Public Rifle Ranges...How do you shoot when

[deerhunter61]

I went to the range today and when I got there it was pretty empty. I started off shooting real good...or at least the rifles I had with me were shooting extemely good. But then after about an hour or so it got crowded and then real crowded. It seemed the more crowded it got the worse I shot. At the end I realized I was rushing some of my shots just to get the crap out of there...

There was just too much going on. Too many people moving around etc.

I was wondering if any of you have ever had this happen to you?

I wish I had realized what I was doing earlier so I could have attempted to maintain greater focus or just got up and left and not wasted the ammo and my time.

Thanks,

 

[Hardtarget]

Sometimes public ranges don't feel comfortable to me. Maybe I've shot too long at clubs or private ranges...where I've all but had the range to myself.Maybe I need to go shoot with a crowd more often just to practice my "focus". Yes, I do see your point. If a crowded range plays havoc with our shooting...just imagine what a real battle would do to us!

Mark.

 

[12131]

I don't let other folks bother my concentration.

 

[ursus americanas]

I find the hardest thing to do is prevent myself from paying too much attention to the shots from the guys next to me. I have a tendency to try to time my shots to occur in between theirs, so that I have a better likelihood of avoiding the flinch induced by my neighbor's shot. I've never experienced a problem flinching from MY shots, but it turns out that it's a different story with those coming from the next bench!

Try to focus, and know when it's time to leave. Trigger time is the best thing for performance, but with enough distractions it can also be a waste of ammo.

 

[Mike U.]

Practicing focus is the only way to overcome that problem. I know it's hard when the guy next to you is touching off his +P 45/70 loads, but, practicing to focus on what you are doing will get easier.
And, if you shoot at a public range where there are no range masters, you'll need to learn to keep an active eye on those around you. For obvious safety issues, like the guy next to you trying to un-jam his loaded .45 while it's pointed at your head.

Or, like me, having the GF of some rube whirl around to look at her bf with a loaded Glock .40 with her finger still on the trigger pointing at my chest. Public ranges...good times!

Stay safe!

 

[SGW42]

When I'm at the range, I don't want to deal with anyone. Period. I push enough paper across my desk and answer phones all week - range time is me time. The muffs have the double effect of protecting my hearing from both gunshots and speaking.

I go to the range very early and leave before it's busy.

 

[SHvar]

We have shot at public ranges, and on a few days it was ok, only a few people there. Twice it was difficult because there were so many people there that every time you got ready to take a few shots someone wanted to go downrange to check their target.
The last time it was a few weeks before deer season, and it was really bad, some horrible behavior that day. We just got done putting 2 new tagets up and were loading our rifles, when some jerk walked down and duct taped his target over one of ours. There were a few rather racist individuals there, and a few people of color which were treated pretty badly by them.
Since then we have only shot at the club a few of us belong to. Much better people, so friendly, not one rude individual within a mile.
I also noticed that you get treated differently (sometimes a bit rude)by the individuals with more traditional firearms than those who also have assault style weapons (they seem to be friendlier, and more inclined to hold a conversation with you) when you show up at a public range with such weapons.
Personally I dont see why anyone should act the way some of them do in any public place for all to enjoy.

 

[MCMXI]

I'm shocked to hear that such awful ranges exist but these posts make me appreciate my local range even more. It's a state run shooting complex with handgun, rifle, sillouhette, trap, CAS, IPSC, USPSA etc. Safety is the number one focus at the complex and my only complaint is that the rifle range has a maximum distance of 200 yards for paper targets. Other than that it's free and open five days a week including Saturdays and Sundays. I've been going there for over 10 years and have never had any trouble, witnessed any trouble or heard any horror stories. The only "accident" that I know of was a tourist who committed suicide with a handgun that he had borrowed (asked if he could have a go) from a friendly shooter at the pistol range.

As for shooting when others are enjoying themselves all around you ... well it can be annoying but think of it as training. The majority of shooters on the rifle range seem to be shooting AR type firearms (probably 80% at least) and some of them are really loud but that's all part of the challenge.

 

[mauiglide]

The only public range I go to is almost always crowded. I get there early to ge a good slot to shoot from but I bring my own shooting table. The range is highly monitored by several range officers so any safety issues is taken care off almost immediately. I am not bothered too much by others next to me that are shooting unless they are shooting large rifle calibers (7mm mag or .50 BMG ) or using obnoxious muzzle brakes:banghead:. If they do, I just wait until they are done as they don't usually shoot a whole lot and then I shoot.

