Range rage and proper etiquette

[bburrell]

So, I went to the range this weekend to break-in the new Savage 17hh. You know the drill - shot one, clean, shoot again, clean again. Anyway, I am trying my best to shoot a respectable group (even though I am cleaning after every round) when some guy about 6 benches away starts shooting his AK. Now, I could not care less what anyone else is shooting, but this AK is throwing brass my way. It is hitting me, bouncing off of my rifle and creating a pile of spent brass on my bench and on the ground around me. I am trying to not get too pissed off when another guy sets up right next to me with a .338 with a muzzle break. As if getting showered with brass is not enough, this guy with his .338 is literally blowing stuff off of my bench every time he fires. My ammo boxes, my cleaning patches, my hat were all getting blown off of my bench every time that damn .338 went off.

Through it all, I just bit my lip. Didn't say a word. Closed my eyes and kept telling my self that they had a right to be there as well. But, the more I think about it today, the more convinced I am that I should say something -- either to "those" people, or to the range master. It is one thing to shoot and quite another to throw brass on your neighbor or shoot such an obnoxious weapon that the blast from the muzzle literally blows your neighbors stuff off of his shooting bench and impacts his ability to shoot.

So, here are my questions: First, Is there any kind of range etiquette at your ranges that would tell me, "Burt o'l buddy, that is part of being at a range, just suck it up and don't say a word." Or, second, am I in line by saying anyone can shoot what they want, but they cross a line once they start showering me with brass (this happens a lot with the AR guys as well) or shooting a .338 cannon with a muzzle break that creates an ungodly muzzle blast that blows things off of my bench and/or creates a situation where I can't have a quality shoot.

I would appreciate hearing of your range experiences and how you deal with them.

Burt

[trotterlg]

Where I shoot they have screen boxes they set up to catch the brass from teh AR and auto guys. The muzzel brake is my big complaint, when they set up I just move or quit, it is not worth the pain. Larry

[NV17lvr]

When I used to shoot my 338 at the range I would never, ever shoot next to someone who I felt knew what they were doing. I would just wait and plop myself down in the middle of the " zombie killer" jackass's and run them off As far as the brass bouncing off you and your expensive scope I feel your pain. I ask nicely once, the second time not so nice...One guy was a real ahole about it so I would catch his brass and peg him with every single one. Eventually he got the point..

[NV17lvr]

Dont get me wrong tho I absolutely love helping out people at the range! I always lend a hand or tools or even let people have a hand at some of my bench guns.

[22_boomer]

At the public range I go to they ask what you are shooting and try to get all the AR's and AK's in the same area. Problem is, when the range gets loaded up the position choices get few and far between. I've noticed some people that shoot some type of AK that's chambered in 7.62X54r and the brass can fly 20 yards. I built a screen to keep brass from going everywhere but that was actually for me since my legs are bad and getting down on my knees and picking up brass is a bit annoying. I don't have rifles like most of you fellows here so a little ding here and there only adds character. If it really gets bad I ask for a new position or pack up and go home.

[Hog Patrol]

Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, the gun world is now overflowing with "newbies" that don't know squat about firearms or range etiquette. They figure they pay their dues and they can do what they want. Having said that, it's long past time for clubs to require brass catchers on the worst offending weapons. Have you thought about bringing up changes to range rules at your club's meetings?

[steve123]

It's a pain to have to take all my stuff waaaay over to the far left bench of the public range but usually it's vacant or at least the people down there are seeking the same thing I am, which is for the most part working up a load, not the master blasters pretending to be Rambo.

[Furhunter]

I always hated it when i was the only one at the range and someone came in and set up just 1 or 2 tables away when theres 20 available... like i need a friend or something. I didn't renew my gun club membership this year and I'm not really missing it.

I used to live 3 miles from it, since I moved now it's about 8 miles away but I can drive 2 miles and shoot in the desert now. No muzzle brakes, no one setting up next to me, no semi autos blasting away etc.. My only sacrifice is no covered concrete bench to shoot from.

[AzSam]

99% of my trigger time is spent on controlled ranges, either fiddling with load work, shotting at a match or practice. It is challenge in dealing with brakes and flying brass. Handling it while being polite and respectful is not easy sometimes.

I will take either of these two any day over someone who it not safe. When I see someone sittiing or standing at the back of their bench with their muzzle 3-4 feet behind the firing line or (me), firm yet polite instructions are spoken and a RSO is given a heads up.

When a muzzle goes parallel with the line or if a firearm is handled when the line is cold during a cease fire, being warm and fuzzy is not my strong point everyone within ear shot knows what is going on, and a RSO is brought in. That situation is either remedied or someone leaves. On more than one ocassion I have left and told the Range Master on the way out why and that I have no intention on sticking around waiting for them to take action.

Michael.

[moorepower]

You can get nice little clip on bags to catch your brass. I also learned early on why shooting jackets have hoods, and have a scar to prove it. I still got a good score standing, and it quit burning by the end of the string. I always kept my hood up after that.