Figured I would run down to Harvard this afternoon to shoot my new Perf. Center 1911 with the girl. We shot paper targets at the 7 and 25 yd range then I felt like shooting some steel. The range was very busy today. I drove around to the steel plate range but its was busy so I thought I would try the back 40 wheres there is a rack.
I didnt see a car down there so I figured it was empty. I pulled down and there's this "guy". Hes rather large, old, with a big beard and a goofy hat. He's staring me down, really staring. You know the stare like who the eff are you. For a second I thought maybe it was an event with all the stuff he had out. I sit there in the truck for a second and realize it's just him with his "gear". The picnic table is covered with bags, guns, ammo and other stuff including the spray paint for the targets. My fiance questions if we can shoot and I say "why not its just this "guy". So we get out of the truck and make our way over to the table infront of the plates.
Let me paint this picture of the back 40 for you. There is some wooden stands for you to shoot paper next to a steel plate rack and a tree rack poorly placed so you couldnt shoot at it if someone was shooting the main rack. I think "the guy" moved it. Meanwhile "the guy" is rummaging around his table full of stuff as we walk by. I see he has an unloaded gun at the end of the table in front of the rack so I go to put my stuff on the opposite end. As Im putting my stuff down the guy waddles over and says "Im shooting the plates, I dont know what you plan on shooting" in a pissed off tone and a snarl but he might just always look that way. I reply "Oh, I thought you were shooting over there..." and he replies "that's just my gear." I normally would have no problem telling the guy to F off but I want to be a good club member so I just grabbed my stuff and went back to the truck. I drove back over to the plate range to see if it had cleared out but it looked like two groups who were nicely sharing and taking turns shooting. I didn't feel like waiting so I just went home. I thought about it and realized I should have asked the guy if he owned this range or paid extra to rent it. He clearly didn't want to give up "his range". The more I thought about it the more I wished I had told this guy to shove his stupid hat up his a$$.
Anyway that's my rant. What would you have done? What are the general rules/ courtesy for busy rack ranges? Take turns or bully other people from shooting...
I didnt see a car down there so I figured it was empty. I pulled down and there's this "guy". Hes rather large, old, with a big beard and a goofy hat. He's staring me down, really staring. You know the stare like who the eff are you. For a second I thought maybe it was an event with all the stuff he had out. I sit there in the truck for a second and realize it's just him with his "gear". The picnic table is covered with bags, guns, ammo and other stuff including the spray paint for the targets. My fiance questions if we can shoot and I say "why not its just this "guy". So we get out of the truck and make our way over to the table infront of the plates.
Let me paint this picture of the back 40 for you. There is some wooden stands for you to shoot paper next to a steel plate rack and a tree rack poorly placed so you couldnt shoot at it if someone was shooting the main rack. I think "the guy" moved it. Meanwhile "the guy" is rummaging around his table full of stuff as we walk by. I see he has an unloaded gun at the end of the table in front of the rack so I go to put my stuff on the opposite end. As Im putting my stuff down the guy waddles over and says "Im shooting the plates, I dont know what you plan on shooting" in a pissed off tone and a snarl but he might just always look that way. I reply "Oh, I thought you were shooting over there..." and he replies "that's just my gear." I normally would have no problem telling the guy to F off but I want to be a good club member so I just grabbed my stuff and went back to the truck. I drove back over to the plate range to see if it had cleared out but it looked like two groups who were nicely sharing and taking turns shooting. I didn't feel like waiting so I just went home. I thought about it and realized I should have asked the guy if he owned this range or paid extra to rent it. He clearly didn't want to give up "his range". The more I thought about it the more I wished I had told this guy to shove his stupid hat up his a$$.
Anyway that's my rant. What would you have done? What are the general rules/ courtesy for busy rack ranges? Take turns or bully other people from shooting...
