Range Etiquette: Magnums versus Shell-Shuckers

[WebHobbit]

I shot my shiny new .44 Magnum Ruger Bisley at an indoor range not too long ago. I fired about 70 rounds of Federal American Eagle 240 grain Magnums. I was pretty pleased with the gun and my first time shooting it.

One of my buddies (THR's Glocksman) who came along complained to me later about the "awful blast" from my magnum. He actually suggests that when using an indoor range one should really limit the ammo to ".44 special only". Yeah right!

He said it was annoying and distracting shooting in the lane next to me.



He went on about how he could not only hear the boom but could "feel the force from the blast, every time I fired".



Boo-Frigging Hoo!

I told him that was only because he was so used to his wimpy Glock 19's wee little report.

Then he threw this in:

"The guy on the other side of your lane was also complaining about your Magnum. He said it was annoying and distracting to him and his shooting too."

You know what? All that brass flying over into my lane from his Glock and the assorted .45 ACP and rifle brass coming from the other complainer was annoying as all hell to me too but I didn't complain as I take that as one of the draw backs to an indoor range. I mean you didn't rent the whole range, just ONE LANE. If the guy next to you wants to fire a bazooka then that's between him and the range owner!

Magnum blast and noise may be annoying but hot brass down the shirt is downright painful but you don't hear me crying about it!

So lets make it a poll question. What's more annoying brass flying into your lane or a Magnum shooter next door?

 

[.45FMJoe]

definately the brass. Besides, get used to the loud bangs...if you are in a gunfight, guess what you are gonna hear?

 

[Darrin]

Only the first magnum fired is the one that sucks. By then, however, I'll be expecting the handcannon and use that and part of my target practice. However, hot brass can leave a mark. (Right, bowlcut? )

He went on about how he could not only hear the boom but could "feel the force from the blast, every time I fired".

A co-worker and I were at an outdoor range shooting rifles at 100 yds. Me and my .22lr, he with his 7mm mag Rem700. He's on the table using a bi-pod and I'm on the ground on the opposite side of the table. Before I could get a shot off, I heard a BOOM and felt the shockwave go through my whole body. Slightly stunned, I stood up, grabbed my rifle, and just walked to the other end of the range, and started to shoot my now very very very quiet .22.

 

[355sigfan]

definately the brass. Besides, get used to the loud bangs...if you are in a gunfight, guess what you are gonna hear?
END

Actually you will not hear much of anything in gunfights audatory exclusion takes hold and most can't hear much of anything other than slight pops.
PAT

 

[GitSome45]

Took buddies new Ruger .454 Cassull to the range, loaded it up with full power .454 loads, quietly peeked around wall at everyone going "pop, pop pop" with their 9mm`s ...

BOOM...BOOM...BOOM...

Looked around wall again...

(Everybody was looking , but with the SAME look on their faces...HORROR)

Some left, but one guy asked me what I was shooting, and I told him, and even let him shoot a few rounds through it....

Moral of story... I paid just as much as the next guy for my membership... I shot a BIG gun...Some chose to take offense and leave, but others showed tolerance/ interest, and actually were able to experience the weapon for themselves...they benefitted.

In the Chinese Language, the Symbol for "CRISIS" and "OPPORTUNITY" is the same symbol...

How do YOU view the world and what goes on in it...?

JMHO,

Howard

 

[high_caliber]

Just wait till someone with a 50 cal pulls into the bench next to you. After the muzzle blast blows a few things off your bench, you'll be glad to put up with a little brass or pistol blast.

 

[Majic]

If the blast from a firearm bothers you, then you should rethink the idea of going to a gun range. It is not a quiet sport.

 

[WebHobbit]

Majic -- agreed!

 

[ACP]

I third that. You're all at a range. Deal with it. The only time I complain is when someone is violating a safety rule.

 

[J Miller]

Shooting is a loud sport...........like duh!

When I pay my admissions fee, I follow the safety rules and shoot what I have. If I am shooting magnums and / or +P loads, so what?
When I am shooting and someone starts shooting a fire breathing, pressure belching something, I just keep shooting. Sometimes I'll set back and watch.

But I can't tolerate brass bouncing off me. On that subject I think ranges should put up drop nets between all shooting positions. It wouldn't cost too much. And it would prevent some burn injuries.

 

[Sean Smith]

Other people's brass is more annoying by far. Though a .454 is pretty damn loud indoors...

 

[arinvolvo]

You should have dialed WHINE.. ONE.. ONE and told them to send the WHAAAAA mbulance.

 

[glocksman]

This indoor range only has 8 or 9 lanes, so it's small.

Just imagine that you're shooting for accuracy (why practice otherwise?) and just as you're releasing the trigger comes a *BOOM* that you not only hear over the reports from everyone else's gun on the range, but you actually feel it.

