Author Topic: A Place to go shoot my revolver?? (Read 1137 times)

David L · « **on:** August 16, 2003, 11:40:20 AM »

Hello all,

I was passing by so I thought I would stop in this gun shop today and ask about black powder accessories. The lady pointed to a lone bottle of Pyrodex sitting on the shelf that was purty dusty. I asked if she knew of anyone that stocked these supplies and she said no. I asked about a place to shoot my gun and she said they had an indoor range, I asked her how much to join, she said its 10 bucks an hour or 6 bucks for 1/2 hour. I said I couldnt pay 10 bucks an hour to shoot my gun and asked her if she had any information on local clubs with an outdoor range. She said private clubs, I asked her about info on joining and she said she did not have any information on them. Everyone in this store had stopped what they was doing and was listening to this conversation between me and this lady. UmI felt like they was going to throw me out of the store from the way they looked at me..*L* I just said owell, forget-it, Ill do some checking on my own and I walked out the door.

The most unfriendly place I have ever been, besides my family reunion*L* I thought man, that was really strange, like trying to talk to folks from another planet. I brushed it off and hit another store, THE very same reaction from these folks, no information. As I strolled up to the counter a man was standing leaned up against it and said, Hey, let me get out of your way, sorry. I said no problem guy. When I asked the man behind the counter about BP supplies and a place to shoot my revolver he said he did not know where I could go to shoot my BP gun and he had very little supplies for BP, didnt even ask me what I needed. I thought this was going to be FUN, they made me feel like a terrorist trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

I contacted the local gun club but they wont return my calls, they have an answering machine, every time I call no one answers, just this machine. I cant believe how these folks are acting, I mean could it be my looks*LOL***.Im serious, I ride a heavy cruiser (motorcycle) and my hair is about the middle of my back and I always wear leather, either a vest or my jacket and lace-up harley boots. My clothes are clean, Im clean, I.e.(I shower daily), maybe I just ran into the wrong folksI dunno.

If I keep getting this reaction from folks Ill just put the gun up until I run into someone that has a place to shoot. I was really excited about all this but if folks wont give me a chance then Im just stuck with all this BP equipment and no place to use it.

I had a loading block and 2 extra cylinders to order for this but Im not wasting my money on this BP shooting with no place to shoot, I would have never guessed folks to be so unfriendly. With almost 165 bucks invested so far I think it would be foolish to spend more on something I may never get to use but once or twice a year.

I know of a place to go but its over 75 miles away, this has been a real disappointment.

I STILL cant believe how these folks were acting.JUST like out of the Twilight Zone, and Im not exaggerating folks, it was bad and they were VERY unfriendly.

I told my wife I thought if I cut my hair, dont wear the leathers AND drive my jeep they might be more receptive to me, thinking about it tho, why should I change my appearance to suit someone else? IT must have been my appearance, thats the only explination I can come-up with.

David L

Chicken today and feathers tomorrow !!!!

Stuffy25thIA · « **Reply #1 on:** August 16, 2003, 04:42:42 PM »

Where are you located Dave? Maybe some of us can help you out.

Fightin Creek Slim · « **Reply #2 on:** August 16, 2003, 07:25:09 PM »

Howdy David:
Unfortunately a lot of the folks hired to work at gun counters don't know a danged thing about what they're dealing with in regards to the items that they sell or local clubs and ranges. Your best bet for decent firearms information is to find a smaller gunshop in your area rather than deal with the big chain stores. Communications can sometimes be a problem with the smaller ranges and clubs. For example I don't have a contact phone number for the range where I shoot. I can tell you the directions to the range and the range hours but not how to call em up on the phone. Our local CAS club has a similar problem They are listed on the SASS website but there is only contact information for one club member. This makes it a bit difficult for the new shooter trying to get club information if this one member happens to be on vacation. If there are any ranges in your area most indoor ranges won't allow the use of BP guns and most won't allow non jacketed bullets to be fired on an indoor range. All the fear mongering over lead exposure. Check around the yellow pages for gunclubs in your area looking for outdoor ranges equipt for rifle and pistol. Give them a call on the phone to get range schedules. You might also check the SASS homepage at www.sassnet.com for a list of SASS affiliated clubs in your area most hold there matches at ranges equipt for both rifle and pistol and you should be able to get range information from your local SASS club contact.

