Your most embarrassing moment at the range?

[fantacmet]

Just the other day. My cousin wanted to go shooting, but I had no $$ for gas and ammo he said he'd pay for it all since they would be my guns. Ok kewl. He hands me the money the day before. I head over pick up the ammo and the next day we go out to the range(rock quarry at a campground/4x4 park). He's been itching to shoot my shotgun for some time. I show off my nice Benelli shotgun to everyone who is all wow with it and wants to see it in action. I try to load itup and think wait a sec, these shells aren't staying, *** is wrong with my shotgun. DOH SOB nothing wrong with the shotgun, it's operator error. I was too edgy about finally going out with all my guns instead of just one or the other to go shooting, and wasn't paying attention. Bought several boxes of 20GA shells for a 12GA shotgun. DAMMIT

Rev. Michael

 

[DevLcL]

Thats funny... While I was buying ammo a couple weeks back I bought an entire case of 20ga. which was also supposed to be for my 12ga. LOL

 

[RevDisk]

So there I was, thinking I was hot stuff. I was pretty good with the G36, my 200m grouping looked like my 16's grouping at 50m. I was a freakin natural with the P8 (Bundeswehr version of the H&K USP), I was shooting the zip ties off the targets. Ha! Showing the Germans how an American shoots!

Since I speak a bit of German, I got to small talking and bragging with the Germans. They all nod sagely. Finally, the German Sergeant Major smiles and asks how well I shoot during distracting surroundings. I naturally brush it off and joke around. He continues smiling and walks off. This should have been my warning to run for the hills.

So anyways, it's the final event. The MG3, which is basically the same thing as an MG42. It has an insanely high cyclic rate, and you only have 15 rds to qual with. You have to hit a number of different targets, all blended in with their surroundings. I get in position and wait for the instructor, guy named Karl. And wait. And wait. Then I hear a beautiful voice that is as un-Karl as possible. I glance over, and the most beautiful woman in the world (I had been deployed for maybe 7 months at that point, bear with me) with the most wonderful accent starts explaining how to use the same basic machinegun that killed more than a few of my countrymen back during WWII.

Thankfully, the freakin MG3 is easy to operate, because I didn't catch a single bit of information she said. Ok, zen moment... Zen moment. Ignore the very nice hands guiding the loading of the machine gun. Ignore the very nice perfume... ZEN, DAMNIT, ZEN!

After taking a small break, I aim carefully, and let loose a short burst. Then something whacks me in the back of the kevlar, pushing my face into the shooting mat. Something moves onto my back, and wiggles around doing something to the MG3. Gods know what. After an eternity, she climbs off, taps my k-pot, smiles, and says "Ok to shoot!"

...

No, Fraulein, I ain't.

DIRTY SNEAKY GERMANS! EVIL, EVIL GERMANS! My grandfather warned me about 'em, but NOOO, they have to take their revenge out on me! Geesh, you'd have thought we bombed their country into the Stone Age or something.

Zen concentration? Yea, that was out the window.

After a long moment, I ready the M3 and somehow managed to eek out a passing score. I'm surprised I hit a single target. After I fire the last round, I walked off the range and chained smoked half a pack.

Still have the award, paperwork, score booklet and sarcastic note written in German in my book of citations. As a reminder to never, never underestimate the sneakiness of one's former enemies.

Edit : Award. Spanish MG3, no one got a photo of me firing with the Germans. Probably laughing too hard. Grrrrr

 

[evan price]

So there I was at the outdoor range at the state park a mile or two from my house. The range for rifles is set up with a wooden bench with 4x4 legs holding sections of guardrail overhead like a sort of roof or sun block, really. This is actual highway guardrail.
I was ready to try out the Chinese SKS I had picked up at the gun show a week or so ago; the damn thing had so much Cosmoline packed inside it that I almost considered boiling it in a pot in the backyard. The sh*t was everywhere. I thought I had it pretty clean.....
Set targets. Loaded weapon. Was holding it with left hand and working the action with right. Chambered the first round and let the handle snap forward...

POPPOPPOPPOPPOPPOPPOPPOPPOPPOP!

Slamfire, full auto, the whole ten rounds. I was not expecting it and the rifle proceeds to counterrotate upwards on the recoil. After the incident I made sure the rifle was clear and set it down for a breather... then I saw the line of three neat little 7.62mm holes running through the guard rail sections over my position-!

Well the ranger came over wanting to know what the hell I was doing, I at the time wasn't aware of the slamfire issues and the importance of cleaning the firing pin and channel very squeeky clean. Red in face but feeling lucky that nothing happened, like I dropped the rifle or something equally catastrophic...

At least it was a learning experience. I took that rifle down and got every drop of Cosmo off of it. Took an entire afternoon.

