Stuff overheard at the range or local gun shop

[Rotnguns]

Being that I shoot my bow more than my gun, 50% of the time I push my reticle the wrong way. The scopes just feel bass ackwards since the direction the dial says is the direction to move the impact not the reticle. Unashamedly I put about 10 rounds down my 6.5 this year getting it zeroed before I realized I was moving the scope the wrong way.

Very easy to do, for sure! Made the same mistake myself by looking through the scope while turning the windage dial to move the reticle. Oops!

 

[Rotnguns]

Here’s the mantra that I use to keep that from happening.

Ogg want bullet go up. Ogg turn dial up. Ogg want bullet go down…Ogg turn dial not up. Ogg do same with windage.

I made the same mistake before while looking through the scope and turning the windage dial to move the reticle. Wasted a few rounds, for sure.

 

[RockAndSage]

Being that I shoot my bow more than my gun, 50% of the time I push my reticle the wrong way. The scopes just feel bass ackwards since the direction the dial says is the direction to move the impact not the reticle. Unashamedly I put about 10 rounds down my 6.5 this year getting it zeroed before I realized I was moving the scope the wrong way.

If it matters, I think Schmidt & Bender scopes are "backwards" in their dialing, at least with elevation.

 

[EastHumboldt]

Our range is unsupervised. I find that I often have to politely remind shooters at the range that it’s good manners to open your bolt, step away from your weapon, when someone is down range. There are no scheduled cease fires. The other thing I see pretty often is someone will ask to set a target when they are not ready to do so, then hold up the show for fifteen minutes while they fxxk around down range trying to prop up some flimsy POS target with sticks and rocks.

I was at the range one day when this really old guy shows up with prolly his 15 Y O grand daughter and a couple old sketchy looking rifles. He’s gonna teach her to shoot. He starts with a .22 that he clearly doesn’t know how to operate, and hoses everybody on one end of the line while he’s trying to figure out how to load it. When it’s loaded, he hands it to the 15YO who has obviously never held a firearm in her life. She stands about four feet behind the shooting bench and points the gun offhand loosely down range with grampa ahead of her and off to one side. She’s leaning backward, looks like she might fall over or drop the rifle any second.

She pulls the trigger, but says “It won’t shoot!!” Grampa says “Safety is prolly on. It’s that button on the side there.” She now un-shoulders the loaded rifle, cradles it and fumbles for the safety while she hoses grampa, me, and everybody on the other end of the line.

I just immediately got up off my stool and hid behind my truck until there was a ceasefire. Then I hastily packed my shit and left. I didn’t want to be a part of the headline or the EMS response. AFAIK nobody was shot.

That was a few years ago when I was younger and shyer. Nowadays, having achieved silver curmudgeon status, I would say something.

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

First trip to a gunsmith
- I took a Sig P320 compact in to have the slide cut for a red dot. I asked if he could do the footprint for the Aimpoint Acro back when they first came out. Gunsmith looked me dead in the eye and said "that is only for rifles". What you need is this Holosun 507k. Really? A 507k on a p320? No thanks.
- I wound up going with an RMR footprint instead. When I went to install my Holosun with the PA vulcan reticle it became obvious that they had a not used the right screw size. I called them and they said "it's just the cerakote. Sometimes it is hard to install. If you really need you can stop by and let us install it for you. It will be $35.00". I am certainly not an armorer or gunsmith, however, I know how to install a screw. Anyways, I take it back to the gunsmith and shocker, they used the wrong screw size. Still charged $35.00.

Random Day in my preferred LGS
- While I am browsing at the LGS, a gent comes up to the counter. The lady behind the counter gives the usual nice greeting and ask if he needs help finding anything or is looking for something in particular. Before she can finish the sentence, the guy cuts her off and says "I need the cheapest .45 you got". He is also moderately out-of-breath and clearly in a hurry. Acting fidgety and irritable. The lady behind the counter responds "okay, we have several really good options that are very affordable. Are there any features you are looking ----- Guys cuts her off again. "I just need the cheapest .45 you got. I don't care what it is." He left empty handed that day. I am almost positive he was about to use that for "nefarious" activity. I guess the LGS felt that way as well since they refused to sell.

