Semi-Autos and Public Ranges

[skydiver386]

I primarily shoot at an Ohio DNR range. There aren’t any screens between the benches. Fortunately,, at least on weekdays (a perk of being retired), is that probably 80-90% of rifles are bolt guns. Also, it usually isn’t extremely busy and there is often a bench between shooters. Additionally, quite a few shooters of AR’s use some form of brass catcher or screen. My bigger complaint, like @Trogon, is muzzle brakes. One guy is usually at bench #1, shooting a Ruger Precision in .300 Win mag with a brake.
However, I still have been pelted with my share of hot .223 brass. At the shorter pistol range, you’re almost assured to get pelted by hot brass.
During the winter, I shoot handguns at an indoor range, which has dividers between each station.
Like @Trogon, muzzle brakes are a bigger issue for me. Example: There is a guy with a braked .300 Win mag Ruger Precision. He’s usually at bench #1 and I’m several benches down. I can still feel the blast. I always wear double hearing protection.

I live in Plain City, and it's more than worth it to drive to Rainers Range close to Blue Rock south of Zanesville, or Thunder Valley Precision, just north of Zanesville.

 

[steve white]

I have even had a range owner put an AR to my left WHEN WE TWO WERE THE ONLY ONES ON THE ENTIRE RANGE!! He didn't want to move us, either..

 

[Hogpatrol]

Weekends at a private or public range, it's a given that the black rifle, mag dumping jitterbugs will be there.

 

[shootist~]

I mostly shoot on our silhouette range. No place to hang a paper target unless you have your own portable target frame(s). (And no club provided silhouette targets either.) A good number of hanging steel gongs, though. Matches happening on many weekend days and most weekend only members assume it's always closed due to a match.

It's rarely crowded on weekdays and even less so on non match, weekend days. Was there Saturday and almost had the range to myself.

It's a PRS, 22 Rimfire, or serious plinker's wet dream. Berms from 50 to 785 yards.

 

[Ridge Runner]

WOW!!...

Reading what you all go through at pay to play ranges I would be raising Hell to someone over firearms - shooters' safety.

I like, @meigsbucks, currently have to use public ranges for all of my shooting. All to often I encounter idiots with ARs, AKs, and other assorted semi autos that only come to the range to make noise and fantasize playing "Rambo" or Machinegun Kelly, dumping 200 to 300 rounds as fast as they can pull the trigger on their firearm(s); as they often more than not also bring along either a 9mm, 380, 40 cal pistol, rarely a 45 ACP, and a 22 semiautomatic rifle or pistol and/or 20, 12, or rarely a 410 shotgun. These idiots generally fire indiscriminately from the hip, as in never shouldering a rifle or shotgun, carefully take aim with their pistol(s).

More (a lot more) than once I have found smaller caliber holes in my targets at 50 and 100 yards while shooting 30 cal plus firearms because of their total ignorance. And I have more than once confronted an idiot for their hap hazardness hitting my target(s).

Unfortunately, more often than not these idiots bring friends. And are usually hogging the range(s), from accuracy shooters, for 2 to 3 hours before they finally shoot up (waste) all thier ammo, and seldomly, but a very few, will actually police up their "trash". Since none of these idiots reload they leave their brass scattered on the benches and ground.

Thanks for the advice on how to "curtail" som e of these idiots, and why I should install a muzzlebrake on 458WM.

Even idiots can learn. Those idiots that routinely, or arbitrarily show up, or see/know me (by sight and/or sound) when I show up, look to see what weapons I have brought. Most have learned or taken note to see if I'm bearing my shooting sticks.....good indicator big bore rifle (as in 375H&H, 458WM, eehh 30-06) and they should think about leaving. I set up my shooting sticks between the 50 and 100 yard tables, break out 2 50 round boxes of each caliber, and since my 4+ inch, magnaport, Taurus, and /or Magnum Research 44 mag is part of my common attire at the range, it's when they see the 2 boxes of 100 rounds of 44 ammo "they" realize "they" should consider the need to cut their range time. As I have NO qualms with opening up my range time by opening up shooting my 375H&H or 458WM first. Shooting off sticks, beside them, while they are shooting their measly AR or AK or 9mm. I may not have a glorious muzzlebrake, but they pdefinitely feel the 3 initial rounds of the muzzle "concussion"/ "blast",....then setting that rifle aside,....I opt for another of the rifles or draw out a short barreled 44 mag revolver, where they have the opportunity to feel both cylinder and muzzle blast as I shoot off of my shooting sticks.

