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11 People You’ll Meet at the Shooting Range

If you've ever been to the shooting range, you'll recognize at least a couple of these classic characters. How many have you experienced?

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If you've ever been to the shooting range, you'll recognize at least a couple of these classic characters. How many have you experienced?

Desert Cyberpunk Mars Landing WWSD2020

Table of Contents

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1. Guy who keeps his ear protection on during ceasefire

And...it's super effective. Kudos for being safe but you're kind of loud.

Circle of Shooting Ear Protection
Ear pro? Ya, we got ear pro.

Firearm of choice: WHAT YOU SAY?!?

2. The guest

We were all one of them before so I'll go easy. They probably were invited by someone and are either a little scared/excited but ready to learn, or think they know everything since they prestiged a couple of times in Call of Duty. 

Hopefully, someone's taught them the 4 firearm rules and some basic grip and stance. If it goes well, we get to add another gun enthusiast to our tribe!

Shooting Fails

Firearm of choice: Start them off with a .22LR or a 12 ga pump loaded with slugs if they've been annoying.

3. Possibly gang affiliated guy

Good thing is...he's probably terrible. It's pretty hard to shoot one handed with brass spraying into your face.

How you think you look shooting like a gangsta
How you actually look...

Firearm of choice: Norinco or Hi-Point...the best $200 can buy

Hi-Point C9, Closeup
Hi-Point C9, Closeup

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4. Unsafe guy

Could be anything from pointing the muzzle at people or keeping their fingers on the trigger during reloads. Makes the rest of us look bad if something happens...get away and tell the range officer!

Shooting range selfie
Both of these morons were banned for life from the range. Thankfully, no one was hurt by Dumb & Dumber.

Firearm of choice: Something with an external safety so they can say "don't worry, it's safe."

5. Guy with the best money can buy

You want to hate the guy...but damnit, does he have some good taste! Most likely a dentist or someone from IT.

Staccato Wheel
Staccato 2011s, oh hell ya.

Firearm of choice: GAP Rifle with a Schmidt & Bender PMII and an Atlas Bipod

6. Guy who brought 1 gun and 6 buddies

The goon squad is here to try out his new "assault rifle" and shoot off some "clips."

6 Guys 1 Gun
6 Guys 1 Gun

Firearm of choice: AR-15 with vertical foregrip and $30 red dot

7. Guy trying to sneak in some rapid fire

If you're at a range that requires 2 seconds between each shot... find a new range if you can.

full auto Sterling
full auto Sterling

If you're just trying to work in some bump-fire though, be careful!

Firearm of choice: AR-15 in .22 LR with a binary trigger

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8. Range officer who is way too serious

I know keeping everyone safe is their job, but some go on a power trip and take all the fun out of shooting at the range.

Drill Sargeant Full Metal Jacket

Firearm of choice: 1911 in .45 ACP because it's a real man's gun

9. Guy practicing for his shooting competition

It might be 3-Gun, USPSA, IDPA, or Steel. Doesn't matter, he's ready with some double-taps and quick reloads.

Fastest Reload
Fastest Reload

Firearm of choice: 2011 .38 Super with a C-More sight

10. Tacticool guy

I know you've been waiting for this one. But no, I'll resist making fun of him. As long as they are safe I'm cool with them. BUT...some more extra points if they are in matching MultiCam top and bottom with a plate carrier.

Out of Gun Juice
Out of Gun Juice

Firearm of choice: 10 pound AR-15...SEARCH AND ASSESS!

11. The Noob

We were all the noob once. Don't stay one! Check out our Beginner Guides for everything to level up in firearms.

Noobs Everywhere
Noobs Everywhere

Firearm of choice: any gun is better than no gun

Conclusion

Most of these are just fun to see at your local range, but some are dangerous. Keep your head up and remember to stay safe out there.

With millions of new gun owners joining the shooting community in the past year or so there are a lot more people and a lot more people that are new to guns at the range these days. Be a friend and help them out when you can.

Which ones are you? Have any great shooting range stories? Let us know in the comments!

Written By

Eric Hung

Eric Hung

Founder, CEO

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I'm Eric Hung, the founder of Pew Pew Tactical, and I love guns. For over 10 years I've been soaking up as much information as possible online, in competitions, classes, and from my own testing. Now I hope to bring that info to you! I've written over 250 articles on Pew Pew Tactical that are read by millions a month. I'm also an NRA certified pistol instructor and avid USPSA/3-Gun/NRL22 competitor. Learn more at About Us.