 

[LKB3rd]

I shoot at an indoor range that is frequently crowded, and I often still flinch at the first shot I hear after I enter the range. I look at that as a good thing, as I'd prefer to keep my instinctive reaction to a gunshot 10 feet away being "duck and cover" lol.
Anyway, I have thought about what you are talking about, and as others have said, if you do it enough, you will improve your focus, and it won't bother you so much, if at all.
Now, if you have safety concerns, then I'd go with leaving when it gets crowded, and going "off hours" when you know it will be slow.

 

[jhansman]

My local range is public and outdoors, and I shoot there exclusively because the only other option is indoor, which I dislike. I get to the range when it opens to beat the sleep-in crowd and get the lane I like. When it gets busy, I stop shooting and just hang out an talk, watch, scrounge brass or whatever. I just like it there.

 

[Avenger]

The RO at my local public range tries to encourage the high-power shooters to use the end tables. He also keeps plenty of cardboard sheet around, not just for backers, but to tape to the side of the table as a brass-catcher!

Make sure to co-ordinate with the other shooters for downrange trips. Every 20 minutes or so seems to be the way to go, that gives 5 minutes to set-up targets or change paper, and then 15 minutes of shooting before the next downrange. BTW always go check your target, you might have a stand or box about to fall over the next time a round hits it....which is annoying.

 

[db_tanker]

it helps a whole lot when you used to work part-time at a very busy public range.

Worked at the American Shooting Center in Houston for about 8 months, including that magical time right before deer season when people come around and grab 25 sand-bags and make up a very respectable prepared fire position. He was fun to deal with, that one. But with all the shooting, any flinch you might have will be gone after a few busy weekends. Of course, this might not be an option for you...so in that case I would suggest going shooting every weekend to rid yourself of this stigma.


Shoot 4 magazines and call me in the morning, aight?

 

[franconialocal]

Public Ranges?????

People?????

Crowds??????:banghead:

Ahhhh.....life in the north country.

 

[panrobercik]

My worst time at the range was when I had a guy shooting an AR on the table to the left and a left handed bolt action to the right. The shells hitting me in the head were the least bother. Worst thing were the ones falling under my shirt. I always unload my bolt actions slowly , so the shells are not flying all over the place and if I shoot semi-auto I put a piece of cardboard as a deflector. Respect an be respected.

 

[hghpwr308]

It takes practice - blocking out everything and focusing on the shot.

I wonder if marriage counts for practice in this arena?

I shot a lot of high-power service rifle in the Seattle area years ago. Plenty of hot brass has bounced of my head neck and back. Some even finding its way under the collar of my shooting coat and onto my neck, ouch. It takes getting used to but rest assured you do get used to it.

 

[benEzra]

Fatigue can also be a factor, if you'd been centerfire shooting for an hour before they showed up.

Were you wearing both plugs and muffs? GOOD foam plugs under good-fitting muffs go a long way toward curing noise problems.

 

[Mike U.]

+1, benEzra!

 

[Claude Clay]

the private club i frequent most hosts local high school rifle clubs. 22lr with all the dressing and they share the range with whoever is there. the regular coach enjoys us shooting says it teaches the kids to focus --to better themselves regardless of distractions.
if you want the peace of the dead--play golf.

 

[theotherwaldo]

The ones that are actually putting lead downrange don't bother me. It's the ones that are wandering around, waving loaded guns and sweeping everybody, handing guns to their kids and then letting them run, and generally acting like idiots.

 

[expvideo]

Sounds like good practice. If a crowd is all it takes to make you feel under pressure, use that to practice firing under pressure. There is never such a thing as bad shooting conditions. Only training opportunities.

 

[WardenWolf]

It depends largely on how good your ear cans are and whether or not you get stationed near someone shooting a heavily concussive gun. Most guns just produce a loud blast, but a few produce a concussion hard enough for you to actually feel. Those are the ones that bother me, because even with good ear cans I can still feel it.

I still remember when I walked into an indoor range and uncased my PSL. The people around me were like, "Oh no." "KABOOM!", and a huge blast of smoke every time I fired. I didn't stay long, though. I was mostly just function testing my new toy before I got out to the main outdoor range.

 

[moooose102]

it has been a while since i have been to a range. but i dont like it when there is more that 3 or 4 other people there either. once it iget to atound 10, i pack it up and leave. fortuneatly for me, i now go to the woods almost exclusively, and 99.9% of the time, i have the spot all to myself.

 

[mcdonl]

Life in the North East. Right on Franconia... I live about 3 minutes from a massive series of sandpits owned by the DOD for drills, and there are several ranges. When I am there, if someone else comes we either share the range, or the last person there moves onto the next range down the line.

Country life... good life...

Leroy

 

[natecade1]

when there are other people at the range I shoot paper target only in a seated position of course. like I would every other time...