Feel unsafe at range?

[SCMA-1]

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.

OK, thanks for the info; it's much appreciated. I pretty much already knew what range you were talking about. It's unfortunate, but I used to spend alot of time there in the past because the previous owners ran a "tight ship" and none of these kinds of things ever happened. I think perhaps some riff raff may have noticed and incrementally tested the new ownership to see what they could get away with; IME, once you let this creeping incrementalism go unchecked, it only gets worse. Once the word gets out that the management is "soft" on policy enforcement, all the riff raff show up to "party" and take advantage of the situation. I hope their management gets wind of this thread and does something to improve the safety of their environment for all their clients.

[gorenut]

Ya.. I feel you. At the range I go to.. lots of times muzzle discipline is a problem. Since I know the rangemasters, I always try to get myself in a lane where there aren't too many other people near me.

[Gh0sT]

It is really fun to watch the current lineup between the bulletproof glass. It takes less than 5 minutes to completely figure out which lane has questionable firearms knowledge.

My favorite scene is the group of college kids. Individual at the shooting lane, loads mag, loads chamber. Two handed, sometimes one handed, turns around to the group behind. Firearm slowly turns the way his/her body is twisting.

I will never shoot indoors, unless someone is paying for my time.

[My-AK47]

I am always aware of my surroundings at range time. Inexperienced yahoo's go to the range and rent a gun not sure of what to do when it jams etc.... I have seen this happen often, and they will even look down the barrell of a loaded gun or point it at the guy next to him not even thinking what the hell he was doing. So my $0.02 about this is you should always be aware....

[boredin818]

When I'm in the valley I go to The Target Range in Van Nuys....Run by ex cops and they do NOT take **** from anyone.

When I'm in OC I like Evan's Gunsmithing... Former Marines who do not put up with garbage either.

[Bill Carson]

Insight in Artesia is in L.A county. I knew that was the range you were talking about. Sometimes it is all good in there, usually in the day time. Night time is a whole different thing. It is straight up gangsta, lots of rentals from people who cannot afford guns or cannot obtain one legally. Lot's of **** talking. I told a guy to shut up once while I was shooting. He just kept on talking. I usually bring my 40 cal & 45 cal glocks. I never have an empty magazine, one of the guns is ready to rock n roll at all times while I am reloading.

[jc0311]

I stop going there, I got to La Puente firing range or Orange shooting range in Brea, usually during daytime hours. Insight attracts too many knuckelheads from the surrounding areas. La Puente and Orange seem to run a tighter ship.

[Bill Carson]

Yeah I like that range in Brea.

[jt1911]

I guess from other members I'm not the only one who is noticing it. Too bad to hear about management allowing this element to get established. Ruined a nice range.

Jc and Bill thanks for the recommendations. I'll be sure to check them out.

[Snake eyes]

At a public range, denial is your friend.

Even if the other shooters appear and act normal/safe, there's always the chance you won't make it home. After all, you're in the presence of people shooting guns, handling guns, ect. And whenever loaded guns are around, "people" can be downright dangerous, even if they don't intend to be. Sometimes it's best to just not think about it.

Of course it's no different than driving on public streets/freeways, you never know if you're not gonna make it home. In fact, you're probably more likely to get killed in a car accident on the way to the range as get shot by accident at the range

Such is life.

However, if someone at the range gives me a bad "vibe", I'll turn around and go home. Hopefully I make it.

Trust your gut.

[Ultimate]

I've only shot on BLM Land mostly because of the expense associated with paying for range time, and would hate to be in that kind of situation. Maybe ranges should have concrete dividers between each station with individual doors to each. I think the experience would be much improved.

[Scratch705]

hmmm.... glad my experience wasn't bad at insight.

i like them only b/c of the flat fee for gun rentals as i am still in process of picking out what handgun suits me and at any other range it would have costed me triple of what i spent at insight.

what time was this happening at? cause i went early in the morning. like right as they opened. on a saturday.

[five.five-six]

say what you will about evan's but that sort of c-rap does not happen there

[SCMA-1]

All is not lost; it's still a nice range and with some judicious enforcement of policy, it can still be a nice and safe range for all it's patrons. I can kind of see why this has happened. The new owner is a young (and fairly quiet) Asian guy. Sometimes he is not even there; there have been times I've been there where only the elderly gentleman (his father) is running the counter (and perhaps one other employee), and his English isn't strong. There is also another family member I've noticed who works behind the counter, a small and very young female. Although there are other employees at different times, this kind of management/staffing could be perceived as a lack of "command presence" which may encourage belligerent/reckless behavior in some.

Although I'm not sure how it has been lately, but this reminds me of a time when Magic Mountain in Valencia used to draw a certain undesirable crowd because their lawless and belligerent behavior was tolerated to some degree by the management of the theme park.

I encourage others to post their experiences here; at some point I'd like to draw the owner's attention to this thread for his examination.

[Scratch705]

i wonder if my experience wasn't as bad as the others b/c i went on a day where the owner, the female and the elder were all there, plus their employee, a white guy that was also a glock armorer. he kept his presence known by walking onto the range every few minutes to sweep brass and just to show that they are there watching.