Is it considered rude?

[Wyldk2]

When you're at one range you've always gone to, you know you keep your weapons unloaded when done firing. Yet some knucklehead comes up to you and tries to tell you not to handle your weapon because they are the range officer at another range ( not even in the same county).

 

I'm sorry, but this bugs me when people ( who may or may not be a range officer at another range) try to tell other people what to do with their own firearms. Who cares if they are a range officer at some other range( I was at Terry's today and some guy came up asking me questions about my AR, And then tells me to not handle my own unloaded/saftied gun in order to show him.

 

I know he was trying to be helpful, but please don't order other people around to get your point across. I mean, I am all about being safe, but in order to show you something about my firearm, i do have to touch it.

 

Maybe I am being to in to this, but it just got to me today. 

 

But, going to the pistol range, i had a pretty tight grouping. So it wasn't a total loss.

[toby1304]

That's when you tell him that your AR is none of his business.

[spazz023]

I'd say he was just taking rule number one for gun safety a bit too far. I'd never tell anyone what to do with their weapon, unless they were a danger to those around them, but some people just need to feel special I guess.

[Wyldk2]

Thanks,

 

I'm usually not one to argue with someone over something so small, I usually just let it slide and move on.

 

Usually the ones who think they are special are the ones needing all the help.

[Caster]

My range has a pretty strict policy of No handling weapons when people are down range. Unloaded or not, it's just common courtesy to people who don't know you.

I don't handle mine when the range is clear and people are setting targets. There's no reason to. I wouldn't care if wasn an FBI weapons specialist, i don't trust anyone in that respect.



To answer the OP, there's never a reason for people being a know it all douche but, there's no reason not to respect others safety at the range and as I said, just cause YOU know theyre not loaded don't mean others do.

Btw, I hate those kinda range officers too. Thankfully Charlie run those off. Edited March 8, 2015 by Caster

[TrickyNicky]

^ This, and not just cause I shoot at Charlies too ;) .

 

I think we've all had more than a few run ins with "that guy". Whether it's on the range or in the gun shop, "that guy" is the cats pajamas and just give him 90 seconds and he'll be sure to tell you all about it. As an added bonus "that guy" is usually more than willing to critique you, your gear, and your technique at no charge and offer vague recommendations such as "a lot of guys used to do _____, but I've always thought that was stupid." Or, "I've helped my brothers friends SWAT team train before. They were acquiring targets in all wrong. I went and told their 'trainer' what he was doing wrong and he was just speechless."

 

As much as I loathe "that guy", it sounds like in this case he may have been in the right, or at least not wrong. If you were handling your rifle while the range was cold then, well yeah someone is or at least should correct that immediately. His experience as a RSO has nothing to do with that though, it's just basic safety and curtesy for other shooters. To say that he was in the wrong because he works at a different range makes no sense at all IMO.

[Trekbike]

I think there is an echo in here... :)

[DaveTN]

Maybe he was just making conversation? What was he asking you about your AR? Did he accuse you of doing something wrong?

[miller_man]

As long as you were not handling a weapon during a cold range or muzzle sweeping him.

 

More than once at ranges, I've inquired about someone's firearm out of curiosity to then have them muzzle sweep the crap out of me, once with a loaded gun.

[DWARREN123]

Range Nazis!

[Handsome Rob]

Aaand that's why I don't shoot at Terry's any more.

If there were some clearly defined rules stating that weapons cannot be handled while the range is cold, fair enough, I'd have probably done the same thing & politely asked you not to.
However, no such rules are in place & it's down to your own common sense & as such I'd have minded my own business.

I've been swept at Terry's so many times, whilst at the benches & down range it's not even funny. For some reason the 'That Guy' ratio seems much higher than anywhere else I've shot.

I'm actually starting to think that common sense & common courtesy should be re-classified as Super Powers.

[Ted S.]

I was leaving a range once when the range was cold, range officers where changing over. The original range officer said I was good to pack up and go after he ensured my weapon was clear. I double checked before putting it back in the case out of habit and upon touching my rifle, then pointing the muzzle in a safe direction to double check, the fresh range officer who was ignorant of the situation freaked out. Good thing the other range officer was still there to tell him " nah, he's good, he's just leaving."

Point being, always get the range officer to clear you if you have to leave when the range is cold, but never during a shift change... Edited March 8, 2015 by Ted S.

[Handsome Rob]

When you're at one range you've always gone to, you know you keep your weapons unloaded when done firing.

Also, I 'knew' that my Winchester was unloaded...
http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/71657-broke-rule-1/?fromsearch=1 Edited March 8, 2015 by robtattoo

[Lumber_Jack]

I don't need anyone telling me my gun is clear or not clear. I'm perfectly capable of checking the condition of my weapons. Handling a weapon why people are down range is not a blatant sin. Loading one would be but simply touching it is not. I hate range Nazis

[dats82]

I agree with Caster. If the range is cold, don't touch the weapons.  That has been the rule at any public range I have visited.  Even shooting on private land with people  know really well, I think it is not only a safety issue, but it is also courtesy not to be messing with stuff while people are down range.   

