Opinions about PCP / Big Bore shooting at firearms club (firing range)?

[motoraxedaddy]

Hey guys and gals,

Does anyone here have experience bringing their "not-backyard-friendly" airguns to the firing range? I belong to a club but I'm sort of wondering if I carry a scuba tank in the range if I will get strange looks. Its not that I don't mind standing out from the crowd but I sort of don't want to get 20 questions every time I go there to relax and shoot. Don't get me wrong everyone is really friendly but they ask alot of questions even when I even pull out my black powder guns, not to mention seeing a scuba tank being hauled to the firing line! 

I'm also looking to try the 50 and 100yard ranges since I can only do 25 yards at my home.

Any of you guys have experience here, positive or negative?

[sixshootertexan]

I belong to a private range and we had an open house recently. Everyone loved shooting my .308 big bore air rifle. Yes I had to answer a lot of questions but that's what the open house is for. I won't take my tank to the firing line when PB'ers are present. I'm afraid something might happen that wont be fun. I just walk back to my truck and do the refills.

[Bill G]

Only had 1 bad experience and it really wasn't bad with respect to the AG.  Had a guy 1 lane over trying to get his 11yr old daughter, to shoot his mountain weight Winchester .308 accurately.  She was in tears and he was absolutely mean about her performance.  I'm 230lbs and don't like shooting a 7 1/2lb rifle that recoils like that and thats taking into account that my favorite caliber is .300 Win Mag.  Just not a tiny, skinny, light one!  So during the target change I asked if he minded if she shot my rifle.  He asked what caliber and stated that she couldn't handle much.  I told him that it was only .22cal.  I didn't tell him that is was an air gun (Theobin rapid)  by the end of the session, she had better groups than her dad at 100 yrds.  Those groups weren't anything to be proud of since they were about 3+".  But...... they were better than her dads and that is what counted.  He threw her target is the trash barrel on the way off the range. That day was almost scaring to me.  Every other time people were really receptive and a few have taken up air guns. 

Bill G 

[jimreed1948]

I shoot a FX Royale 500 with a Neil Clague suppressor.  When I first took it, I had 3 other shooters come over after about 20 minutes of shooting wanting to know what I was shooting and why it was so quite.  They kept hanging around and I let them shoot and then they left.  One month later to the day, I was back at the range and one of the guys now had the exact same rifle.  I've had nothing but good comments from shooters around me.  I think their impressed that I can shoot 75 to 100 yards with accuracy.

[motoraxedaddy]

Thanks for the replies. The story about the little girl and the hard-@$$ dad is really disappointing to hear. Hopefully he was having a real bad day and isn't always like that, but I doubt it.

When you talk to folks do they ask why you don't just shoot powder burners? What do you say back to them? 

[dcorvino]

Hi
 I have  shot my Sumatra at ranges before and in the beginning I was a little self consious about it.
The guys shooting powder burners would look at me.
Well one day I was shooting and one of the guys who  was looking at me before showed up and it was just me and him.
He came over and started asking questions.
I answered his questions and and let him try the Sumatra then I gave him a copy of the PA catalog..
He really liked it and is thinking about getting into air guns.
This happened a   few more times with different people with positive results.
So the way I look at is i try to be as helpful as possible and educate those interested.
Because the more we get into the sport the better.
As for the question of why you don't shoot powder burners I told them I like the challenge of the airguns and its more economical for me to shoot an Airgun then it is a powderbuner also there is no shortage of ammo.
Besides as long as you enjoy shooting your Airgun or any other gun what others think does not matter.
Enjoy
I hope this helps

Dave

[sixshootertexan]

Most know it's cheaper to shoot but they don't know how good the high end guns are. They think they are all just cheap Daisy Crosman or Benjamin's that they are familiar with as kids. Today's air guns are quite impressive. When they found out that I completely manufactured my rifle (minus barrel) they really start asking question.

[Tofazfou]

I always take my guns and tanks to the outdoor rifle range.

The only downfall is that when people see you with the SCBA tanks and airguns and your shooting 200 yards often, it brings up more talking than shooting.

The cool part is that you get people interested in airguns.

Im used to it now though so everytime i hit that range, there is at least one airgun with me and people are interested.

I say take it and show people that "THESE ARENT YO DADDY'S AIRGUNS" any longer........lol!