David L · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2003, 12:51:32 AM »

OK, I live in Amarillo Texas. I was telling my daughter about my experience and she told me to just go down to the river, she said THATS where everyone goes*L* After sleeping on it, Ive decided it might not be so bad. We have whitetail deer all over around here and the thing that concerns me the most is being mistaken for a critter and taking a 7mm remington magnum in the back.

Im gonna drop by SASS and see what I can find-out, so far no one here will return my calls and say the gun clubs are private. Ive never herd of such but I guess if thats the way they want it then its their club, Owell.

I went to the Canadian River Sunday (yesterday). As I drove under the bridge I saw 2 dimpster dumpers (gigantic trashcans). Drove a little farther and saw a sign on a tree outlining the ATV rules for this club. There was motorcycles, ATVs and all kinds of off-road vehicles ripping the sand up. I rode-up to a truck parked under the bridge and talked to a man working on an ATV, he told me there was a couple of gun clubs that shoot way-off out there and pointed to the west. I could hear some folks shooting but could not see them. The trip was 15 miles one way, not bad to go shooting. I think if I go during the week I can avoid all the weekend riders. The city is only 15 miles from this place and the only public access land I know of in these parts. My main concern is running into the wrong kinda folks armed with guns. The last gun club I belonged to had a nice in-door range and an outdoor big-bore rifle range and not much traffic, small town gun club, it was great. No problem shooting in winter time at the last gun club but this looks like a summertime deal here.

It really looks like there is more going against this activity than there is going for it. I still refuse to pay 10 bucks an hour for the indoor range. I just failed to do ALL my homework concerning this activity.

I'll do some more looking and checking around but its really not looking good. Who knows, the river might turn-out better than I expect. I guess if I wanna shoot in the winter time I'll just hafta freeze my buns off, ya gotta do what ya gotta do....*L*

Thanks Slim and Stuffy for the replies, I'll follow-up on the SASS contact and let ya know what I come-up with....

David L

David L · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2003, 10:55:41 AM »

The SASS is a club to join. I'm gonna pass on any clubs for now but I did bookmark it for future reference. I thought before I go asking questions I should be a member first. Thanks for the info.

I found a friendly gun shop owner that making up some contacts for me, he said to give him a few days to find all his info and he would just pass it on to me.

Thanks for all your help folks, it just takes a few questions and finding the right people is the trick here.

David L

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 21, 2003, 02:04:58 PM »

David, don't wait till you become a member to join in on the SASS wire, it's for everone with an intrest. You won't find BETTER information there, but there ARE a lot more folks willing to give information.

For what it's worth, when I gave up the bikes, got a haircut and trimmed the beard, I still disliked the same people. :roll:

howdy doody · « **Reply #6 on:** August 21, 2003, 05:00:18 PM »

David, you can shoot CAS without being a member at any local shoot. It is only required for the bigger shoots, not the monthly club shoots. Go on and see if there isn't one right there in your town, they are everywhere. Go take a looksee.

David L · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2003, 01:48:51 PM »

ButlerFord,
For what it's worth, when I gave up the bikes, got a haircut and trimmed the beard, I still disliked the same people.

===============

NOW THAT'S, Funny! Me thinks I'll be cutting me hair soon. Ya know ButlerFord, I do get treated different with short hair. No big deal, I DO understand their thinking I just wish it wasn't like that ya know....

I'll go by SASS the the next chance I get, thanks for the info, I thought you had to be a member...

Howdy Do --- I'm in the process of it right now. I need to work up some accurate loads before I partake in such, I don't wanna look like a "newbie"...*L* This is sounding more and more like my kinda fun!

David L