Unwanted advice at the range

[Soldier415]

Tag your pants off and party-boy him. That should put everyone on notice that you do not want to be approached.

[-hanko]

[QUOTE=Boberama;5806467]

She's one of the hottest in the world.

Once you start dating you'll probably change your mind. If not, see the doctor and make sure your shots are up to date.

-hanko

[Bigyates]

Life is short and the shooting fraternity is really pretty small. Better to engage in a polite conversation and just "yeah", "yeah" over his obvious comments, then go back to shooting. His questions seem pretty innocuous to me.

[PyroFox79]

I agree with the op. I hate it when people try to correct me. Yes, I understand if I am somehow being unsafe, then tell me. Like when one dude at the range the first time I went to go shoot my XD told me that I was holding it wrong. He referenced Magpul Videos, I looked at him and told him to leave me alone. Now if he was a competition shooter or something I would have listened. I hold pistols the way I feel comfortable doing so, and it has worked out pretty well considering I was a High Sharpshooter for my pistol qual and only missed expert by 1 point.

[Turbinator]

Life is short and the shooting fraternity is really pretty small. Better to engage in a polite conversation and just "yeah", "yeah" over his obvious comments, then go back to shooting. His questions seem pretty innocuous to me.

+1, pretty good answer. Good advice on the polite thing. No need to be rude to people...

Turby

[j1133s]

If I'm being unsafe, tell me. Or, if I'm doing something obviously wrong, approach me.

But, if none of those things apply, stay the hell away from me!

I was at the range today testing out my 9mm reloads and trying to work out the kinks in my pistol. Some fellow comes up to me while I'm loading a fresh mag into my gun and proceeds to tell me stuff:

Annoying Guy: Are you shooting reloads?
Me: (Puzzled looked on my face) Yeah. I'm testing out some of my loads.
AG: Your brass is flying over here (points 5ft to the right), there (8ft behind) and some are bouncing off your head. You should check your powder loads. (he picks up my brass) Are you shooting all brass? I noticed your shooting nickel, too.

He then starts to inspect my expended brass and starts to lecture me on reloading techniques. WTH?! I turned around, loaded my gun, and started to fire downrange. I didn't want to engage him in any conversation. I was later told he's some rifle instructor and self righteous know-it-all. I heard his teenage son is the same way. Annoying chuckleheads.

He likes you and was trying to score a date w/ you reloading things.

Next time just tell him that you are straight and not interested in exploring homosexual relationships.

[appagohm]

He was just trying to help. But if he still talking after you give him the leave me alone eye, that would be a little annoying.

[MaHoTex]

Why do some people get their panties in a wad? Just say thanks for the tip and go back to what you were doing. Not a big deal. We can all learn something from someone and you never know when that golden nugget will be delivered. When did people become so rude? Only in California.

We all go to the range and have the same interest. Maybe it was his way of starting up conversation to talk with someone of like mind and interest. You never know.

[Lucky Scott]

Fine line between being nice and being a PIA.
The guy just might have known something you didnt, and if he didnt, just say thanks and move on. You might have missed a chance to learn something you didnt know.
Maybe the guy was just being a nice guy and striking up a conversation with a fellow shooter. No sense getting all upset over it.

[Gerle]

I hold pistols the way I feel comfortable doing so, and it has worked out pretty well considering I was a High Sharpshooter for my pistol qual and only missed expert by 1 point.

What happens when you hold it some other way? How does your way differ from "their" way? I'd be pissed if I left the range as a sharpshooter, high or not. You are obviously consistent enough, what is missing?

[swifty]

A fellow gun owner and shooter who wants to share his experiences and knowledge!? Why, you direct him to CalGuns of course...after introducing yourself and saying Thank You.

[Stormfeather]

Why do some people get their panties in a wad? Just say thanks for the tip and go back to what you were doing. Not a big deal. We can all learn something from someone and you never know when that golden nugget will be delivered. When did people become so rude? Only in California.

