Lets Discuss “Range Etiquette” for a moment!

[Remmy700]

I don't agree with this. I am at my local range every weekend for 4-6 hours. I shoot 2800-4000 centerfire rounds each year. And half of them are doing load development. The other half are at ranges from 500-1700+.

There are several regulars, including a couple who are LE trainers that shoot hundreds of rounds weekly from SBRs and handguns. It can be annoying, but they are awesome people honing their skills to teach others. Lots of other guys who are learning and practicing.
Every rifle I own has a brake. From 6CM to .300RUM and 6 others in between. Plus the opportunity to shoot 40 or so other rifles each year.
I welcome questions from lesser experienced shooters. I regularly offer help to people who need it. Both in helping sight in their rifles, with tools to help, and with information.
All of my personal rifles are high end customs. With top tier glass. No big deal when people ask me about them, or want to see what a true high end optic looks like. Most of the other rifles I get to shoot are customs or high end factory rifles too. Always nice to look at sexy toys and discuss them. Not everyone can afford high end toys, but everyone like to look at them.
Only takes a few seconds to help spot for someone. Not everyone getting into the sport can afford high end glass to see 6mm holes at 200+ yards.
It is not that difficult to bore sight a rifle at 100 or even 200. I do it all the time by simply pulling the bolt and looking down the bore and dialing to get on paper. I actually NEVER bore sight and zero a scoped rifle at 25 or 50 yards. Ever. And I zero 40+ rifles a year. If you can't bore sight it past 25 or 50, maybe you need the help.

Helping others is good manners and improves the sport. Everyone starts out sometime. No need to be an elitist and discourage others who need help. If you want the place to yourself, don't go to a public range.

I help people all the time but there a certain times when I want to dedicate my time to it. When I am in the middle of a string is not the time! Come on u see all my post and all I want to do is help new comers out, don't be trying to make me out like a dick! When I have drive an hour to the range and try to beat the gale force winds here is not the time!

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Did u see my Air Force M4 class post, at least they are smart on paper what does your peeps for going for them! Pulse, really for AF? That your folk, need help with spelling their name tape on their uniform!

That's what I'm saying. You AF folk are smarter than us. All we (Army) need is a pulse to get promoted lol.

 

[gohring3006]

There's people who ask for help, and there's people who are totally disrespectful. People have to choose where their breaking point is. I don't tolerate spraying ammo into other people's targets, I don't tolerate people shooting my steel without asking, our local range is set up to provide backstop and a solid bench, you bring your own targets and steel. This is explained to the guest when they sign in. They are reminded to be respectful to others property. It's like what ever they were told, they totally forgot five minutes later when they are on the range.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I am not saying there are not idiots and a-holes. I see and hear them every week. They are the exception.
But people asking questions and needing help are more the norm.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

There's people who ask for help, and there's people who are totally disrespectful. People have to choose where their breaking point is. I don't tolerate spraying ammo into other people's targets, I don't tolerate people shooting my steel without asking, our local range is set up to provide backstop and a solid bench, you bring your own targets and steel. This is explained to the guest when they sign in. They are reminded to be respectful to others property. It's like what ever they were told, they totally forgot five minutes later when they are on the range.

Intentionally Shooting at another man's target is a no go. I've never experienced that before...99% of my interactions have been pleasant. Minus the "what's your member status" questions I get a lot or "why is your brother here with you and he's not a member?"

 

[SidecarFlip]

No range etiquette for me. I make the rules. I own the range. Only way to fly.

 

[Remmy700]

I am not saying there are not idiots and a-holes. I see and hear them every week. They are the exception.
But people asking questions and needing help are more the norm.

I totally agree. I try to help people that are sincere and need it.

 

[gohring3006]

Intentionally Shooting at another man's target is a no go. I've never experienced that before...99% of my interactions have been pleasant. Minus the "what's your member status" questions I get a lot or "why is your brother here with you and he's not a member?"

I honestly don't think I ever thought anyone intentionally shot my targets. I have witnessed intentional shooting of my steel, but I get it, if you never shot a steel plate before, it's hard not to. Lol
Those mag dumps **** me off enough, that I solved my problem with not going during public hours.

 

[TXAoudadKlr]

I could do without the dirty looks when I touch off my 300AX or 338LM. I didn't ask you to come sit to the bench next to me when there was 20 other open benches. It's a gun range yeah it's loud. Get over it.

