Shooting Ranges Can Be A Scary Place - Page 2

JimH58 · June 23rd, 2009, 01:27 PM

I am retired and I am able to set my own schedule with the part-time work I do, so I am able to get to the range when it first opens on a weekday. There is usually only a couple of other people there and at tiems I am the only one. Saying that, I avoid the place like the plague on the weekend. Too many people and more chances for there to be a problem. The owners are very strict about proper safety procedures but they still can't be watching everyone 100% of the time.

AZ Desertrat · June 29th, 2009, 10:59 PM

I go to Seattle to visit an old Coast Guard buddy of mine, as I usually do every fall, and we go pheasant hunting. We also go to a local range where he is a member and shoot the handguns. I was shooting my S&W snubby and he and his son were shooting the Henry Lever Action .22. All was well, until some Navy guys and one girl showed up with the rented S&W .500!!! Evidently, the ammo is very pricey and they bought just 5 rounds. I could hear everything they were saying, they were right next to me....on my right side. Now, remember, these are Navy personnel, on liberty, supposedly trained in firearms safety. The first guy, loaded up a round, took aim and fired one. Of course, even with ear protection, the report was loud, and about "thumped" your chest from the concussion. Next guy shoots, same thing....bunch of giggling, commotion....oooooohs and ahhhhhhhhhs. They give the weapon to the girl, she loads and gets ready. I could see out of the corner of my eye, that the guys were playing macho man, and each trying to give her instruction on how to hold it, etc. They told her to be prepared for a hell of a recoil. Well,......it did......and I saw the revolver go back past her head, out of her hand, and through the plate glass window, where the range safety personnel can watch the range!!!! My buddy and I just dropped our jaws, and looked at each other, rolling our eyes. Needless to say, that could have been way more dangerous.....and the RSO came in, and politely told them to leave, and that they had had enough fun for the day.

ecbaatz · June 29th, 2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ Desertrat

Now, remember, these are Navy personnel, on liberty, supposedly trained in firearms safety.

Just because they are in the Navy don't assume they are trained in firearm safety. When I was in boot camp we spent a day at the range firing 22 handguns.

Then on board the submarine we had what they called familiarization firing. Usually we did it at the range, at targets 15 feet away. One time that stands in my mind was when we actually did it from the missile deck of the USS George Washington SS(B)N 598. Nobody missed what they were aiming at as it was the pacific ocean. We had to get the fam fire done before we did missile testing at Coco Beach Florida so we did it before we went thru the panama canal.

So as you can see, the majority of navy personnel don't necessarily get a lot of familiarization with firearms.

AZ Desertrat · June 29th, 2009, 11:34 PM

I know what ya mean.....in USCG boot, we just qualified, and that is about all the shooting we got until we got onboard our first ship.....of course, I was a Radioman 2nd Class, and did not shoot much anyway.

45XDCCW · July 12th, 2009, 10:06 PM

No excuses for that kind of behavior....

June 23rd, 2009, 01:27 PM	#11
JimH58 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern Kentucky Posts: 300	I am retired and I am able to set my own schedule with the part-time work I do, so I am able to get to the range when it first opens on a weekday. There is usually only a couple of other people there and at tiems I am the only one. Saying that, I avoid the place like the plague on the weekend. Too many people and more chances for there to be a problem. The owners are very strict about proper safety procedures but they still can't be watching everyone 100% of the time. __________________ JimH Kentucky ****************************** S&W 442, Bersa 380, S&W 9mm M&P, Springfield XD40c ****************************** Member: NRA, USCCA

June 29th, 2009, 10:59 PM	#12
AZ Desertrat Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Tolleson, AZ Posts: 284	I go to Seattle to visit an old Coast Guard buddy of mine, as I usually do every fall, and we go pheasant hunting. We also go to a local range where he is a member and shoot the handguns. I was shooting my S&W snubby and he and his son were shooting the Henry Lever Action .22. All was well, until some Navy guys and one girl showed up with the rented S&W .500!!! Evidently, the ammo is very pricey and they bought just 5 rounds. I could hear everything they were saying, they were right next to me....on my right side. Now, remember, these are Navy personnel, on liberty, supposedly trained in firearms safety. The first guy, loaded up a round, took aim and fired one. Of course, even with ear protection, the report was loud, and about "thumped" your chest from the concussion. Next guy shoots, same thing....bunch of giggling, commotion....oooooohs and ahhhhhhhhhs. They give the weapon to the girl, she loads and gets ready. I could see out of the corner of my eye, that the guys were playing macho man, and each trying to give her instruction on how to hold it, etc. They told her to be prepared for a hell of a recoil. Well,......it did......and I saw the revolver go back past her head, out of her hand, and through the plate glass window, where the range safety personnel can watch the range!!!! My buddy and I just dropped our jaws, and looked at each other, rolling our eyes. Needless to say, that could have been way more dangerous.....and the RSO came in, and politely told them to leave, and that they had had enough fun for the day. __________________ "Never advance cheerfully on your late opponent without reloading. You may have used your last round, and he may not be properly dead and still spiteful." Major Hugh Pollard, 1920 Glock 19, 20. FNP9, Taurus 85UL, Beretta 92 S&W M29, 60, 66, 686, 10, 36, 40, 42, 64, Ruger Single Six

June 29th, 2009, 11:34 PM	#14
AZ Desertrat Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Tolleson, AZ Posts: 284	I know what ya mean.....in USCG boot, we just qualified, and that is about all the shooting we got until we got onboard our first ship.....of course, I was a Radioman 2nd Class, and did not shoot much anyway. __________________ "Never advance cheerfully on your late opponent without reloading. You may have used your last round, and he may not be properly dead and still spiteful." Major Hugh Pollard, 1920 Glock 19, 20. FNP9, Taurus 85UL, Beretta 92 S&W M29, 60, 66, 686, 10, 36, 40, 42, 64, Ruger Single Six

July 12th, 2009, 10:06 PM	#15
45XDCCW Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Conway AR Posts: 292	No excuses for that kind of behavior.... __________________ "The Beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." -Thomas Jefferson "When loss of liberty is looming, as it is now The siren sounds first in the hearts of freedoms vanguard"- Heston NRA LIFE MEMBER

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