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Mainly because of the ammo shortage, panic-buying and all the hoarding, I’m wondering if what is happening at public ranges has changed. I’ve been going to the same public range for 35+ years. I used to enjoy it a whole lot more. For that last many years, the proliferation of people shooting high capacity semi-auto’s has increased to the point that they are now dominant. Our range has a metal roof above the benches and the echo of compensated rifles coming down is very annoying. Sitting next to someone shooting a compensated rifle is also annoying. And what makes it worse is they are often emptying high capacity magazines quickly. At times, I’ve had these guys on each side of me. Another annoyance had been being peppered by hot brass. One change our range made was to require that all black rifles have shell catchers attached. That was one improvement.
The other factor I’ve noticed is these guys seemed to show up with a limitless amount of ammunition shooting hundreds and hundreds of rounds. Given the ammo shortage and hoarding, I’m curious if the range will be very different this year. I can’t help but believe it will be much more quiet. With ammo so expensive, I can’t believe these guys are going to blaze away like they had been. Every round they shoot will be one round they can’t hoard.
It’s been too cold for a range trip here but what about the rest of you that live in warmer regions. Notice less shooting?
Steve I have seen the opposite at the range I shoot. We are seeing more bolt action guns than AR’s. The benches where I shoot have brackets for screens to deflect the cases for the AR guys. The muzzle brakes can be annoying but almost anyone shooting for long range accuracy has one, me included. Mine is angled back at about 45 degrees so I don’t blast the guys next to me so badly. We can only shoot from every other bench right now so that helps. The range is very safety conscience and really get after guys shooting rapid fire. When I got my Labradar unit I blew the battery pack right off the side of the unit by not having it properly placed to avoid the muzzle blast. These are velcro’d on but luckily the cable kept it from hitting the asphalt. Here are a few picks of the range. Notice the 2 brackets on the right side of the bench top. These are for the screens to mount. The farthest targets are at 600 yds but we pick out rocks further up the hill. One favorite spot is a small bush at 975 yds. It is the upper area of the white triangular face.
Chuck said
Steve I have seen the opposite at the range I shoot. We are seeing more bolt action guns than AR’s. The benches where I shoot have brackets for screens to deflect the cases for the AR guys. The muzzle brakes can be annoying but almost anyone shooting for long range accuracy has one, me included. Mine is angled back at about 45 degrees so I don’t blast the guys next to me so badly. We can only shoot from every other bench right now so that helps. The range is very safety conscience and really get after guys shooting rapid fire. When I got my Labradar unit I blew the battery pack right off the side of the unit by not having it properly placed to avoid the muzzle blast. These are velcro’d on but luckily the cable kept it from hitting the asphalt. Here are a few picks of the range. Notice the 2 brackets on the right side of the bench top. These are for the screens to mount. The farthest targets are at 600 yds but we pick out rocks further up the hill. One favorite spot is a small bush at 975 yds. It is the upper area of the white triangular face.
Nice to see Angeles is still intact. That’s my local range as well but haven’t been since the madness started.
Steve
WACA Member. CFM Member. NRA Lifer.
Chuck – I am green with envy over the range you frequent. I really love the backstop! Unfortunately, I happen to be among shooters who favor AR type rifles over bolt-actions. As I mentioned, I am very curious to see if that has changed.
This discussion reminded me of the amusement I’ve felt as I watch guys shoot these AK-47 style (pistols). I don’t know much about these, but from what I’ve seen, they’re not very accurate. I recall a pair of guys shooting a magazine-full at a 15 yard target. I think they shot 30 rounds. When they were done, the target was could have been sold as new and unused.
November 7, 2015
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My range Is probably pretty slow today, only the hardiest members are going to venture out on a windy 15 degree (and dropping) day in N Texas. 😉
In response to your question it’s apparent most of our members reload or keep a healthy supply of ammo on hand. The serious clay shooters often buy from a distributor and generally have several months worth of ammo on hand. The public ranges around here are also supplied by distributors in most cases and will find a way to keep ammo on hand and will avoid selling to hoarders. It’s my opinion there is no ammunition shortage, only hoarder issues. I don’t have a huge stockpile but DO have the supplies and components to load all I care to shoot, which isn’t much these days. COVID has caused me to all but discontinue range trips. I’m been in close proximity to many folks who later tested positive and the majority of our members are elderly. I don’t want to risk it. I’ve been lucky so far but not willing to push it. I sure miss shooting, tho.
Mike
May 3, 2020
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You guys are lucky to have public a range, nothing like that in the UK all rangers are private and rented to clubs.
as for Steve you reminded me of before we had the pistol ban my friend had a .22rf semi auto pistol and I could pepper all around a target at 25yds but very rarely hit it !
was fun blasting a few rounds off though !
BASC member
The area in Pennsylvania in which I shoot is a very sportsman oriented, hunter friendly community. I’ve NEVER seen an AR at the public range. All bolt actions here. Of course the gun clubs where I belong are all traditional rifles as well, though the average age of the membership is probably mid-seventy. I’m 60, one of the kids!!
supergimp said
Nice to see Angeles is still intact. That’s my local range as well but haven’t been since the madness started.
Steve
Yep still there. I go Tuesdays. It’s old farts day. Come out and shoot.
Steve004, this is the best of the 3 ranges closest to my house. Each an hours drive. All are at the base of the mountains in canyons and at about 1500 ft of elevation. A couple weeks ago it was 38 degrees at shooting time and got up into the 50’s after noon. I have a couple of AR’s too.
