Range Idiots
- Thread starter todbartell
- Start date
This talk of arrogant shop keepers, dumb sales clerks and dodgy members is all too reminiscient.
A mate who's just now returning to shooting wandered into a well known gunshop in Sydney and the young jerk at the counter told him all the .303s they ever saw went straight to the crusher, .303 was a useless round for hunting and that ammo, components and dies weren't made for it anymore!
Since then my mate has bought 4 Lee Enfields....they lost some money on possible ammo and component sales there and possibly on new guns in the future.
Then there were the 2 local gunshops.
One should be called Ali Baba's because the prices are pure robbery and he won't order anything in that "isn't popular".
He can go take a long walk off a short pier though because I wouldn't pay his prices even if he did order stuff in for me.
The other store went out of business in the most unscrupulous manner I've ever seen.
The original owner who was secretly in debt to the eyeballs (so much so that the distributors wouldn't fill anymore orders from him) sold the business to a young guy and told the distributors that the new owner was actually his partner and would pay the debts.
The reps from the distributors converged on the place, demanded their money and when the young guy said truthfully that he was not a partner but the new owner they pulled all their stuff from the shelves as they believed he was lying.
The new owner tried to hold out until he was proven right in court but by then the overheads had killed him and he was forced sell up and cut his losses, losing $10,000 to the old charlatan he'd bought it from.
And then there's the old club member who's a thorn in our side.
We share a range with another rifle club, a pistol club and a trap club and as such have set range meet times.
One Sunday, which normally would've been our shoot, we arranged to let the other rifle club use the range for a major comp.
This member, who is approaching 80 years of age, drove straight past the 600yd firing line for that days comp even though he saw the barriers and signs and was hailed and went and parked by the 300yd shooting mound we use.....right in line of fire!!
Our then president rang him and he swore he wasn't even there.
Then his daughter rang our president and threatened legal action if her father's health deteriorated because of the accusation.
Because the other rifle club did not pursue the matter properly it was let slide, but his stubborness was not over.
Last year we were subject to severe range restrictions and as a result could not use any high powered centrefires, not even .22 Hornet.
We received news that we would be allowed to shoot centrefires up to 308 cal as long as the 100m backstop was raised from 1.5m to 3m in height and only after these earthworks were done.
If we shot centrefire before then we were in danger of our range being closed.
The range meet after this was announced our old "friend" arrives with his BSA Martini International and.........his .222 Rem bolt gun.
"I'll shoot 50m rimfire with the BSA and 100m with my .222," he says.
I was range officer for the day and knew what I had to do.
I said I was sorry but we couldn't until the earthworks were done on the backstop.
He replied that it wouldn't make any difference; no one would know....and looked stubborn.
I then stood my ground and said as range officer for the shoot and at the express instructions of the Range Captain I could not let him use it.
We stared each other down for perhaps a second and then he assented and put the .222 back in his car.
But he would've pushed the point and we now watch him like a hawk.
A mate who's just now returning to shooting wandered into a well known gunshop in Sydney and the young jerk at the counter told him all the .303s they ever saw went straight to the crusher, .303 was a useless round for hunting and that ammo, components and dies weren't made for it anymore!
Since then my mate has bought 4 Lee Enfields....they lost some money on possible ammo and component sales there and possibly on new guns in the future.
Then there were the 2 local gunshops.
One should be called Ali Baba's because the prices are pure robbery and he won't order anything in that "isn't popular".
He can go take a long walk off a short pier though because I wouldn't pay his prices even if he did order stuff in for me.
The other store went out of business in the most unscrupulous manner I've ever seen.
The original owner who was secretly in debt to the eyeballs (so much so that the distributors wouldn't fill anymore orders from him) sold the business to a young guy and told the distributors that the new owner was actually his partner and would pay the debts.
The reps from the distributors converged on the place, demanded their money and when the young guy said truthfully that he was not a partner but the new owner they pulled all their stuff from the shelves as they believed he was lying.
The new owner tried to hold out until he was proven right in court but by then the overheads had killed him and he was forced sell up and cut his losses, losing $10,000 to the old charlatan he'd bought it from.
And then there's the old club member who's a thorn in our side.
We share a range with another rifle club, a pistol club and a trap club and as such have set range meet times.
One Sunday, which normally would've been our shoot, we arranged to let the other rifle club use the range for a major comp.
This member, who is approaching 80 years of age, drove straight past the 600yd firing line for that days comp even though he saw the barriers and signs and was hailed and went and parked by the 300yd shooting mound we use.....right in line of fire!!
Our then president rang him and he swore he wasn't even there.
Then his daughter rang our president and threatened legal action if her father's health deteriorated because of the accusation.
