What's the worst shooting you're ever seen at the range?

[TwoEyedJack]

I was at a local range where I am a member last summer. Two older gentleman and an older lady show up and ask if they can set up. I figure they are there to set up for some kind of event because they pull this massive contraption out of the back of a pickup and take 20 minutes setting it up. It looked like a swing set. Then I asked them if it was for some kind of event, and they said no, it was just for them. They have it maybe 10 yards away, put a target on it, and then we can go back to shooting.

One of them is obviously the "expert" teaching his friend how to shoot, and the woman is the student's wife. The Student has a new pistol, I think a Springfield XD in .40 and it is obvious he has never fired a pistol before. The Expert tells him to place his off thumb over the top of the strong hand. Student does so, and promptly gets cut by the slide.

At this point, I can't help but intervene. I point out the blood running down his thumb and offer some helpful advice and show him how to keep the off thumb down parallel to the strong thumb and avoid further injury. Expert looks on with fascination. Luckily they had the basics of safety down.

 

[cheygriz]

One question begs for an answer. Obviously, I can't read another poster's mind, but this is that I think he meant.

If you're shooting at a silhouette at SEVEN YARDS with an AR-15, you are practicing quick reaction,rapid fire, defensive shooting.

You should be able to look OVER the sights, not through them, and get off two or three rounds per second, with all rounds hitting center of mass. This is quick and dirty, defensive shooting, and group size is totally meaningless as long as you hit COM.

This doesn't even require skill, just concentration and practice.

 

[george burns]

I find that most people are average at shooting like everything else. But the difference is that shooting actually takes some knowledge of what the heck you are supposed to do , before doing it.
With that in mind, I have watched some of the silliest things imaginable and wondered how these people got through life thus far? The most common one I see is the 1 shot willie, who spends 5 minutes getting his unmarked treasured pistol out of whatever wooden box he was sold to keep it in.Then he begins his loading process and finally he fires a shot, usually he misses the whole target, paper and all. But he stops and looks to see where every bullet goes, never firing more than 1 at a time.
He then saves the target because he managed to catch a corner, after hitting the clip that holds the target on the line.
He packs up all of his gear and leaves, he never shoots more than a few magazines, "that box has to last", and he's back again the following week same day same time same 20 or less rounds.
Or Quick Draw McGraw, who pulls out this gun from concealment, and empties 10-15 rounds as fast as he can pull the trigger into a target 2 to 10 feet away. This guy spends more time reloading his 1 magazine than he does shooting by 10 fold.
Then there is the teacher of the large breasted buzzard. He insists on putting his arms around her and holding the gun, "I guess it's very heavy", she usually sweeps everyone several times while talking to him, and smiling. This is usually a precursor to the bar down the block. Hell guys the normal people are no fun to watch.
I try to figure out what the guy does for a living before actually asking him nicely. they are usually social types who enjoy anyone taking an interest in them and you can sometimes get stuck "helping" them if not very careful.
I guess the important thing is that they showed up, and are taking it seriously, even though they really should take a lesson.

 

[rugerman]

I was at a range when a young guy and I guess his girl friend showed up with a ar-15 and a huge box with a hand drawn human body on it. He set it up at about 12 yards (half way to the 25yard market) and emptied the magazine at it in about 5 seconds and he hit the box about 3 times. Girl was impressed! He reloaded the mag, repeat of same. But this time I had my 22 ready, I shot a smiley face on his target while he blasted away. He was now out of ammo, went down range to get his target, came running back to show his girl his great shooting. He told her that was what he was trying to do. Girl was impressed.
Another time I was at range when group of guys showed up with a pistol griped shotgun, new in the box, after trying to put it together for about 10 minutes I went over and showed them how it went together. They managed to get it loaded and one of them took it held it at his waist and shot it a few times at about a 4 foot tall box, no hits. Well he figured out that he needed to aim it, this time he held it up at eye level in front of his face and before I could stop him he touched off a round. Ok 12 gauge shotgun 3 inches from his face, arms bent, the recoiling shotgun hit him square in the face, broke his nose, blood every where. He put the gun back in the box and declared that ne was going to get his money back on that defective gun.

