A day at the range was almost my last...

[epilepticninja]

I was at a range today located on a military installation. The range is open to .mil ID card holders and civilians that are range members. The range was cold and I was down at the 50 yard marker checking my target. As I was crouching down to look at the bottom of the target where I had put a Shoot-n-C for sighting in, I heard a pop-pop-pop-pop and started eating dirt (there is only one active pistol/rifle range at that location and I was in the middle of it.)

I turned around and saw the guy next to my shooting lane yelling at another guy about 20 feet over. Seems dude just walked up, grabbed his pistola and started capping rounds without checking to make sure the range was hot. He was an active duty guy too which made it worse. Wasn't my first time being downrange of flying bullets, but I haven't been in a hurry to repeat that experience.

The guy apologized and I told him he needed to be more aware of what was going on when he was handling firearms especially at a range. Dude was shaking a bit. I thought I should have been the one shaking. I've been on civilian, military, and LE ranges, and never have had some mess like that go down. I'm seriously considering wearing armor the next time I go. Anywhoo, that is my story for the day and a safety reminder to be aware of your surroundings when you are shooting firearms.

[chim-chim7]

Guess who the people are I see at the range weekly that make the most mistakes and/or are horrible shooters.............LEO and active duty. Go figure.
Mostly young kid Marines that are showing off to their buddies. Recently I saw a young Marine push his buddy in the back while he was shooting. I guess he was clowing around, but that could have been a disaster.

[Mr.Sandman]

Thats why you always have a buddy at your 6 or you check over your shoulder every couple seconds when fixing/changing targets if you are alone. Sorry I am too paranoid to leave my safety in the hands of random retards.

[fredridge]

That's something I really appreciate about Angeles ranges......when range is cold you get near the benches they rip your head off

[skosh69]

Thank God you were not hit. The idiot that did the shooting would've been missing a few front teeth if it had been me downrange, military or not!

[troysland]

That's something I really appreciate about Angeles ranges......when range is cold you get near the benches they rip your head off

I know, right? Top of their lungs on the megaphone speaker.

[diverwcw]

Geez, what a moron. Glad you are OK and kudos to you for your restraint in not knocking out his front teeth.

I'm retired LEO and before I retired, I helped out at range qualifications. I can mirror what was mentioned early about LE being horrible shots. With many of them, particularly people of rank, you would be safer standing right in front of them rather than off to the side of them.

Just because a person wears a uniform, LE or military, does not make them a good shooter and/or safe with weapons.

[Rickrock1]

Shooter definitely would have been eating teeth regardless of who he is.

[sundayduffer]

Where were the range masters?

[G-Man WC]

Glad to hear things turned out well for you.

-g

[SacTown]

Jeezus people are stupid. Glad no one was hurt.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Glad you are okay! Some people don't think that rules of safety apply to them!

[HapaMan]

Wow, glad you're okay. That's pretty damn scary.

[desertexplore]

Good story to share and safety reminder for all if us.

[epilepticninja]

Where were the range masters?

They watch from cameras in another building. I've been shooting on and off at that range since the late 80's when I was first stationed there, and have never seen anything there like what happened to me today. Usually everyone is very safety conscious because the majority of the users are AD/reserve/retired .mil.

I wasn't really mad at him, just extremely disappointed about his lack of range safety. Popping him in the grape with my fist wasn't going to help him with that.