Chronograph Blues

31 December 2001, 06:08

Zero Drift

Chronograph Blues

A true story...

I ran out to the range yesterday to make some noise with my .338 and .416. I guess I needed a little knocking around after Christmas. Fortunately, the private range was not crowded and only a few folks had braved the weather. I proceeded to set up my rests, spotting scope, and target. The line was declared ï¿½hotï¿½ and I shot my first group with my .338. I was pleased with the results.

About this time, a newï¿½ish member drives up with his son and begins to unload his car - I will refer to them as Dad and Junior. I was mildly irritated to see a new Oehler chrono being pulled out of the trunk. Realizing that this was a cluster waiting to happen, I offered to help set up the chrono. My offer was met with a cold stare and a ï¿½no I got it under controlï¿½ response.

After quite a lot of fumbling Dad assembles the sky screens and jumps across the firing line to set up his tripods. I was literally two pounds into my three pound trigger on my .416., after all, the line was hot. Realizing that Dad and Junior were 15 feet over the firing line, I yelled at the other two shooters for ï¿½Line Clearï¿½. I unloaded my gun, and casually walked over to explain what the yellow line was for and why we used commands like ï¿½Line Hotï¿½ and ï¿½Line Clearï¿½. Again, my input was not well received. Not wanting to get into a pizzin match, I decided not to get a range officer involved. Instead, I exchanged several ï¿½Oh Shitï¿½ looks with the other shooters.

After 15 minutes of careful maneuvering and alignment, the chrono was deemed calibrated and ready. While the line was still clear, dad throws sand bags down, pulls out his rifle, and chambers a round. Seeing this, one of the other shooters yells for ï¿½Line Hotï¿½ I acknowledged the call and got ready for my next string. It seems that Dad was not pleased with the chrono alignment and again crosses the firing line for one final nudge. Of course his gun is still loaded! One of the other shooters immediately yells for ï¿½Line Clearï¿½.

Figuring that I would not be able to concentrate further, I decided to pay another visit to Dad. I explained that his gun should not be loaded with a Line Clear command and he certainly should not walk in front of a loaded gun. As I turned to go pack the car and leave, I commented that the chrono appeared to be set up quite high. Dad looks through scope (at high power) and declares my comment null and void. I figured this would be great fun to watch so I hung around for the crowing moment.

After much grunting, the sand bags are in place and the shot is pending. Dad is holding his breath and appears to be turning blue attempting to bring himself to pull the trigger. I am in total concentration and focus on the chrono as are the other shooters. The long anticipated moment arrives and the chrono is shattered to pieces. Sky screens are raining down all over the range, the chronograph and printer are a good 20 ft down range, tripods are askew, and Dad is now very confused because he cannot seem to locate the chronograph. Looking up and realizing what he has done, the cussing ensues. Junior is crying and making tracks to the car in anticipation of the ass beating he will soon be subjected to.

Dad is now throwing anything within his reach and goes stomping out to his new chronograph - the line is still hot. One of the other shooters is brave enough to help pick up a few pieces in front of his bench. Meanwhile Dad locates the printer and decides to spike it into the dirt with great force. Again chronograph pieces rain down across the range. Realizing Dad is very pissed, I decide to hold my comment that ï¿½at least his gun seemed to work wellï¿½.

The rest of the chronograph is collected and thrown into one of the range garbage cans. At least Dad was thoughtful enough to pick up after his show. After Dad leaves the range in a hail of gravel, the rest of us run to the garbage can to fight over the spoils like starving hyena. One of the guys grabs the chrono printer (what's left of it), the other grabs the rail, and I get my hands on several sky screens just in case I decide to shoot through mine one day. All in all, it was a most profitable and entertaining day. I just feel sorry for Junior...

Some folks just seem to have all the fun.

31 December 2001, 06:25

Nickudu

HAH!

Great story Zero! I wish I could have been there to see that!

31 December 2001, 06:34

Robert D. Lyons

I wonder if the rifle he was shooting was sighted in before he decided to shoot over the chronograph, or at least bore sighted. Then there are those who seem to forget that the scope is actually higher that the barrel and that looking through one does not always give the same view as when looking through the other.