 

[Warp]

One question begs for an answer. Obviously, I can't read another poster's mind, but this is that I think he meant.

If you're shooting at a silhouette at SEVEN YARDS with an AR-15, you are practicing quick reaction,rapid fire, defensive shooting.

You should be able to look OVER the sights, not through them, and get off two or three rounds per second, with all rounds hitting center of mass. This is quick and dirty, defensive shooting, and group size is totally meaningless as long as you hit COM.

This doesn't even require skill, just concentration and practice.

I use the sights/optics at 7 yards. I always use the sights/optics.

If I needed to shoot somebody within muzzle blast range, well, I don't think that's something I would have to have practiced at the range to pull off lol

 

[redneck2]

I used to work at a shop that had an indoor range. The number of bullet gouges in the floor, walls, and ceiling was astounding

 

[mf-dif]

Every indoor range I've been to the ceiling is riddled with bullet holes. Even the one that has the show room right above it.

 

[cheygriz]

Then there are the "cowboys" that point the weapon straight up, or even behind them, cock the hammer, and move the gun forward while pressing the trigger, as if they hoped to add a little velocity by "throwing" the bullet out of the barrel.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Why wouldn't you tell the range operator that you had paid for time and let them get the people off your lane, rather than standing there tapping your wrist?

Two reasons.
One, he was a pretty inattentive RO. After hollering at these gents he went off to work the counter and would only wander over to the range occasionally to look at the lanes. So I didn't really feel like going through the double doors to find him just to complain.

Two.
I don't really feel the need to get an authority figure involved for something like this. I can take care of telling someone they are infringing on my purchased time myself. I wasn't nasty about it, and when they realized time had gotten away from them they started cleaning up right away and gave me a thumbs up that they understood. I grabbed the brass brush and helped them clean up. No big deal.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I thought of three more.

My buddy has an old Colt Woodsman that his dad gave him. He can usually hit targets alright but his trigger control has always been terrible. He sets up a spinner target about 15 feet away and starts shooting. The thing jams constantly because he has never replaced any springs in it or cleaned it, and he apparently had drank too much coffee because he was all over the place. I look over and he moves closer. After nicking the spinners a few times he puts in a new magazine and moves closer again. At this point he is about 6 feet from the target and finally starts hitting. Once his magazine is empty he turns around to walk back to where his ammo is nodding in satisfaction.

Another buddy shoots a Beretta 92FS and rather than drawing, aiming, and squeezing the trigger in DA, he seems to think getting into SA immediately is s better tactic than mastering the trigger. Hit tends to wildly draw the gun and shoot it as fast as possible. He typically hits 2-3 feet left of the target. Then he starts aiming, and typically puts half the magazine into the dirt about 6"-2' in front of the target. I think the trigger really gives him he'll on that gun.

The third was my shooting. The very first handgun I bought was a Ruger SP101 and the first time I shot it was pretty sad. I loaded it up with
38's and at least got it on paper. Then I decided to try some 357's. Since I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, my grip was way too loose and I had my thumb cocked back in a weird way trying to keep it out of the way of my trigger finger. On the first 357 shot the cylinder release gouged my thumb and I started bleeding pretty good. I saw the bullet impact several feet behind the target. I was feeling less than good about myself after that. BUT, I wrapped up my thumb and kept shooting. I figured the gun was officially mine if it had my blood on it.

 

[roval]

Felt bad watching an older couple unpack a new 12 g pistol grip shotgun. It was obviously going to be their home defense weapon. He had her shoot it from the hip, loaded it with buckshot. One shot and the gun flew off baclwards landed on the concrete with the gun cutting her hand near theweb. It turns out he had birdsbot but started with buckshot. She couldn't shoulder the gun due to recent surgery. She at least still shot it for 2 more times with birds shot before she told her husband "that's enough of that" and sat down.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

Lets just hope these people don't have CCW licenses, lol.

