Challenging unsafe behaviour

[Blu]

Would you have challenged them ?

Most definitely.

Blu

[Matt]

Absolutely......

[Ginger]

Definate YES!

I personally have given guidance to club members, Committee members and even NRA people about there range behaviour.

I had to report a member of a national shooting body for sending his colleague down the range while he was still loading, and I am afraid I was seen as just a member and it was brushed aside. This was a few years back.

Always challenge in a nice way, I want to get home safely for my family so I enforce strict safety rules, some people think I am too strict. As stated before, friendly chat first, if they are a bit blaise then escalate it, you have to think of you and others safety, and they are disrepecting all range users by not following the safety rules.

[ukrifleman]

The range safety brief by the RO prior to shooting sets out the rules, so there is no excuse for such actions.
People who put others at risk on the range have no place on it, if I had been duty RO, they would have been heading for an early bath.
I say this as someone who was an NRA qualified RCO.
ukrifleman.

[Rburro2]

I am also an NRA rco, I think an early bath would be abit harsh, a quiet word in there ear and maybe mention a little extra training, there would be no sense in going mad at a person who has loaded firearm in the shock of someone shouting at them it may go off. Point out that an accident at any club regarding safety not only could someone be hurt or worse it jeopardises the future of our sport.

[bnz41]

I had too point out to a shooter and RCO from another club on Saturday at Short Siberia, that the said shooter had closed the bolt on a SMLE rifle it now being cocked, then put the rifle on the bench turned and walked away to talk to his fellow club shooters. We did not know if a round had been chambered or it was empty did we, even though it was pointing down range, always safety first.

[Blackknight1974]

Yes - however if you think Clay shooters can be a bit lax with safety, you should go to a game day!

[25Pdr]

You can never become complacent about safety. Our Clay team is long established and very safe, but dangerous situations can still appear.

Recently while shooting Sporting Clays one of our VERY experienced members lost sight of the second clay of a double launch and he didn't fire his second shot. No problem normally, just open the gun or draw back the bolt and the live round will be ejected or if its a N/E remove the live round manually.

But in this case the shooter was using a Beretta UGB 25



A lovely Gun, it's a two shot self loader but it breaks like a Over and Under. It means everybody can see it's unloaded and therefore feel much safer than they do when people are using conventional self loaders.



But hold on have a look at the left side.



You cant see the breech area because of the design of the receiver.

Anyhow, I noticed he still had a live round in the gun and watched as he opened it but didn't remove the round, possibly he never noticed it because of the way the breech face is not visible from the left side,

Not wishing to immediately embarrass him I moved behind him and waited to see what his next move was. He moved forward with gun open and picked up his gun slip,intending to close the gun and put it in the slip, thankfully the penny dropped and he removed the live round before closing the gun and putting it in the slip.

Nobody else noticed and I never said anything. I'm sure he will not do that again.

[Polchraine]

Of course they should be challenged by ANYONE that sees it.

Maybe the first time to the shooter themselves, if it happens again the marker or squad leader. The third time to everyone and make sure everyone hears.

This time last year I was marking on a stand and it was a 10 or 12 year old shooting. He would often swing a loaded gun - one round remaining, almost in the general direction of others when preparing to break and reload. Initially I told the lad about it, it continued, so I mentioned it to his father who responded "there is no real harm done" and he said nothing to his son. I then motioned to others to move back. It happened again on the next stand and I spoke with the squad leader. I believe that I have not seen them since.

On another occasion I was pulled up myself - wrongly as it happened. Unzipped the sleeve, partially open the gun and removed it from the sleeve. At which point I was immediately accosted and asked "Why the hell have you got a loaded gun in the sleeve" - there were a pair of snap-caps in the chambers. I didn't have an issue with the accusation as it demonstrated that others are aware of what is happening.

[SevenSixTwo]

What's 'standard practice' for the condition you leave firearms in on a range before dressing forward to the targets on a civvi range? Do you leave the bolt/breech open after being cleared?