Feel unsafe at range?

[jt1911]

I didn't want to name names regarding what indoor range I'm talking about but I've been going to this range near my house because they charge a cheap flat fee for lane time, have a lot lanes, so waiting is never too bad of an issue, and have good prices for ammo. Plus the staff is always courteous. But almost every time I go there, I have my head on a swivel, generally feeling not so safe. There are a lot of people and maybe one RO who comes in from time to time. There are a lot of folks who are there just renting, so who knows how well they know their way around a gun and are familiar with gun safety. I see a lot of date scenarios. A guy renting a gun with his date and shooting a heavier caliber. So most of the time the girl is putting on a show of how big and strong the gun is kicking and how afraid she is. Paying more attention to the guy than the gun. And you also get the rif-raff crowd as well. One time some tough looking hombres next to me were trying to unload their rented 9s as fast as they could and pissing the RO off, who with the owner was warning/threatening them. Shooters would ignore and shoot fast. RO and owner would yell and threaten. Dudes would get more pissed and respond with pleasant words. I was right in the next lane and wasn't quite sure if a situation was going to happen. Not pleasant. Is this par for the course at public ranges or do you folks go to more exclusive ranges that have higher rates to ensure safety? There's another range near my place that charges the same rate as the flat rate at the cheaper range but does so each hour. So it would more than double the rate of the other place for the time I go and it is also much smaller, so no guarantee on how long you have to wait. But they only get, for the most part, folks who are familiar with firearms. Anybody else go through this dilemma?

[Rekrab]

Yikes, never happened where I go.

[Greg-Dawg]

I go to the range for one reason only: to shoot.

I don't care anything outside of that.

If you see any unsafe gun handling, inform the Range Nazi.

[Teddy]

..well, not to the level of having thugs throwing rounds down range as fast as they can pull the trigger yelling at the RO.....but....

Last time I was out at the local indoor range, there were a few guys that were shooting and saying things (very loud....probably not used to wearing ear protection) like "damm, that M-Fer isn't making it off the block" & "this ***** is dead as a m-fer"....younger looking guys, probably not much gun experience or respect (obviously)....but it did give me a bit of a strange feeling while I was trying to mind my own business.

They were not rapid firing and were following the "one shot per second" rule, so they had that going for them....but I think I understand where you are coming from. If I heard an argument like you did, I would have packed up, left, and not gone back....at least not until they prove that they can control the lanes to make is safe and comfortable for other shooters...makes me feel like a cry-baby, but luckily, a bit more of a drive and there are other options for me to shoot.

Perhaps you are brining up a deeper issue.....how can you really police the range when you just armed aggressive people with ammo and a rental firearm? Is it possible to win that argument with a now armed person that is proving they walked in with no respect for rules/authority?

[Baconator]

I'm not sure where you are at, but I prefer to shoot out on BLM land for reasons like that. I used to go to a range and there was typically some jerg-off rapid firing a gun they had trouble controlling. Just made me a little too nervous. On the BLM land I see everyone coming and I know where I am and what is going on.

[9unknown]

Sounds exactly like the range closest to me, In fact I think it may actually be the same one.

Lately I've been going out to the range in the Angeles National forest. Less restrictions on ammo and less weirdo's. Prices aren't too bad, but it is a bit of a drive.

[Kerplow]

I like your avatar, 9unknown. one of my all time favorite albums.

the only time i have felt unsafe at the range was when some tard next to me with a AR pistol that jammed every other shot was sweeping the entire firing line as he tried to clear the jam.

i would hope that those gangsta types who were ignoring the range staff and rapid firing would get kicked and banned. the range is not a place to break rules even if you dont like em.

[CornFedWB]

Yikes, sounds like they get some real punks at that range. I was buying ammo in the pro shop at my local range and while I was waiting for some assistance oversaw one of the poor guys teaching a 21-25 year old girl how to use a gun before she rented it (all alone, pink purse and all). She had obviously never held one before. The second he handed it over, the barrel dropped down on the glass case with a "clack!" because she wasnt expecting the heft of the m92. Then she proceeds to muzzle the guy with her finger on the trigger looking at it like a bomb. I was glad I was only picking up ammo... to shoot on private property that is

[9unknown]

I like your avatar, 9unknown. one of my all time favorite albums.

yesss! legendary.

[f33dback]

I know how you feel, but the ones that make me uncomfortable are the guys in the next lane clearing a jam while pointing the gun at my lane instead of down range, they aren't even aware of what they are doing, if you point it out they tend to get pissy.
Idiots + guns = cocky and create "here hold muh beer" accidents.

[SCMA-1]

What's the point of not naming the range? You would be doing the public a service by alerting your fellow Calgunners to be wary if and when they are at that range. Also, if word gets back to the range management, it would motivate them to do something about it and not let "thugs" take advantage of their lack of policy control before something actually bad happens. Now that you have brought it up, please do the responsible thing and let us know which range is allowing dangerous policy violations and such obstinate behavior.

[RedFord150]

I have never felt in danger at a range where they charge to use.
I have felt in danger when I used to shoot off Azusa Canyon. I think it was called Pigeon Ridge. I have also been out in the desert where it was legal to shoot. Long time ago. Maybe near Joshua Tree.
Anyway, the sound of ricochets whizzing by and losers with guns convinced me to spend money on range fees.
I agree with SCMA-1. The range needs to control the customers or get them out. List the name, this should motivate them to get their act together.

[SJgunguy24]

I generally stay to BLM or Metcalf, i've been going to Metcalf for over 10 years and they know me there. If your worried, body armor.

[tiko]

I go to Lincoln rifle club, so in the weekdays all shooters are members and we know each other, in the weekends they open for public, there go some young couples. I see lots of bullet holes on the roof and beams...

[jt1911]

Thanks for all the replies. Some good advice and recommendations. I appreciate it.

f33dback, totally with you on that. And if you try to let him know, all of a sudden you're the jerk.

SJgunguy, I actually was seriously considering getting a jacket. Might be time.

As for the place, it is a range in orange county called Insight. It's in Artesia. And I have had good experiences there but now I just tend to go during off hours. A non weekend night for sure. To me it just seems like the range is more focused on sales than safety. Not trying to be a gun snob or anything but they aren't exactly renting out kites.