Range Safety Class

[Sir Henry]

Our range is now requiring members to take a range safety class every three years. I'm scheduled for tomorrow. A lot of people complained saying they had safety training already. I bet I've taken classes like this a few dozen times in my life but feel every three years is about right. Since I'll be at the range I might just get some shooting done. But we are having high winds and tons of rain so that might deter me.

[PT7]

Not such a bad idea to keep a watchful focus on range safety.

Interesting that this was posted today Just this week when I was at the MDC outdoor range at Parma Woods, there were some uncomfortable moments the Range Officers had to deal with. The ROs are pretty strict/rigid when it comes to our compliance with the safety regs, and some were "broken" while I was there.

During the cease fire portions, shooters are to be outside their booths with magazines out of firearms. Or in my case, with a revolver or my Henry lever-action, the revolver cylinder open or the lever open. They had to stop their inspection and get one person out of his booth as he continued to handle his firearm. Don't know what he was doing, but the ROs were "johnny-on-the-spot," er, booth.

Then the same fellow did a very odd thing during a cease fire when shooters head down range to change, put up, or take down targets. He left his target up for another firing round, but the ROs had to send him out again to correct it. He had mounted the target facing down range, away from the shooting booth. Go figure! Kind of makes one wonder what this guy was thinking and doing....

Another fellow did a major "no-no." During a firing session, the ROs announce a "One-minute to cease fire" warning. Plenty of time to either finish out your ammo, or stop and unload the firearm. When they called the "Cease Fire," one person kept on shooting!! I was a little surprised they let him stay on the range.

Finally, the ROs had to straighten out a yo-yo named PT7 for hanging out a yellow silhouette head target, which is against regs. Sigh....what a day on the range. Seriously, this was the first time for me that there was some tension happening at the MDC range. I'm glad it's monitored closely. We also have MDC outdoor ranges throughout the state, where there are not any ROs stationed. I've read some pretty scary accounts of very careless firearm handling at those ranges....I wouldn't ever go to one myself.

Hope you pass your safety class, SH. Good luck!

[Sir Henry]

Pass the safety class? No one told me there was going to be a test.

Seriously we have had people not "rack" their firearm during a ceasefire. The problem arises with the word rack. Does that mean you put it in the rack on the wall or do you rack the slide back (or open bolts)? I think the club more closely defined that term and wants everyone to know. I already know the answer but am looking forward to maybe seeing a few old friends I haven't seen in awhile.

[RanchRoper]

Interesting. Our little range has some strict rules. I think it's good. Break any of them and you risk being kicked out. We even have to wear our membership badge at all times.

[Sir Henry]

"We don't need no stinking badges". Just kidding as we also have to wear ours.

[CT_Shooter]

I shoot at an indoor range, which is more or less a series of side by side "stalls" -- called "lanes" --with concrete walls as barriers looking down a 75 foot long tunnel. There are rules of conduct posted in many locations in the area, but there hasn't ever been any formal training.

One day, a few months ago, as I was standing back from my shooting area, a twenty-something with a 9mm Glock backed out of his lane to tell his friend in the next lane something funny. As he backed out, he turned toward me, gun in hand and pointed at my chest, his head thrown back and laughing. He didn't seem to recognize any danger in his behavior. I quickly moved for cover behind the concrete of my own lane.

I should have reported this infraction; I didn't. In retrospect, I wish I had. Gun safety and range rules should have continuous reinforcement and refreshment. Good for yours that they do it.

Have a great time shooting!

[PT7]

I shoot at an indoor range, which is more or less a series of side by side "stalls" -- called "lanes" --with concrete walls as barriers looking down a 75 foot long tunnel. There are rules of conduct posted in many locations in the area, but there hasn't ever been any formal training.

One day, a few months ago, as I was standing back from my shooting area, a twenty-something with a 9mm Glock backed out of his lane to tell his friend in the next lane something funny. As he backed out, he turned toward me, gun in hand and pointed at my chest, his head thrown back and laughing. He didn't seem to recognize any danger in his behavior. I quickly moved for cover behind the concrete of my own lane.

I should have reported this infraction; I didn't. In retrospect, I wish I had. Gun safety and range rules should have continuous reinforcement and refreshment. Good for yours that they do it.

Have a great time shooting!

Partly because I can be a cantankerous old man when it comes to "doing it right," I would have reported the fellow. Especially when you described how you "quickly moved for cover behind the concrete of my own lane." That could have been most serious for you, if his gun was loaded and ready to fire. Even more so in light of his totally not paying attention to his rowdy actions.

A few years ago I went through some very early-on, very rookie training with my son-in-law at his own range (he is a police officer). He also trains his own security guards, as well as various LLE groups. So he is his own Range Officer on his range.

