Protection From Theft/Ambush While At The Range

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Rob228

New member
If I'm at a range that doesn't have RSOs I take the bolt(s) of the rifle(s) I am shooting downrange with me when I check targets.
 
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101combatvet

New member
Moonglum said:
This isn't a topic I've ever seen here possibly because it's a rare occurrence but several years ago a member of THR was murdered and had his guns stolen while shooting alone at a State owned range.

I've only ever had one instance that really made the hair on my neck stand up. I was shooting a rifle at a private range when two guys started questioning me about how I liked the gun and was I interested in selling it. They may not have had any malicious intent but the whole thing just felt skeezy to me so I packed up and left. I assumed they were members because they were there but I never found out and I never saw them again

I still shoot at that range. It's a private club and to my knowledge it's fenced in. I usually get a berm to myself but I'm never the only person on the range.

My biggest concern has always been someone grabbing a gun out of my bag while I'm down range but I've recently decided to take one gun to the range with me to shoot at at time so I'll just have it in the holster loaded while I'm down range. I'm also thinking about taking my Ruger LC9 and keeping it in my pocket as a back up.

What security measures do the cognoscenti take while shooting alone?
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I do a similar thing. I have the pistol I'm shooting in a shoulder holster when downrange, the magazine in my pocket loaded with standard carry ammunition. I have a smaller backup in concealed carry. In the trunk of my car is an M4.
 
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Aguila Blanca

Staff
101combatvet said:
I do a similar thing. I have the pistol I'm shooting in a shoulder holster when downrange, the magazine in my pocket loaded with standard carry ammunition. I have a smaller backup in concealed carry. In the trunk of my car is an M4.
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I don't claim to know the rules of every range in my state, but those I have shot at ALL require that when there's a cease fire to allow people to go down range, all firearms SHALL (that's mandatory language) be placed on the bench, with the muzzle pointed down-range, the magazine removed, the chamber open, and the safety engaged. Nobody goes down-range until the RSO(s) have verified that every shooter has complied with this requirement.
 
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101combatvet

New member
Aguila Blanca said:
I don't claim to know the rules of every range in my state, but those I have shot at ALL require that when there's a cease fire to allow people to go down range, all firearms SHALL (that's mandatory language) be placed on the bench, with the muzzle pointed down-range, the magazine removed, the chamber open, and the safety engaged. Nobody goes down-range until the RSO(s) have verified that every shooter has complied with this requirement.
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I guess this range doesn't require adult supervision. :D
 
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Blue Jays

New member
I have never visited a range solo. Always with a friend.
Mostly for fun camaraderie yet an extra set of eyes helps.
 
R

Reloadron

New member
Re post #5 this is likely the referenced thread. I know of no thread over there making any reference to a member being murdered at a range or otherwise. I would be curious as to a link of the incident.

The latter more addresses people out shooting in the desert.

Here in Ohio I shoot at a private members only range which is pretty well monitored. I have no reservation with leaving gear on the bench during a ceasefire for target changes. If I did I would be looking for another range to shoot at. I shoot to relax and enjoy and somehow keeping a constant vigil of my back seems to deter from why I am there in the first place. While I agree with situational awareness I also try not to place myself in certain situations.

I remember one day after rifle I wandered down to the short range for some handgun. Wow, I was now the owner of a Sig P220 and a nice stapler. Took them over to the range office and a day later got a thank you from a member. :) No reward necessary but it got me making sure I never leave anything behind.

Ron
 
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Adventurer 2

New member
A long time ago when i was young and dumb - was shooting at the now closed off Rampart Range shooting range (near Garden of the Gods, CO). 2 sketchy peeps several spots over and nobody else at the range. They were trying to get a semi-auto 22LR to work. Really didn't pay much attention was sighting in my 270 for upcoming mule deer season. Didn't own a spotting scope. Started walking downrange to check my target (their 22 rifle was in pieces). Looked back and one of them was at my spot. Headed back yelling at the guy to back off from my spot. He didn't. He picked up my rifle. Now i'm a pissed off infantry soldier. Drew my concealed Glock 26, while running up on him and his friend. His friend is freaking out. The guy with my rifle, calm as can be "What's your problem, i'm just checking out your rifle." Words exchanged. Have them back away. Grab my stuff and leave. After that, i've never shot alone at outdoor ranges when just one other person(or group) is around. Don't care how far i've driven -- it's a pass for another day.
 
