Do You Correct Other Shooters at the Range?

No. Not unless it’s a safety concern. I mind my own buisness and I think the world would be better off if everyone did the same.

Safety related, absolutely. Sucks shooting techniques or habits, no. If they ask for help, which I have had a few people ask me before, then I will help them with what I know or answer questions.

Not without getting REAMED for my efforts! I let the “Range Supervisor” handle it, that what “He/She” gets paid for…

If my safety seems at risk, I definitely try intervening. I have not had to give up and leave (yet).

Regarding tips, occasionally I will offer. I’ll make contact first, ask a question or two, ask if they’re having any trouble, then offer a “suggestion”. So far, no explosive (sorry) feedback. I once got to meet Anwar Sadat’s daughter under those circumstances.

Get real, I’d as soon criticize a a proud parents’ first born. I don’t, as a rule, walk up on people holding weapons. Commenting and correcting is the job of the R.O. There are no victims, only volunteers. F-K-A.

Only when they are unsafe to others, and I never try to correct a grip or a stance anymore as it seems like more people are uncomfortable or annoyed at that than people who are truly appreciative. I no longer even give advice on what gun would be good for anyone in whatever situation. It hasn’t happened to me but I’ve seen too many cases where some blame well intended people for their advice on a gun or caliber because of their own inability to not limp wrist or look at sights properly. It’s amazing that just being old enough and passing an online NICS check can put guns in the hands of idiots. I think that is ok when they are on their own turf but when they come to the range there should be mandatory questions and a review of their gun handling and shooting skills by an RO. There are people at our range who probably are not much smarter than a turnip…

Safety issues are not flexible. Neither should you be when it becomes to safety. As for interference of another shooter’s technique. Only if the shooter is going about it in a way that may injure themselves. E.I.G. ; Placing their support hand finger in front of the cylinder of a revolver.

Rude AF. Not just at the range, but in any public activity. And no matter how politely you tell them to go away, they get pissy about it.

If anyone does something is feel the need to correct, the RO is all over it anyways.

Some inappropriately dressed woman one stall over had a shell casing go down her cleavage one time and before I could react to her muzzling me the RO was in there like greased lightning 😂

I have been muzzle swept a few times and have clamly instructed the new shooters to please keep your weapon pointed down range and BTW cool gun. We have to watchout for each other on the range, but try not to be an ass about it.
Kinda like when i workout at the gym, no unsolicited advice unless safety is a concern.

if the screw-up is a danger to them or the others on the range ,definitely say something, thr RSO isn’t all-seeing,just tell them “can I help you on range safety and save you a reaming from the rso? then tell them what they did wrong without harassing them. and show them what the correct way to do something..WITHOUT THE LECTURE, that is the RSO’S job…

No.

Even if they are attractive females, which are usually there with guys who equally don’t have a clue. No.

No, no and no.

Nothing good will come of it. If they wanted help, they would sign up for a class.

So long as they aren’t pointing guns in my direction, I leave them alone. And most of my “public” shooting anymore is at indoor ranges with ballistic barriers between lanes. I tend to avoid non-controlled open air ranges because I prefer not to see other peoples’ muzzles.

In fact, last time I was at a public place, I was stapling targets on the far end of the line when some jackass started shooting his .22 rifle at his target on the opposite end. After some profanity, I didn’t need my target. Correct him? No, I packed up and left. I haven’t gone back to that particular club.

John

I try to be very cognizant about what’s going on around me at the range. If I’m not shooting I step back from the booth to see what’s really going on behind my guest and I. I’ve interrupted some serious “lasering” by others approaching the firing line, I’ve done it politely but very firmly.

I only shoot on one of two private ranges. I know everyone on them. So it’s not an issue. When I was working I was paid to correct co-workers on the range. Whether they liked it or not. However, many years ago I had to use a public range in the national forest. There was no range officer. I only witnessed a couple of safety issues. Everyone got on the shooters ass. Only offered advice when asked. And it happened from time to time.

Generally speaking at my local range people tend to be more appreciative of help anybody can give, however most people here also tend to ask for help when they see somebody clearly better than them shooting next to them to begin with.

Bonus points for them: I usually let them shoot my custom Shadow 2 to learn a few things on for free when they ask me for a bit of help. Haven’t really had a bad experience all in all with this ever.

