Carrying handguns at the Range?

Brambles

Brambles

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West Kootenays B.C.
Our gun club has an indoor and outdoor range, the question applies to both situations.

Who wears their hanguns in a holster when at the range?

If you bring both rifles and handguns to the range and have to change a 300 yard target for your rifle, do you take you handgun down range with you or leave it on the bench?

My thoughts is that being restricted it wouldn't be responsible leaving it on the bench, or for that matter in a locked carrying case on the bench, it would be real easy for someone to show up, and snatch it when you down at the further ranges swapping targets.

One member at our outdoor range always carry's his 44 mag when he goes and changes targets cause one year when he didn't he had a bear issue where the bear stalked him.

Lets hear what you do.

I'm not even sure what the law is on this subject.

Thanks
 
Brambles said:
Our gun club has an indoor and outdoor range, the question applies to both situations.

Who wears their hanguns in a holster when at the range?

If you bring both rifles and handguns to the range and have to change a 300 yard target for your rifle, do you take you handgun down range with you or leave it on the bench?

My thoughts is that being restricted it wouldn't be responsible leaving it on the bench, or for that matter in a locked carrying case on the bench, it would be real easy for someone to show up, and snatch it when you down at the further ranges swapping targets.

One member at our outdoor range always carry's his 44 mag when he goes and changes targets cause one year when he didn't he had a bear issue where the bear stalked him.

Lets hear what you do.

I'm not even sure what the law is on this subject.

Thanks
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For someone to walk downrange a ceasefire is in effect.
When a ceasefire is called all weapons must be left on the line with the actions open and everyone must be behind the ceasefire line unless going downrange changing targets.

I don't know of any RO that would allow anyone onto the range with a firearm in their posession.

I have no idea if the rules are different in BC but I was under the impression that these were national.
 
It's a good question. Awaiting answers. I don't do handguns so I can't answer. I have mainly seen people leave it k. The bench.... Come to think of it a rifle wouldn't be different
 
I always carry my firearms ( long guns ) with the action open and carry my restricted firearms in a holster when going down range when I am by myself , when I have friends out who are licensed or not I get them to change the targets , that way I am also in control of my firearms ...
 
It's a touchy subject. Some clubs steeped in a bullseye tradition freak out at the thought of a gun not made safe and left on the line.

My take is that as long as the person carrying a live gun understands that the only time he touches the gun is when the line is live, I have no objection.

With the numbers of thefts, including at gunpoint and the recent shootings of people at clubs alone in the US, I'd not be adverse to a lone member carrying his pistol holstered down range.
 
thump_rrr said:
For someone to walk downrange a ceasefire is in effect.
When a ceasefire is called all weapons must be left on the line with the actions open and everyone must be behind the ceasefire line unless going downrange changing targets.

I don't know of any RO that would allow anyone onto the range with a firearm in their posession.

I have no idea if the rules are different in BC but I was under the impression that these were national.
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Quite often at our indoor and outdoor range, your the only one there, sometimes one or two others. No on duty range staff, everyone has their own keys to gain access. If its an organized shoot then securtiy isn't as much a concern. Nor is the 25 yard indoor range. The outdoor range, anyone can sneek in when your by yourself and downrange changing targets and swipe your stuff. Leaving a restricted firearm unattended at the line in the outdoor range scenario seems less resposible then holstering it and taking it with you IMO.
 
I've been a member of both a very busy public range in a big city and a small town private club range. On the public range it is absolutely forbidden to wander around with a holstered pistol. However you don't have to worry about them being stolen during target changes because there are a couple of RO's keeping an eye on things. On the small town range I'm usually the only one there and yes, I can wander around with a holstered pistol, but there is no RO there to tell me I can't do it.

I agree with taking your pistol with you on an unsupervised range. I don't know what the law says about it , and I don't care, when the range is empty and I'm walking 100m downrange it gives me the creeps knowing my firearm and ammunition are laying there unwatched behind my back.
 
Brandon3 said:
I agree with taking your pistol with you on an unsupervised range. I don't know what the law says about it , and I don't care, when the range is empty and I'm walking 100m downrange it gives me the creeps knowing my firearm and ammunition are laying there unwatched behind my back.
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Getting shot with your own gun isn't cool...
 
When I go with pistols and long guns, I holster and bring them with me down range. I am uncomfortable leaving them on the bench. It's just too easy for them to grow legs.
 
At our outdoor pistol range I will holster my pistol with no magazine and action open when I walk downrange to change targets. I would not be comfortable leaving my pistol on the table near boxes of ammo. Most of the time I am alone at the range or with 1 buddy.

I think it is much safer to be in my holster unloaded than on the bench. Keep in mind that this is just my situation and every range is different.
 
I got no problem with Canadians carrying guns period. So a holsered pistol while downrange is okay for me. Brambles has a good point concerning an outdoor range, and I agree that it would be safer to have it on you especially when you are alone. When I am pistol shooting I often bring multiple pistols, so bringing them all down range would be cumbersome.
 
Thump_rrr- there are laws saying you cannot wear a holstered gun down range. There are some CFO's pushing an agenda of their own and obviously some clubs that have restrictive rules in place. At my range as long as you're safe you're good to go. I always carry my pistol downrange as I've been stalked by a bear a couple times and seen dodgy people on the road outside the range.
 
Brambles said:
Getting shot with your own gun isn't cool...
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That is the truth and has happened often enough that it can't be discounted as a fantasy.

thump_rrr said:
I don't know of any RO that would allow anyone onto the range with a firearm in their posession.
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Go to an IDPA or IPSC competition and you will see dozens (maybe hundreds, depending on the size of the meet) of people walking all over the range with holstered pistols. Nobody freaks out and nobody gets shot.

pres717 said:
I got no problem with Canadians carrying guns period.
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Amen.

Mark
 
I always carry holstered/no mag, when walking downrange (outdoor, unsupervised range).
Boxes of 9mm + unlocked firearm on bench = ?????
who knows, why take a risk like that when every other aspect of keeping, using and storing firearms is so stringent and safety oriented? seems counter-intuitive to me
 
I've seen alot of dumb things done with loaded guns, or with guns I don't know are loaded or not. I'd rather you put it in your holster (loaded or unloaded) pointing at your own feet then have it pointed at my back.
 
my club on the public range no hoslters are allowed, but there is also full time RO staff on duty, when on the pistol ranges as long as you have been deemed holster qulified then you can where you pistol where ever on the range. but these ranges are not public and usaly its only my self shooting,
 
thump_rrr said:
For someone to walk downrange a ceasefire is in effect.
When a ceasefire is called all weapons must be left on the line with the actions open and everyone must be behind the ceasefire line unless going downrange changing targets.

I don't know of any RO that would allow anyone onto the range with a firearm in their posession.

I have no idea if the rules are different in BC but I was under the impression that these were national.
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My range in BC has this rule. I assume its for everyone?

Unless you are ipsc or holster certified? i'm curious myself too..
 
I honestly wish I could holster at my range - it's fking stupid to have to leave it on the bench if everyone is responsible and the mag is out. what do you think happens at IDPA events where everyone is holstered with no mag in the gun - do innocent people get ripped a new one? heck no - but if we can't carry anywhere else in this country why does it have to be restricted at a range where we are entitled to enjoy our purchases (if need be make it a requirement to be club level holster certified for the "safety" of other members)
 
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