at 75yds a few stations to our right. They said my boys hunting rifles were too loud! Then they moved to the 50yd outdoor pistol bay. But before doing so, as my eldest son was about to squeeze off another round, his family just started walking to their targets. Being observant, I stopped my son, both boys unloaded quickly to make the line safe. Then I proceded to read the riot act to this jerk.
Damn it! Guns can kill. er uh, the shooter can anyway. Observing safety rules and using a little bit of common sense can remove that possibility of accident.
If observing the rules of the range makes me a snob, then so-be-it. Wealth has nothing to do with it, other than I'd like to be able to live long enough to be more wealthy.
-Steve