I have always lived in remote areas, for a multitude of reasons. Hiking, outdoor sports and solitude. I almost never go to a public range even though there is one just up the road. The wackos outnumber the sane shooters by a wide margin.
I do my shooting at a remote area, alone or with one other. More than two is a problem so I stick to solitude or one companion. Same for hiking by the way. Hiking distance covered and range safety are in direct opposite proportion to the number of participants. Now you know how I got my name.

If I spot someone shooting with bad form?

Unless it’s safety violation, that’s what professional instructors are for……

I’ll intervene (when possible without startling), if I see an obvious beginner fixin’ to get badly slide bit, or burnt from cylinder flash. But once the imediate problem is corrected, I’m back to my lane. If they forget afterwards, that’s on them.

The first time is because I’m a nice guy; for instances after that, we need to be friends or I need to be paid.

I have done so. Most of the time what I’m seeing are things I’ve done wrong, so I start off with “Can I tell you about a mistake I used to make?” I’m often surprised that the person responds, “And I’m making now?”

Though depending who I’m shooting with, I may not give the correction. That was especially useful one day when the response was a snotty “So now you’re superior and can tell me?” I said, “No, but the guy who told me how to fix the issue is right over here”. Doug came over when I waved, and proceeded to use me as demonstration model. Things actually went smoother because he corrected me a couple of times, which had the other guy grinning and quite willing to learn himself.

I shoot alone, yeah.
With nobody else…

there’s a place just west of Albuquerque in open space that’s not the safest place to shoot at all, I now go to a local range that’s set up better and has much friendlier people that will offer help. One time even had a professional instructor allow me to sit in on a training session just to show me some pointers.

“Do You Correct Other Shooters at the Range?”

Unless there is some sort of safety issue, I let well enough alone…

Having said that, I no longer go to public ranges, I have enough land that I’m able to shoot at will…

On an issue of safety, yes I’d butt in if I saw that need.

Otherwise, happy to listen and help out if another shooter asks me. Otherwise I leave people be, cooperate on cease fires to change targets, etc. Just show good range manners, like anything else.

Etiquette, no.

Pointers, not unless I’m asked. The sole exception being the guys next to me a year and a half or so ago who were borrowing tools from me and getting really frustrated when things didn’t work the way they had been told (incorrectly) that they would. I finally told them what they needed to know so I could get my stuff back and leave without leaving them without the ability to make adjustments.

Safety issues, is a sliding scale. Do dumb stuff that’s innocent and I’ll keep an eye on it. Do really dumb stuff because you’re being a jackwagon and I’ll leave. Muzzle me and I will say something if it’s careless. Muzzle me again and I’ll leave. Do it again right after I said something while making a sarcastic crack about safety because you think it’s funny to be an asshole with your loaded gun and I’ll decide to see just how much you like having a loaded pistol pointed at your brain box because at that point I’m taking your actions as a direct and intentional threat on my life.

Only their grammar.

