Interesting experience at the range tonight

I hadn't been to the range in a few weeks so I opted to go plinking for a bit tonight. I was in the last stall on the pistol side and I had just finished off a 100 pack of Wally World Winchesters. As I emptied my first mag of the new box I felt my pocket vibrating and heard a squealing sound through my ear muffs. I ejected my now empty mag and put down my M&P and grabbed my keys out of my pocket.

I looked at my pager remote and it's flashing/vibrating/sounding. At first I thought the concussions from the range must have set off the shock sensor. The car was parked less than ten feet from the outside of the range wall.

I focus on the screen expecting it to say "Shock sensor" but instead it says "Door open". What???!!! door open?

The possibilities quickly run through my mind and I think "no one would be stupid enough to break into a car parked at a gun range. Would they?"

I look down at my M&P, both the mags are empty... what do I do??? (I had a serious oh crap moment).

I holster my gun and grab a handful of bullets and start loading a mag as I make my way out of the range. Two range guys see me and ask "is that your car?" as one follows me out the front door (armed).

I get outside and see my car lights flashing like a Christmas tree but no one around (By this point I had 6 rounds in the mag and the gun was locked and loaded, but reholstered).

We survey the car, no damage, doors locked, glass not broken.

I still don't know what the hell happened, the alarm is less than a month old and it's never flaked out on me like that before.

But I learned a VERY valuable lesson tonight. Always keep an extra mag loaded at the range. You never know when you might need it.

I always keep an extra mag loaded for the gun I am firing, and I keep at least one of my other guns on my person, locked and loaded. Glad to see that nothing apparently happened, and this is just a learning experience without too much pain.

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Originally Posted by LunarEclipse

The possibilities quickly run through my mind and I think "no one would be stupid enough to break into a car parked at a gun range. Would they?"

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I thought the same thing when somebody sliced the tires of a few friends at a local range (anti gun county in a blue state). I said what you said and my buddy replied "maybe it's somebody that doesn't like guns" I think he may just have had a point.

I always keep my loaded G30 on me when I'm at the range. Even if I don't plan on shooting it, it still comes with me. If I happen to be shooting the G30 on that given day I'll carry my G23.

After I prove a sort of hollowpoint in my carry weapon, I usually only shoot off my one carry mag at the range, and still have my two spare mags of HP on m person (if I am shooting my ccw piece).

Are you carrying normal fmj ammo in your carry weapon? If so, you might want to look into a quality hollowpoint round

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LunarEclipse

But I learned a VERY valuable lesson tonight. Always keep an extra mag loaded at the range. You never know when you might need it.

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:hand10:

There seems to be rash of people going into public indoor shooting ranges to commit suicide lately... What's to stop someone from going on a shooting spree and shooting others as well?

You never know when or where, or what circumstances you may need to defend yourself these days.

I don't use indoor ranges anymore because there aren't any close by, but I do go to Dept. of Conservation outdoor ranges. I always have one loaded gun holstered on my person, regardless of what I'm shooting.

Most times I go to the range I take at least one gun besides my edc. My edc stays loaded in holster while I practice with the other gun(s). When I'm done practicing with the other guns, I load one of them with defensive ammo and keep it on the bench (or in my holster, if it's near the same size as my edc) while I practice with my edc. On the rare occasions that I take only my edc to the range, I keep at least one magazine loaded at all times.

I have read about BGs that 'stake out' shooting ranges and follow the unwary shooter home. The idea is that they know he has a gun(s) and now they know where he lives; then when he's not home....

Well, it may not help you but your story helped me. In my paranoia, I always secure one magazine loaded with "duty" ammo on my person when I am target shooting/plinking because you never know when the SHTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When at the range, I'm still armed for SD. Our range has a 'live in' guard/instructor and parking is 'fenced'.
Glad the OP found everything to be OK.

Stay armed...stay safe!:comeandgetsome::yup:

Glad I don't have to deal with this malarky anymore


How can there be "self help GROUPS"?

When I go to the range I take three or four guns to shoot. My concealed gun of the day does not get used at the range. It stays concealed and ready in case I should need it.

Good point, thank you.

Both the local ranges in my area are very remote. It would be relatively easy for someone to take advantage of someone while shooting just as the BG's in the FBI Miami shootout did.

I always carry in addition to the weapon I am shooting. I also keep a check around me as I am often the only person there.

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Originally Posted by ep1953

When I go to the range I take three or four guns to shoot. My concealed gun of the day does not get used at the range. It stays concealed and ready in case I should need it.

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You got it! I do the same.