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ATN082268

New member
I had my spidey senses go off at a remote outdoor range a while back. Two police officers were also shooting and a group of other shooters were looking at them like they were waiting for them to leave. I packed up the same time as the officers. It probably wasn't an ambush attempt and more likely they were going to do some shooting antics. Either way I didn't want to stick around and left.
 
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Moonglum

New member
Reloadron said:
Re post #5 this is likely the referenced thread. I know of no thread over there making any reference to a member being murdered at a range or otherwise. I would be curious as to a link of the incident.

The latter more addresses people out shooting in the desert.

Here in Ohio I shoot at a private members only range which is pretty well monitored. I have no reservation with leaving gear on the bench during a ceasefire for target changes. If I did I would be looking for another range to shoot at. I shoot to relax and enjoy and somehow keeping a constant vigil of my back seems to deter from why I am there in the first place. While I agree with situational awareness I also try not to place myself in certain situations.

I remember one day after rifle I wandered down to the short range for some handgun. Wow, I was now the owner of a Sig P220 and a nice stapler. Took them over to the range office and a day later got a thank you from a member. :) No reward necessary but it got me making sure I never leave anything behind.

Ron
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The discussion I'm referring to was At Least 12 years old
 
M

Moonglum

New member
Adventurer 2 said:
A long time ago when i was young and dumb - was shooting at the now closed off Rampart Range shooting range (near Garden of the Gods, CO). 2 sketchy peeps several spots over and nobody else at the range. They were trying to get a semi-auto 22LR to work. Really didn't pay much attention was sighting in my 270 for upcoming mule deer season. Didn't own a spotting scope. Started walking downrange to check my target (their 22 rifle was in pieces). Looked back and one of them was at my spot. Headed back yelling at the guy to back off from my spot. He didn't. He picked up my rifle. Now i'm a pissed off infantry soldier. Drew my concealed Glock 26, while running up on him and his friend. His friend is freaking out. The guy with my rifle, calm as can be "What's your problem, i'm just checking out your rifle." Words exchanged. Have them back away. Grab my stuff and leave. After that, i've never shot alone at outdoor ranges when just one other person(or group) is around. Don't care how far i've driven -- it's a pass for another day.
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Rampart Range was pretty skeezy. I never went there alone but I also have to say there was only one death in 50 years and that was a genuine malfunction form a muzzle loader.

The biggest problem I saw up there was that people would go up there and shoot and leave their garbage behind. The shotgun hulls looked like snow drifts and there were dead refrigerators, stoves and washing machines all over the place. The place was a major eyesore.

My wife and I quit going there probably a couple years before it was closed. We now go to a private club out East of town. My work schedule is such that we get there on the weekdays we usually have a bay to ourselves and we act as our own range safety.
 
R

Reloadron

New member
No, not at all that I didn't believe you. I just wanted to read the thread and see what the commentary was. Don't doubt it for a moment, be aware of your surroundings.

Ron
 
H

HWS

New member
I shoot at a private range owned by the National Forest. There are always people there when I go. Besides this I shoot mostly IN the National Forest, at one of many places I can go for privacy. Nobody has ever approached me with a gun there while I was shooting.
 
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Moonglum

New member
At my range there is no RSO and I'm USUALLY alone. When I'm going to check a target I simply reload and holster.
 
F

FITASC

New member
You leave a rifle on a table surrounded by a bunch of strangers and walk off 100+ yards to change a target ?
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Used to all the time when I lived out West and shot at the public city-owned facility (no RSOs ever). But back in the 80s and 90s, it seems folks were a little more respectful and considerate. And no one wore a concealed weapon - just wasn't considered necessary at the range.
 
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Dave P

New member
A factual story: man was shooting at a class 3 match. When it was over he loaded up his car and drove to walmart (prolly for more ammo!). Bad guys appearently were watching match, and followed the shooter to WM, where they broke into his car and stole a handful of expensive weapons. So watch yer back on the road, too. Palm Bay, FL.
 
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gwpercle

New member
Skippy said:
Many of the posts here got me to wondering, can you/would you shoot someone for stealing a gun while you were at a range?

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.
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I wouldn't shoot him for stealing my gun .... but my once fired brass lying on the floor is mine and nobody better not touch it ... I'm a serious brass hoarder !
Gary
 
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