Sight In Day, October 11th, Toccoa, Georgia. FREE!

[Jambo]

The Georgia Mountain Shooting Association is having a FREE sight in day on Saturday October 11th. Shooting begins at 8:00 am and lasts until 4pm.

Go here for club information: http://gmsa.homestead.com/index.html


Bring your own targets and a spotting scope, if you've got one. Target stands and shooting benches provided. We'll let you zero out to 100 yards, but will have steel targets out to 300.

The event is free, but donations will be accepted. Tours of the facility will be given to those interested.

So come on out and get that rifle sighted in for deer season!


Note: This is a "cold range", so we ask that the only loaded firearms are the ones on the line shooting. That also means no carrying of sidearms, unless unloaded.

 

[Buck119]

That also means no carrying of sidearms, unless unloaded

If I understand correctly I would not be able co carry my defense pistol in a holster, if loaded. Is that correct?

 

[ARCman47]

If I understand correctly I would not be able co carry my defense pistol in a holster, if loaded. Is that correct?

Yup. This is right down the road from me. Have never been and probably wont

 

[Buck119]

I don't go to the post office for the same reason.

 

[Jambo]

That is correct, per range rules.

I understand a lot of people's opinion on this and I personally disagree with the rule. However, we've had a few instances of unsafe carry that caused this rule.

Just a few weeks ago a guy showed up with a loaded pistol stuck in the waistband of his pants! If it fell out maybe it wouldn't go off, but maybe it would.

So we ask that all firearms be kept unloaded unless on the line, or being run through the event, like at a tactical or IDPA shoot. I carry mine with the slide locked back and the mag in a tension pouch so it's still pretty quick to load, should the need arise.

 

[Buck119]

I see. Well in all honesty I am already tired enough of this kind of BS from places like Panera, Target and so on, that I really don't like an invite that sound like "disarm yourself and you can shoot here for free". Too bad, the place looks nice and the event seemed to be interesting.

 

[Jambo]

I understand your point. Just like Target, Panera, etc., you don't have come. Just like those places the range is private; as such, the owners can make the rules.

Although I don't think "disarmed" is exactly the same as "unloaded"; I practice enough that going from unloaded to loaded doesn't take that long, should anyone decide to start trouble in a place where, at any given time, 6-8 people on the line are going to have loaded firearms.

It is, after all, being offered as a FREE service to allow you to sight in your rifle on OUR range. The members pay dues and keep the place up, and I will be giving up part of my Saturday to help out, again for free. Anyone that wants to take advantage of it within the rules is welcome. Anyone that feels the rules are too binding doesn't have to come.

 

[Buck119]

Of course. And being this a forum I am sure you don't mind any feedback from its members, including the reasons why they would not come.

 

[Jambo]

Certainly. I respect your opinion, and you have the right to state it.

 

[GodBlessTheUSA]

Folks,
I am affiliated with the GMSA range and I've been to a lot of other ranges, like many of you. I've also actually read the by-laws and rules of most ranges and to be honest, this is a pretty normal policy on most of the ranges whose by-laws I've read. In fact, there's one range "in these here parts" that seems to have a "zero-tolerance" policy regarding being a cold-range. Give me a day to see whose policy it was if you want specifics, but they state they will escort anyone off the property and can kick members out of the club for not obeying the cold range rule. Even the club officers of GMSA have to follow this rule. We all may not like it, but in the interest of safety, it applies to everyone, including off duty law enforcement.

Keep the loaded magazine in a belt carrier and leave the action open. I don't care if you walk around with the pistol in your hand as long as I can tell at a glance that it's not loaded.

In closing, have you ever been to a shooting competition of any type and realized that there was a competitor that was so new to shooting they needed a little "extra" attention from the RO / SO? If not, thank The Lord. If so, you'd understand the rule. Too many "mall ninjas" and "experts" who think they could NEVER have an AD. You do realize that even (former) Navy Seals and Army Rangers have had an AD? For most of them it's a career ender.

Why add risk?