The firearm thread

[unstuck]

What, you guys have to pay to shoot deer. That sux. We got 2 fallow and a red last weekend and it only cost $20 diesel.Off for a pig this weekend.

[jono035]

I am just used to military Range Officers who personally clear all weapons.

Yeah, this way is just a little easier in that the RO doesn't need to actually touch any of the firearms, just make sure barrel flag is in and magazine is out/empty. Much easier than having an RO that can competently handle a wide variety of firearms!

[Swoop]

Yeah, this way is just a little easier in that the RO doesn't need to actually touch any of the firearms, just make sure barrel flag is in and magazine is out/empty. Much easier than having an RO that can competently handle a wide variety of firearms!

A bit strange. Especially at csi since there is no "going forward".

All our firearms get cleared by the RO at the end of the firing detail. If a shooter doesn't place the firearm down correctly (locked open), with empty magazine laying with the top facing the RO, then the RO might wait for said shooter to "sort their shit out" whilst applying some verbal lubricant...

[The Pastor]

What, you guys have to pay to shoot deer. That sux. We got 2 fallow and a red last weekend and it only cost $20 diesel.Off for a pig this weekend.

you punk arse motherfucker.

I wish it were that easy to go hunting in auckland

[caseye]

Yeah, this way is just a little easier in that the RO doesn't need to actually touch any of the firearms, just make sure barrel flag is in and magazine is out/empty. Much easier than having an RO that can competently handle a wide variety of firearms!

If you have an R/O who can't competently handle a range of firearms, then please pack up your gear and get the hell out of there before someone does get hurt.

You are kidding? right.
Try putting any sort of flag in the end of my rifles barrel and someone will be walking funny.
I'd never consider that sort of method(having said that, it's been a while) of making sure a rifle is cleared.
The R/O is ultimately responsible for "Making sure" every rifle on the mound/range is cleared and safe no matter who else does what.
Action/bolt open, Empty receiver facing up, mag out,is the norm, as is the R/O individually checking each weapon, anything else is going to fail one day, even the flag up it.

As for hunting in Dorkland, depends where you can go. I can shoot Deer, Pigs, goats etc within half an hour of home in sorf Dorkland.For the expenditure of some walking/quad riding and some strong likor afterwards, all good.

[jono035]

A bit strange. Especially at csi since there is no "going forward".

All our firearms get cleared by the RO at the end of the firing detail. If a shooter doesn't place the firearm down correctly (locked open), with empty magazine laying with the top facing the RO, then the RO might wait for said shooter to "sort their shit out" whilst applying some verbal lubricant...

Yeah, at CSI it's a little weird, but the idea is that, technically, while patching you can have body parts 'forward' of the line.

Also, not all firearms lock open (Margolins are a bastard like that) and it can be surprisingly difficult with things like rotating bolt semis to verify that there are no un-extracted cartridges which could potentially hang-fire or whatever.

Either way, little orange flag for $2 seems like a 'can't go wrong' situation to me.

[The Pastor]

Yeah, at CSI it's a little weird, but the idea is that, technically, while patching you can have body parts 'forward' of the line.

Also, not all firearms lock open (Margolins are a bastard like that) and it can be surprisingly difficult with things like rotating bolt semis to verify that there are no un-extracted cartridges which could potentially hang-fire or whatever.

Either way, little orange flag for $2 seems like a 'can't go wrong' situation to me.

I do like the flags, I just think you should be given one (to borrow) for the $20 range fee....

[jono035]

If you have an R/O who can't competently handle a range of firearms, then please pack up your gear and get the hell out of there before someone does get hurt.

You are kidding? right.
Try putting any sort of flag in the end of my rifles barrel and someone will be walking funny.
I'd never consider that sort of method(having said that, it's been a while) of making sure a rifle is cleared.
The R/O is ultimately responsible for "Making sure" every rifle on the mound/range is cleared and safe no matter who else does what.
Action/bolt open, Empty receiver facing up, mag out,is the norm, as is the R/O individually checking each weapon, anything else is going to fail one day, even the flag up it.

As for hunting in Dorkland, depends where you can go. I can shoot Deer, Pigs, goats etc within half an hour of home in sorf Dorkland.For the expenditure of some walking/quad riding and some strong likor afterwards, all good.

For a start, it goes in at the breech, not the muzzle. The R/O doesn't put it in, you do. Perhaps 'barrel flag' should really be 'breech flag'.

Like I said, plenty of pistols/rifles out there where the action/bolt can't be held open, or that the receiver can't be obviously confirmed to be clear of an un-ejected round.

Also, there aren't really too many reasons why a range officer would need to be familiar with a wide range of firearms. All they should really need is to know the safety envelope, allowable calibers/firearm types and then be able to do basic range control. The barrel flags aren't the be all and end all, but given that I may not know the R/O I'm shooting under or the people I'm shooting with or be familiar with what constitutes 'safe' for their particular firearms, I'll take the flags over any other means, any day of the week.