Random Day #2 at the LGS
- I was trading in an old rifle for a CZP10C years ago. My wife came up to me and said "I want to leave" and was clearly bothered. We were almost done with the trade with the LGS so I finished up so we could leave. I noticed the lady behind the counter grab her handgun and move it under the counter we were at while watching a dude in the far corner. Once we got in the car my wife told me the guy was checking out AR's, AK's, and other semi-auto rifles and kept making comments such as "this wont do", "how far can this kill", "that's just not going to do it", etc. All the female workers had cleared out and the shop owner (a very tall, stout man) went over and had to engage with him. I did not stick around to see the conclusion, but I am assuming he left empty handed.

 

[EastHumboldt]

I made the same mistake before while looking through the scope and turning the windage dial to move the reticle. Wasted a few rounds, for sure.

Ogg also make same mistake. Ogg develop mantra. Ogg not make mistake any more. Ogg also invent “Righty tightly, lefty loosy”

 

[cgw1984]

"Latest most interesting incident to me was a fellow whose AR went full auto after he installed what he "thought" was a binary trigger."

Reread. Consider. Then, discuss.

Theres case law backing up what i said. A malfunctioning rifle is NOT an nfa violation UNLESS AND UNTIL you continue using it after discovery of the problem. His rifle inadvertently going full auto due to poor assembly isnt a violation.

Staples v. United States - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Today, you learned something. That gun wasn't an issue, unless he didn't stop using it. You were correct to advise him to stop using it, but, no, it wasn't a felony. Seems a minute difference, and it is.. but an r.o. should know the laws hes trying to impose. Id turn your snarky response inwards, if i were you.

 

[Rotnguns]

Theres case law backing up what i said. A malfunctioning rifle is NOT an nfa violation UNLESS AND UNTIL you continue using it after discovery of the problem. His rifle inadvertently going full auto due to poor assembly isnt a violation.

Staples v. United States - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Today, you learned something. That gun wasn't an issue, unless he didn't stop using it. You were correct to advise him to stop using it, but, no, it wasn't a felony. Seems a minute difference, and it is.. but an r.o. should know the laws hes trying to impose. Id turn your snarky response inwards, if i were you.

I'd point out that the snarkiness started with you. When citing case law, it pays to read the full opinion. I read the case you linked, and it proves my point. Majority opinion, written by Clarence Thomas:
"Therefore, possessing an unregistered machine gun requires the defendant's knowledge that the firearm fired more than one shot per trigger pull when in their possession."
The key element in the case you cited is that the owner of the firearm did not know it would fire full auto.
Possession of a firearm, with the knowledge that it fires in full auto mode, is darn sure a felony. And the shooter at the range I posted about obviously knew, along with everyone around him. To add: At the range where I volunteer, full auto is fine as long as approved by the Range Supervisor (above my pay grade, which as a volunteer, is nothing). Nobody is going to check credentials or NFA stamps. I don't have the authority to throw anyone off the range - just giving him a heads up that he was in possession of a full-auto firearm.

 

[TaperPin]

I was reminded of a conversation at the unsupervised public range at Kodiak. Three trashy dudes were shooting a crappy little 38 special revolver while my buddy and I were sporting $4k of new rifles on the bench. The first couple walks out to 100 yards were normal, then their body language changed and I felt a little odd and had a conversation about the odds we were about to get shot at and robbed as we walked out to change targets. I wasn’t concerned about them actually hitting anything at 100 yards, but it was agreed we should take at least one rifle with us. The guys left, but stopped their car a few hundred yards away and watched us for another 20 minutes - probably just passing a bottle and smoking a joint, but their weird actions matched the change in body language. Weirdest thing that ever happened. Well, that, and the big sow with two cubs that crossed the rifle range at the 50 yard mark. *chuckle*

 

[DuckDogDr]

The guy with the 270 sighted in at 100 yards at the range telling me its good to 500 just hold on top of the back of the deer. His target looked like he was pattering a shot gun haha

Unfortunately this is my dad’s motto .
He tries to give me advice now and I say uhu thanks..
Then go ask my buddy that regularly shoots to 600

 

[fwafwow]

I'd point out that the snarkiness started with you. When citing case law, it pays to read the full opinion.

I also think there is a difference between a "malfunctioning rifle" and one that goes from semi-auto to full auto after the owner installed something that wasn't part of the original rifle.

