Author Topic: what are people thinking at the range? (Read 738 times)

bluebayou · « **on:** November 25, 2009, 10:36:39 AM »

I knew that today was going to be a busy day at the range with people off work early for the holiday. I figured that I would sight in a scope on my FIL's Marlin 60 and play with my Mauser as it won't eject consistently.

So, in a 90 minute period there are 4 families there with kids. NO ONE HAS EARPLUGS. What are people thinking? I carry a can of earplugs and doled some out. There were grown men putting cleaning patches in their kids ears. What are people honestly thinking?

Then, the rather friendly guy on the bench next to me has no spotting scope. Okay, most people don't. But, he needed to go down range 9-10 times (I lost count) in one hour. Come on..............honestly.

Same with him, no earplugs. They are all shooting .22's and 17HMR's.

I will say that (after offering free plugs around) the old 8mm will certainly clear them out.

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2009, 11:03:19 AM »

its the only way they are gonna learn to bring earplugs.. sounds like your 8 mm taught them a lesson..
but wait.. range owner ,,i want a regulation to make centerfires have to be put up when i want to shoot my
22.. wa wa wa,,i think im gonna cry

slim

teamnelson · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2009, 11:45:00 AM »

I've not been to a sporting goods store lately but I'd think it'd be handy to bundle ear/eye pro with youth guns. I see the blister packs online all the time with over the ear protectors and ballistic eyeglasses for under $20. Be a great christmas present for all your little shooting buddies!

95Road King · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2009, 01:03:29 PM »

Our club is having site in days for the public for our upcoming Deer season. I was working the firing line the other day and noticed couple guys having some sort of problem. Walked over and they couldn't get the bolt closed on that rifle. After looking for about 10 seconds I saw the problem. They were trying to chamber a .270 round in a .243!! There reply. OOOOPs, we brought the wrong gun. Go figure???

gypsyman · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2009, 01:17:08 PM »

bluebayou, I can tell you exactly what their thinking. Most people are to cheap to buy earplugs/muffs. They would rather stick patch's or cigarette butts in their ears.The only other excuss is, their to stupid, and watch to much tv. Have only seen a couple times where somebody is shooting in a tv show or movie, and they used ear protection. Plugs can be as cheap as 5pr/$1 or a set of inexpensive muffs $20. Cheap insurance for something that has to last the rest of your life. gypsyman

williamlayton · « **Reply #5 on:** November 25, 2009, 01:26:32 PM »

What did ya'll say

Problem is I grew up in an era when there were not those things---It's a little late for me---IT IS A LITTLE LATE FOR ME---CAN YA HEAR ME NOW

Blessings

puma4440 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 25, 2009, 03:31:23 PM »

I was at the local range the other day, me and another guy showed up at the same time, we BS'd for a while, set our targets up together, and when he was putting his ear plugs in, I removed my hearing aids(not shooting related, tumors in both ears), he said "why do you need plugs if you wear hearing aids?", I told him I'd like to keep what little hearing I have left, and he looked at me like I was green, with a hotdog hanging out of my nose.

Gerry N. · « **Reply #7 on:** November 25, 2009, 04:27:57 PM »

At the range I belong to, if a shooter or spectator has no eye or hearing protection he is invited either to buy safety glasses and ear plugs there or come back with proper equipment.

And for the sea lawyers on the premises it is a private facility, play by our rules or play somewhere else.

Not rocket science.

Gerry N.

Brett · « **Reply #8 on:** November 25, 2009, 04:35:25 PM »

I always wear plugs and glasses when at the range... would like to keep what hearing I have left. Was at the range about a week ago (private range no one there but me) and forgot to put the plugs back in after taking a break to reload some magazines for my P11 and reloaded one of my .38 snubbies. Remembered the plugs real fast after one shot from a snubby Ouch.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #9 on:** November 25, 2009, 05:20:05 PM »

Yea I hate that. You pull the trigger and find out real quick you forgot to put your plugs in. Just that one shot got your ears ringing for the next couple hours.

I try not to forget but I do at times. Dale

LONGTOM · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2009, 06:21:51 PM »

Same here William.
I guess you also have the honor of being serenaded 24/7 by the crickets!
After over 35 years of hearing them I don't know what it would be like not to hear them.
Almost like losing an old friend.
60% in one ear and 50% in the other.
Works out great sometimes when the wife wants something.
What honey?
I'm sorry, I didn't hear you.

LONGTOM

bluebayou · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2009, 06:47:02 PM »

I think that my belt sander has damaged my hearing more than firearms did. That and a cheap B&D angle grinder.....Now, I wear hearing protection with all power tools and all firearms.

Questor · « **Reply #12 on:** November 26, 2009, 04:11:09 AM »

Bluebayou:

That's par for the course in my area. No eye protection either. When we all agree to go down range to check targets, for the tenth time in 30 minutes, somebody stays back at the firing line and starts shooting while everybody else is down range.

The ones that irk me the most is the guys who obviously have spent thousands of dollars on their gun, but do not have a scope or binoculars to check their targets. I don't get it.