31 December 2001, 06:46

D Humbarger

Boy! I wish I could have witnessed that. Seriously though it makes you wonder why some
folks think it is an insult for them to take someone else's advice. Did he want to look like the "BIG" man in front of his boy? He sure came out on the short end of the stick on that one! What an example!

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NRA Life member

31 December 2001, 07:56

<Bill T>

Just curious, what was the range officer doing when all this dangerous foolishness was being carried out? Where I shoot, 1 step OVER the yellow firing line while the range is HOT will get you ejected RIGHT NOW! Bill T.

31 December 2001, 08:38

Zero Drift

There is not always a range officer present especially on very slow days. Everyone in our club has read and signed the range safety rules. This still does not seem to make much of an impression on some people. I see more dumb mistakes made on days where few people are around. We self police when we see something dangerous. I make an effort to politely correct safety rule violations, however, some folks are just hell-bent on hurting themselves or others around them.

This incident was reported along with the guyï¿½s car and license plate. They will send him a letter. If he is observed doing something this dumb again, his membership will be revoked. Through the years we have kicked out a few members for violations. Up until yesterday, I thought the process was working quite well.

31 December 2001, 08:43

Canuck

Great story Zero! I nearly "pizzed" myself laughing!

Canuck

31 December 2001, 11:31

<TGWoody>

It just goes to show. .. Must be some poor inbreeding. STUPID IS STUPID!

I'll bet you, ,, that there will be some sort of shooting mishap printed in your local paper. :~(

Take Care and stay out of his way,

TGW

31 December 2001, 11:36

<stans>

I have had similar experiences at the range where I shoot. And, all too frequently, when someone breaks the big rules and is politely and discretely advised, the response is less than appreciative. On one occasion I saw a member start walking down range to change targets while other members were still firing. Another time, I saw (and heard) a round being chambered at the line while all the other shooters were down range hanging targets. These people were advised, they became beligerant, and their memberships were revoked. The take home message is to be polite and follow the rules.

[This message has been edited by stans (edited 12-31-2001).]

31 December 2001, 14:32

<ssleefl>

I'm not claiming that this guy wasn't a moron but having shot at public ranges I've noticed that some people can be really anal about the safety rules.

There is a place in town called the Antelope club and I could be the only shooter there and the range officer is still on his anally retentive 20 min hot-20 min clear regimen. Oh ... and did I mention only 1 shell at a time can be loaded. Anyway, I don't shoot there anymore. Pain in the ass and it takes all day to shoot just a few rounds.

Now I have a 100,200,and 300 yard range in my front yard and when testing we regularly are in front of the muzzle, downrange but off to the side. When doing powder work-ups at 200 & 300 yards, walkie - talkies are incorporated into the testing with one of us well down range... but 15 yards to the side. Shot placement is then conveyed to the shooter by the spotter and placement is recorded. If both shooters are confident in the others ability and can shoot and hit the paper, Then what's the big deal about being 15 yards to the side and 15 ft in front. After all there were only a few other shooters were there at the range. I'm not saying to hell with being safe, but what do you think could happen to that "chrono hunter" after all? If you can put 5 shots in an inch at 200 yards, are you going to be 15 yards off in 15 feet? I don't think so.

Your thoughts...?

[This message has been edited by ssleefl (edited 12-31-2001).]

31 December 2001, 15:19

beemanbeme

I would not stand "down range, off to one side" on a hot line if my mother was shooting and she was Annie Oakley. Too many unforseen things can happen. Also, I like anal when I'm on a public range!

31 December 2001, 17:32

ScottB

I think the point is not being overly anal, but when someone starts disregarding procedures over and over, you never know what they'll do next.

31 December 2001, 17:52

<Bill>

That is a great story! Thnaks for sharing!

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www.rifleshooter.com

01 January 2002, 03:36

KuduKing

quote:
Originally posted by ssleefl:
... I could be the only shooter there and the range officer is still on his anally retentive 20 min hot-20 min clear regimen. Oh ... and did I mention only 1 shell at a time can be loaded. Anyway, I don't shoot there anymore. Pain in the ass and it takes all day to shoot just a few rounds....