Excellent article/topic, compliment to the staff writer.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have lived in rural areas most of my life, so I have been able to sight in weapons and target shoot safely without trouble. Although, this advent of the new red flag or M1 laws are a serious threat to law abiding citizens just target shooting on their own property, imo. However, during my professional work tenure in large cities in private, corporate security and law enforcement at indoor and outdoor ranges even with range staff onboard.
I can deeply appreciate this topic, as having witnessed hot firearms being waved around in all sorts of directions, even by coworkers who simply failed to retain the instructors directions and during yearly training. It’s a scary and almost hopeless feeling when a person waves the muzzle of a hot weapon in your direction and talking and/or looking the other way with their finger on the trigger or not!
Your absolutely correct about people in generall, don’t like to be corrected, especially in front of others.
It is a gamble, but experience has taught me to observe the range general operations and decide for myself if the range is worth coming back to, etc. I’ve found private ranges to be more successful at being safe. However, when in a structured environment like yearly training, certification or even working in state government? I was always very vocal and loud when someone was doing this and getting away with it, as not only does it catch the instructor or the staff’s attention, but everyone else’s as well. It’s really a team effort out on the range and smart people need to partner up to weed out trouble or identify the village idiot to everyone, so to speak.
For example, you may be in a yearly certification with a brand new recruit at the same time and you don’t know why they took the job, maybe they had to and don’t even like touching guns or their fascinated with them and it’s overriding their common sense, etc. Or maybe they are just taking the job until they can find something different. A very nice new recruit that I even befriended while working at a state prison admitted this personal information to me early on. When we had tower duty, you checked out an AR-15 and an 870 pump, both in tactical cases with various types of ammo, mostly for the 870, depending on the situation. Unfortunately, you don’t know who last checked out those weapons when they hand them to you as you head to your tower or gate, etc. Also, what is unfortunate is that some former military staff or just some idiot that got bored for a couple hours while nothing was going on decided to strip the weapon and put it back together for something to do in snail time. This is gravely frowned upon and a violation, but we’re all in this world together, right? Well, some staff would incorrectly put things back together or somehow the more gung ho types would leave a round in the chamber. This new recruit that I mentioned, never inspected his weapons when he went on tower duty and the day came that he needed to step out and shoulder the AR to deter a large inmate group infraction that was taking place and about to escalate. While he was successful at deterring the possible dangerous infractions, he was completely unaware of the present condition of the rifle and at the end of his tower shift and “assuming” that chamber was empty and the trigger on safe when he went to remove the mag, somehow hit the trigger and fired around into the wood floor inside this small tower. Can you imagine how loud that must have been inside there? Especially, not expecting it, not to mention all the other terrible things that could have happened. It not only scared him, but forced him to look into the mirror about his life and what he was doing there. Immediately, he turned in the weapons, the AR still hot, but on safe, turned in his I.D. and walked out the door and never came back to work. A day later the spent round from the ammo was noticed and he was phoned and then gave us his story of the events in chronological order and I don’t know what he did with the spent brass, but I examined the tower and the bullet went through the wood floor as a very small hole, a couple of stairs below and lodged in the side of a piece of 4X4 wood and is still there to this day, as far as I know. He went on to sell furniture, much more suited to him. I felt empathy for the man, but was glad he manned up and had the courage to step away from a career his heart and mind were not devoted to. We were also pissed at the former Military employee/idiot that had the weapon prior to the new recruit for turning in a hot weapon prior to the incident . I don’t know what they decided to do with him. So, not to take away anything from the topic here, but to add some information to recognize that the range can be an extremely dangerous place, you don’t always know why other people are really there, to stick to the fundamental principals and not to be afraid to “speak up loud and clear” when you view unsafe weapons handling, as you just might my save someone’s life, including your own or a future unsafe almost deadly situation like the experience noted above. As always, my apologies for poor grammar and whatever my phone decides to do with my post after I hit submit. lol “Safety First to All”

Nope…unless my safety is at stake. I’ve had vst experience at the gym “helping”. No more….

Last year, I was with my dad at the NRA range in the basement of the mothership in Mclean VA. Couple in the lane next to us was inexperienced boyfriend taking his girlfriend for her first time firing a handgun (9mm, nothing crazy). She was so afraid of the explosion she was leaning back away while firing, missing a close target by a mile. Not dangerous but frustrated and not having fun. Was surprised that nobody was offering any advice…isn’t education what the NRA is about? While she was firing, I politely suggested to boyfriend “have her lean forward at the hips, athletic stance.” He did, and she was soon hitting the target. Both of them had a vastly better experience and he got to look like the hero.

Yes. Especially the guy who said he could shoot and then had his revolver barrel pointing slightly up. He had the BOTTOM of the front sight at the top of the rear notch. He would have put a hole in the ceiling. It was enough I could see it from behind and slightly to the right of the shooter.

At my gun club, we don’t have designated RSOs except during matches. That means everyone is a de facto RSO. We are told to intervene politely, firmly and immediately if we see a safety violation. If the offender is uncooperative, we are advised to leave the range and report the incident to the club’s officers with enough information to identify the offender. Periodically, we receive an e-mail from the club secretary advising that someone’s membership has been suspended or revoked.

I’ve had good experiences with both types of exchanges.

A harried guy was instructing 3 relatives and was going to dash out onto the range before the all-clear. I shouted, and he thanked me.

Another time I saw some odd rifle handling, and I softly mentioned it to the RO nearby. He informed me it was SOP for muzzle loaders. (Silly me.)

