I did read your comments and I agree with them, that is why I responded "People that grab a rifle out of the closet to hunt for 4 or 5 days of the year rarely have the same safety concerns as high volume shooters". I probably should have rephrased that more accurately. Maybe I attend the local range at the wrong time of day, but of the 300-350 members (dependant on the time of year) of the local club, 85% are hunters. The 30-40 competitive shooters that I normally see at matches are the ones I run into at the range regularly. Rarely do I see individuals just out to shoot. Actually that is quite sad to say that. Trying to attract more people to shooting these days is getting more difficult.
The Magnum Ego'$
- Thread starter stanway
- Start date
Garand - i agree with you that it would be better to see more people at the ranges more often, but it becomes a question of 'do you have guns to hunt, or hunt to have guns' sort of thing.
For most people - the priority is hunting, guns are the tools necessary. For some, they love the guns as much as the hunting, but i suspect that's a minority.
So with all the costs involved of going to the range in both money and time, (especially for city dwellers) there's a bit of reluctance.
They probably have the same concerns .. they probably care a great deal. But if you're not practicing it regularly it's easy to 'forget' for a moment, or have a lapse of judement for a split second.
Thats why i was mentioning that even a 5 minute 'refresher' before being allowed to shoot on 'hunter sight in days' probably wouldn't hurt a lot of ranges. A quick series of reminders so that people remember. Acts and Prove, and a brief rundown of basic range rules.
Most of the hunters i know are pretty safe people. But i'm sure a lot of hunters just don't think about their guns between seasons.
For most people - the priority is hunting, guns are the tools necessary. For some, they love the guns as much as the hunting, but i suspect that's a minority.
So with all the costs involved of going to the range in both money and time, (especially for city dwellers) there's a bit of reluctance.
They probably have the same concerns .. they probably care a great deal. But if you're not practicing it regularly it's easy to 'forget' for a moment, or have a lapse of judement for a split second.
Thats why i was mentioning that even a 5 minute 'refresher' before being allowed to shoot on 'hunter sight in days' probably wouldn't hurt a lot of ranges. A quick series of reminders so that people remember. Acts and Prove, and a brief rundown of basic range rules.
Most of the hunters i know are pretty safe people. But i'm sure a lot of hunters just don't think about their guns between seasons.
Well, I joined a local club in the Valley and spent a butt-load of money in factory ammo shooting my new (and first) centerfire, a 30.06. Yes, I chose the calibre over a "magnum". Some good advice, cause I sure would have developed a flinch. Still saving for a 22lr so I can shoot all day and not have to sleep in the dog house and eat KD for a month. In the first 6 months I owned my rifle, I sent 200+ rounds downrange.Took 5 or 6 to zero. From the bench and from hunting positions at 100m and 200m. VERY informative.
Did I see many people there? In the dozen or so trips to the range before hunting season, I saw maybe 4 other shooters. One was a "magnum" shooter. Three shots with a 300 Weatherby, and he's good to go. "Yeah its my new elk gun. Should work out o.k" Then he proceded to ask to borrow my cleaning supplies. WTF? The other extreme was an old man who I expected to see with .270 or .303 or 30.06. Nope, it was a brand new custom stocked.308 Norma Mag. Introduced himself and let me drool over it. Then offered some tips for my shooting form. AFTER small talk.
Did I see many people there? In the dozen or so trips to the range before hunting season, I saw maybe 4 other shooters. One was a "magnum" shooter. Three shots with a 300 Weatherby, and he's good to go. "Yeah its my new elk gun. Should work out o.k" Then he proceded to ask to borrow my cleaning supplies. WTF? The other extreme was an old man who I expected to see with .270 or .303 or 30.06. Nope, it was a brand new custom stocked.308 Norma Mag. Introduced himself and let me drool over it. Then offered some tips for my shooting form. AFTER small talk.
open-sights
Regular
- Location
- Aldergrove BC
I think I need an interpreter for this site at times.