 

[Kodiaz]

Oh you guys are gonna give me a deserved roasting.


I went to a private range and a put on my holster. With the gun in it!

Well needless to say the holster wound up rolling over. So there I was looking at the big whole in the front end of my .45.


Stupid stupid stupid.

 

[mattcat]

I had just gotten my 1911 (knockoff) and a progressive press to load for it, I went to my cousins place and showed it to him and then headed to the gravel pit next door (where we can shoot) my very first round had no powder in it so here I come back looking for a way to get a stuck bullet out of the barrol
he got a good chuckle and I retired the progressive press
now I make sure I have something with me to get a bullet out of the barrol, at least untell I finish off that batch of ammo

 

[tegemu]

Rev Disk, we really don't care whether or not anyone got pix of you, we all see ugly guys all the time (especially when we look out the window over the sink in our bathrooms) the really valuable pix would be of the range Mistress.

 

[sacp81170a]

(quarter-sized and right on center at 25yds, pie plate sized and 6" high at 100yds with my AR).

Kharn: If you zeroed with the long range sight on your AR at 25 meters, you're battle zeroed out to 350. When you go to 0-200 meters, flip up the short range sight and you'll be a lot closer to center than 6". Long range sight puts you on at 250-350. Common mistake, but you shouldn't be 6" high at 100 yds with a 5.56.

My most embarassing moment was during a defensive pistol class with a CZ 40. Nice gun, but to reholster without putting it on safe, you have to decock. No decocking lever, so ya gotta pull the trigger and ease the hammer forward. We were shooting a double tap drill and of course, I was trying to decock when "BOOM". Luckily, I was observing Rule #1, so the bullet went into the dirt about 3 yards in front of me. Everyone on the line turned and gave me "the look". I couldn't shrink down small enough.

 

[moredes]

A brother-in-law like a mother-in-law....

I've got two brother-in-laws; just in case the other one ever reads this, I'm not talking about my TN relative.

If anyone can top this, I'd be pleased to read about it, just to know that I don't have the only galactically pompous brother-in-law.You've all worked with the type before--ain't nothin' he don't know; whatever you can do, he can do better in his sleep.

Years ago, after much cajoling I relented and joined my brother-in-law on an excursion to the local indoor range. He'd been after me for a couple years to join him shooting so I could witness his prowess after he found out from my wife that I had an "interest" (he doesn't know that I am a rangemaster at the time). We're at their house and he has a brainstorm--we've got 2 hours to kill before the kids come home.. let's abandon the wives and hit the range about 10 minutes away. My wife thinks it's a great idea ; I'm thrilled . With no legitimate objections or excuses left, I'm trapped into the session he's been dying for--to take me out to the range and show me "what he can do".

We get to the range and the only two open stalls are the middle two. We set up, and start shooting--mind you, we're sharing one gun in two stalls--my brother-in-law has been able to weasel this from the rangemaster by convincing him to allow us to pay for both stalls. Maximum distance is 25 yards, I'm set up at ~20yd, my brother-in-law's out at ~12yd. I punch a few through, and hand the open gun to him across the divider without violating the 180 rule. He proceeds to load and cut loose. With two hands, he looks like Dirty Harry with his one-handed S&W 29. BOOM! he lets the gun ride up; slowly he drops the front sight (I assumed) down onto the target and snaps another off. He shoots all 7 off and looks just like Clint, but worse; he looks like it's a 500 S&W one-handed, instead of two. I am mortified; I know he hasn't hit @$#% . I notice that a couple of the other shooters have stopped and are watching him curiously; I'm watching him cautiously,too. He never really violates any range rule, and for that I am grateful. It's embarrassing enough to have other neophytes singling us out.

We pull the targets in; I am pleased to have about a 4" group (no big feat, I know, but I was happy). Without looking at my target, he smiles proudly and says,"well look at that--all on paper. Whaddya think?"
Shee-yit. I'm ready to go. I said, "I only count five."
"Yeah, but I was shooting faster than you".
I'm still concerned that his gun-handling is borderline, so I stay and watch through 3 more magazines. But aside from riding the recoil, he's not violating any rules. I can't stand it no more; I need a break. I go out for a smoke, and the rangemaster says, rightfully, "If your friend:banghead: can't stay on paper, he's gonna havta stop."
Not in a belligerent way, I said something like 'I didn't know missing the target was grounds for expulsion--I'm not arguing with you here--he's terrible."
"Yeah. He's shooting my steel target holders."
"oh." small 'O', small 'H'. I feel this big-> =. "Okay. I'll be pleased to lock down on him." Just as I turn from the counter to go back in, we hear a gunshot and then an awful racket in the following silence. Some azzbite has blown out the flourescent lights above his stall--(everyone, all together, point to the "perp"). The metal housing is swinging like a pendulum, hanging from one chain. I'm just barely contented to be out at the range office and not standing right next to him with a sheepish look on my face that says to everyone, "yup, we did it". Hell, my brother-in-law wasn't even phased. I was really embarrassed and wanted to yank my brother-in-law from the line. I started in; finally, I've got cause to chew his butt about safety and gun-handling.