I saw a lady doing some precision shooting with a .22LR rifle and some ammo that I had given up on for having lousy accuracy. So I gave her the last 10 rounds of a box Mini-Mags to try.

A boy friend was teaching a gf how to shoot a revolver. She was leaning her torso way backwards and he wasn’t correcting it. I gently suggested a vertical stance was better. Both were nice, and he tried out my pistol with a RMR red dot.

A lady showed up at the pistol range on a hot summer day showing a lot of cleavage. I suggested that flying brass can burn exposed skin. She didn’t take the hint & I let it go.

Everybody’s been nice & I never push a point. Several have offered to loan me their firearm, but I’ve only done that once. Too bad no one has offered up a 1911 or a Hi-Power.

I’ll correct a shooter if there’s a safety issue — especially my safety.

Generally if I see something that is safety related, I’ll back up from my lane and talk to the RSO about what I saw and let them handle it.
On a couple of occasions where I saw someone grip a pistol where the slide might bite them and they seemed to be new to shooting I have suggested they may want to hold the weapon differently and also let the RSO know they may need some help.

Everyone is a safety guy or gal, if range has formal RSO then I let them know,
unless it is a life and death thing, then I’ll yell CEASE FIRE CEASE FIRE.

Had a fellow range member with a dual rifle case, open case on table, rifle #1 on table pointing down range, rifle #2 inside the open case muzzle pointed UP RANGE.
Asked him to move the case he had bad attitude, got RSO and they made him close it and put it on the ground, outdoor covered range.

“It is in the case”. Yes but the muzzle is pointed in the WRONG DIRECTION.

You cant be too safe but you can be a range nazi. I err on the too safe side. Officer of the club that runs our range declared his fully loaded Garand safe when I was the unofficial RO 1 day when the range was crowded. Selfishly looking out for my own safety first before going down range. Made him unload it which he did not know how to do other than rack the bolt 8 times. I’m a big fan of yellow open bolt flags in all guns uncased and on the line. If you point a gun at me like the jack ass in the picture, you are going to hear from me. Had a dumb ass surplus dealer at a gun show point a rifle at me as he was trying to run live ammo thru it. He was banned for life by the show promoter.

I’m sure everyone has a bitch with any other person…Real or imaginary…People love to make others uncomfortable in various environments due to the “human condition.” Of being @$$#o!€$ to others just for the sake of doing so…You know, kind of like those SJW busybodies that might live next door to you and have a problem eith YOUR guns in general. Same applies here…Let the safety officials worry about things…If that’s the kind of place you want to shoot at…Then it will be like a Kalifornia range…Where I understand it is very uncomfortable and tyrannical controlled…Personally I do miss shooting on private property! Under comfortable, relaxed, non-stressful conditions…Where Newbies AREN’T further stigmatized by the “guns are bad mentality…”

Secondly, should everyone be “forced” to shoot with an isosceles stance versus a modified Weaver? Shouldn’t it be what’s comfortable and accurate for the shooter…Teaching various stances. Seeing what’s accurate for the shooter?

Maybe the “Anti-gunners” can come up with some more authoritarian type laws that require a certified hunter to take along a “state state approved” safety buddy on your private hunting trips. Maybe they’ll have law enforcement powers, is able to ticket and fine you along the way..The “LEO Safety buddy” can “temporarily” take possession of your firearms, maybe when crossing public ways, or as the “LEO safety buddy” sees fit…Like having a office space Liberal carry your ball sack around for you…

At the range I frequent (DNR range). The first person on sight is the RSO until someone else agrees to take over. It requires a class/test to use and a yearly retest. Yes I offer advise especially in regards to safety and on occasion when I see someone struggling with technique. I’ve found these as opportunities to start a dialogue about firearms with like minded people. It is also important to know when to stay in your own lane so to speak. Never be afraid to say something when you see something being done wrong or unsafe. A few days ago at a neighboring range we had a young lady die from an accidental self inflicted gun shot. While all the facts haven’t been released. Just knowing it happened is enough to make you more focused on what really matters. This why I also carry a complete gun shot trauma kit. So be safe out there for yourself and everyone around you.

Not unless they are doing something that directly endangers other people. I have never had to do that at a range, but I’m very careful to watch others. But it’s no different than taking action against anyone doing anything that directly endangers myself.