For those who enjoy shooting a flintlock firearm, these too are an annoyance to semiautomatic wannabes shooters.

Once in a while a first timer will want to fuss about the close proximity and feeling my muzzle blast. I tell them it's nothing compared to their brass hitting me or hitting around me when I'm trying to check my test reloads, scope, or general prepping for an upcoming hunt.

Fortunately, I too am retired and can go to the range during the week where I am most likely to be the only shooter there or at least there are fewer shooters at the range.

My biggest pet peeve are idiots that want to use (hog up) the 50 and 100 yard ranges setting make shift targets up at 10 to 15 feet in front of the benches out to 10 to 15 yards in front of the benches, instead of walking a few feet further to the 25 yard range bench.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I mostly shoot on our silhouette range. No place to hang a paper target unless you have your own portable target frame(s). (And no club provided silhouette targets either.) A good number of hanging steel gongs, though. Matches happening on many weekend days and most weekend only members assume it's always closed due to a match.

It's rarely crowded on weekdays and even less so on non match, weekend days. Was there Saturday and almost had the range to myself.

It's a PRS, 22 Rimfire, or serious plinker's wet dream. Berms from 50 to 785 yards.

I too go to my range during the week. Sometimes I'm the only one on the 100yd range. It's very nice. We make our own targets with 2x2s for posts (legs) and 1x6s at the top and bottom. Cardboard/thin wood backing and the targets are stapled to the backing. The posts are a certain distance apart and then fit into PVC pipe that the range has buried in the ground. Works well.

 

[Sideshow]

Hadn’t thought of that but you can’t see if smoke is in the way….bring out the black powder just need the wind in the right direction Followed by mate I’d not breath that in I hear it’s bad for your health

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I used to belong to a private range where the membership fee was very high. The facilities were great but the practice ranges all had onsite range officers to enforce safety, etc. Sounds good but the RO's were usually older retired gentlemen who loved shooting sports. That again is not an issue except that every time I was working on benchrest practice (extreme precision) the old guys would wander over and start asking 50 questions like what model rifle/scope/ammo you using? How does it shoot? etc, etc. While I am trying to focus they are providing nothing but distraction. After one year of membership, I dropped out. Good riddance. I tried to gently ask to be left alone but it never worked for long. I am an experienced marksman and a certified RO. I am a big boy and do not need the RO holding my hand. Just an un-welcome distraction.

I found a closer range with less than 1/4th the membership fee. As good or nearly so facilities and after taking the safety training, they issue a gate card and turn you loose. I like that. Plus it is less busy most of the time.

 

[MTA]

My rule with my own 'black rifles' is suppressor and brass catcher on when at a public range.. I rarely bring them to a distance range though, only to confirm zero.

Hot brass clocking me in the head is annoying but muzzle braked rifles are right up there too

 

[503]

I used to belong to a private range where the membership fee was very high. The facilities were great but the practice ranges all had onsite range officers to enforce safety, etc. Sounds good but the RO's were usually older retired gentlemen who loved shooting sports. That again is not an issue except that every time I was working on benchrest practice (extreme precision) the old guys would wander over and start asking 50 questions like what model rifle/scope/ammo you using? How does it shoot? etc, etc. While I am trying to focus they are providing nothing but distraction. After one year of membership, I dropped out. Good riddance. I tried to gently ask to be left alone but it never worked for long. I am an experienced marksman and a certified RO. I am a big boy and do not need the RO holding my hand. Just an un-welcome distraction.

I found a closer range with less than 1/4th the membership fee. As good or nearly so facilities and after taking the safety training, they issue a gate card and turn you loose. I like that. Plus it is less busy most of the time.

Old guys with red range officer hats are the worst. They usually aren't there every day, but if they are when I get there I leave. They bitch about everything.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Old guys with red range officer hats are the worst. They usually aren't there every day, but if they are when I get there I leave. They bitch about everything.