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #13 on:** November 26, 2009, 04:35:58 AM »

IMHO no responsible range operator would allow someone on the range at all without proper hearing or eye protection in these days of lawyers on every corner.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #14 on:** November 26, 2009, 01:38:01 PM »

A chief gripe of mine is the people who hang targets right over the supports for the target backers (usually plywood supported by 2x4's or pipe. The supports are shot out pretty fast and down go the backers. It is a private club range with not a lot of traffic except just before season. Whenever I see it, I rehang the targets and explain what I am doing. The other shooters don't complain once they see the benefit. The other shooters use hearing protection, but generaly no eye protection.

gypsyman · « **Reply #15 on:** November 26, 2009, 01:45:15 PM »

Since the club I belong to is a small depression in the ground, we have a shooting platform built about 4' off the ground. When walking to it, we built a ramp that comes off high ground for wheelchair shooters that might show up. Our club rule, nobody beyound the beginning of the ramp without eye and ear protection. Period. One warning only. Kicked out for a year if caught without any. gypsyman

buffgun · « **Reply #16 on:** November 26, 2009, 02:14:20 PM »

I use eletronic muffs so i can hear people talk and i carry a second pair plus some regular one to loan out if needed !

mechanic · « **Reply #17 on:** November 26, 2009, 03:23:45 PM »

Our local range is "managed" by the Corp. of Engineers and the DNR. The last few years due to budget cuts, I have not seen anyone there in charge at all. So we have to police ourselves. No eye and ear protection is bad enough, but you also will have to watch for newbies who don't know to open the action when we go cold to change targets, etc. We had two young men come in one day with a 9mm pistol and a 9mm carbine. The "tall" one was teaching the short one to shoot...sort of. They had no eye or ear protection, and no target. They loaded the pistol and each fired a couple clips into the ground about 10 yard out. Then the tall one instructed the short one on how to load and make ready the carbine. He immediately placed the stock ON TOP of his shoulder, and his eye AGAINST the eye piece of the scope. Before anyone could say anything he squeezed off a round. I loaned him some material from my first aid kit to stop the blood, and explained he was lucky it was a 9mm. Anything more and he could have lost an eye.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #18 on:** November 26, 2009, 03:28:50 PM »

Quote from: mechanic on November 26, 2009, 03:23:45 PM

Our local range is "managed" by the Corp. of Engineers and the DNR. The last few years due to budget cuts, I have not seen anyone there in charge at all. So we have to police ourselves. No eye and ear protection is bad enough, but you also will have to watch for newbies who don't know to open the action when we go cold to change targets, etc. We had two young men come in one day with a 9mm pistol and a 9mm carbine. The "tall" one was teaching the short one to shoot...sort of. They had no eye or ear protection, and no target. They loaded the pistol and each fired a couple clips into the ground about 10 yard out. Then the tall one instructed the short one on how to load and make ready the carbine. He immediately placed the stock ON TOP of his shoulder, and his eye AGAINST the eye piece of the scope. Before anyone could say anything he squeezed off a round. I loaned him some material from my first aid kit to stop the blood, and explained he was lucky it was a 9mm. Anything more and he could have lost an eye.

I believe in gun control, if you can't control your gun - don't use it! That is the way that the military carries rifles nowadays, so tall one obviously thought that must be the way you shoot too! I hope he learned his lesson, I'm sure the short one did.

bluebayou · « **Reply #19 on:** November 26, 2009, 08:30:16 PM »

what's funny here is that the young ones are actually less trouble to me than old guys. I can't tell you how many times an old guy has swept me with the muzzle.

Biggest confrontation that I have had with someone was an old guy

in his 60's sitting two benches to my right. He kept laying his rifles on the bench in between us with the muzzle facing me instead of downrange. When I said something to him he picked one up by the wrist with his finger on the trigger guard pointing directly at me asking what my problem was. He wasn't threatening me........just honestly didn't understand why I had a problem with it.

DDZ · « **Reply #20 on:** November 27, 2009, 02:54:04 AM »

People that sweep their muzzle over others, and don't have any thoughts to where their muzzle is pointing, have never been taught much gun safety. Years ago gun safety had not been taught like it is today. This is the reason you see old guys pointing their muzzle where it shouldn't be. Of coarse when you see younger people doing it, its because their Dads probably do it and never taught their kids any different.
Its the same with eye and ear protection. I have always wore ear protection but eye protection was an after thought when shooting. Until I got to thinking what could happen with a high pressure round going off inches from my eyes.
Its true that most peoples noise induced hearing loss is due to things like lawn mowers, weedeaters, power tools, etc.. Any sustained noise over 80 decibels can damage hearing. Short load blasts like gun fire will surely do the job also.
You can never be to safe with a firearm. How many horror stories have we heard about a firearm discharging accidentally and killing someone. There was a guy that lived near me, and he had just got home from a hunt with his flintlock. He was getting the flintlock from his vehicle and it discharged killing him. It was assumed a spark from static set the charge off. A good rule to follow that my Father had taught me, is to never have your muzzle pointing in any direction that you would not want to shoot. That rule should be applied with an unloaded firearm as well as a loaded firearm.

mechanic · « **Reply #21 on:** November 27, 2009, 05:37:59 AM »

I was taught that there was no such thing as an unloaded firearm. Assume all are loaded!