I don't know about the rest of you, but that tends to throw my aim off a little.


Now I know WebHobbit doesn't care about accuracy as he can't shoot very well anyway , but I like to see if I can improve my score a little.

Oh, and my Glock may be 'wee', but I've put thousands of rounds through it and I haven't had to send it in for repairs. Unlike some wee little poster who had to send in his carry gun after a mere 700 rounds.

 

[Shaughn Leayme]

I think that when it comes to magnums that we (universal) should evaluate exactly what kind of shooting is going on in the range and then deciding if one should start shooting, rather unfair if there are some junior league shooters there practicing with thier 22's and you are assaulting them with the blast and shockwave of magnum rounds.

That is the kind of thing that can lead to shooters giving up the sport, because they perceive it to be no fun when subjected to the blast and flash of a magnum shooter next to them.

We don't want that to happen.

Now for an auto loader, I always try to pick the lane at the far right, so as not to subject anyone to flying brass and if at a range that has insufficent lane barriers, I wear earplugs and muffs with the head band resting ont he back of my neck and a stetson, instead of a baseball cap.

Keeps brass off my neck and head and out of my shirt.

Yes it is an indoor range and yes we pay to use it, but we should also be courteous as well.

I have heared of ranges that do not allow magnum rounds, because a cadre of shooters were causing a problem because they were always firing Magnum rounds and disturbing the other shooters who weren't enjoying themselves and found other places to go and shoot or possibly quit altogether.

We do not want to alienate our fellow shooters or to cause new shooters to quit because they are not having any fun.

which is more annoying? both and neither, depends what I am doing at the time and place.

 

[seeker_two]

Definitely hot brass.

Magnum BOOOM's tend to attract me to the source so that I can make some too...

 

[Sactown]

Hands down it's the fly'n brass. I double up on the ear protection when I shoot handguns. YOu have to protect your hearing.

 

[MoNsTeR]

Shooting underneath a thunderstorm of hot brass at least teaches you calm under pressure. Shooting next to a guy with a .44 just knocks your teeth out.

 

[WebHobbit]

glocksman said:

Now I know WebHobbit doesn't care about accuracy as he can't shoot very well anyway , but I like to see if I can improve my score a little.


Oh, and my Glock may be 'wee', but I've put thousands of rounds through it and I haven't had to send it in for repairs. Unlike some wee little poster who had to send in his carry gun after a mere 700 rounds.

1) It IS a bit harder to get really small groups with a handgun that ACTUALLY has some oomph.

2) Do you EVER listen to what I tell you? I sent the 640 in to get it repolished and I figured to have some action work done while it was there. The gun functioned fine and was still accurate as ever. S&W gave me a report that said the forcing-cone had some erosion and recommended I PAY them to fix it. Now all that is outlined in another thread here but I just mention it here for the sake of accuracy as I didn't send it IN FOR REPAIRS as you have stated.

 

[10-Ring]

I can pretty much block out sounds when I'm shooting. Being distracted w/ brass from my neighbor is another issue

 

[glocksman]

S&W gave me a report that said the forcing-cone had some erosion and recommended I PAY them to fix it. Now all that is outlined in another thread here but I just mention it here for the sake of accuracy as I didn't send it IN FOR REPAIRS as you have stated.

OK. I'll correct the statement to say 'gun that was found in need of repair after only 700 rounds'

Better?

 

[cool45auto]

The flying brass by far. But even that I take in stride. It's part of the sport. Use the loud reports as a training tool. See if you can still get good shots off while not being distracted.

Wear ear plugs and ear muffs.

 

[WebHobbit]

OK. I'll correct the statement to say 'gun that was found in need of repair after only 700 rounds'

Better?

Yep. Much. Changes the whole context.

 

[Tman]

I always thought of the big booms and flying brass as just a part of range life. Its not like the person in the next stall is throwing those things at you. The only problem I really have with flying brass is getting conked on the noggin with .45 brass.

 

[Hal]

(Where is that C.R Sam fella anyhow?)
To quote him:
"You can't script your next encounter"

Flying brass and loud noises are part of the *game*.

Deal with it or take up knitting or flower arrangement. I can guarentee a BG isn't going to back off because some brass may be coming in your direction, or his magnum is too loud.

 

[Majic]

Once at an outdoor range I had a fellow shooter next to me complain several times (rather loudly once) of the smoke and smell of the black powder I was shooting. Considering I was at the range and shooting before he arrived and for the better part of the hour he was there he was constantly retrieving brass from around my feet and off my bench, I found it rather ironic. Some people must have it their way or no way. It is a shame they have to live on this world with the rest of us.