Are you prepared while at the range? When leaving?

[ScubaSigGuy]

I have been to the range a few times over the last month or so with a few different people for the first time.

All of these folks are my friends, and are gun-friendly, but none of them shoot weekly like I try to, and only one of them has a CHL. One of them is current active duty military and has gone through quite a bit of advanced firearms training, and works in a moderately risky career field which requires a heightened state of awareness.

I noticed that at both indoor and outdoor range situations they were each content to only load the weapon that they were currently shooting, and all of them would have left the range with an unloaded weapon had I let them, CHL holder included.

At one point we had a guest about 75 yards behind us at the outdoor range that had been watching us for over 10 minutes. He went unnoticed by my friend until I decided to go greet the man to see if he was the land owner because I wasn’t sure where to leave money (small public range that operates on the honor system).

The lack of thought about being prepared by all of these folks just caught me off guard.

I always carry a loaded, usually concealed, weapon while at the range. If it's an outdoor range then depending on where I am I might open carry. If I decide to shoot my carry weapon I swap it out with another loaded and chambered firearm.

Do you take precautions to make sure that you are prepared for anything while at or leaving the range?

What do you do different at your favorite outdoor range?

Are you in a heightened state of awareness while entering your neighborhood / unloading at your garage after leaving the range?

[Dougmyers5]

I don't go to the range much but I do stay alert and vigilant of my surroundings and most of the time I have two loaded weapons on me.

[Xander]

Do you take precautions to make sure that you are prepared for anything while at or leaving the range?

I have two primary carry guns and I switch them off, so I never shoot the one that I'm carrying on any given range trip. The gun I'm carrying stays loaded and concealed.

Are you in a heightened state of awareness while entering your neighborhood / unloading at your garage after leaving the range?

Not really, in the sense that I always try to be consciously alert and aware of my surroundings, so coming back from the range isn't any different than coming home from work, or back from a trip to the grocery store...I always try to be aware of everyone and everything around me.

[HighVelocity]

I make sure that the gun I am carrying is not one that I'm going to use for target practice at the range and I stay hot the entire time. I also pay very close attention to everyone in my vicinity, tell strangers to watch their muzzles, etc.
I've had to play range officer on more than a few occasions when I see people being careless. My spidy sense is in overdrive when at the range, public or private.

[CompVest]

I stay aware and prepared where ever I am.

[ScubaSigGuy]

I stay aware and prepared where ever I am.

I try to do the same, but there are different levels of preparedness, right? You can't stay in condition red 100% of the time, can you?

[ELB]

I have two primary carry guns and I switch them off, so I never shoot the one that I'm carrying on any given range trip. The gun I'm carrying stays loaded and concealed.

+1

elb

[Liberty]

I have two primary carry guns and I switch them off, so I never shoot the one that I'm carrying on any given range trip. The gun I'm carrying stays loaded and concealed.

+1

elb

I own 2 handguns. The range I go to requires any guns to be fired to be opened chambered. I unload before I enter the range at the benches provided for that purpose. The full mag goes into the my shirt pocket. When I'm done as I leave I'm locked open. before I enter my car, I insert full mag lock and close the chamber. Not a big deal, everyone is safe and feels feels safe. I never feel disarmed.

[seamusTX]

I try to do the same, but there are different levels of preparedness, right? You can't stay in condition red 100% of the time, can you?

Condition red means that you have identified an imminent threat.

There's no good reason that you can't be in condition yellow whenever you are out and about.

- Jim

[dac1842]

I always have a another weapon ready. While shooting the reloads or ball ammo for target shooting I have another mag for that pistol in my back pocket. No matter what I am ready if needed. It was a habit I got into while working SWAT. Always have a weapon charged and ready.

[ScubaSigGuy]

I try to do the same, but there are different levels of preparedness, right? You can't stay in condition red 100% of the time, can you?

Condition red means that you have identified an imminent threat.

There's no good reason that you can't be in condition yellow whenever you are out and about.

- Jim

I stand corrected. Condition Red by Cooper's definition involves an imminent threat.

The point that I was trying to make was that you can't stay at your highest level of awareness all of the time. But that there are certain times where might it make sense to be prepared and assume the worst.

I don't walk around daily feeling like I might have to draw my weapon any second, but I try to be aware of my surroundings. When I am unloading my vehicle from a range trip I definitely dial it up a notch and I am ready if something happens ,because it is a period of vulnerability. I hope that makes sense.

I expect that most people on this forum are much more aware of what is going on all of the time.

The post was meant to be more of a reminder than anything else.

I would like to think the friends that I am referring to are not "sheeple", but...

A few months ago there was a story about some guys in FL being followed home and robbed after leaving a range do it does happen.

[Venus Pax]

There are times when I will be unloaded at the firing line or while switching targets, as this is a basic safety rule at our range when targets are being patched or set-up/removed.

I do arrive to the range and leave the range wearing a loaded gun. I watch for both two-legged and four-legged critters while dealing with the gate.

[Wildscar]

I only have one pistol so when I go to the range its the one I plan on shooting. However I have 4 mags. 1 will always be filled max with my carry ammo and never be unloaded and will stay in my pocket. I will never shoot so much that I won't have 2 full mags to take with me.

I too always try to keep a constant watch on my surroundings however there are times that I slip. I was in the vets office back in the back with one of my dogs who tried to jump the fence and tore off on of her nails. It was kind of a tight fit and while I was trying to listen to the vet explain what he was going to do one of the other ladies that worked there walked up behind me and patted me right on the pistol. Automatic reflex kicked in and I almost back hander her before I realized who and what what going on. She just needed by. She just made a comment that it happened all the time and not to worry. If she felt that what she touched was a pistol she did not let on. So I either carry that great or she is use to it since I live out in Forney.

[badkarma56]

I own several pistols, and I currently have IWB holsters for two of them...my USP9C which is my primary carry piece, and my USP45. One of these two weapons is always discreetely "worn" in it's holster each time I head for the range.

As a rule, the weapon that I'm carrying while at the range never gets shot or manipulated...on that particular day, it's just "along for the ride." This is not to say that I never shoot my carry pieces, I do, I just don't shoot the "designated" carry weapon during a particular range trip.

I've recently seen other members discuss their range's policy toward concealed carry. I must admit that I'm surprised by some of the regulations at these ranges. As for me, I now shoot at a private range so no worries. I've had my CHL for a few months now, and have become accustomed to having my piece on me whenever I'm outside of the house unless I absolutely have to venture into a "gun free" zone.

However, when I did frequent public ranges after getting my CHL, I was never asked to "clear" my carry weapon. Then again, I never advertised the fact that I was carrying. The RO's at those public ranges I used to visit never asked if I was carrying, so I never told! Even if they had asked me, I likely would not have told them.

[dukalmighty]

I carry a loaded firearm almost 24-7 or have one readily available,at the range i carry a firearm i will not be shooting as the indoor range allows chl holders to carry loaded concealed firearms all others need to bring in unloaded firearms,I remember i use to shoot at a public range back in mcpherson county Ks. before their CHL law was passed and there were several i believe around 3 instances where people shooting by themselves would have somebody else show up,and during the time they walked 100yds downrange to check/change targets the individuals grabbed their rifles off the shooting bench and took off with them,the range was out in the boonies and i always carried a loaded handgun owb while i was shooting and very seldom went by myself