X2...I'd rather shoot my M700 in 7 mag than my M77 in -06. Difference is probably in stocks and overall rifle weights. Neither stock is original. On the whole magnum thing. If yer over 21 and work for a livin' fill yer boots. Shoot what makes you happy. I know lots of super responsible gunners that shoot the big stuff (and a healthy number of dolts as well).
back to Bluffton Bill:
Dear Sir:
I am very concerned that you know super responsible gunners that shoot a healthy number of dolts.
Unless, of course, dolts are a game species indiginous to Elbonia or wherever those super responsible folks do their gunning.
Yours truly,
Your Grade 3 Grammar Teacher
Dear Sir:
I am very concerned that you know super responsible gunners that shoot a healthy number of dolts.
Unless, of course, dolts are a game species indiginous to Elbonia or wherever those super responsible folks do their gunning.
Yours truly,
Your Grade 3 Grammar Teacher
I don't pay much attention to what people are shooting at the range and am pretty comfortable when the regular year round shooters are there. It is the couple or three weeks before hunting season opens that scares me. Honestly, after shooting at this range about 75 days a year for 8 years and watching the goings on with the once a year shooters who show up to blow the cobwebs out of their barrels. I've noticed that a goodly percentage should not be allowed anywhere near a firearm, I'd say about 50% are totally unaware of what they are doing. They are also the most vocal about their superb ability as shooters and hunters and freely share/display their ignorance about hunting, shooting and firearms in general.
Range Idiots
Two weeks ago at the North Peace Rod and Gun Club My wife had a loaded 45-70 swung past her and then a norinco 305 pointed directly at her from the next bench, I mean pointed while F***nuts fiddles with his sight. I saw red to say the least and to avoid what was going to turn into aggravated assault I ordered us to the car. The idiot range caretaker who had been standing there the whole time then thought this would be a good opportunity to make a scene about the brass I had swept off the concrete and not picked up.
Then this idiot who had pointed the M305 figures he needs to chime in about my disresepect for having left brass on the ground.
I would be at the range alot more, buy more bullets and introduce more shooters to the sport but this is only the worst of some distubing encounters. 95 percent of my range encounters are great but 5 percent bad is too much. Show me the way to the gravel pit, cut block, siesimic line.
ANY ONE FROM THE SQUAMISH ROD AND GUN CLUB APPRECIATE YOUR RANGE CAUSE IN 4 years of regular shooting there I never once saw an idiot or was treated poorly, my new range is a nightmare.
Two weeks ago at the North Peace Rod and Gun Club My wife had a loaded 45-70 swung past her and then a norinco 305 pointed directly at her from the next bench, I mean pointed while F***nuts fiddles with his sight. I saw red to say the least and to avoid what was going to turn into aggravated assault I ordered us to the car. The idiot range caretaker who had been standing there the whole time then thought this would be a good opportunity to make a scene about the brass I had swept off the concrete and not picked up.
Then this idiot who had pointed the M305 figures he needs to chime in about my disresepect for having left brass on the ground.
I would be at the range alot more, buy more bullets and introduce more shooters to the sport but this is only the worst of some distubing encounters. 95 percent of my range encounters are great but 5 percent bad is too much. Show me the way to the gravel pit, cut block, siesimic line.
ANY ONE FROM THE SQUAMISH ROD AND GUN CLUB APPRECIATE YOUR RANGE CAUSE IN 4 years of regular shooting there I never once saw an idiot or was treated poorly, my new range is a nightmare.
I am glad I do not have to go to ranges any more, between idiots at the firing line and anal retentive range wardens. I do not miss it.
Thank God I made a life style change years ago and now own enough land to shoot when I feel like it with no worries about safety or dealing with morons.
Thank God I made a life style change years ago and now own enough land to shoot when I feel like it with no worries about safety or dealing with morons.
Sasquatch said:
I'm at that stage of the game as well...seems like every time I goto the range (I use several) these days there is some drama or another going on.
Not to mention more often then not the RCMP have taken the place over in spite of them having their own day.
I fully intend to get more land to build my own range.
