Thread: Range Etiquette (or lack thereof)

Well, just getting over the lurgy, so I thought I would trot out to the local NZDA range to function test 2 rifles (SKS with a poly mag, and a Norinco Bushmaster 7.62X39 bolt action, newly purchased). Arrive there, to find a target shooter testing the new barrel on his very expensive looking piece of kit. Exchange the usual polite hellos, and get myself set up. Ran the target boards out, and then we start shooting. First up is the Bushmaster. Cycles well, but not quite ejecting every spent round. Halfway thru the mag I get the feeling I am being watched. Look over and the other gent has parked himself on the next bench to eyeball what I am doing. Hmmm, only a little bit spooky..

Back to finishing that mag, make the rifle safe, and we agree to look at the targets. Back from the targets, and I load up for the next set. Only just get the 5th round in the mag, and the other gent asks if its OK to bring his targets back. OK. He walks halfway up then comes back & says he will throw another 10 down the range. No worries, so to let the Bushamaster cool, I pick up the SKS and function test the new mag - yay! no last round vertical!. Other gent wanders up range to retrieve his target. I meet him halfway, and congratulate him on the nice grouping.

I wander back after seeing 2 virgin target boards (hmmm....). Then another bloke turns up, and proceeds to yarn to the first bloke about target shooting. I load up the SKS mag again while I wait for them to finish. Mag full, Bushmaster mag full.. still yakking. Then a third bloke turns up, who is also apparently a target shooter. He brings his flash piece of kit out and then the 3 gents proceed to yak away about Australian champs, barrel floating, and various other target shooting stuff that bores the hell out of the average bush hunter.

So, 10 minutes later, I am still standing, waiting politely for them to finish. (My mum impressed upon me the correct use of manners when I was a wee fella). So I count the rounds left, rearrange the gear box, fiddle with my earmuffs, but another 10 minutes and the circle jerk session hasn't finished!.

So, a quick squizz at the time, and, shit, I need to get back home. Start to pack up, unloading the mags, removing bolts, making everything safe, and still the yakka is going on.. They were still going strong when I left..

My question is, if its obvious that someone wants to throw some lead down the range, and you want to exercise your jaw muscles, would it not be polite to fuck off somewhere else and let them have at it?

FFS, I was at the range for 1.5 hours, and only threw 12 rounds down range.