Range etiquette - flying shell casings into next lane

[Glocked@45]

I'm in a wheelchair. At my height, I am constantly rained upon. Comes with the territory.

Your post along with your username....I appreciate your sense of humor and acceptance.

[Kmai24]

I don't mind..free brass for me!!!

On a serious note, it's part of the shooting world. Just accept it and keep shooting (another training exercise-shoot through the distraction)

[phdo]

Old thread but I'll play. I usually shoot with a brass catcher for my ARs because I don't want to go chasing them down afterwards. With the bolt guns, it's easy to eject without having the brass go flying. With my AKs, I shoot steel so I don't care for the casings. With handguns, I can't do anything about the brass flying everywhere so I deal with it by going down on my hands and knees picking up my brass. Revolvers are the easiest so no need to explain the procedure. If someone were to approach me and ask me to watch my casings, I would tell them to go pound sand. You're at a public range. **** happens. Don't like it? Leave.

[drkphibr]

Has anyone ever encountered an issue where either you had somebody to the left of you shooting their gun and shell casings were ejecting pretty high and over the 7 ft barrier and hitting you or falling into your lane where you're setup to shoot? Or the other way around, where you're the one shooting (I'm 6'3") and my pistol ejects casings over the 7 ft barrier hitting people in the next lane over?

I've been on both sides of this, usually on the receiving end. I've usually just dealt with it and as it wasn't that big of a nuisance to me when shooting. However, today I was shooting my Glock and it just so happens that the 2 guys next to me (who appeared like they were first time shooters with their rentals and shooting antics) tapped on my shoulder and pretty much demanded that I stop having my casings fly over. Fortunately, I had just finished and was packing up and leaving, but the guy was being pretty rude about it. Or was I in the wrong here because it could've some how been prevented by me?

Is there really anything that can be done to prevent this from happening when somebody asks you to stop? Unless I stand right next to the barrier to my right, so the casings bounce back and hit me, or I turn the gun sideways and shoot it "homie" style so my casings go straight up into the air, is there really any other way to prevent shell casings from flying over the barrier and into the next lane? Or is it just one of those things that happens and you can't really control? What's the overall consensus with "range etiquette" when it comes to flying casings?

I've been on the sending as well as receiving side of this. Since we reload, we put up a net for catching brass, but that doesn't work 100% of the time (different guns, standing vs bench, etc.). Just part of the sport.

For someone asking you to stop, I'd politely educate them that you are not doing it on purpose and there may be nothing you are able to do about it. It's one thing if you are sitting back from the bench and brass could be prevented by scooting up. But if there is nothing you can do, there is nothing you can do and anyone who shoots would know this.

[stormvet]

People who are bothered by shell casings hitting them, need to find a new hobby. They are flat out Nancy boys or girls and are far to sensative to be involved in shooting sports.
I would tell them to find a new place to shoot, because I'm only 50 rounds into the 500 I brought to shoot today.

[dwalker]

When shooting the pistols I have not had any issues with hitting folks with brass, but rifle is another story. I use a cloth or towel draped over my optic that covers the ejection port and deflects the brass down onto the table. I started doing this actually to keep my brass from flying all over the place without having to use a brass catcher sort of thing. As a side benefit it keeps my brass from getting thrown into other shooters.

[njineermike]

If flying brass at a shooting range causes you too much consternation, I suggest you take up knitting instead.

[AnonUser]

I figured it was standard to gave shells flying at you. I never go to the range without a baseball hat. That usually prevents anything hitting me in the face.

[Loopwell]

I deal with casings and big booms. You're at a public range, if you expect a library setting, you're a fool.

[SMarquez]

Last time I went to the range I was on the recieving end of that, I swear every freaking casing flew at my head... It doesn't take all that long to figure out what the guy's pace was and spend my time reloading while he was shooting. I totally agree that its a silly thing to whine about when there are things you can do like.. avoid shooting at the same time, or even ask to move to the next availiable lane; there is no need for that kind of drama.

Yeah, had the same thing. About 150 rds of Wolf 5.56. Half hit my shoulders and head. He looked right at and kept on shooting. Not only that but he didn't pick any of it up. It was real slippery there with all those little rollers on the ground.

[Metal God]

Is there really anything that can be done to prevent this from happening when somebody asks you to stop?

Short answer "yes" you make an effort .

Long answer "yes" you make an effort to keep your brass from flying into others lanes . That does not mean shoot up side down or backwards . Try to switch your stands , move up or back a little . This is all with in reason , some times it's not avoidable . In those cases at least you made the effort and the shooters next to you could see that .

I for one ( for the most part ) don't get bothered by brass flying over and hitting me unless it's hitting me in the head or face . That gets old fast .

The thing that frustrates me more is the muzzle blast from the lane next to me often screws with my chrono . Conducting important test in between the guys shots next to you can really be a pain . The only way to fix it is to ask them to stop . So far the 3 or 4 times it came down to that . They were all cool and stopped while I shot my string . They then payed attention to when I was about to shoot and would either stop or finish there string and wait for me to finish mine .

That all said . New shooters don't always get it . I shoot a lot and often am at the range for 7+ hours at a time . The A-holes are almost never there long enough to truly disrupt the day . I usually can find something to do while I wait for them to stop or leave . Usually is writing in the log book or switching to another firearm . Preferable the one with the loudest muzzle brake and just start throwing lead down range

[RR.44]

LolComplaining about brass flying your way?
Whining about people shooting magnums at the indoor range?

How do you think it will be if you have to defend your home or family side by side with a family member and your foes are shooting magnum rounds at you?
What will be your response?..."scoot over honey I dont want your hot brass hitting me"...."Oh Mr bad guy you need to be shooting 9mm at me not .357/.44 magnum that's no fair"

Come on already the horse is dead and has been beaten to dust.

Rant over lol

[Epaphroditus]

I was at Richmond Rod & Gun Club shooting Browning BAR (not the real one) in 7mm magnum. Those cases come out really fast and fly very far and they are screaming hot.

Poor guy couple stalls down keep getting hit in the face. He didn't say anything but gave me quite the look. Had one eye looking puffy - might have hit him in the eye.

I said "Sorry, why didn't you say something?" - he looked sheepishly ...

I rigged up an extra cardboard target as a block/barrier.

I'd much prefer getting rained on by hot brass than all the times I get muzzle swept - don't go to public ranges anymore unless it's a weekday morning (hardly anyone there).

[RobinGoodfellow]

This exactly

If you're standing there shooting a pistol I don't see what can be done. If you were sitting at a bench you could put up some kind of barrier.

IMO it's kinda silly to whine about loud guns or flying brass at a gun range and I've been on the receiving end of plenty.

It's a gun range, not a Chuck E. Cheese. I can't remember a time when I remember being on either end of this particular transaction, but I can't believe it hasn't happened in all my time at the range.

If I were "pitching" and my neighbor brought it to my attention, I would probably move to another lane or stand a little closer to the barrier.

If I were "catching" I don't think I'd say anything. And if I did, I don't think I'd make a big deal out of it.

But every day I see something else that convinces me we have become the society of the perpetually aggrieved.

[mif_slim]

I had a mini-14. I once killed a deer with it. The brass shell went through and through. Clean kill. I refused to take it to the range in fear of tagging the guy to my right.