I didn't have to. The rangemaster is irate. Over the PA system he says, "YOU!! WITH THE SHOTGUN LLAMA! STOP!! CEASE FIRE ON THE RANGE!! Number 7, stand down, I said!!! Pack your @#!$% up, and join your friend:banghead: out here! Your finished!!"

I couldn't crawl outta there fast enough. The @#$%^ of it was, I had to ride back to his house, enduring 10 minutes of blather about why he couln't understand why his gun failed him. :banghead:

The only good thing to come of this, was, he never ever asked me to join him shooting or even mentioned guns again-- for that, I be's smilin', man... I guess god grants the small favors.

 

[Pork Fat]

It would have to be the time I first took my Century Arms FAL-shaped object to the range. Lacking the proper tool, I use a large slotted screw clamped in my Gerber pliers to screw the front sight down. I was attempting to remedy the very low point of impact that was shredding the crosspiece on my target stand.

Shooting that low wasn't so embarrassing, the only other shooters were engrossed with a new Ruger PC40. OK, adjusting front sight- screw in, lower sight, raise POI. Good theory, but I missed the set screw that has to be backed out first. Wrung that mother off like it was cheese.

Now my budget battle rifle has less front sight than an H&R Topper. All of a sudden, the PC40 guys are asking about my rifle. While I am mumbling explanations of my bonehead move, trucks are pulling in, guys getting out, "Hey, whatcha got there?". I put the rifle in the case in unsociable haste.

My best days at the range are always unwitnessed. My worst days are people magnets. When I got my new sight and adjustment tool, nobody was there to see.

 

[Steve 48]

Mine was when I dropped my gun at an Action Pistol match and got disqualified. Steve 48

 

[HCfan]

I was outshot by a 8 year old girl using my 9mm

 

[bdutton]

Thrice I got burned by my own bad handloads:

1. At the national championships at camp perry, my 50 yard pistol (.45) load was too hot and probably had been doubled. The gun made a very loud bang and blew out the magazine. The brass blew out the bottom and some of the brass fragments struck the shooter to my right. He was ok. I continued on and actualyl shot well. My sights were off by 4 clicks to the left.

2. At the NH state championships I lent a gun and handloaded hardball (.45) ammo to a friend to shoot the leg match. On the 4th shot it blew. Must have been another double load. The right grip split in half and the 5th round in the magazine ignited and blew out the megazine. The shooter had black soot marks from the exploding rounds on his hands.

3. I had a squib load on my .45. Didn't realize it and folowed with another round. Bulged my barrel. This happened less than a week from a match. Got the gun fixed in time and ended up winning that match and tied a high score on a slow fire target (99-3x) with the .45.

 

[XDKingslayer]

I was in the Marines at the Camp Lejeune Known Distance course, range Delta. Probably the worst firing line in the Corps simply because of the way the wind comes off the water. Usually the range flags are blowing in three different directions and windage instructions from the R.O. is usually "you guys are on your own..."

Well I had always shot high expert and was shooting stupid good all week long. I was bragging Thursday morning that the range record was falling today. Well, they saw it as bragging but I was confident I could break it.

The R.O. even decided to put the pressure on and said the Marine on target 21 has announced he will break the range record today.

I shot the worst day of my life. I was chasing my sights all over the place. Adjusting this, adjusting that. The damn rifle just wouldn't get on target...

I actually didn't qualify. I was 2 points shy of qualifying. I'm a damn 4th award expert and I didn't even qualify. Everyone was laughing at me. The R.O. in the booth made sure to announce that not only did I NOT break the record, that I also failed to even qualify.

After everyone got their jabs in my buddy comes up. He hands me his rifle, takes mine away from me and says. "Here's your rifle back..."

I spent the next day with the rest of the unqualifieds reshooting my usual high expert.

 

[BozemanMT]

XDKingslayer, that's the funniest thing I"ve read in days.
I can totally visualize that.
WTH is wrong here?

Too funny

 

[bdutton]

After everyone got their jabs in my buddy comes up. He hands me his rifle, takes mine away from me and says. "Here's your rifle back..."

Bwahhhhahahaha

Man that is priceless. Sorry you missed the opportunity to break the range record but that is some seriously funny stuff.

