Responsible Firearms Ownership and 2nd Amendment Issues-Range

Range Activities

I'm gonna soak up the sun, Got my 45 on, so I can rock on.
-Sheryl Crow, Soak Up the Sun from the CD c'mon, c'mon

There are few things in life more enjoyable than heading out to the range and sighting in a rifle or practicing with your favorite pistol. Here are some practical ideas to make your range time safe and fun. Safety is priority number one whether you're at an indoor range, outdoor range, or just out on the back forty.

SAFETY IS YOUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN

Always wear ear and eye protection.

A WORD ABOUT PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Have you been shooting since you were nine years old? I bet you fill out your deer tags every season with that faithful rifle and collect your share of ducks with your trusty shotgun. Got a handgun or three around the house for when things go bump in the night or you make that midnight run to the corner grocery?
Or, did you recently acquire a personal defense weapon and not sure just what to do with it? Got your concealed carry permit and shoot a few boxes of shells every now and then to 'stay in practice'?
Or, are you the local Expert in IDPA and normally place high in your class shooting scenarios based on self defense situations? You be bad, huh? ;-)
No matter who you are, or what your previous experience is, you owe it to yourself to seek out and receive real, personal, and professional training and instruction on the use of your gun.
I can highly recommend
Cumberland Tactics Firearm Training,
directed by Randy Cain. Randy offers instruction on rifle, shotgun, and handgun for people like you and me. Visit his web page for more info, but I can promise you that no matter what, Randy will give you 110% and see to it that you have every opportunity to advance and excel with the firearm YOU own. For less than the price of another firearm you can become confident, safe, and proficient with what you now have.
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For another perspective on training, here's one man's review of training offered by Ken Hackathorn.

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS

Always let someone know where you are - this is very important if you often shoot by yourself or in a secluded area. If you're a regular hi-tech redneck, keep a cell phone handy.
Always, remember the 4 rules of safe gun handling. See the SAFETY page for more information - but be aware of what is behind your target. Use the berm. You or somebody, went to a lot of trouble to put it there. During action shooting, be very careful where targets are placed. Stray bullets are not only dangerous but could get your range shut down.
Keep a first aid kit handy. Scratches and cuts will happen. Splinters and staples reach out and bite around target stands. Hammer bite is real. Flying brass WILL land somewhere and it can be very hot. There are too many possibilities to list here, but just have a first aid kit available. Some day you'll be glad.
A durable range bag is very handy. Keep your ammo, brass, ear muffs, shooting glasses, tool kit, timer, spotting scope, first aid kit, pistols, notebook, targets, staple gun, tape or pasters, Snickers Bar, sun screen, pen or pencil, flashlight, extra batteries for the chronograph... well you get the idea. You probably already use all that stuff - get a big purse for it.
For additional information on range construction see RangeInfo.

Reactive steel targets, like the pepper poppers shown above, offer instant feedback to the shooter. Unfortunately, that feedback can be in the form of lead splatter. While you should always wear protective shooting glasses, limit your shooting at steel to beyond 12 yards to avoid this unpleasant and potentially hazardous 'feedback'. For another view on safety and steel, please go here.

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Ever wondered what the SUL Technique is? For a brief intro go here.

International Defensive Pistol Association and Courses of Fire

Arkansas 2000 State IDPA Match Review
Arkansas 2001 State IDPA Match Review
Arkansas 2002 State IDPA Match Review One of my favorite range activities is participating in IDPA pistol matches. Here, a person can use the handgun, holster, and ammunition suitable for all day concealed carry in a competitive environment to test his/her shooting skills. Complete information is available at IDPA's Official web site. Find your nearest IDPA club and give it a try. In central Arkansas, see CASA range.

For a firsthand look at some local shooters, go here for some pictures.
For a list of realistic IDPA courses of fire (COFs) visit the following links:

Tactical Shooters IDPA Scenarios
Practice Drills Library
IDPA - submitted COFs
Course of Fire Index
CenTex IDPA - good list of COFs