That day I was working with my Benelli 12-gauge Tactical Pump shotgun. Just had finished some training routines and shooting, s/g was out of ammo, and I had already put the safety on. But as we were talking, I turned and "sprayed" him with the shotgun's line of fire by moving side-to-side directly in front of him. I immediately knew I had made a critical safety mistake. From the look on his face, I seriously thought that was it and he would tell me to leave the range. (I said that nicely...kick me off would be a better description!). That almost happened; but we chatted about what I did and its implications. He decided to keep me on (whew!). I never forgot that incident, and haven't ever done that again.

Gun safety training and periodic refreshers of that training are always a good thing!

Thanks for your initial posting and reminder, SH.

[DWD445]

I agree w/PT7. It's all fun and games till someone loses an eye
Seriously, 1 mistake could change somebody's life FOREVER !! No do overs w/firearms !!
Very little precautions at our indoor range, 1 reason I like to go on Fri. eve. if I can't go outside. Usually empty then.

[Sir Henry]

At my second home the range has concrete floors and one time I went there and it was covered with blood. Lots of blood in the bench area. Speculation was someone shot themselves but no hospital reported anyone coming in with a gunshot wound at the time.

[ditto1958]

Our range is now requiring members to take a range safety class every three years. I'm scheduled for tomorrow. A lot of people complained saying they had safety training already. I bet I've taken classes like this a few dozen times in my life but feel every three years is about right. Since I'll be at the range I might just get some shooting done. But we are having high winds and tons of rain so that might deter me.

What happens if you don't pass?

[Sir Henry]

You pass if you show up and listen for an hour. I must say the class wasn't all that great. On the website and posted at the range they said you have to use a chamber flag but in the class they said it was optional.

[BrokenolMarine]

He left his target up for another firing round, but the ROs had to send him out again to correct it. He had mounted the target facing down range, away from the shooting booth. Go figure! Kind of makes one wonder what this guy was thinking and doing....

During the academy, we often mounted the targets with the buff back side facing the students and the black target side facing away for center of mass drills. You want the students to concentrate on shooting for the center of mass of the target and not looking for scoring rings. They draw and fire at the center of mass, firing the number of shots indicated by the range master, and then "reluctantly re-holster," after checking for additional targets or threats. You repeat the drill until the exercise is completed. We would often have them fire fifty to one hundred rounds at that blank buff side of the target.

Once the firing is completed, we bring the target frames back to the tables and turn them over and inspect the target faces, where they can "score" their targets at that time. Many are amazed at how well they did, without being able to see the "targets" and just shooting for center mass. The odd duck may have been conducting a center mass drill.... or he could have been an idjit.

[Mr Bill]

I've seen some unsafe behavior from time to time, I usually steer clear or even leave.
Most common infraction is when the range is in safe condition and the shooter is still
fiddling with firearm, loading up mags or adjusting sights. Nine times outta ten it's a
newbie, for the most part they're understanding when it's pointed out why it's unsafe
behavior but there are a chosen few that will never really get it. Safety First, Cheers.

[clovishound]

At my second home the range has concrete floors and one time I went there and it was covered with blood. Lots of blood in the bench area. Speculation was someone shot themselves but no hospital reported anyone coming in with a gunshot wound at the time.

Not necessarily. At the local range, I once cut my hand on the sharp edge of the front sight on a muzzle loader. Bled like a stuck pig.

[BrokenolMarine]

The other common injury with new shooters... scope bite. You shoot a heavy recoiling rifle with a short eye relief scope... and don't have the rifle locked tight in your shoulder and a solid cheek weld... bloodshed ensues. Facial cuts bleed freely.

Years ago, I was stationed in Hawaii and our Gun Club gunsmith had patented a stock design.. foam surrounded by fiberglass with a rigid bridge of some sort where the action mounted. Very popular with mountain hunters in the west. Weighed nothing. I made the mistake of test firing a short barreled 30-06 for accuracy before he shipped it to Montana. I still have the faint scar.

[clovishound]

A little while back at our local indoor range, I was talking with an older lady in the lane next to me. They sometimes have a van full of folks from a retirement community come to the range. Anyway, she wanted to show me the gun she was shooting and turned around holding the gun pointing right at me. I quickly made her point it down range, and then went on to politely explain the need to be careful of where the muzzle is pointed.

[GFK]

Hopefully, she listened to your words and will keep them in mind for the future.

[The Wiz]

This is timely. I wasn't going to tell anybody this cause I am embarrassed what happened today at the range. I was fighting a series of FTL with my BBB .357 when a round went off unexpectedly down range. I put the gun down and backed out of the station . I was shook up to say the least. I was thinking , boy that was lucky the round went where it did. My second thought was that it wasn't luck, it was the training that I got in the military and the safety course that I took, that steered that bullet down range. No luck at all!! Always, ALWAYS keep the barrel point down range is repeatedly taught. It is the first commandment of gun safety. And that training paid off today!
I am still a little spooked by what happen, since I never had that happened before.