Do you carry at the range? Might want to consider it.....

[kbrown84]

I guess this is why I always wear my vest to the range...regardless if private or public!

KBopcorn2:

[Hop]

I always take a loaded sidearm and don't shoot it when going to the range. I started this YEARs ago after being "staked out" at Atterbury.

[turkeykiller]

Originally Posted by rhino

I don't think the range would be a place where I be less well armed than I am when I'm at home or anywhere else.

There is an excellent example from fiction illustrating why you should always have at least one loaded weapon on your person (more are better) when you at a range practicing. If you've seen "Silverado," you should remember the scene where Emmett (Scott Glenn) is in the desert practicing and the bad guys wait until he's fired all of his guns until they make their move. Emmett had not so much as a derringer in his boot loaded.

Now, that's fiction, so some will dismiss it. Fine ...

Think of this: one of the most infamous shootouts in history was between the FBI and two guys named Platte and Mattix in Miami back in 1986. In Florida, a lot of people go out to the everglades to shoot. Platte and Mattix did exactly what the bad guys in "Silverado" did ... waiting until their victims were effectively unarmed, then robbed and killed them.

Can't happen to you? Good luck.

Situational awareness is always #1, especially when you are alone (either by yourself or among strangers). Always having the means to mount a proper defense comes right after that.

Other than matches, when I go to the range and someone is there, if I don't them I'll wait in my truck until they leave. Once I'm doing my thing on the range, I make sure I check behind myself on a regular basis and I don't let anyone I don't know approach me from behind with turning to face them.

Also, DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING UNATTENDED when you go downrange to check/change targets. Whether it's simple theft or if it's someone picking up your own AR, slapping a mag in it, and shooting you, it's a bad idea to leave something unattended that should always be in your control. If you're alone, take it with you when you go downrange.

sound advise!

[bwframe]

Originally Posted by Hop

I always take a loaded sidearm and don't shoot it when going to the range. I started this YEARs ago after being "staked out" at Atterbury.

Can't leave that one alone. The story please.

[Captain Bligh]

One of the ranges that I frequent had an unbalanced person do a suicide in the range. It is a public venue so you never know who you will run into there.

I may take four or five guns to the range to shoot depending upon my cleaning tolerance, but I always have one loaded and concealed just in case it's needed.

[ryanmercer]

No, becuase I only go to eagle creek, and it is forbidden.

[obhie]

Originally Posted by ryanmercer

No, becuase I only go to eagle creek, and it is forbidden.

Same here. But... that doesn't mean that I don't leave an extra loaded clip handy. The gun's not loaded if the clip's not in it

[Coach]

Originally Posted by indyjoe

As range officers, we always carried on the range. We figured that if someone went off, we might have to put them down. It would be the end of our club, but so be it.

Good lord.

[indyjoe]

Originally Posted by Coach

Good lord.

It is a terrible thing to think about, sure. However, the only thing I can see that is worse than having to shoot someone out at the range, shooting others, is not having the ability to do so. I thought in my mind that it is a 1 in 100,000 chance that it would ever happen. However, people do win the lottery. I'm glad I never had to do anything other than provide firearm instruction.

[Coach]

Maybe it is worth thinking about, and preparing for the very unlikely event. But it is a completely different thing to make the statement on the internet. You wording also leaves something to be desired. "Put them down" makes it sound like a stray dog or an injured racehorse. Anti-gun people or people who are undecided read statements like that and do not understand at all. It sounds like a "gun-nut" type of statement. It is a free country say what you want, but as gun owners we are many times our own worst enemy and you statement seems like a prime example to me.