I agree with you on that. The local public range here in town is the same way. In fairness they deal with "the public" from the city that have nearly no knowledge of firearms, and a few are unsafe unless tightly supervised. The shooting period is an anal 9 minutes - - great for those who show up with no spotting scope or even the binoculars, but then the rest of us have to suffer because of this lowest common demoninator. And the ARMED range officers start treating everyone like a moron (although they are not very gun savvy themselves).

I switched ranges, so I drive 50 minutes to shoot instead of 10, and pay more. But the experience is much more pleasant. If there are only 2 experienced shooters, say for example, and we are set-up, the range officer signals a ceasefire when WE are ready, which in our case is every hour or so.

I have a problem with armed range officers. Why are they armed? It's a sproting range for christsake. The shooting range is the safest place you could be. And as an instructor, it's bad news to be armed and loaded while teaching, unless it is an actual demo.

I can't agree with being downrange during shooting. Can't see the need for it, and a slipped rifle or one of a million other possibilties could result in a tragedy. Buy a spotting scope, and consider it life insurance.

01 January 2002, 05:01

R-WEST

When I get home tonight, I'm going to kiss my Dad. After reading what some of you must go through to shoot, I REALLY appreciate his owning property on which I've been able to construct a range. The best thing is that it's across the road from my house, plus, Mom can always be counted on to send out some coffee and cookies.

Under no circumstance would I ever knowingly be anywhere in front of a loaded weapon. Too many weird things can happen at exactly the wrong time.

R-WEST

01 January 2002, 07:00

<Santa Claus>

Zero,
I have read this post 3 times, and let my wife read it. It is a classic, and one which I enjoy immenseley. Thanks for the post..I Thankfully do not have to shoot at a public range, as my father always had his own. I can picture it perfectly from your wording...

01 January 2002, 09:50

John Frazer

quote:
Originally posted by ssleefl:

There is a place in town called the Antelope club and I could be the only shooter there and the range officer is still on his anally retentive 20 min hot-20 min clear regimen.
[This message has been edited by ssleefl (edited 12-31-2001).]

20 minutes is a long damn time to change targets, isn't it? At my range (100 yds.), it takes no more than 10 minutes for 18 positions, even if someone needs to set up a chrono or has just pulled into the lot and needs to get out a target frame, etc.

02 January 2002, 08:40

Bill Mc

There many reasons to go around "armed" like when you have too, or sometimes cause you want too. I think alot of folks just wantto cause they can. I can but I don't unless I feel the need to do so.

But the story at the range was classic. If people could only stand back an see what an ass they can make of themselves, they might improve. I know, cause I have done same (not at the range) a few times then upon reflection realize how stupid I must have looked.

The ranges I have shot, the "hot" and "clear" is generally worked out between the shooters. Seems to work OK.

Bill Mc

02 January 2002, 12:23

wildcat junkie

This is a little off the subject of chronographs, but does come under the heading of "stupid things I've seen at the public range" I used to shoot at a public range located at a Fish and Wildlife Area. I was shooting my muzzle loader on the 50yd range when this guy shows up with a little break top Stevens pistol. It had a long barrel, perhaps 10", and it wore new maple grip and forend with a scope mounted on it. This scope was not the long or intermediate eye relief type that would be suitable for pistol use, but a short eye relief rifle scope. Anyway this guy was trying to sight through this scope, holding the pistol about 3" in front of his face holding the forend in one hand and the grip in the other. I decided I didn't want to be near this example of muti-generational inbreeding, so my friend and I headed for the 100yd range. A few minutes later a fellow came up to the 100yd range and said "You won't believe what just happened". It seemed our genious was so intent on the sight picture, he didn't realize that the finger of the hand holding the forend was over the end of the barrel! Well, our Einstein was gone when we returned to the 50yd range, but he left several ounces of blood spayed about the uprights and roof over the firing line. Owwwwwwwww I 'll bet that really really hurt!