We all go to the range and have the same interest. Maybe it was his way of starting up conversation to talk with someone of like mind and interest. You never know.

I totally agree, Kali had really lost alot of its common sense and the ability to be friendly.

[socalangler]

Why do some people get their panties in a wad? Just say thanks for the tip and go back to what you were doing. Not a big deal. We can all learn something from someone and you never know when that golden nugget will be delivered. When did people become so rude? Only in California.

We all go to the range and have the same interest. Maybe it was his way of starting up conversation to talk with someone of like mind and interest. You never know.

I don't know how to reload but my friend tells me that you can tell a lot about the load by inspecting the case after it is fired. Maybe this guy noticed something and was just trying to help. The guy on the other side of you could have been thinking this guy has know clue and not said anything. Weather he knew what he was talking about or not he was a member of the firearm community and was simply trying to be friendly.

[thefiringline]

I went to an indoor range not too long ago (I hate indoor ranges, but I went along cause my buddy was picking up a new gun) and encountered some annoying people. Group of people in the lane next to us were shooting a shotgun. Younger people in their early 20's like me.

So my buddy started sighting in his ghost ring on his 590 with slugs and I started getting questions about what he was firing so I told them he was shooting slugs. Another one starts asking me about my AR, so I told him how it worked. Then I get asked by the first kid, "Are these your guys' guns?" Of course they are. The kid then proceeds to tell me about how his pops has all sorts of guns and will just let him take any one out of the safe and take it down to the range at any time. Cool story bro.

Later I'm sighting in my AR and I feel this breathing down my neck as I'm shooting so I turn around (with AR pointed downrange still of course) and the second kid is there literally inches from my face and asks, "What're you doing?" (I had my front sight tool out at the time and was adjusting the front sight). I explain and keep shooting. I finish sighting in and put another mag in and continue shooting. Breathing down my neck again. I turn around again. "Can I shoot it?" No, I don't have much ammo. "I'll go buy some right now." No, I'm pretty particular with the ammo I run through my gun. "Well, tell me what kind, I'll see if they have it." No, they won't have it. "Aw damn well, okay." He continues breathing down my neck. I would have let him have a mag if had not been so annoying. What do you guys do about people like this?

[RogueSniper]

...Later I'm sighting in my AR and I feel this breathing down my neck as I'm shooting so I turn around (with AR pointed downrange still of course) and the second kid is there literally inches from my face and asks, "What're you doing?" (I had my front sight tool out at the time and was adjusting the front sight). I explain and keep shooting. I finish sighting in and put another mag in and continue shooting. Breathing down my neck again. I turn around again. "Can I shoot it?" No, I don't have much ammo. "I'll go buy some right now." No, I'm pretty particular with the ammo I run through my gun. "Well, tell me what kind, I'll see if they have it." No, they won't have it. "Aw damn well, okay." He continues breathing down my neck. I would have let him have a mag if had not been so annoying. What do you guys do about people like this?

A lot of indoor ranges rent ARs now, it's possible the range had one he could rent. Maybe the kid was just aching to snuggle up to a real rifle. You could have allow him to handle the rifle but not shoot it. Just tell him it's because of any possible liability.

In my case, I met my buddy's co-worker at Chabot, who was shooting something awful with his 92FS. He was all over the target. I didn't say anything to him, but just watched him shoot from behind the line. He looked pretty frustrated at his target and I gave him that look that said "do you want some advice?" He nodded at me. I told him I have the same pistol and used to shoot with one particular grip that shot the same way until someone helped me correct my grip. I wanted him to know I ran into the same issue as him. He tried the grip change and his groups got tighter.

OP - Maybe the fellow could have approached you differently, but his intentions were good. Unless he was mouthing off just to hear himself talk. I agree that unsolicited advice is usually unwelcomed. Was he rude or just obnoxious? From your description, he sounds a little of both. Just say "Thank you" and tell him you'll think about it. Or, inform the RO that you want to move to another Lane because someone's won't let you shoot in peace.