 

The guy was probably just making friendly conversation by asking about your gun, he probably wasn't interested in having you "show" him something about it.  By asserting that he was a range officer else where, that might have been a little douche, but that does not negate the fact that he was correct in that you should not be handling weapons on a cold range.  If you don't like that idea of that, you should find some private land to shoot on without random people around.

[TGO David]

When I go to the range, all I want is to be left the hell alone.  I don't mind social conversation between strings of fire, and I don't mind answering questions from people who have a genuine desire to learn something, but when someone comes up and pontificates at my expense, I get really grumpy, really fast.

[gregintenn]

Reason #452,581 why I shoot at home. :up:

[toby1304]

Dats82, I did not see where Wyldk2 mentioned it was a COLD range. If it was that would have been different. The gentlemen should have said hey lets wait til the range goes HOT then I would like to check it out.

[Johnny Rotten]

Terry's is a great place to shoot, once you get past driving through a junk yard to get to the range.. :)

Now I might be shooting in a bubble, but when I set up that area is mine, if you have any questions come on up and I'll give you answer, the only interaction I'll have with other shooters (other then cold/hot range) is you might want to put on hearing protection before I start. 

[Omega]

I don't need anyone telling me my gun is clear or not clear. I'm perfectly capable of checking the condition of my weapons. Handling a weapon why people are down range is not a blatant sin. Loading one would be but simply touching it is not. I hate range Nazis

I hate to disagree but I must. Handling weapons while someone is downrange is a definite bad thing to do. While you may be the safest guy around, that guy next you may not be. It only takes one non attentive moment for someone to get hurt. Even on my own place I follow that rule, and most times its no more than two there.

[Caster]

When I go to the range, all I want is to be left the hell alone.  I don't mind social conversation between strings of fire, and I don't mind answering questions from people who have a genuine desire to learn something, but when someone comes up and pontificates at my expense, I get really grumpy, really fast.

 

 

Gotdang right!  Just leave me be and stop telling me how your crap is 5000000 fps fast better tacticool.....piss off!!!!  

[Wyldk2]

Also, I 'knew' that my Winchester was unloaded...
http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/71657-broke-rule-1/?fromsearch=1

Well, I was shooting my AR, cleared it, removed the mag and you can see there is nothing in it ( Even put safety on when it is empty). Safties are on every single firearm I own, even when there is no ammo in them. Just a practice I have followed. I'm all about being safe,but don't force your rules on someone else who might not ever been around it. In other words, don't even dry fire your firearm until you have at least physically checked your firearm.

 

I probably will from now on not shoot at Terry's if there is a lot of people. I hate crowds. Never had a problem with anyone before that guy. I thought I was shooting at an outdoor out of the ways range ( only one i've ever shot at since getting my permit 6 years ago).

[Lumber_Jack]

I hate to disagree but I must. Handling weapons while someone is downrange is a definite bad thing to do. While you may be the safest guy around, that guy next you may not be. It only takes one non attentive moment for someone to get hurt. Even on my own place I follow that rule, and most times its no more than two there.

The only action that violates a cold range is inserting a live round into the chamber. If I want to pull the bolt, adjust my scope view, pull the slide. Why should I have to wait for the guy next to me to start blasting his 7mm to do so? If that's a range rule then it should be posted as such and then I would agree to it by entering the range. If not, then leave me be.

[Wyldk2]

I agree with Caster. If the range is cold, don't touch the weapons.  That has been the rule at any public range I have visited.  Even shooting on private land with people  know really well, I think it is not only a safety issue, but it is also courtesy not to be messing with stuff while people are down range.   

 

The guy was probably just making friendly conversation by asking about your gun, he probably wasn't interested in having you "show" him something about it.  By asserting that he was a range officer else where, that might have been a little douche, but that does not negate the fact that he was correct in that you should not be handling weapons on a cold range.  If you don't like that idea of that, you should find some private land to shoot on without random people around.

Maybe people should just try to stop bossing everyone else around and let them enjoy their time at the range. If you don't like what other people do, then you have the right to leave.  Listen, I'm a local. I live in Tullahoma and there isn't much places to shoot. He asked about a light/laser combo i have on my rifle( only for night time use).

 

Rifle was already pointed downrange, unloaded, safety on. And no rules of weapons not to be touched anywhere. Just see the signs of "No shotguns or Vehicles past this point".

 

I will however follow the "common courtesy" for which i had no idea of. After all this is the first time i ever heard of it. But i am not going to allow some asshat from whichever other range try to come in and be a range Nazi to anyone. Instead of scolding, why cant people just try to be an example. Ask those to kindly not handle their firearms if it is a cold range instead of being an ass about it.

[btq96r]

Issues like this are why I try to do all my shooting in the middle of the week, when I have a good chance of being out there all on my lonesome.  If the range gets too crowded, or one of the aforementioned know it all's shows up.  I pack my gear and leave.

 

The dream would be to have enough land to run my own range like gregintn.