 

[rchernandez]

During a Bullseye match, experienced a stovepipe during timed fire,

Refire for the alibi, all by myself,

...ready on the right...<<<BANG>>>

...the rest of the line had such a hard time controlling their snickers and burst into laughter just after I completed the string...

 

[KaceCoyote]

Me: Oh yeah man this an AK, it can never jam! I mean dude its like a monster. Like a Russian Godzilla, made out've steel. When AK comes to town everyone screams "Godzilla" and runs man...

Friendude whatever just shoot..

I proceeded to get the magazine in just barely enough to stay, drop the bolt and...-click-...jam...

 

[Dr.Rob]

I took my boss out to sight in our hunting rifles a few years back... we was a really type A guy with low patience and a borrowed Husqvarna rifle looking to try out elk hunting.

We got his rifle zeroed in at 100 yards and I was showing off with my Savage 110, popping bowling pins at 300 yards from a sling position.. nailed 4 in a row (after shooting a sub 2 inch 200yard group off the bench) when suddenly I started missing. And I mean MISSING. Shots scattered all over to high heck... I checked and re-checked, nothing was moving, the rifle would shoot right then left then up then down.

My type A boss thought it was pretty funny. He figured I was flinching.

It wasn't until I got home that I found out I had shot my front scope mount loose... the movement was barely perceptable but definitely there.

I replaced my bases with a 1 piece Burris locking front ring and have never had a malf. like that again.

First Hi-power CMP rifle match ever... could not MAKE my 1903A3 get any consistant accuracy. Chucked cheap Russian ammo, tried hand loaded swear-by 'em hunting loads, no difference. Thing is at the 200 yard range with buckhorns and a 30-30 I could have eaten that target's 10 ring alive. Still don't know if it's the rifle or me... I don't like hole and post 'open' sights... never have. Shot the match for score... didn't pick up score to qualify for CMP purchase doh!

 

[esheato]

Well, there was that one time I went to an IDPA match.......



...without my pistol.



Ed

 

[Old NFO]

Went to the range, laid everything out nice and neat, geared up, pulled out the pistol, pulled out the magazines, WENT to pull out the ammo.... oops... forgot the ammo....

 

[c_yeager]

I have a local range that has a pretty aggressive ventilation system. I used to print up my own targets on printer paper. The problem was that the ventilation would blow them around on the carrier. I solved this problem by attaching one of those large black paperclip/clamp things to the bottom to add some weight. Bear in mind that this clip is attached way at the bottom of the target, about 3 inches below the widest ring. Well on one day of particularly crappy shooting at a full range I actually managed to hit that little aluminum clip with a .357 maggie out of my 686. The clip got sent skittering down range with an amazingly loud *TWACK* and it seemed that pieces of it kept landing for the next 5 minutes. Of course this happened during one of those rare moments on a full range when NOONE else happens to be firing at that exact time.

I looked around as if to see who had commited such a horribly embarrasing act only to find the entire range membership looking at me with barely supressed smirks. I hung my head and called for a ceasefire to clean up the mess and promply packed up and went home.

 

[MS .45]

Me and a buddy were shooting at an indoor range. We both stepped back from the line to take a break. Since we were the only ones in the range I took off my eye and ear protection. He left to go to the restroom and I stepped back up to the line, chambered a round and BAAM! It was so loud, honestly my first thought was that my gun had exploded. I stood there with a stupid look on my face staring at my gun for a second before noticing that I had no ear protection on.:banghead: So, I had fired my .45 indoors right next to a cinder-block wall with no ears on. Ouch. Luckily my stupidity was only shared with myself.

 

[rcellis]

Not at the range, but at the gun store. Was talking with one of the sales guys about the rifling in the barrel and he was standing behind me. I had the action open on a CW9, no magazine, and my thumb well into it to sight down the barrel against my thumbnail when he said he thought the barrel was a match version - without thinking I moved the barrel toward him to show him (over my shoulder) and realized my mistake - but he was already bobbing and weaving to avoid having it pointed at him.

Doubt that I got close to actually pointing it at him, but the memory is well burned in.

 

[ArmedBear]

Playing clay games a week ago after trap league. During a chip shoot, I didn't fire the gun but forgot I'd loaded it, and thought I'd cleared the action. I hadn't.

I racked the gun on vertical racks next to the trap range, loaded and cocked. Break-action trap guns do not have safeties.

Someone I know saw me do it, fortunately, and said I should look in the chamber...

Embarrassing, but I'm a LOT more glad no one was hurt than I am embarrassed.

And I can honestly say that won't happen again. I have adjusted my habits accordingly.

And that is why I DO practice the rule: "Treat every gun as if it is loaded, even if it isn't."