Went to a public range in Florida. There were three old fart ROs for every shooter and yes, they were a PITA.

 

[bobdahunter84]

I've had similar issues in the past. My solution is always 2 steps. I always go to range with 6 to 8 rifles, because i like to let barrels cool off.

I request furtherest left bench available. If there is anyone still left of me, I always make sure I have my 300wby with a brake or my 416 rem with a brake with me. Generally after 4 or 5 shots, that bench to the left always opens up!

 

[NDWoods]

One time I was at the range trying to shoot ragged holes with my single shot 22LR target rifle at 50 yards and some hoity toity fella with an elephant rifle was on the bench next to me making me flinch so hard I was shooting flyers.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I've had similar issues in the past. My solution is always 2 steps. I always go to range with 6 to 8 rifles, because i like to let barrels cool off.

I request furtherest left bench available. If there is anyone still left of me, I always make sure I have my 300wby with a brake or my 416 rem with a brake with me. Generally after 4 or 5 shots, that bench to the left always opens up!

Yes, a brake can be your friend on a public range or even my club range when someone wants to shoot right next to me when there's five benches open on either side. I've found using a brake with higher velocity cartridges works the best in clearing the benches on either side of you. My braked .300WM would rattle the corrugated steel roofing over the benches until the bastards put a wooden/shingled roof over them now. Just not the same ambience now with a brake. LOL

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

So an update. I took the challenge of going to Ben Avery Shooting Facility on Sunday morning. You can walk in, but it seems in the cooler months and when the snowbirds are in town, it's wise to make a reservation, particularly on weekends. I made a reservation but it wasn't really needed.

The main range is huge. It's a little odd looking as it's broken up into 3 sections. The sections on the left and right are 100 yards and the middle goes out to 200 yards. Why? I don't know. There are actually longer ranges on site if you're into that. I reserved a 200 yard table for whatever reason.

I think the largest number on a table was 67. That's right 67 tables with I'm estimating about 8' between each. So the range is approximately 536 feet wide and it may be more than that. And what do you know, they have permanent screens. Simple affairs made out of electrical conduit that are bolted to the sound baffled ceiling above and the concrete floor below. The screens themselves are a wire mesh with maybe 1/4" squares. At most a .22LR case could get thru, but it would have to hit just the right way to make it thru without being deflected.

Next up is to email the range manager and board of directors to show in particular that in fact Ben Avery does have an effective screening solution. I already know the reply is going to be that they can't do it since their tables are so much closer together. I will also be inquiring about what if any protocol they have for someone being injured. Sometimes I get motivated to stir up the pooh stew just to see what happens.

If you're wondering why no guns on the benches, these pics were taken before the first volley of the day. There procedure is to setup targets first with all weapons still cased and to the rear. Once that is completed, weapons can be brought to the shooting benches in cases and subsequently uncased and fired.

 

[Nevada Smith]

Wow! Impressive setup! And the sound absorbing foam is an interesting idea; how well did it work?

As for the screens, I'd try adding a "gutter" at the lower rung to see if it would catch the cases.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Wow! Impressive setup! And the sound absorbing foam is an interesting idea; how well did it work?

As for the screens, I'd try adding a "gutter" at the lower rung to see if it would catch the cases.

That foam works quite well. Not so well I would skip using ear protection, but with ear protection it was noticeably quieter.

Your gutter idea is a good one, but I'm so impressed with the system as is, I'd feel like I was asking for extra whip cream on the sundae in requesting it.

 

[Bullthrower338]

So, I just wanted to check a couple loads out and went over to the gravel pit by the house. This is what I found!

Unbelievable!
I left with this after an hour!

Wonder why people don’t like shooters on their land

 

[Nevada Smith]

I will also be inquiring about what if any protocol they have for someone being injured. Sometimes I get motivated to stir up the pooh stew just to see what happens.

Ranges should have: 1) a Bleeding Control Kit; 2) an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED); 3) a First Aid Kit.

RSOs should have current Red Cross certification for Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

So, I just wanted to check a couple loads out and went over to the gravel pit by the house. This is what I found!
View attachment 614052
Unbelievable!
I left with this after an hour!
View attachment 614053
Wonder why people don’t like shooters on their land

Place like that all over the surrounding desert near Phoenix unfortunately.