Bit of a range rant.

[Rum River]

We live in former farm country that's becoming urban. Wife and I built our own 400 yard range in the backyard after years of putting up with problems at ranges much like (or exactly like) everything mentioned in this thread. We have had polite folks stop and ask if they can rent our range. We tell them it's not a commercial range and we don't want even a hint of such. If they're friendly and we become acquainted we allow them to shoot, always with my wife or I present. In return they help out with range maintenance or steel for targets or garden truck, or - whatever. The one family does a great job of pruning our apple tree. Got home made sauerkraut from another. Discount on carpentry work. Free welding repairs on some of our reactive steel.

So far so good....................

 

[Gary Lee]

Wow. That's a dream come true.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

Nothing wrong with shooting where you are comfortable. If more folks voted with feet, maybe some things would change.

 

[bobski]

ive been known to say this alot, and because of it rules are in place.
q: 'you can have rights to own a gun, but it doesnt mean youre smart enough to own one.'

the ammo check is because of stupid people who buy guns but dont buy the right ammo for them. ive seen it happen a lot at public ranges.
i/e: little missy cute cheeks buys a 38spl and comes to the range with 147gr 9mm because her bf says its the best ammo around.
ya know what i mean. some never shot them. ammo was/is to them an afterthought.
sometimes a quick ammo check can save a lot of trouble.
a sharp range owner can size a shooter up in 5 seconds based soley on what he sees in a carry bag.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

What about Guys like me that don't have a carry bag. All I have is gun case for guns and a ammo can of bullets.

 

[bobski]

you mean a can of gold these days right?

 

[Rum River]

ive been known to say this alot, and because of it rules are in place.
q: 'you can have rights to own a gun, but it doesnt mean youre smart enough to own one.'

the ammo check is because of stupid people who buy guns but dont buy the right ammo for them. ive seen it happen a lot at public ranges.
i/e: little missy cute cheeks buys a 38spl and comes to the range with 147gr 9mm because her bf says its the best ammo around.
ya know what i mean. some never shot them. ammo was/is to them an afterthought.
sometimes a quick ammo check can save a lot of trouble.
a sharp range owner can size a shooter up in 5 seconds based soley on what he sees in a carry bag.

Was working firearms retail at the Coon Rapids MN Sportsman's Warehouse back when Stu Utgaard still owned it. Having a good conversation with a customer when he shared the fact he was gradually using up his stock of 7mm Rem. magnum ammunition - by shooting it in his .338 Win. magnum.

On purpose.

Claimed he had made multiple kills on big game out to 100 yards.

I calmly and diplomatically told him I thought he shouldn't do that - he blew up and stomped out of the store.

A different customer wanted ammunition "for his 300".
I asked "which 300"?
He didn't know.
He asked for a box of "one of the 300's" and he'd try it.
I calmly and diplomatically told him I wasn't going to do that, but if he could please bring the rifle to the store we would figure it all out - he blew up and stomped out of the store.

Apparently I have a certain effect on certain customers.

To the OP: In regards to the inspections at the range I would react the same way you did. Unfortunately I can also see the other side of the issue.

No perfect answer I guess.

 

[contender]

All good points.

Good neighbors,, can be a big help to a range owner. I have a few as well. But as noted,, not allowed w/o me there to supervise.

Range gun or ammo inspections.
Yep, wrong ammo in guns, loaded guns, are but a few of the things that can walk in. We've all seen it; "I didn't know it was loaded" negligent shootings. (I never call them accidents because it was negligence on the part of the gun owner. Alec Baldwin did not check the gun before shooting that lady. Negligence. No matter who hands me a gun, and even if I see them check it first,, a safety rule is to ALWAYS check the gun for ammo.)

Rum River,, I've seen guys who have used the wrong ammo in a gun. I had a guy ask me to un-jam his rifle, AFTER he'd killed a deer, and no wonder, he had .270 ammo in a .7mm mag rifle.

Such inspections of guns, ammo, or whatever may be an insult to those of us who have lots of experience. I can easily agree on that.
But if the range owner, employee, or whomever doesn't know me, AND they have posted rules,, I may not like it,, but if I'm at their business, I'll comply. I had a guy once kinda challenge me with these words; "So,,,, you are saying, your range your rules?" (It concerned the unsafe actions I had witnessed & told another guy to leave & never come back.) I replied; "Yes,, my range, MY liability,, and yes,, by gosh my rules. I don't come to your business & tell you what I'm going to do!"

Much of what I've posted here is to try & let folks realize that often, you need to look at things from the other side of the counter so to speak. And again,, it all comes down to SAFETY & LIABILITY!!

 

[dwasifar]

I went and asked and was told "If it hits the ground, it's mine."

Here's a fun idea. Get your rattiest, stinkiest old pair of shoes. The stinkier, the better. Wear them to that range. When you're checking out, remove the stinky shoes and place them on the counter. Inform the owner, "They hit the ground, so they're yours," and walk out in your socks.

 

[Stantheman1986]

Rules exist because gun clubs used to be laid back and idiots ruined it

I used to shoot at Ft Dix Range 13 , the public range. It was laid back, simple rules like no .50 BMG and you had to clear your weapon at the 30 minute cease fire.

I moved away and shortly after someone was shot there. It was getting unsafe well before that happened, because when you let anyone come shoot, anyone will come out to shoot and that's what ruins a range.

My one gun club is becoming this way, I already had a mild altercation with some guy who decided to bypass 5 or 6 open, unused "pistol pits" and try to unpack and shoot in mine. After he got kind of tight about it and I'm like, kick rocks the whole range is open, there's no safe way for strangers to shoot in the same pit, he left. Arguments with armed people can get dicy. I'm thinking like what , is this guy going to refuse to leave and just start shooting?

 

[dwasifar]

I draw the line being told I have to buy the ranges overpriced ammo or that my brass is suddenly their brass.

I've never seen any range with those policies, thankfully, and I agree, I wouldn't shoot there either. Imagine going golfing and being told you have to use balls from the driving range rather than your carefully selected Callaways or Titleists. Imagine going bowling and learning that you have to use a lane ball and leave your custom drilled ball in the trunk of the car.

 

[contender]

I agree that if the sole purpose for a range to claim all brass on the ground as an extra means of income,, then you should choose another range.

BUT,,,, I do NOT want some IDIOT who wants to leave & collect his brass to go forward of the firing line while it's hot. And yes,, I have seen it.

And due to the fact that not every handloader is safe,, nor follows correct manuals, and thinks "Hotter is better, manuals be damned,, they don't apply" has caused injuries etc. I have seen several people who load unsafe ammo. We had to ban a guy from shooting with us because his ammo was all over the place velocity/power wise. He'd shoot with a range rod in his pocket,, just to put in the barrel, to slam the gun down on the concrete floor to remove a stuck bullet.
Using range supplied ammo may be to avoid injuries & lawsuits.

Sometimes the rule is for SAFETY not for money.

 

[dwasifar]

I have seen several people who load unsafe ammo. We had to ban a guy from shooting with us because his ammo was all over the place velocity/power wise. He'd shoot with a range rod in his pocket,, just to put in the barrel, to slam the gun down on the concrete floor to remove a stuck bullet.
Using range supplied ammo may be to avoid injuries & lawsuits.

Sometimes the rule is for SAFETY not for money.

A guy like that would find a way to be dangerous with any ammo.

 

[GasGuzzler]

No ranges near me. You have four to choose from? I'd say you're doing just fine.