 

[Candyman87]

A guy at the range I used to frequent had a Desert Eagle in .50 AE... swore up and down it was the manliest gun known to man.

He put a target out at 15 yards. He put an entire magazine through it and missed every one. He was flinching like crazy from the recoil.

Needless to say, he walked out with that same target...

...I wonder how many times he's used that same one.

 

[AKElroy]

A guy at the range I used to frequent had a Desert Eagle in .50 AE... swore up and down it was the manliest gun known to man.

He put a target out at 15 yards. He put an entire magazine through it and missed every one. He was flinching like crazy from the recoil.

Needless to say, he walked out with that same target...

...I wonder how many times he's used that same one.

A tad off topic, but a few years back I was on the 25 yard pistol range, next to me a small scout troup gathered around their "instructor", a very well dressed professional (lawyer type), unboxed a beautiful desert eagle 50ae, pulled out 5 loaded mags, locks back the slide, showing his troup how to insert a mag, drops the slide chambering a round. He sets the gun on the table, safety off, finger in the trigger guard, MUZZLE POINTING DIRECTLY AT ME. I jumped off my bench, and using my index finger rotated his muzzle down range. I didn't say a word as I didn't want to embarrass him in front of kids he was clearly volunteering time to teach. He apologized, and asked if I wanted to shoot the gun. I jumped at that chance, and exacted three mags of recompense. I just shot it to slide lock and kept grabbing another mag until he grabbed the last two off the table; I guess he probably meant a round or two. Oh well...I found the recoil of that beast to be very manageable. I'm guessing $50 in ammo for that indiscretion....(-:

 

[illinoisburt]

There has been plenty of awful shooting observed over the years. Most disappointing and somewhat disconcerting was watching a police qualification shoot at a local indoor range. Thankfully no one injured but an awful lot of bad muzzle control and downright terrible shooting. Of the dozen or so shooters only 2 made for grade on the first go around while I was there. Full size silloute at 5 yards drawing pistol and firing two magazines of ammo. They had a timer but basically slow fired. Think the pass needed 20 out of 30 on paper. One target had like 3 hits total. They did not look like rookies or desk cops.

 

[AKElroy]

There has been plenty of awful shooting observed over the years. Most disappointing and somewhat disconcerting was watching a police qualification shoot at a local indoor range. Thankfully no one injured but an awful lot of bad muzzle control and downright terrible shooting. Of the dozen or so shooters only 2 made for grade on the first go around while I was there. Full size silloute at 5 yards drawing pistol and firing two magazines of ammo. They had a timer but basically slow fired. Think the pass needed 20 out of 30 on paper. One target had like 3 hits total. They did not look like rookies or desk cops.

Yep, and 43% of this country support a candidate that believes these folks should be the only ones allowed to have guns. I feel safer already....

 

[swede4198]

In the '90 civilians could use the indoor range at Wright-Patterson AFB. I went into a stall next to two young guys (LTs?) that were shooting M9 style pistols at a B-27 target at about 15 yards. They would alternate shooting and after four mags each the target looked like they used a shotgun on it. The safest spot was right in the middle where there were almost no hits. These two guys kept looking at me as I put all of my shots in a four inch group using a Ruger Speed Six with a 2 3/4 barrel at the same distance. I hope they never had to use their M9s for real or got much more training.

I learned to shoot at 13 at the Great Lakes Navy Base indoor range that was built for WW II. It was a huge hanger like building were a full training company could shoot at one time. I remember being amazed at all the bullet holes in the wood trusses from all the 1911s that had been shot in there for 25 years. Some looked like Swiss cheese. It did help to reinforce the rule about keeping your finger off the trigger.

