I’ve been a member of a range that has had a fixed firing line and dedicated RSO for a while now. I just joined another range where the rules are a little different such that the first member on the range assumes the duties of RSO. This range also allows the first shooter who arrives to set the firing line for that range. Here’s my question...say I arrive first and want to shoot my handgun at 15 yards on the 50 yard range. I advance the firing line and set up at 15 yards. A little later some members show up and want to shoot rimfire at 50 yards on the same range. What happens? What’s the etiquette here?
Firing line question of etiquette
- Thread starter Alchemist
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Mightymoose410
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You are acting RSO unless you pass if off to someone else or someone more qualified
I think the OP is talking about a situation like an action range where targets might be at the backstop but the firing positions may be set at various distances.
OP - At my range it is first come first serve but every range is different.
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Are we talking a fixed backstop here?
Are there multiple bays at your range or just this one?
Sounds like an inconvenience to have only one range with a movable firing line.
In your situation, since you were there first, I would stick with the 15 but let the other shooter know how long I would be there. Clear communication will help a lot.
Are there multiple bays at your range or just this one?
Sounds like an inconvenience to have only one range with a movable firing line.
In your situation, since you were there first, I would stick with the 15 but let the other shooter know how long I would be there. Clear communication will help a lot.
Our range is first come first served but we have a few ranges at different distances that makes life easier. If I see someone shooting pistol at 15 m I will look elsewhere or politely ask at a break in shooting if they will be there a while. There should be no way that someone is shooting 50 while someone is shooting 15 on the same range at the same time even if off set from each other.
Two ranges and a trap range. One range is divided into 25/50/100 yard fixed targets, the other range has 50y fixed targets. I was told first person on the range can determine the firing line if say you want to shoot handguns at 10-15y. Obviously I wouldn't use the 100y range for this, I'd advance to 15y on either of the 50y ranges or the 25y section of the main range. What I was concerned about was if a group of 3-4 people turn up wanting to shoot at 50y but they cant as I would be in front of the 50y firing line.
Pretty simple, if I'm first on the range and someone else wants to share the range I just tell them what I'm shooting and at what yardage. Take it or leave it. If I'm shooting at 15 and they're looking to shoot from 50 I'll gladly shoot from 50 as wel, if I brought a gun for that. Otherwise, I'll let them know when I plan on packing up.
OK. Understood. I generally shoot for an hour or so handgun for practice and so was worried about causing a line-up if a group wanted to shoot at further distance and arrived after me. The new range I'm at seems mostly used by folks sighting in and using hunting or precision rifles and not so much handguns.
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I assume the 50 yarder is an outside range. Your current set up is very inconvenient. The easiest solution is movable target backers so the firing line is fixed but you can set your targets at any distance you want. That way everyone can shoot.
I’m guessing your range has low usage because I can see the current system causing a lot of issues during busy times.
I’m guessing your range has low usage because I can see the current system causing a lot of issues during busy times.
Yep, exactly why I'm a little confused. Everything is fine if I want to shoot at a fixed distance of 25y, 50y or 100y but iron sights on my handguns at 25y is not yet something I'd brag about and getting the fundamentals at 10-15 makes more sense. I think I'm going to just head out at different times to see when the ranges aren't used much so I can get a sense of when I can have an hour or so free on a particular range to do this. Otherwise I'll keep my handguns for my other range (indoors) that has electronic moveable targets from 0-25y and save the new one for rifles. The thing is I'd like to shoot the handguns outdoors on the new range if at all possible for the different experience (different lighting, weather, wind etc).
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I agree with your assessment and your solution Alchemist. You may want to discuss with the range owners or Board re: this issue down the road.
Lack of sleep. I may have confused terminology a little. Here's the summary:
I'm a member of two gun clubs. One just has an indoor 25y range with moveable targets. The other, the new one, just has outdoor ranges, one main range divided into 3 sections with fixed targets at 25, 50 and 100y, and another range with 50y fixed targets. The new club has a rule where the first shooter can determine the firing line on any of the ranges to advance the firing line towards the fixed targets.
I'm a member of two gun clubs. One just has an indoor 25y range with moveable targets. The other, the new one, just has outdoor ranges, one main range divided into 3 sections with fixed targets at 25, 50 and 100y, and another range with 50y fixed targets. The new club has a rule where the first shooter can determine the firing line on any of the ranges to advance the firing line towards the fixed targets.
I will. The president is a handgun guy so I kind of got the feeling that it's a given that first on scene gets first dibs. I was just uncomfortable as a new member that I might potentially hold up a larger group of people by doing this. I don't want the other members mumbling about how the handgun guy holds up the precision shooting guys all the time.
It's not dynamic shooting. It's just using a firing line that's closer to the fixed targets. If I want to shoot 15y from the target the firing line would be fixed at 15y but to do so I would have to advance towards those fixed targets to do so.
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It won’t be your problem Alchemist. You paid your dues and should be entitled to the same range time. Any issue here should be the range’s responsibility since it is their set up that caused the problem.
And PRS guys won’t normally be shooting at 50yds unless they’re testing loads and set up. Likely will be hunters and plinkers.
Have to use the fixed target stands that are set close to the berms I believe, there's a whole slew of rules about targets and target placement on the stands. I'll work it out, I'm a reasonable guy. If I can get on the 25 yard portion of the main range first and use a 15y firing line the other guys that turn up on the range would only have to advance 10 yards in front of their benches for everyone to still shoot. So 90y instead of 100y on that portion and 40 instead of 50 on the other.