Because the other rifle club did not pursue the matter properly it was let slide, but his stubborness was not over.
Last year we were subject to severe range restrictions and as a result could not use any high powered centrefires, not even .22 Hornet.
We received news that we would be allowed to shoot centrefires up to 308 cal as long as the 100m backstop was raised from 1.5m to 3m in height and only after these earthworks were done.
If we shot centrefire before then we were in danger of our range being closed.
The range meet after this was announced our old "friend" arrives with his BSA Martini International and.........his .222 Rem bolt gun.
"I'll shoot 50m rimfire with the BSA and 100m with my .222," he says.
I was range officer for the day and knew what I had to do.
I said I was sorry but we couldn't until the earthworks were done on the backstop.
He replied that it wouldn't make any difference; no one would know....and looked stubborn.
I then stood my ground and said as range officer for the shoot and at the express instructions of the Range Captain I could not let him use it.
We stared each other down for perhaps a second and then he assented and put the .222 back in his car.
But he would've pushed the point and we now watch him like a hawk.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
crazy_davey said:I know it is, I just dont do it. I love watching the people at the range picking up the brass out of the dirt. It reminds me of glueing a loonie to the ground
Sheesh, gluing a loonie to the ground, what a foul trick to play on someone. If you ever do this to me, you're gonna have some 'splainin' to do, right after I finish picking up this damn stuck 45 case.
- Location
- AB foothills
kell2784 said:
Atleast it is not like Saskabush, grade six education and 19k a year
Graed 10 is fer teh smrt ones
- Location
- burnaby BC
crazy_davey said:You shoot range picked brass
I have lots of rifle brass that has been shot only seven or eight times with heavy loads, wanna buy it as well
well, i dont shoot range picked brass, as im one of 3 or 4 people in town with a .45, and we all handload.
the only brass i find is the stuff i find that i couldnt the week before.
but, id be willing to buy range picked brass for cheap, and then go over it to make sure it was alright.
I am sure a few guys judged me and snickered to themselves my first few times out to the range. I had a few guys approach me and show me the ropes. I worked through it with some help and alot of my own research.
I agree the 260 is a cute 'lil gun.
I agree the 260 is a cute 'lil gun.
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Crusader_Sniper
New member
There is nothing wrong with a new rifle in whatever caliber, magnum or not, you cannot even shoot at Mission gun club in the F-class because ooohhh your big bad magnum is unpleasant to the other shooters beside you…what BS! They all go boom some louder than the magnums and what is up with the hate on for the “Weatherby’s anyway? If they choose to purchase a magnum caliber, let them.
We should try to encourage and assist new shooters to our sport, yes they surf the internet, read magazines on the latest, greatest “Weatherby Magnum’s, join and read these kind of forums, and we wonder why we have less young or new shooters joining our sport. Do not think for one second these forums are not making an impression on these new shooters, and taken to heart. Whether they are new to the sport or not, we need to encourage, not discourage our sport and favorite pass time.
Yes, they come to the range and blow off ammo, fiddle with their scopes etc…we have all been there, let us assist and educate them rather than bash them!
I myself have been around firearms all my life, and I still learn something new everyday! Even from a new shooter…
Have a great day guys!
We should try to encourage and assist new shooters to our sport, yes they surf the internet, read magazines on the latest, greatest “Weatherby Magnum’s, join and read these kind of forums, and we wonder why we have less young or new shooters joining our sport. Do not think for one second these forums are not making an impression on these new shooters, and taken to heart. Whether they are new to the sport or not, we need to encourage, not discourage our sport and favorite pass time.
Yes, they come to the range and blow off ammo, fiddle with their scopes etc…we have all been there, let us assist and educate them rather than bash them!
I myself have been around firearms all my life, and I still learn something new everyday! Even from a new shooter…
Have a great day guys!
There's nothing wrong with magnums for sure. However, there are some folks that couldn't hit the side of a barn door at 100 paces, but have money and need to show others they're people to be reckoned with.
Also, sometimes, the scenario goes like this: They're using an "ordinary" .308 the year before and cleanly miss their moose and don't know why. Next year, a salesman convinces them "They need to buy themsleves one of those "MANGRUMS"!!" The demonstation goes like this: The saleman takes out a .308 bullet next to a .300 and .338 Win mag. The implication here is that clearly he's not using enough bullet! You can't kill a big ol' moose with such a peep squeek bullet!
A few thousand $$$ later off he goes to the range and later that same year in fall, history repeats itself! However, this time too ashamed(or stupid) to admit and realize his lack of markmanship. ...maybe next year a .375HH!