Please don’t misinterpret my earlier post.
I am not advocating “helping” others learn proper safety or proper shooting.
I befriended this fellow officer in the cell halls training him and many others, etc.
Some people you just click with and others you don’t. FACT
I am advocating sounding the “ALARM” anywhere, when I full well know that danger is present and danger leads to instant life and death situations, especially on a public gun range. I don’t give crap if they hate my guts for the rest of their lives, but they will stay the hell away from me and be noticed by every person present. I could go on for quiet a spell about accidental stupid shootings that could have been prevented, if “someone” would have had the balls to speak up before hand. Empowerment and safety, comes from early awareness, hands on learning and practice by doing.
I grew up around very abrasive men from military backgrounds leading back to WW II, Korea, Vietnam and I had a hard labor boot camp experience myself, etc.
Your told only once.. Learning off the bat, beat’s the hell out of waking up to middle of the night hazing’s with tube socks full of hard objects pounding your ass while your being held down by several of your peers/squad and you best keep your mouth shut the next day about your black eye/s, bruises and bumps and carry your weight.
I don’t wait for something bad to happen to a certain amount of statistics, like our local government’s do or because the boss doesn’t happen to see it at the moment, before they decide to put up a sign after so many hundreds of deaths.
Hill Blocks View or Deer Zone.. Screw that! I’ve had people come up to me many months later and shake my hand and apologize for their thin skinned behavior after getting their ass jumped. “A wise man thanks a man for correcting him and a fool mocks him.”
My cousin John is living today with a bullet in his head, because of foolish behavior with a pistol. After many years, they still cannot remove it, because it would kill him if they tried. Now he’s a shell of what he was and on as many pain killers and medicine as you can think of. Unsafe pistol/gun handling and showing off, same thing, same results.
Lead by example, I don’t care who you are or what your rank is.
Forrest Gump’s mama was right about STUPID..

Not to a stranger, but if it’s someone new I’ve befriended, sure. Granted they have to be pretty inexperienced in order for my advice to be an improvement 😛
In life, the best way I’ve found to give advice is using the “compliment sandwhich” (i.e. give the person a compliment, then a gentle bit of constructive criticism, then another entirely separate compliment). This way you dont come off as a dick and they are more likely to retain the advice.

Nope. I’ve gone with friends of friends and offered some advice when they were having some trouble but when I’m at the range I do my thing and let others do theirs. If they see my grouping and ask, cool.

Some people go shooting to destress more than practice and I don’t want to get all up in their business.

Usually after someone has shot the shit out of the target stand, I’ll ask if they would like to learn how to hit the target instead. There is a way of doing this without being an Ass hat.These are folks within arms reach to my immediate right or left. Nothing worse than watching someone struggle with basic marksmanship principles and get discouraged. If they respond positively to my offer it takes less than 5 mins of my time. Their whole attitude will change when they can make progress. The whole idea of ” Not getting involved in someones business” is not always showing good Stuart ship but sometimes its the best thing to do. There is a way of talking to people that disarms them. Always be polite and compliment them. You don’t have to be ” That Guy “. How about encouraging new shooters instead of ignoring them and then making snarky comments about them latter. I have seen this too often. Always promote further training.
Not everyone is comfortable approaching or even talking to other folks and that’s fine. If someone is acting strangely or unsafe find your RSO. Always give back to your Hobby and your Sport.

Easy question. Nope; unless they are doing something openly unsafe. The RSO’s at the my local indoor range are pretty durn good so I’ve never had to say anything. I just mind my own business. I do try to avoid the range on Saturday and Sunday though; it tends to be amateur hour there.

Yes, but only if they ask, are being unsafe or I think there a a good chance someone is going to get hurt. For example I once saw a girl at the bench next to me who was about to pull the trigger on a 357 magnum that she was holding half an inch from her nose. No one in her group was had anything to say about it so I spoke up.

When I am at a range or a black jack table I play my hand, you play yours. If how you play bothers me I change tables. If you are breaking the rules I leave it up to the Range Officer or dealer to handle those problems.

I generally don’t because I’m not that good of a shooter to be giving any one advice anyway. I did have a noob set up on my left with an AR ejecting at the 3 oclock position and had to politely ask him to put up a screen to contain his brass. More of an etiquette thing than form though.