Stuff overheard at the range or local gun shop

[cgw1984]

I'm a range officer at one of only two supervised public outdoor ranges in Idaho. Most of the issues we see are simply because we Idaho shooters don't know how to behave on a supervised range until we experience it a few times. Rules most frequently neglected:

1. actions open, magazines removed, chamber flag
2. bring case from back bench to firearm on shooting bench, not vice versa.

Latest most interesting incident to me was a fellow whose AR went full auto after he installed what he "thought" was a binary trigger. He also said he did "some work" on the FCG. His first few shots were semi auto, so whatever he did, his installation likely malfed. Told him he was technically in possession of an NFA rifle and he agreed, took out the defective FCG, and put away the rifle.

If youre going to be a range officer, you should have an inkling of the laws you are chastising others for. A malfuntioning item is NOT an nfa violation, unless, and until you KNOWINGLY continue operation.

 

[displacedtexan]

Not vocal... But I was at the range last weekend, and a couple of guys had 6ish ARs... All were 16" threaded barrels, they were using a couple of different suppressors.

But for some reason the 9" with a binary trigger got a brake...

 

[cgw1984]

Not vocal... But I was at the range last weekend, and a couple of guys had 6ish ARs... All were 16" threaded barrels, they were using a couple of different suppressors.

But for some reason the 9" with a binary trigger got a brake...

Can't say i like it, but some goofballs love the flash and noise

 

[displacedtexan]

Not sure I have seen an AR that didnt have a threaded barrel..



Legal though???

So part of it was redundant but I've owned some with threads and a pinned device...

But how often do you see people swapping muzzle devices at the range?

Didn't ask.

 

[The Guide]

But how often do you see people swapping muzzle devices at the range?

All the time. Lots of people only have 1 suppressor and good self timing muzzle brakes only take 30 seconds to swap between barrels. Unless the range rules do not allow firearm modifications on the line, what is the issue?

Jay

 

[waspocrew]

All the time. Lots of people only have 1 suppressor and good self timing muzzle brakes only take 30 seconds to swap between barrels. Unless the range rules do not allow firearm modifications on the line, what is the issue?

Jay

Agreed, I swap my can around often at the range.

 

[Rotnguns]

If youre going to be a range officer, you should have an inkling of the laws you are chastising others for. A malfuntioning item is NOT an nfa violation, unless, and until you KNOWINGLY continue operation.

"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.

 

[displacedtexan]

All the time. Lots of people only have 1 suppressor and good self timing muzzle brakes only take 30 seconds to swap between barrels. Unless the range rules do not allow firearm modifications on the line, what is the issue?

Jay

Forgetting to swap it to the obnoxiously loud gun.

I don't care about swapping, and can't see myself shooting at a place that did.

 

[TX_hunter]

Close to 20 years ago probably, my first time ever at a gun range. Had just bought my first rifle.

Went to the range, signed some waiver, got the safety talk, sat on the bench and everyone is shooting.

A few minutes later guys to the left start yelling and waving their arms trying to get everyone to stop shooting.

Some guys showed up and walked straight down range while people were firing to "set up their target".

 

[RS_Non-Res]

Was at a large public range, probably 50 stations. RO called an off-schedule ceasefire an then announced “Do not shoot the bunny rabbit. Line is hot.” That bunny safely finished his traverse of the range.

 

[Warmsy]

Just had a guy at the range this morning (older dude, very, very nice rifle & scope setup) tell me that he's only interested in killing a deer at long range & if he sees a deer he really wants & it's close than 700yds he's going to back up until it's far enough away!!

I just gave him a dead look & called him a f&#@ing idiot.

Jealousy...

 

[rabbithuntr]

I was looking at guns at cabelas and was cornered by guy wearing army camo praising aks talked about how great they are and mentioned when he double tapped a running bighorn in the head at 200yds

 

[Weldor]

I was looking at guns at cabelas and was cornered by guy wearing army camo praising aks talked about how great they are and mentioned when he double tapped a running bighorn in the head at 200yds

I think I met that guy a few times. He must get around.

 

[elkhunter505]

At the range where I volunteer, I've seen a surprising number of shooters who don't fully understand how their windage and elevation adjustments work.

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.

 

[EastHumboldt]

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.

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.

 

[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.