 

[Rotnguns]

I also think there is a difference between a "malfunctioning rifle" and one that goes from semi-auto to full auto after the owner installed something that wasn't part of the original rifle.

Most certainly. Evidently, he tried to install what he thought was a binary trigger (perfectly legal in Idaho). No idea what he did, but it was impossible to shoot less than a three-round burst. Actually, several people lined up to shoot it. Point is, from Justice Thomas' opinion, if you know your rifle fires full auto, malfunctioning or not, you're in deliberate possession of a machine gun.

 

[blackhawk219]

Walked into the local sportsmans warehouse to pick up the tikka rifle I had ordered. While waiting for the paperwork, one of the employees and I got to talking and it came up that my plan was to chop the barrel to 18" and mount a suppressor. He starts going on and on about how 18" won't give it enough velocity to kill an elk and how the accuracy depends on barrel length and so I shouldn't shorten it. Starts talking about how all the benchrest shooting competitions he goes to everyone has like a 30" barrel or something (claiming it's because of accuracy). He also starts going on about how suppressors don't belong on a hunting rifle because "the deer don't care how loud the gunshot is as long as you anchor them". I just nodded along and got my rifle and got out of there.

 

[Sinistram]

Walked into the local sportsmans warehouse to pick up the tikka rifle I had ordered. While waiting for the paperwork, one of the employees and I got to talking and it came up that my plan was to chop the barrel to 18" and mount a suppressor. He starts going on and on about how 18" won't give it enough velocity to kill an elk and how the accuracy depends on barrel length and so I shouldn't shorten it. Starts talking about how all the benchrest shooting competitions he goes to everyone has like a 30" barrel or something (claiming it's because of accuracy). He also starts going on about how suppressors don't belong on a hunting rifle because "the deer don't care how loud the gunshot is as long as you anchor them". I just nodded along and got my rifle and got out of there.

Curious as to the... demographic of this individual if you care to share.

 

[elkliver]

Curious as to the... demographic of this individual if you care to share.

pretty sure it is the ignorant idiot demographic of which there is a lot

 

[EastHumboldt]

pretty sure it is the ignorant idiot demographic of which there is a lot

Try to have a little sympathy for the ignorant idiots. If you’re ignorant, meaning that you lack knowledge well, you’re likely to be an idiot due to not having any knowledge. If you’re an idiot, meaning that you’re stupid, well, it’s hard to acquire knowledge, what with all the reading and paying attention and everything. It’s a self-defeating spiral, almost impossible to escape due to the ignorance and idiocy. Also, your parents may have been ignorant idiots, compounding the problem.

 

[Weldor]

Most certainly. Evidently, he tried to install what he thought was a binary trigger (perfectly legal in Idaho). No idea what he did, but it was impossible to shoot less than a three-round burst. Actually, several people lined up to shoot it. Point is, from Justice Thomas' opinion, if you know your rifle fires full auto, malfunctioning or not, you're in deliberate possession of a machine gun.

I can honestly say that I had a malfunction that scared the crap out of me. Was shooting my Dad's 1960's Walther ppk 380 and it dumped the mag with one press of the trigger. I have not shot it since, now it is just a curio. I have other 380's to shoot. I will say at 7 yards at full auto had a nice group .

 

[sndmn11]

Anyone remember that “wildernessmaster” guy on here?

I miss him

 

[3forks]

I miss him

I’ve been seeing a brand of goggles pretty frequently when I’m skiing - they’re called “Outdoor Master”.

Seeing those made me think of wildernessmaster…

I cannot believe someone or a company would choose an online handle or a name for their company like that. I also cannot believe that anyone would want to wear a brand called Wilderness Master as it just screams Amazon junk with a dumb name conjured up by someone in China.

Unsurprisingly, most of the skiers using the brand were just as goofy as wildernessmaster’s posts.

 

[Rotnguns]

I can honestly say that I had a malfunction that scared the crap out of me. Was shooting my Dad's 1960's Walther ppk 380 and it dumped the mag with one press of the trigger. I have not shot it since, now it is just a curio. I have other 380's to shoot. I will say at 7 yards at full auto had a nice group .

Yikes! I've seen the very same thing happen to a 1911 that had been "tuned" (overtuned, actually). Kudos to you for holding it steady!