Also, sometimes, the scenario goes like this: They're using an "ordinary" .308 the year before and cleanly miss their moose and don't know why. Next year, a salesman convinces them "They need to buy themsleves one of those "MANGRUMS"!!" The demonstation goes like this: The saleman takes out a .308 bullet next to a .300 and .338 Win mag. The implication here is that clearly he's not using enough bullet! You can't kill a big ol' moose with such a peep squeek bullet!
A few thousand $$$ later off he goes to the range and later that same year in fall, history repeats itself! However, this time too ashamed(or stupid) to admit and realize his lack of markmanship. ...maybe next year a .375HH!
I'll gladly escort and accompany you to watch the show.Calum said:If I ever come visit family in Australia take me to this place so I can laugh in this guys face.
As one who regularly sees both of the above in action much more has to do with environment than either of the others.Calum said:
Don't get me wrong...there are those that rise above the "training", if you could call it that, they receive from their family/friends/etc. but on the whole dickheads usually train other dickheads and give birth to them as well.
Sounds harsh I know, but then I spend a lot of time babysitting them so I'm well aware of the development process.
I agree with Crusader_Sniper that we need to encourage new shooters.
About 5 years back I was among those ranks and I fell amongst patient and encouraging guys who didn't look down their nose at me and gave me a chance to have a crack at things.
The first year I spent almost every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon at the rimfire range knocking over silhouettes and punching targets with not a great deal of expertise but a reasonable amount of enjoyment and was given tidbits of advice at the right time that slowly improved my results.
The secretary of the club taught me in simple steps how to reload and another friend arranged my wife's parents to give me all of the equipment for my 30th birthday.
He also chucked in with me for some custom 303/25 ammo as it's a wildcat we both bought rifles in and he covered most of the cost.
Have I done the same? Yes.
A good friend came back to shooting after many years.
He had virtually no gear and not much idea what would be best.
I scored him a good Lithgow Mod 12 .22lr for free through a friend and then when he bought a centrefire gave him first a Lee Loader and then dies for it as well as stuff like scales and an Autoprime for birthdays as he needed them.
Am I boasting? No.
He's now getting astounding performance from his own loads using stuff he chose and is totally hooked.
I'd happily do it again even though the cost at one time or another meant my own pockets were a little light.
The trick is, however, to mentor someone BEFORE they become a dickhead or to halt the process ASAP.
The $90 ammo boys seem long past the stage where someone could stop it.
Mind you, I could be wrong.
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- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
It takes all kinds to make the world go round. Everyone has different levels of experience and ability. There are those who will accept suggestions and those who will not.
I attended the RCMP qualification shoot here a few years ago, and everyone shot high with the plain barrel 870. I expalined to the GIC that the bead wss below the height of the reciever and should be mounted on a pedestal rather than on the barrel, and that there was a local guy who could do the work for a reasonable price. I saw that gun last fall - the bead is still down on the barrel. Oh well, all you can do is try.
If there is someone having obvious problems, if you can get him to allow you to fire a couple of rounds just to try it out and you get a nice tidy .75" group he might listen to what you have to say, or he might say - "Shootin paper don't mean nuthin - I don't miss game!" I no longer waste time with folks who are not willing to listen.
If a guy has a question I can answer, I'll do my best to help him out - even if it cuts into my shooting time. I might be able to learn something too.
I attended the RCMP qualification shoot here a few years ago, and everyone shot high with the plain barrel 870. I expalined to the GIC that the bead wss below the height of the reciever and should be mounted on a pedestal rather than on the barrel, and that there was a local guy who could do the work for a reasonable price. I saw that gun last fall - the bead is still down on the barrel. Oh well, all you can do is try.
If there is someone having obvious problems, if you can get him to allow you to fire a couple of rounds just to try it out and you get a nice tidy .75" group he might listen to what you have to say, or he might say - "Shootin paper don't mean nuthin - I don't miss game!" I no longer waste time with folks who are not willing to listen.
If a guy has a question I can answer, I'll do my best to help him out - even if it cuts into my shooting time. I might be able to learn something too.
Crusader_Sniper said:
That is why CGN was invented, for unity & expansion of our beloved sport..As for the Range gestapo types, by my own experience, you can't tell those guys new tricks or tell what to do. So I just leave them alone unless they start to not leave me alone when we shoot.
I'm a new shooter, and I don't know all the tricks...I grew up in the city and didn't have a .22 when I was 7 like a lot of people had the priviledge of doing. Sometimes I'm working on my groups, making them tighter, and I try to strike up conversations with guys shooting well to see if i can get some advice. Most of the time I get a grizzly old man who's going good but is reluctant to talk. That's okay, back to the drawing board; reading CGN and hoping to apply text to real life.