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Since 2016, the Pew Pew Tactical team has been dedicated to providing expert reviews and in-depth testing of guns and gear. All while keeping in mind that guns are fun and that readers come first.

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Conversation

62 Comments

Join the discussion

  • "If you’re at a range that requires 2 seconds between each shot… find a new range if you can." As a range Officer I am SO over this. Speed is inversely proportioned to control. At my range we do allow double taps but rapid fire, in most cases, turns out to be unsafe. 2 seconds between each shot may be a bit much but we are trying to ensure SAFTY!
    ...
  • Great article. (BTW, Jacki, it's tongue in cheek, not check. LOL) One group that I've run across and that usually annoys me to no end is... The Shirts. You know, the guys that wear their colors from other ranges and look kinda like NASCAR team guys with all of the logos and their names on the shirts. The annoying part is that they think they know better than everyone else and are not afraid to let everyone know their unsolicited opinion. Hmmm... most don't seem to shoot that well, though. Just an observation.
    ...

    • Jacki Billings

      Oops, that's a typo! Sometimes my fingers type faster than brain. Lol. Thanks for the heads up!
      ...
  • I’m definitely the tacticool guy (just no matching camo thank you) but always a loaded pistol IWB that I don’t shoot. I just can’t stand the thought of having an empty gun around all those crazies. Almost had to use it once when a guy reached over lanes and grabbed my hot-headed brother’s gun without permission, but all I had to say was “ I know your mother taught you better than that!” He immediately put it down and apologized profusely. Good times
    ...
  • I'm glad I shoot at a woman-owned range where it's not all GUYS.

    Sorry to see your post ignore women at the range.
    ...

    • Jacki Billings

      Lol, we're not ignoring women at all. This was a tongue-and-check article about the stereotypes of dudes at the range. It was meant to poke fun at the industry. Our CMO is a women and I, the editor-in-chief, am a woman and we center women in a lot of our articles. You'll see photos of me shooting all around and I write a good chunk of our women-centric articles. We have a whole guide decided to women's topics and helping ladies out. https://admin.pewpewtactical.com/womens-guide-to-guns/
      ...
  • 2
    Currently I'm the Noob who keeps his ear protection on during ceasefire. But in my defense, I learned the 4-Rules before I even purchased my pistol, and those electronic ear muffs are so cool. My goal is to progress to Guy practicing for his shooting competition, and ultimately to Tactical Guy because who doesn't want to throw their $4000 Staccato 2011 downrange after they run out of ammo?!
    ...
  • 2
    Thanks Eric those were great! I'm retired and a female noob but practicing once a week at the range and getting better! Thanks for all your info, it helps.
    ...
  • 6
    Hey, I’m a 70 year old female noob! Don’t knock us, give us a hand, please. And we support 2A and lifetime NRA member.
    ...
  • 8
    Hey Eric, I'm an older guy, 67, who recently got the bug to buy a pistol (S&W M&P9 M2.0 Competitor) and learn to shoot again. I hadn't had a pistol or rifle in my hands since 1974. However, my brother-in-law took me under his wing in '68 and taught me a lot. Using his .357 mag, .30-06, and a variety of shotguns, I became an avid hunter, especially hunting birds. We had tons of fun and I still have fond memories of our times together.

    That said, that was then, and this is now. I'm not taking anything for granted when aim and shoot.

    I thank the Lord for YouTube videos and Pew Pew Tactical!! Keep up the good work "son."

    I appreciate your and your team member's articles and videos.
    ...
  • 6
    All that matters is "safety first " and having a good time at the range! I could care less about what gun someone has as we shoot what we can afford. I have no problem working with someone with less experience as long as they are safe and want to learn. "Head trips " have no place on the range! I usually go to the range by myself or with good friends I trust and all of us are more than happy to share what we have learned with others around us who want to be safe and have a good time!
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  • 10
    I’m a noob at age 60, haven’t actually bought a firearm yet, joined this site to help make an informed decision.
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  • 4
    the gun range i go to they are very serious about safety there are no idiots at this range everyone there is very nice no one gets out of hand or do stupid stuff i go in shoot my targets then leave .
    ...