Public range safety concern

[WestKentucky]

I have recently joined a club and am very nervous and concerned about the safety on the rifle range. So far each time I have gone the range has been busy, but as it gets cooler I know traffic on the rifle range will dwindle. I'm very nervous about being the only person on the range and heading downrange to set up targets, especially since the range has a low valley in the middle which could easily hide a person walking to/from the back half of the range. My fear is that someone would be downrange and obscured when another person arrives, new person has no way to know and goes hot on a cold range.

The range is 325 yards max, no range attendant (rso) and the valley cuts out about 50 yards in the 175ish range. There is a sign-in sheet at the building but I doubt anybody goes to sign in since the rifle range is way off to the left. There is parking right at the firing line so someone SHOULD put 2 and 2 together.

I intend to informally bring up my concern and see what happens. I do want to have suggestions for improvement to safety protocol in case they ask. Do any of you all have any experience with a similar situation, or suggestions I could propose? My current thought is to stay on the front end of the range unless someone else is there to keep the range cold until I return, and I certainly would offer to set targets for them at the far end just to keep someone on deck. I do have an orange hat and vest in the truck to wear to be more visible.

 

[P5 Guy]

I've seen recumbent bicyclist using a pennant on a long whip pole to be more visible in traffic. Bright orange and it would be pretty light weight too.

 

[bannockburn]

West Kentucky

That's pretty much why I only go with a friend of mine and we take turns going down range to set targets. If by yourself I could see taking along some tall pole with bright orange on it (maybe a fluorescent tennis ball on top), along with leaving some kind of placard with your gear at the firing line saying the range is cold and you're down there changing targets.

 

[JoePfeiffer]

My local range is similar, though without the amount of space hidden. On the other hand, there is a berm behind each target stand, so it would be easy to not be noticed for quite a bit of the walk.

In practice, it's not a problem. When you get to the range, if someone is there it's obvious. Their car is parked, their stuff is on a bench... Then, it takes a while to set up. You put your stuff on a bench, you go downrange to set up a target... There's just plain so much time to notice someone that people don't get missed.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Many years ago two of my Amigos were shooting in their hunting rifles. They were down range checking a target on a rural non supervised range. They had left their loaded rifles on the shooting bench.
A stranger set down at the bench shot and killed both men with their own rifles. He was a known drug abuser and was arrested trying to pawn the deceased's firearms.

 

[Telekinesis]

If you want something that is more of a range improvement, it shouldn't be too hard to wire up a light switch to a few flashing red lights and/or a buzzer to signify that someone is down range. I wouldn't do something like this on a 100 yard range, but on a longer range with terrain than could easily hide a person I think it could make more sense. if you have a guy who is handy with electronics it probably wouldn't be too expensive either.

Another option... A range I have been to with a 500 yard range has golf carts for people to take down range. It makes it easier/quicker to get down and back, but it's also much easier to see that a big white golf cart is infront of the target stands. Obviously that would be much more expensive than simply wiring up some lights or a buzzer though.

 

[Sunray]

No 'hot/cold range' flags? Flags cost next to nothing while electric light will.
Your stuff on the firing line while you're down range should twig most people too.

 

[JO JO]

a rifle range should at a minimum use the flag system to show when the range is hot or cold also if your the only one at an unsupervised range why don't
you carry you rifle with you, there is nobody around you , if it were me I would sling it over my shoulder and walk down to the target just saying I sure would
not walk in front of my own gun without a range master around, if this range is an organized range with meetings go to one and bring up a concern

 

[243winxb]

Our 300 yd rifle range has
a light switch to a flashing red light.

. But shooters still handle weapons with people down range, till i tell them its a No No.

At the 100 yd Game Commission range, seen a shot fired while a person was hanging a target.

 

[entropy]

Many years ago two of my Amigos were shooting in their hunting rifles. They were down range checking a target on a rural non supervised range. They had left their loaded rifles on the shooting bench.
A stranger set down at the bench shot and killed both men with their own rifles. He was a known drug abuser and was arrested trying to pawn the deceased's firearms.

That's why I carry a pistol, either OC or CCW, at the rifle range, and it comes with me downrange. I've seen people come in while I'm setting targets and pick up my rifles. I try to take mags with me when applicable, but with the milsurps, sometimes can't. If I just have one, I have taken the bolt from it with me.

 

[Axis II]

my range is a private club and you must sign in which 98% don't but we have to put an orange flag out hanging off the shoot building to let others know range is hot. as far as leaving a loaded gun sitting on a bench and going down range im sorry but that's not smart at all. when I go downrange my gun goes with me so no one steals it or shoots me.

 

[Dog Soldier]

entropy, I do the same thing. I always carry my handgun down range. But the facts are my rifle off a bench would take me out. I like your point about removing the bolt. I will follow your lead on that one. Thx.

 

[Axis II]

That's why I carry a pistol, either OC or CCW, at the rifle range, and it comes with me downrange. I've seen people come in while I'm setting targets and pick up my rifles. I try to take mags with me when applicable, but with the milsurps, sometimes can't. If I just have one, I have taken the bolt from it with me.

did you have a chat with them about touching other peoples stuff?

 

[Axis II]

entropy, I do the same thing. I always carry my handgun down range. But the facts are my rifle off a bench would take me out. I like your point about removing the bolt. I will follow your lead on that one. Thx.

bolt comes out for me and mag comes out as well and goes with me. that is a safety rule at my club but I do it more so if I am lazy and walk downrange alone and leave the rifle and someone comes and grabs it then you have a gun you cant use now.

 

[bannockburn]

entropy

That's why I carry a pistol, either OC or CCW, at the rifle range, and it comes with me downrange.