[LDP]

I took my S510 to the range one day when I was doing work related stuff. After shooting the firearms I shot my S510 to see how it would do at 100 yds. After shooting the powder burners it was comical and I almost laughed out loud when I squeezed the trigger on my S510. It seemed like it wasnt even shooting. A few of the guys down the line kinda looked over and looked a little puzzled at the weird looking rifle with a large tube under the barrel. Thats about all that happened and I didnt even get any questions. This is a public range and if someone asked why dont you just shoot real guns I would reply air rifles allow me to do things firearms dont. I get to Practice more and cheaper, they shoot quiet without the added federal hassles you get to make firearms quiet, They are just a blast to shoot and hunt with, Airguns give you a wider range of areas you can shoot them in and private access for pest elimination that a firearm would be unsafe to use. I am sure there are more reasons to use an air rifle than I listed but thats what immediately came to mind.

 

[Nomadic Pirate]

I don't go to a range much, this is a private range, but the majority of the time I can't leave until I sold a gun

Most of those guys never seen a serious PCP, once they do they want one

[Rescue35]

I have never had a problem at the range and it is a public one. Yes I get the "whatcha shottin" questions but I share what I know and open some minds. The only people I meet at ranges are people who like to shoot. I tell them its cheaper, I make my own air and cast my own lead. I have taken deer with them.

The only time Ive had an issue was when the county sheriffs office took over the range to qualify. You can't shoot on the rifle range when someone is on the pistol range. So I put up the .50 and broke out the .25 and went to the pistol lines. I kept up with their 3 shot drills. They said it doesn't count since I was shooting a rifle...I should have better groups. I don't think they are going to use these as patrol carbines but everyone had a good time. They should since they where getting paid to shoot.

[Veprjack]

I just did it for the first time last week and it was a great experience. It sure beats having to worry about ricochets in the house

Two guys next to me were SERIOUS PB shooters with $4,000 custom AR's etc.  But they both talked to me about how much they loved THEIR Springers and PCP's. Another guy showed up as I was leaving and was sighting in some high-end sniper rifles. He told me he owns 15 AGs and has been big into modding for years.

It was almost disappointing that my first encounters were with guys who had more experience! But I'm sure I'll run into curious/uninformed shooters there in the future. I can't wait to "infect" others with this great addiction!

[Bill G]

When ask why AG's instead of PB's.  It was skill building for me.  To use proper marksmanship techniques with an AG, your flaws seem to show up much more pronounced, especially when shooting pellets.  Pellets are all we had back when I started and they could easily make a guy want to leave it.  But to hold a 1 1/2" group with a .20 cal 707 II at 100 yards, with a bone stock rifle, was fairly impressive back in those days.  That was before I even had an interest in what makes them tick or how to get more from them.  After a range session with the 707, anything under 350-400 yrds with the Remington 700 was just boring.  Now Cedric takes everyone to task shooting 440+ with an AG....... REALLY MAN!!    Those day are long gone for me.  Carpel tunnel has ruined that for me.  on good days I can barely feel a 2 1/2 - 3 lb trigger.  I'm so jealous.   

[motoraxedaddy]

Hello,

Now I went from being self conscious about going to the range to getting excited. I can't wait to see what the sumatra .22 and mrod .25 will do at 100 yards sitting on a rest.

Thanks all for relaying your experiences and offering advice for discussing this!

[KnifeMaker]

Here in this part of Texas, a lot of shooters are what seem's, ego shooters. Doesn't matter if they can shoot or not. Just what is bigger and more expensive. LOL

First time at the local range, (It was a club meet, full auto and mostly ar's) When I told them what it was, a sneer was normal. Most just turned their backs and walked away after asking what it was.  Seems AG's are just too unmanly. LOL!

Late in the afternoon, I took off the LDC. The same rude folks, all of a sudden, reappeared

, What the H**L is that thing again???

Some had a Great time shooting it! Gotta Love it!

Knife

[moorepower]

Bring lots of air, cause your going to need it. I used to compete in Highpower and I never met a great shooter that was not interested in any kind of odd rifle/ pistol they saw. The only bungholes I met usually could not hit the broad side of a barn. The most fun I saw/ had was a guy with a T/C pistol shooting a 750 grain A-Max. It was going slow, but made quite a thump when it hit. He loaded up about 50 rounds every time he brought it out, just to let everyone shoot it once. One guy had his B.A.R. there while I was shooting my Garand and came over and asked if I wanted to shoot it, and handed me a loaded mag. There is a good chance you will sway a few over to the dark side. 3 years ago I would have said I would never own a pcp until I saw a You Tube of someone shooting P-Dogs at over 100 yds., with no noise. Now I have 8 PCP rifles and 2 PCP pistols, and Titanium tube to build a "Big Bore".