Range Safety Issue

J

JEC

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Not sure if is the right place to post this concern, but if it attracts the attention of 7.62 X 39 shooters..it will be a good thing. Our Range is largely unsupervised and for the most part, members are pretty responsible. However, last week someone left a trail of bullet divots starting about 10M from the firing line...some of which could have skipped over the 100M backstop. A chap with CFO who happened to be on site with a Range inspection group, noticed the careless shooting and brought it to the attention of an Executive member. He actually dug some of the slugs out of the ground and identified them as 7.62 X 39.
We are going to post notices warning members not to shoot at the ground, but, the use of 7.62 X 39 semi auto's will almost certainly be questioned...and given issues we have had in the past with 7.62 X 39 steel cases "littering" the firing line ....who knows where this could go? Anybody have any contructive suggestions?
 
I've got one: Bullets do "weird sh*t" after striking any surface. All bullets. Put out a warning that the jackass that did it should step forward, apologize, and not do it again. Tell the CFO dude that you've addressed the issue, but he knows as well as you do that even bullets that strike the back-stop often "bounce" up into the sky, and that the terminal ballistics of them coming back down is not a huge risk, so just be a pal and don't make a mountain out of a molehill. There is no point in jerkin' anyone's chain over the FACT that bullets are falling out of the sky all around that range even if people hit the backstop. That's just what happens with shooting from time to time, and the best anyone can do is limit it by not shooting the ground in front of them, and hoping for the best otherwise.
 
venom_bullet said:
how did he know that they where 7.62x39 and not 7.62x51 or 7.62x54 or 7.62x63 the slugs are all the same ?????
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The 120ish cannelured bullet is fairly easy to identify, particularly with the laquered steel cases likely littering the place.

Kind of makes me want to invest in one of the nail sweeper magnets the roofers use.
 
IMO I would not blame 7.62 x 39 ammo. I would blame a shooter who cannot or will not shoot at the target with a berm behind it. Also, blame shooters who will not clean up their brass before they leave.

I would enforce 2 rules. Only shooting at the targets in front of the berm(s) and clean up after yourself.
 
Gatehouse said:
Ban SKS rifles form the range.

:p
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I assume that was said in jest but it was tough to tell. If not said in jest then I guess we can never complain when others want to ban all guns from anywhere.

This is a case of one (maybe two) shooters and yet the OP wants all 7.62X39 shooters to to pay attention (or perhaps all semi-automatics).

As Colinjw said enforce the two rules. If there is a sign in sheet then see if you can find out who was there. Then deal with him(her).

But don't lump all of us in one basket.
 
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I hope the post generates discussion among shooters ... particularly, those who shoot 7.62 X 39 semi's from the hip !!!.....Somehow, the message needs to get through that a few "jerks" can ruin it for everybody. I was ready to "blame" a handgun shooter until he picked the slugs out of the ground.
I will not be surprised that cameras will be installed at some time in the future.
The property the Range is on, is used frequently by youth groups including cadets, cubs, scouts, and even school groups (shooting)....so we take every precaution to prevent ricochettes.
Who sells "nail magnets" in the Edm area?
 
JEC said:
I hope the post generates discussion among shooters ... particularly, those who shoot 7.62 X 39 semi's from the hip !!!.....Somehow, the message needs to get through that a few "jerks" can ruin it for everybody. I was ready to "blame" a handgun shooter until he picked the slugs out of the ground.
I will not be surprised that cameras will be installed at some time in the future.
The property the Range is on, is used frequently by youth groups including cadets, cubs, scouts, and even school groups (shooting)....so we take every precaution to prevent ricochettes.
Who sells "nail magnets" in the Edm area?
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Princess Auto
 
while we are at it why not start to ban all cars that have killed some one, lets cut the bull sh$% and ban the a$$ that did it and get rid of the problem.
 
1) Range SPFGA
2) Give the "ban the____ hype a rest!" The bottom line here is that we have to to take responsibility for what is happening. Private ranges have the right to make rules so if you don't like the rules at one range, you can join another. I have been told that some ranges even regulate the "rate of fire"...ie. at least 5 seconds between shots. I do not think that SPFGA will "ban" 7.62 X 39 semi-auto`s, but if enough members became concerned that (any) careless practice constitutes a liability that could result in injury...who knows where it could lead.
 
JEC said:
I hope the post generates discussion among shooters ... particularly, those who shoot 7.62 X 39 semi's from the hip !!!.....Somehow, the message needs to get through that a few "jerks" can ruin it for everybody. I was ready to "blame" a handgun shooter until he picked the slugs out of the ground.
I will not be surprised that cameras will be installed at some time in the future.
The property the Range is on, is used frequently by youth groups including cadets, cubs, scouts, and even school groups (shooting)....so we take every precaution to prevent ricochettes.
Who sells "nail magnets" in the Edm area?
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Why were you ready to "blame" a hand gun shooter?
 
I have been reading this thread and waiting passionately for more experienced members to ask this question; how does a certain cartridge relate to careless behaviour? For all we know, this person could have been shooting a BAR or a Rem......

Are 7.62 x 39 users more prone to be reckless?
 
I couldn't imagine how a person shooting a rifle with sights or scope could hit the ground (several times) within 25' of the firing line.... while shooting off a bench that is 30" high at a target board 110 yds distant.
 
JEC said:
I couldn't imagine how a person shooting a rifle with sights or scope could hit the ground (several times) within 25' of the firing line.... while shooting off a bench that is 30" high at a target board 110 yds distant.
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True. SKS's are not very accurate, but you still shouldn't be hitting the ground 25' away with one!
 
JEC said:
I couldn't imagine how a person shooting a rifle with sights or scope could hit the ground (several times) within 25' of the firing line.... while shooting off a bench that is 30" high at a target board 110 yds distant.
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Shooting from the hip, or perhaps purposely aiming at the ground to see what it looked like when shot?
 
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