Now if you get placed there I'm polite enough to give a warning it's a bit of a thumper.

 

[gohring3006]

I could do without the dirty looks when I touch off my 300AX or 338LM. I didn't ask you to come sit to the bench next to me when there was 20 other open benches. It's a gun range yeah it's loud. Get over it.

Now if you get placed there I'm polite enough to give a warning it's a bit of a thumper.

Where I'm from, once I touch off my lapua, it gets attention. Most just want to talk about it, others want to shoot it. I just want to get my data so I can leave. Lol

 

[Remmy700]

I am going to start keeping my Barrett in the truck just for special occasions at the range when I am getting beat down! Lol. Get it out so I can fight back!

 

[tony d willIiams]

The last few times I went to ranges too many onlookers and people wanting to talk instead of using the range.
As he said, what kind of rifle, scope, why do you reload, where do you get the boxes, isn't it cheaper to buy already made, why are you taking notes, you don't shoot much do you, why are you so grumpy. Well the last one ain't true, manners keeps it from being so.
I go out to the deserts in california and Arizona near military testing grounds. A bit of a drive but very well worth it. A clear area, free land and back stops out a mile. I'm not that good yet, but working on it.
Time to shoot, collect data, think and repeat. Close to zero distractions. My sweet wife has gotten used to me going out for a day or three, coming back a relaxed old man.

Forgot a couple things, sadly. When I started I did not know the manners required. I tried to be polite but had a lot to learn. Many range folk gave me assistance, answered my questions and were very polite by not letting me know how much I didn't know.
Let's all help the new folk get started and be secure and well trained. I will leave my previous comments with an apology for being an elitist pig now and then.

 

[Will Gray]

So many of us are pretty dedicated in the art of not only proper shooting form but also building our own precision loads tuned for our rifles. Many hours is spent in the reloading room with the built up excitement at the next chance to try this stuff out on the range. Over the years I have seen some stupid things that make me realize some people could care less about us load testers or anyone else for that matter! So here are a few things that I absolutely hate and please chime in with what u have experienced! New guys read this and DO NOT DO IT!
1. If the range is wide open except for one person who happens to have a little blue reloading box open with nice neat rows of 5 rounds staggered with gaps between them to carefully keep his loads separated, wearing a can with a magnetospeed mounted to it, KEEP your distance with your stupid AR and refrain from pelting him with brass.
2. As mentioned before he has a can and is not wearing hearing protection so do not come to the next stall away from him carefully lining up your tank break on your 6.5 creedmoor with his face.
3. Do not talk to this guy unless he first talks to u. This is not the barber shop and serious business is taking place.
4. If the rifle he has looks nice and expensive, well it prolly is. If u want to know more about it, use google.
5. Use your 30x powered scope with 2 foot sunshade on it to check your groups. U don't need to go down after every 5 rounds to look at your target. And most importantly don't ask that guy that is mentioned on the first 4 do not do items if he can check your target for u cause u can't see your shots!
6. Lastly and most importantly don't ask for help zeroing your scope because u are trying to do it at 200 yds and not at 25 or 50 yds like normal experienced shooters. Also don't ask for Allen wrench set or tools cause u are to stupid to bring what u need to the range!

I know I forgot some things, help me out fellows on your DO NOT LIST while u are at the range!

HA, just as in driving, treat everyone you meet like a member of your family. It is a rifle range so there will be noise and muzzle blast: everyone must live with that. Need to see your hits? Get a scope. I shoot in the heat of the day when no one else wants to be there, or in the cold drizzle of winter...

 

[Daves762]

I am both the precision load tester and the guy with the stupid AR. I am not however they guy who allows his actions to interfere with anyone else at any time. I no longer use the public range. I have cashed in my life savings to purchase land and build my own. I no longer use a public range for all the reasons you have described above. Both the ornery people who think the public range should offer everything they think should and shouldn't be happening, as well as the rude, dangerous, disrespectful range commando's in the lane next to you. My wife has a 22 burn in her butt crack cause of a moron with a 10/22 that was doing mag dumps rite next to us, years ago. When we go into public we must deal with everyone in it. And all their dumb BS. Which is why I rarely venture out into public for anything other then work. Range etiquette as well as societal etiquette was not taught to offspring for two generations. Kids that were never spanked and were given a trophy just for showing up, has consequences.