My buddy and I do the same thing. We also shoot pistol first at short distances (it's okay to do it on the Rifle range), then we set up targets for rifle use and then we take our rifles and other gear out of the car.

 

[WestKentucky]

entropy



My buddy and I do the same thing. We also shoot pistol first at short distances (it's okay to do it on the Rifle range), then we set up targets for rifle use and then we take our rifles and other gear out of the car.

This is exactly what scares me. I have seen too many times where somebody pulls up and never removes their head from their rear-end and if they don't have anybody else say not to, they just rip into whatever targets are left hanging. I have made a point of not leaving a target hanging when I have gone, but some guys just can't help themselves with "targets of opportunity"...there's a rock SHOOT IT...theres a butterfly SHOOT IT...there was a guy behind that butterfly...oops.

 

[Milt1]

The County Club that I used to play golf at had a situation similar to what you're talking about. On the 10th tee box you couldn't tell if a group was halfway down the fairway. The Club position a large mirror in the upper portion of a tree near the tee box so that you could then look down the fairway. Perhaps this might be a solution.

 

[rugerman]

Several years ago a buddy and I were sighting in our hunting rifles at a public range. I went down to put up a couple of targets, I took my Ruger superblackhawk 44 with me. While I was down range some jackass walks up to the firing line and starts shooting at something . All the people at the line are yelling at him, I pull my pistol cock it and start taking up the slack when he figures it out and runs and jumps in his car and peels out of the parking area. Another second or so and he too would have incoming fire. My buddy asked if I would have shot the guy, I said hell yes I thought he was shooting at me. I don't go to a range alone, ever!

 

[RX-79G]

Several years ago a buddy and I were sighting in our hunting rifles at a public range. I went down to put up a couple of targets, I took my Ruger superblackhawk 44 with me. While I was down range some jackass walks up to the firing line and starts shooting at something . All the people at the line are yelling at him, I pull my pistol cock it and start taking up the slack when he figures it out and runs and jumps in his car and peels out of the parking area. Another second or so and he too would have incoming fire. My buddy asked if I would have shot the guy, I said hell yes I thought he was shooting at me. I don't go to a range alone, ever!

What crazy behavior. Instead of running for cover, you decided to commit murder instead?

Did you really think a jury wouldn't think it more likely that it was a mistake at a shooting range than an intentional attack? It doesn't sound like your buddy would have backed you up, either.


It is truly unbelievable the things people brag about. Your actions are just another reason to avoid public ranges.

 

[LoonWulf]

Several years ago a buddy and I were sighting in our hunting rifles at a public range. I went down to put up a couple of targets, I took my Ruger superblackhawk 44 with me. While I was down range some jackass walks up to the firing line and starts shooting at something . All the people at the line are yelling at him, I pull my pistol cock it and start taking up the slack when he figures it out and runs and jumps in his car and peels out of the parking area. Another second or so and he too would have incoming fire. My buddy asked if I would have shot the guy, I said hell yes I thought he was shooting at me. I don't go to a range alone, ever!

All kindsa bad in that statement...i usually wont say anything, but seriously. Ive never seen anyone, heard of anyone, doing anything that unacceptable, ever. The idiot not paying attentions bad enough, your reaction makes the whole thing worse.

 

[reddog81]

I'd just wear the orange hat and maybe a vest. If someone is so oblivious to the fact a car is parked in the lot and someone has their stuff on one of the shooting benches I'm not sure a flag or light would help. At least if you're wearing a orange hat they should be able to see you. They might still start shooting down range but hopefully once they see the orange hat they will stop.

 

[WestKentucky]

What crazy behavior. Instead of running for cover, you decided to commit murder instead?

Did you really think a jury wouldn't think it more likely that it was a mistake at a shooting range than an intentional attack? It doesn't sound like your buddy would have backed you up, either.


It is truly unbelievable the things people brag about. Your actions are just another reason to avoid public ranges.

People yelling at the man to stop firing in the direction of another person. Said other person is legitametly concerned for his life and plants a bullet in the SOB shooting towards him. That's pretty much the definition of a self defense shoot. Reasonable threat-absolutely. Reasonable response to threat-seems fair to me.

Murder? Really? No way your serious.

 

[LoonWulf]

Yes, his buddy asks were you really going to shoot him....you think someone scared of being shot at would react like that? Neither guys ran to get out of the line of fire, dude drew a revolver, aimed and calmly started to fire....TOWARDS THE LINE!!!...this isnt helping the thread, so im gonna stop there, but ...damn

 

[RX-79G]

People yelling at the man to stop firing in the direction of another person. Said other person is legitametly concerned for his life and plants a bullet in the SOB shooting towards him. That's pretty much the definition of a self defense shoot. Reasonable threat-absolutely. Reasonable response to threat-seems fair to me.

Murder? Really? No way your serious.

Murder. No different than "standing your ground" at a crosswalk and shooting at a car rather than getting out of the way. Completely unreasonable and indefensible.

"Self defense" doesn't apply to unintentional dangers.

This is also an example of the least effective way to survive being caught on a hot range.

 

[GRIZ22]

The policy at my range is the first person arriving is the RSO. When the range is busy on weekends, shooters swap off this job and stop shooting when they assume it for the 15-30 minutes. I go during the week and there are very few, if any other shooters.

No loaded rifles when the range is dry.

We have a horn and flashing lights on the firing line to tell people we're dry. Lights put means the range is hot.

I find with a few shooters it's easy to work out between you. If there's no power on the firing line the range should at least have flags.

As someone else said wear hunter orange and carry a bike pennant if it worries you. I don't think that a stupid idea.