[caseye]

jono035, honestly not trying to pick a scrap here, this seriously does concern me.
For the record I am an R/O and to do it properly takes time and commitment and being known or not by a shooter is not what is important, what is, is that YOU make sure no one slips up and everyone has an enjoyable day on the mound and goes home to mum, dad and the kids.
Here in NZ almost all R/Os are NZDA trained, all are trained the same way, all sit the same test and get certified, or not.
This is in part to prevent there being different approaches to how things are done on any Certified range, here in NZ.
The "Breech flag" is an idea worthy of merit, but even with these in use I'd still like to see that the R/O , whoever they are, did in fact individually, manually(where necessary, closed bolt, rotary, falling breech etc) check that any and all firearms on the mound/range are clear before anyone goes forward.To assume that all shooters are competent enough to do this and not check, is an accident waiting to happen.
As an R/O it behoves you to know the workings(not intimately and in minute detail) of any and all weapons presented for use on a range.How else are you going to make sure they are in fact safe.
Any R/O trained here by NZDA can take any and all range events from slug gun, small bore, full bore, pistol, national and international events and most definitely have to know more than the basics about range safety parameters, etc.
I'm sorry but you get one chance and if it's wrong, someone gets hurt.
I'm happier about the flags being breeched not barreled but am still concerned that the shooters are trusted to clear their own weapons and there is no other physical hands on check made by the R/O or their designated checker(someone who should also be a certified R/O)

[The Pastor]

jono035, honestly not trying to pick a scrap here, this seriously does concern me.
For the record I am an R/O and to do it properly takes time and commitment and being known or not by a shooter is not what is important, what is, is that YOU make sure no one slips up and everyone has an enjoyable day on the mound and goes home to mum, dad and the kids.
Here in NZ almost all R/Os are NZDA trained, all are trained the same way, all sit the same test and get certified, or not.
This is in part to prevent there being different approaches to how things are done on any Certified range, here in NZ.
The "Breech flag" is an idea worthy of merit, but even with these in use I'd still like to see that the R/O , whoever they are, did in fact individually, manually(where necessary, closed bolt, rotary, falling breech etc) check that any and all firearms on the mound/range are clear before anyone goes forward.To assume that all shooters are competent enough to do this and not check, is an accident waiting to happen.
As an R/O it behoves you to know the workings(not intimately and in minute detail) of any and all weapons presented for use on a range.How else are you going to make sure they are in fact safe.
Any R/O trained here by NZDA can take any and all range events from slug gun, small bore, full bore, pistol, national and international events and most definitely have to know more than the basics about range safety parameters, etc.
I'm sorry but you get one chance and if it's wrong, someone gets hurt.
I'm happier about the flags being breeched not barreled but am still concerned that the shooters are trusted to clear their own weapons and there is no other physical hands on check made by the R/O or their designated checker(someone who should also be a certified R/O)

Pretty sure the RO and riverhead never even looked at my rifle once.

[jono035]

jono035, honestly not trying to pick a scrap here, this seriously does concern me.
For the record I am an R/O and to do it properly takes time and commitment and being known or not by a shooter is not what is important, what is, is that YOU make sure no one slips up and everyone has an enjoyable day on the mound and goes home to mum, dad and the kids.
Here in NZ almost all R/Os are NZDA trained, all are trained the same way, all sit the same test and get certified, or not.
This is in part to prevent there being different approaches to how things are done on any Certified range, here in NZ.
The "Breech flag" is an idea worthy of merit, but even with these in use I'd still like to see that the R/O , whoever they are, did in fact individually, manually(where necessary, closed bolt, rotary, falling breech etc) check that any and all firearms on the mound/range are clear before anyone goes forward.To assume that all shooters are competent enough to do this and not check, is an accident waiting to happen.
As an R/O it behoves you to know the workings(not intimately and in minute detail) of any and all weapons presented for use on a range.How else are you going to make sure they are in fact safe.
Any R/O trained here by NZDA can take any and all range events from slug gun, small bore, full bore, pistol, national and international events and most definitely have to know more than the basics about range safety parameters, etc.
I'm sorry but you get one chance and if it's wrong, someone gets hurt.
I'm happier about the flags being breeched not barreled but am still concerned that the shooters are trusted to clear their own weapons and there is no other physical hands on check made by the R/O or their designated checker(someone who should also be a certified R/O)

No worries. I've got my RO qualification, too, but don't regularly use it anywhere at the moment.

Competent ROs would probably be the best option, but there still comes the problem where I'm at a range having to trust that the RO is competent, paying attention etc.

Using the breech flags makes the RO's job easier. Obviously he still needs to inspect each firearm to make sure the flag is inserted properly, that the mags are out (where possible) and unloaded etc. It also makes it easier for other shooters to see that a firearm is in a safe condition and hasn't been tampered with since inspected.

Basically, it seems like cheap insurance against the fallibility of humankind!

[Hans]

So..... I'm selling the bike, so I can get into shooting properly next season. Is this a bad thing, do I now face the fires of eternal damnation? What are your opinions? Has anyone had to do this? Just looking for a bit of sympathy here - Yeah right.

[scumdog]

What, you guys have to pay to shoot deer. That sux.

I thought it a strange concept myself...

[unstuck]

I thought it a strange concept myself...

Sometimes if we have to walk into the middle of the blueys I pay for it the next day I suppose.

[caseye]

So..... I'm selling the bike, so I can get into shooting properly next season. Is this a bad thing, do I now face the fires of eternal damnation? What are your opinions? Has anyone had to do this? Just looking for a bit of sympathy here - Yeah right.

Hans, having to sell your bike is a terrible thing, is there not another way of doing things?
I once sold a rifle so I could buy a new tent big enough to take the whole family, haven't ever regretted that move but still had a few rifles so wasn't the end of the world.
If you've done your dash on bikes and you are sure about it, then what the hell, why not.
Make sure you buy the best quality you can, you will never regret that.