Feel unsafe at range?

[wilafur]

agreed, went to la gun club once and will never return. that place scares the sh*t out of me with all the thugs rapid firing their rented guns sideways and sweeping the room nonchalantly.

that being said, i'm a big fan of on target in OC. too bad i live in LA.......but whenever i visit my sister in irvine, i leave a bit earlier and hit up on target beforehand.

......and Downtown LA range is the worst. I

[9unknown]

agreed, went to la gun club once and will never return. that place scares the sh*t out of me with all the thugs rapid firing their rented guns sideways and sweeping the room nonchalantly.

I was there once and they were filming a dating show (LAME). I guess they got me on film purchasing ammo, and wanted me to sign a waver of some sort. I just laughed.

[bodger]

I don't shoot at indoor ranges anymore at all. I go to A Place To Shoot in Saugus. It's the only range where I feel safe, and I go on weekdays early, usually not much of a crowd. Good folks out there and good range discipline, at least the times I've been there.

I've been muzzle swept once too often at the indoors.

[CornFedWB]

I actually quit shooting with a bud who decided shooting past me with his 10/22 was acceptable. Needless to say we dont shoot together anymore, kinda wierd hearing it from the muzzle end. Sounds like more of a whip crack. He also likes to take TVs and trash out on BLM land shoot it up and leave it.

[k1dude]

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.

I've been very nervous on BLM land. Once at an unpoliced outdoor range, a rough and suspicious looking group came up to shoot. We were the only humans within 15 miles in the middle of nowhere. They never went downrange to set up any targets, and were far too curious about what weapons my friend and I had. They never spoke to us despite our attempts to be friendly, but seemed more interested in our guns than shooting. They were basically shooting at the dirt. When we signalled a stop to go downrange a couple times, they never once went to set up targets or check at whatever dirt they were shooting at.

We were nervous enough that we strapped on holsters/handguns and carried a loaded rifle with us each time we went to check our targets. They just stayed back and eyed us and our weapons table. We had eyes in the back of our heads that day.

It was just getting too weird, so we packed up and left. I wonder if staying armed downrange kept us safe that day.

[orangeusa]

I 2nd the Evan's post. But is a very small place, but the range officer actually WATCHES.

OnTarget, Irvine - seems to have support here. I had serveral BAD experiences there (early last year) - reported it, got no response. Weekends - lots of kids 3-4 to a lane blasting the ceiling, target holder. Had an old fart fan me with his 1911... I finally thought - the RO's gotta quit standing behind the counter, showing guns. I went back and really gave them my views. I'd like to think it helped. In their defense, it's inherent at in-door ranges...

Symptoms which give me pause : Anybody giggling after a shot... Multiple students per lane, multiple old white guys w/ pastel shorts, dudes showing off to GF. Swiss cheese ceilings in range area or in stall area!!
.

[caoboy]

Symptoms which give me pause : Anybody giggling after a shot...

What, you never giggle after a shot?

[orangeusa]

Sometimes, but don't have 3 fanboys behind me!!! You know what I mean!!!

Edit : Your signature made me giggle !!

[RedFord150]

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.

Do the employees carry holstered weapons? If not, they should. A 'no-nonse' attitude with a decent sized weapon in a holster makes all the difference. Well, except for the senior citizen and the teenage girl...

[garuda7]

Hey, jt, I just read your post about feeling unsafe at the range. While I was reading your post I was thinking, "Man this place sounds just like Insight." I wasn't too shocked when I found out that it was indeed the same range I frequent. I am going to have to agree with you about not feeling safe there sometimes. I once saw some idiot with a rental .45 waving it around in confusion after he had a ftf, pointing it right at me and my friend who were sitting on the bench! As you can imagine we were pretty pissed off, but the RO's all seemed to occupied to notice all the reckless **** that goes down there on busy days. If you can, try going as soon as the open in the morning. I usually get all my shooting done with only about 2 or 3 other shooters on the lanes.

[Rekrab]

I giggle every time I shoot my Desert Eagle. I hope I don't make you feel uncomfortable.

[stix213]

I like the "rapid fire" rules at the indoor range I go to. You can shoot as fast as you want AS LONG AS YOU CAN HIT THE PAPER WITH EVERY SHOT.

Though gun renters do concern me. I kinda wish those little partitions between the lanes were made of 2" steel plates. I think its far more likely an accident would occur when a novice is either reloading or trying to clear a jam since they may not have the gun aimed down range.

I've noticed that people who rent guns are far less likely to own them themselves, so naturally they would at least be less experienced.

[bondmid003]

I keep my head on a swivel everytime I go to the range near me in San Diego. They will rent a gun to pretty much anybody. That and they've had a ND in the last year

[orangeusa]

And I wish there was not a bench, where the dummies sit behind me.

All pardons to those dummies who fan me, but your hobby is getting old.
Especially when you are loading your mags away from the lane - I hate that.... Even tho, I think it's a range violation....

[f33dback]

Yeah I've been there they have a "maturity check" at the counter.
I've heard good things about the Rancho Cordova (outdoor) range.
I had a post about where some good places to go on BLM around Sacramento, not to many responses, I guess if you find a good place you don't want anyone else to know =)

The Gun Room, up in sacramento is pretty squared away. I think it might be the one that Ranger20 was talking about. They tend to kick people out after one warning and don't take crap from anyone. In my opinion, it's a good way to do it, not scary in the slightest.