Mike I agree with your assessment. Manufacturers have been interviewed and say they are making it as fast as they can. I buy from a wholesale seller and he eventually gets everything I need except primers. He puts in an order every week and gets none. I learned my lesson, sort of, a couple years ago I stocked up. I misjudged the primer situation. I have enough to shoot for years. Just not the primers for my favorite gun. Who knew that 5000 wouldn’t be enough? Worst case I may have to shoot something else.
Nice to see Angeles is still intact. That’s my local range as well but haven’t been since the madness started.
Steve
Steve – are you saying it got even busier – which is why you’ve stayed away?
foxfire said
The area in Pennsylvania in which I shoot is a very sportsman oriented, hunter friendly community. I’ve NEVER seen an AR at the public range. All bolt actions here. Of course the gun clubs where I belong are all traditional rifles as well, though the average age of the membership is probably mid-seventy. I’m 60, one of the kids!!
This sounds like nirvana to me. I rarely run into like-minded shooters. I stand out like a sore thumb shooting my ancient lever rifles. Not that I don’t shoot bolt rifles. For example my Remington-Keene in .43 Spanish is a fun one. And surely the only specimen that has ever been fired at the range. And I like to shoot the Colt pumps, the Bullard single-shot and others – nearly all of which no one there has ever seen before. Same with my Ross rifles. Not that I don’t get comments, “that’s sure a weird one.” Sigh.
[email protected] said
You guys are lucky to have public a range, nothing like that in the UK all rangers are private and rented to clubs.as for Steve you reminded me of before we had the pistol ban my friend had a .22rf semi auto pistol and I could pepper all around a target at 25yds but very rarely hit it !
was fun blasting a few rounds off though !
I don’t know much about the laws over there. When did the, “pistol ban” go into effect and what did it include?
steve004 said
Nice to see Angeles is still intact. That’s my local range as well but haven’t been since the madness started.Steve
Steve – are you saying it got even busier – which is why you’ve stayed away?
No, just the on-again-off again nature of lockdowns here in CA as well as (thankfully) I’ve managed to keep my job and since I work as an engineer in streaming video, it’s been the busy season all season. Getting away during the week is tough.
They did limit use to every-other-bench, so I’ve heard that its sometimes difficult to get a spot (weekend warriors mostly).
I love this range, but, since I use a wheelchair, the terrain isn’t very friendly and so I can’t really go on a whim, but need to round up a pal or two. Again logistics and some of them are ammo shy. I’m pretty well stocked up and have plenty of plinking ammo and components, but even I have taken the time to inventory my supplies in these times.
Steve
WACA Member. CFM Member. NRA Lifer.
supergimp said
No, just the on-again-off again nature of lockdowns here in CA as well as (thankfully) I’ve managed to keep my job and since I work as an engineer in streaming video, it’s been the busy season all season. Getting away during the week is tough.
They did limit use to every-other-bench, so I’ve heard that its sometimes difficult to get a spot (weekend warriors mostly).
I love this range, but, since I use a wheelchair, the terrain isn’t very friendly and so I can’t really go on a whim, but need to round up a pal or two. Again logistics and some of them are ammo shy. I’m pretty well stocked up and have plenty of plinking ammo and components, but even I have taken the time to inventory my supplies in these times.
Steve
Thanks for the response Steve. That all makes sense. If a person is retired or has a schedule that allows them to go to on a day other than weekend, it can make for a much more enjoyable experience.
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TXGunNut said
It’s my opinion there is no ammunition shortage, only hoarder issues.
That’s a major part of the problem, but not the whole problem. The other part is US gov’t agencies stockpiling ammo on the phony pretense of a possible “insurrection” of people like us, & US ammo makers are their accomplices.
Aren’t they’re any private club ranges where those of you talking about the problems of public ranges live? Near any big city, membership isn’t going to be cheap, but compared to the aggravations of public ranges, worth whatever it costs.
May 3, 2020
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The uk government banned pistols December 1997, all cartridge pistols of all calibers had to be handed in .
we are allowed muzzle loaded BP pistols, and long barrelled pistols with a fixed stock
BASC member
[email protected] said
The uk government banned pistols December 1997, all cartridge pistols of all calibers had to be handed in .we are allowed muzzle loaded BP pistols, and long barrelled pistols with a fixed stock
Please excuse my ignorance. I did not know that. There must have been a lot of fine collector pistols that had to be parted with. Did the owners have a chance to export them to be sold?
May 3, 2020
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I’m not sure, i think most where handed in at market value, I suspect that rare ones could be haggled for a better value.
There was a sliding scale on value.I know some firearms Dealer’s made some money getting the government s minimum price for scrap worthless pistols .
I friend is a dealer and was getting £100 for a £5 pistol
BASC member
[email protected] said
I’m not sure, i think most where handed in at market value, I suspect that rare ones could be haggled for a better value.There was a sliding scale on value.I know some firearms Dealer’s made some money getting the government s minimum price for scrap worthless pistols .
I friend is a dealer and was getting £100 for a £5 pistol
Interesting. It sounds like at least people got something. Were all the handguns that were handed in, destroyed?
May 3, 2020
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I have no idea what happened to the pistols, I imagine a great deal where smelted but any with value would have been sold to a section 5 dealer or exported , probably some are now circulating in the US .
BASC member
[email protected] said
I have no idea what happened to the pistols, I imagine a great deal where smelted but any with value would have been sold to a section 5 dealer or exported , probably some are now circulating in the US .
We got a lot of guns from England, Australia and others.
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