Stupid Rangemaster Rules

[BlueOvalBandit]

I have found that if I bring something unique or rare I get left alone more. If I bring a C96, a cap and ball revolver, an M1, FN49, antique Winchester or Marlin, or something like that and fire a few rounds from that first before I take out my modern stuff it shows them I am a serious collector. Usually they come over to admire the piece. I have a good conversation with them and usually we are cool. The tacti-cool mid 20's guy trying to impress his arm candy GF scare me and I don't blame some of these RSO's for assuming everyone is an idiot until proven otherwise.

I generally get the RSO wanting to know what it is and have a great conversation when I bring the old stuff.

Although one time I got a guy asking me to open the bolt and put my 1858 Enfield on safe (it was unloaded, which I know a person can't tell, half cock, no cap) I stared blankly at him for about 30 seconds before saying it doesn't work that way... then an older RSO stepped in and explained it to him.

[divingin]

When I RSO just how many times do I need to tell a person about breaking the SAME RULE before I become the Asshat that has to do something.

Yesterday, I was shooting pistol, getting some Int'l bullseye practice in. A group of 4 or 5 came in and got the lane to my left (3 lanes away, with the intervening lanes closed by county order due to Covid separation.) These guys were reprimanded no less than 6 times (once for uncasing off the shooting bench, once for not wearing safety glasses, a second time for uncasing off the shooting bench [by a guy who just watched his partner get corrected], a couple more for not wearing glasses or masks, and I don't remember what else), all before they got their target posted. It didn't get much better after that. I ended up giving up on practice in favor of preventing myself from getting any new unintentional body piercings.

So yeah, I feel for you.

[Snoopy47]

I'm an RSO when my club range is open to the public. Above me is the Range Master.

Anyway........... There is a pecking order. It's annoying. Range Masters and RSO's are more or less randomly scheduled and we are always working with different folks.

The degree we are given with "enforcement" is pretty broad. Some Range Masters don't care about rapid fire so long as rounds stay on target. Others only want single deliberate shots.

I try to keep it as simple as possible. Be safe and have fun. Why is it this activity seems to be the only one where folks are drawn to project their superiority. This doesn't happen at golf ranges. It doesn't happen at bowling lanes.

If you can't hit anything I don't care. Keep wasting ammo. Just keep the rounds inside your lane. If your gun is jacked up I don't care. I'm not your free gun smith.

Enjoy your time shooting regardless how good/bad you are. I'm only there to keep things safe.

**********
The most confrontational time I've had at a range is when I was working as an RSO, and I got into it with the Range MASTER.

He had is way of doing things, and it annoyed the hell out of us RSO. My spouse hates working with this guy as well. Anyway, keep in mind I'm not a trained and signed off as a Range MASTER.

Nonetheless the RM decided to take off for a hour+ doing stuff around the club house. So he left me "in charge" and during closing time.

The RM has this thing about keeping everyone around (paying shooters) after the last relay to bring their targets in. What his means is the line isn't clear, and we can't sweep brass and literally waste TIME pulling targets before we can clean up brass.

Since he wasn't there for the close out I simply required everyone to pull their firearms off the line and box them up once I called cease fire. POOF, now we can just clean everything ASAP, those who decide to hang around and their pull targets great. Either way, in the end I still get out of there faster even if I'm bringing in your targets.

Now............

What happened was the RM came back in the middle of my process, and decided to take control again and called everyone back from down range. He created a complete cluster frack.

:-)

I was waiting for this drama to unfold and had planned on it.

He started getting into it with me (a guy in his 70s, I'm in my late 40s) and I went TOTAL COMPANY COMMANDER on him

YOU DO NOT ABANDON YOUR POST. WHEN YOU ARE NOT HERE YOU DO NOT DECIDE WHAT GOES ON HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want something else done then YOU need to be here to execute it.

**********
Disclaimer........... what was he going to do? Go to the board about my outburst? I was not trained as a Range MASTER. He left his post for an hour+.

**********

Anyway, we all have to deal with personalities, it's an annoyance of this hobby.

He also wen on a triad about the target staplers running dry, and threw it down dramatically saying it's the worst thing that can happen.

NO GOD DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!! Someone splattering their brains all over the ceiling is the WORST THING that could possibly happen. Who cares about a stupid stapler running dry. There are extra staples everywhere.

********
Then I get to worry about the idiots that just bought their first firearm and bring a group to be all cool, and turn it into a party.

[Scratch705]

i don't think i've touched the safety on my r700 since i bought it years ago.

i also haven't sent it in for the recall nor will i since i don't close the bolt with a live round then fiddle with the safety. i load, i shoot then open the bolt. that is my safety.

[Mr. Blue]

A few days ago I went to my local indoor range and found one person behind the counter. He was on the phone and very invested in his conversation, I put my ID down on the counter, he grabbed it and put a target on the counter. Then, he walked back into his office and continued his conversation on the phone. We didn’t speak, we didn’t even look each other in the eye. Lol, I just looked at what number he hung my DL to see the lane I was at. That was the extent of the “range master”.

