Serbu Firearms, Inc., Tampa, Florida

[Mark_Henry]

Got my bipod in today, so I thought I'd take the 50 to the range and have some fun. When I got there the place was empty, so I went ahead and setup at my favorite bench and sighted her in at 300 yards. Man, I can't believe how fun this thing is to shoot, I went through a box of 30-rounds (all reloads with my brand new Lee press!) in no time flat.

After the first 30 I took a break, picked up my brass, used the bathroom and got a soda. All while keeping an eye on my 50 (which was now chained to the bench just-in-case). After slurpin down a can of Moxie (It's a Maine thing - like drinking cold battery acid - you either love it and don't know why, or hate it) I returned to the firing line. While I was gone a couple people showed up and had taken positions on either side of me.

Now, I'm at a public range. First come, first served. No reservations, no "I called its", no "it's my favorite lane", etc. There's ten lanes to choose from and I was pretty much as smack-dab in the middle as you can get in an even numbered setup. These two guys, who were obviously together, took up positions on either side of me with "tactical" AR-15's.

Trying to be considerate I warned them of the brake's recoil blast and suggested they move to other lanes (since seven others were still empty). They both turned on their machismo and guaranteed me that my little single shot thingie wouldn't cause them any problems. That lasted right up until I fired the first shot.

Let's just say that their combined reaction was akin to me having slapped their wives. They acted like I had built the gun specifically to cause as much havoc to other shooters as possible. Then when I explained how the brake worked they went into a rant about how poorly designed it was. Trying to take the high road I ignored the two and continued shooting for another ten minutes. Meanwhile, they huffed and puffed and complained until I couldn't hear anything else (even with ear plugs AND muffs in place).

So, I packed up the gun, picked up my brass, and went to retrieve my targets. While I was down range (and the HOLD FIRE flag was up) these two jerks popped off a couple rounds that kicked up dust around me. Not wanting to start (or finish) anything (I was packing my Walther PPK/S conceiled) I kept my mouth shut and just packed up the car. On the way out I took down their license plate numbers and passed them on to the local Sheriff's office.

It's guys like this that give blowing things up with big guns a bad name.

mark h
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All that is useful is simple."
Mikhail Kalashnikov

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Massimo Maddaloni

[dastrieg]

Wow that is very bad to think that some one would do that, i hope that you also told the owner of the range about it we just dont need people like that it gives shooters a bad name. But on the topic of dumb shooters i was out at my local range with my BMG when this guy showed up with a new AK 47 he just got and was just blasting every thing that he could see, so when i went to fire my toy i told him that "hey i am going to fire" o yea he wasnt wearing hearing protection even when he was shooting I also asked him to put some on but we all know what dumb shooter said "no that is ok i dont need them" so he was standing to my right about 5 feet away and we all know what happned next, BOOM! i looked over and he was gone well that is what i thought i looked down there he was on the ground crying and holding his ears. well to say the least he left the range and went to tell the owner of the range well Don the owner came down to laugh, dumb shooter has not been back yet.
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why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....

[hkpete]

I'm glad you are OK Mark, that must of been scary for you, I think it's nice and polite you warned them about the muzzle blast, you acted like a gentleman. Did the Sheriff say if they could do anything? Or was it a case of your word against theirs?
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British Army 1997 - 2003

[DaveL]

Mark_Henry:

You handled the situation well. No one was hurt, you held your cool (as we must), and you reported the offenders to the proper authorities. The only lesson learned from this experience (in my view) is that .50 BMG shooters MUST IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, FIRMLY INSIST THAT ALL PRESENT WEAR HEARING PROTECTION. As much as we have a right to shoot, the "uninformed", or just plain stupid need to have this safety measure insisted upon. It is, I think, our responsibility as good shooting sports enthusiasts to make sure that we learn from this experience. Really, I am glad you posted this. I will not allow anyone around without hearing protection if I shoot a .50 BMG. Simple as that. I had always considered it MANDATORY for me and my shooting partner with such a rifle. I know now, that NO ONE, will be around without that protection. That is a shooter's responsibility.

[f-2_Challenger]

Well you are a better man than I. I warn them that I am shooting, but I am not going to wait all day, or force them to put in plugs. I will just let one rip and their ears ring. They will get the hint. You cant protect the stupid. They only gather around you while you shoot and wince with pain, because they are the tough guys that don't need plugs.

[DNumbers]

I get the same reaction from shooters at our local range. They even tried to Ban just 50's on the range. "They are too loud." I went to the meetings and told them what a bunch of hippocrits they where. Your either with us or against us. Gun guys should be gun guys regaurdless of how much noise it makes. I think they are just jelouse that mines bigger than thiers. LOL
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Heavily medicated for your safety.