 

[rlj174]

wasn't necessarily shooting related however a guy last night, 1 lane over grabbed my attention as I was about to leave the indoor range and asked if I knew how to load the magazine into the automatic rifle he had. I summoned over the range attendant and said "this guy has a question for you"..........

 

[Warp]

Lets just hope these people don't have CCW licenses, lol.

Well...here's the thing.

A hell of a lot of people who can legally carry don't have to get a license (the way it should be) or at least don't have to take a class or pass a shooting test.

The vast majority of defensive gun uses do not involve shots being fired.

Lawful carriers accidentally shooting innocent bystanders, while using lethal force to justifiably defend themselves, isn't really a problem that we have in this country. As it happens, there tend to not be a lot of innocents standing around by or behind the attacker(s).

Besides, the long running average for law enforcement officer involved shootings and private citizens firing in self defense is an 18-20% hit rate. So, typically, about 80% of shots fired miss their target...even for people who are trained and tested and can pass requirements.


Soooo I wouldn't worry much about it.

 

[JohnKSa]

I wouldn't swear that this is the worst I've seen, but here's the one that sticks in my mind.

This took place in an indoor range. A couple of lanes down, someone was shooting a handgun equipped with a laser sight at a distance of maybe 5 yards. Maybe less, but no more than 5 yards. The target was a full-sized human silhouette.

I noticed the laser dot moving on the target and it was moving a lot. So I watched for awhile. The dot would dance around in an area maybe a foot across which was more or less centered on the target's scoring area. Then right before the gun went off, the dot would dive a few feet down and a hole would appear somewhere near the bottom of the target. A lot of the shots weren't hitting the scoring portion of the target at all.

 

[Jesse H]

Anyone that has to get closer than 25 yds to practice with a handgun (buy a shotgun).

It's fun shooting a pistol past 25 yards, but I'd argue 7-15 yards is a more practical training distance for pistol.

 

[Warp]

1. A high power rifle fired at a 100 yd target, while a person was there, changing targets. 2. Hole in ceiling of the indoor range. 3. A guy fliched so bad, bullet hit 25 yards in front of the 100 yd target, shooting bench rest. 4. A guy bounced a 45acp bullet off the side wall of the indoor range (Clark custom long slide jammed). 5. Anyone that has to get closer than 25 yds to practice with a handgun (buy a shotgun). 6. Old guy sighting in scoped slug gun at 50 yds. One would hit the target, next would not be on target anywhere. This happened over and over. After a close inspection of the target, ammo was mixed, bird shot & slugs.

uhh....what?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

uhh....what?

Uh, yeah I didn't get that either. Lots of practical practice distances with a handgun.

But that's off topic.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

As far as rate of fire goes, when I'm shooting my .308 for groups, it can easily be one shot every 4 or 5 seconds.

With my AR at 50 yards, I've mastered that thing. I can unload a 30 round magazine into a 4" circle pretty damn fast.

Lately I've been shooting my pistols at about 27 yards, which is fun and challenging. Its a slower rate of fire, because it requires alot more concentration.

 

[lpsharp88]

I've seen plenty of bad shooting at the range, but I'll just make fun of myself here, two stories:
First, my first stage of my first IDPA match. It involved a popper. I had a complete brain dump, and instead of shooting the popper, I repeatedly shot a piece of steel that was in front of the popper. I'm talking 3-4 times, before it clicked with me and the RSO that I was shooting the wrong thing. I felt like a complete idiot, not gonna lie.
Second, I was shooting a tactical match at an indoor range near my former work. The stage involved a mechanical popper (I must have some issues with poppers), and there was a metal shield that protected the mechanism of the popper that was set with an upward angle. Well, when it came time to engage the popper, I anticipated the recoil and made my muzzle dive a little bit before the shot broke. So, the round hit the slanted piece of metal, and went straight up to the ceiling, and shattered a fluorescent light bulb, sending glass flying everywhere. That made my night $15 more expensive. I also came out of it with a new nickname, Mr. Lowlight.