[IronsightsRifleman]

Not to debate the OP's point (because their are jerks in any profession) , but I can say most of the ROs I've come across have been very helpful. On the rare occasions that one does come across heavy handed, I try to remind myself of the wide variety of personalities they have to deal with every day and the seriousness of their responsibilities.
I had an RO yell at me the other day over a mistake he thought I made. I calmly explained what I had done and asked if it was correct and he said it was and apologized.

[Like2fly]

Nothing Worse ?

I can think of something more annoying....... getting shot while at a gun range because the RO was perhaps too lenient rather than too picky. I understand the frustrations but deal with it or open your own range. I am a lot more concerned about what the other shooters are doing than I am about an overbearing RO.

[ar15barrels]

I live in Los Angeles county

Outdoor range near los angeles county with memberships.

Now we look closer to Rowland Heights because you post for a Rowland heights gun store.

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=23641173&postcount=1

Then we have you commenting in this thread talking about the behavior of some other shooter at Angeles Ranges:

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=23614165&postcount=31

I think we can put 2 and 2 together.

[Wordupmybrotha]

I agree with the OP. Requiring the bolt/slide to be open AND to put the safety on is lame. Can't do that to pistols anyhow, including OP's 1911.

[axel4488]

I had an RO yell at me for not putting my CZ97 BD on safe. I told him you may go ahead and inspect the weapon, and find the safety. took him 5 minutes of meticulous eyeballing to finally say, "YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS HERE IT'S ILLEGAL!!! ALL GUNS COME WITH SAFETIES IN CALIFORNIA!! GET OFF MY LINE"

I packed my bag and went to the RM and asked him if I get retrieve my CZ and show him why I was kicked off the line. He obliged and I unholstered my CZ from my IWB. He looked at it and laughed, then went to the RO and politely escorted him off the line. The man wasn't old, nor was he senile. But turned out that he had a little list in his mind of "approved firearms" that he only allowed.

[Mr. Blue]

I had an RO yell at me for not putting my CZ97 BD on safe. I told him you may go ahead and inspect the weapon, and find the safety. took him 5 minutes of meticulous eyeballing to finally say, "YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS HERE IT'S ILLEGAL!!! ALL GUNS COME WITH SAFETIES IN CALIFORNIA!! GET OFF MY LINE"

I packed my bag and went to the RM and asked him if I get retrieve my CZ and show him why I was kicked off the line. He obliged and I unholstered my CZ from my IWB. He looked at it and laughed, then went to the RO and politely escorted him off the line. The man wasn't old, nor was he senile. But turned out that he had a little list in his mind of "approved firearms" that he only allowed.

Are you SERIOUS?!? What kind of Fudd wants to work at a gun range? Good gosh, I have heard some doozies but this might take the cake.

[lastinline]

I had an RO yell at me for not putting my CZ97 BD on safe. I told him you may go ahead and inspect the weapon, and find the safety. took him 5 minutes of meticulous eyeballing to finally say, "YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS HERE IT'S ILLEGAL!!! ALL GUNS COME WITH SAFETIES IN CALIFORNIA!! GET OFF MY LINE"

I packed my bag and went to the RM and asked him if I get retrieve my CZ and show him why I was kicked off the line. He obliged and I unholstered my CZ from my IWB. He looked at it and laughed, then went to the RO and politely escorted him off the line. The man wasn't old, nor was he senile. But turned out that he had a little list in his mind of "approved firearms" that he only allowed.

That RO is a total dildo.....

[Frankie_94]

I had an RO yell at me for not putting my CZ97 BD on safe. I told him you may go ahead and inspect the weapon, and find the safety. took him 5 minutes of meticulous eyeballing to finally say, "YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS HERE IT'S ILLEGAL!!! ALL GUNS COME WITH SAFETIES IN CALIFORNIA!! GET OFF MY LINE"

I packed my bag and went to the RM and asked him if I get retrieve my CZ and show him why I was kicked off the line. He obliged and I unholstered my CZ from my IWB. He looked at it and laughed, then went to the RO and politely escorted him off the line. The man wasn't old, nor was he senile. But turned out that he had a little list in his mind of "approved firearms" that he only allowed.

LOL so I guess no Glocks, XD's, and Sigs on his watch

[axel4488]

Are you SERIOUS?!? What kind of Fudd wants to work at a gun range? Good gosh, I have heard some doozies but this might take the cake.

That RO is a total dildo.....

LOL so I guess no Glocks, XD's, and Sigs on his watch

Best part of this ordeal was that the range and shoot was setup by the NRA for a local boy scout troop to earn their merit badges. I went with my nephew so he can use my shotgun and .22. I brought my other fun guns so the kids can have some fun all while supervised by parents and NRA instructors. Sad to see that an NRA certified range officer had such a negative attitude.

[splithoof]

Sad to see that an NRA certified range officer had such a negative attitude.

Exactly.
As a CRSO for my club, I fully support just about anything that brings young folks into safe, enjoyable shooting. Attitude goes a LONG way in first impressions. Also realize that many, many young folks (and their adult parents) may not have the advantage of growing up with responsible, safe gun handling and ownership core values instilled; this is where those dedicated come in.
If they are shooting .22LR, I usually give them a box or two.