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Which one are you?

Via email, range stereotypes:

1. Grampa and Cody

Typically an older white guy and his sniveling grandchild (or similar junior relation). Grampa is trying to teach Cody (or Jody, or Brody, or whatever crap name the kid has) how to shoot with a 1950s era Lakefield or Cooey .22 rifle and an empty tin can lying 10m away on the ground. Codys soccer mom and sensitive new-age dad arent too keen on this idea, but the old man overruled them. Claimed they were coddling the little brat (true) and this will be a valuable experience (doubtful). Grampa smells of rye and seems a little unsteady on his feet, and insists on holding forth about his views on how a) kids today are all idiots, b) how much better things were in the old days, c) the evils of Communism, or d) the proper place of a woman. He occasionally interrupts his diatribe to yell such helpful advice as squeeze the trigger, dammit! Like I showed you! without ever having bothered to explain to Cody how iron sights work. Will grudgingly dole out one round at a time from his pocket, with instructions not to waste it. In the 30s (or whenever the ancient bastard grew up) people only made 23 a year and couldnt afford to miss a shot, or theyd catch The Polio. Cody, for his part, couldnt hit the ground with a handful of thrown rice, is close to tears, and wishes he were at home with his XBox.

2. The Range Nazi

Annoying, but basically harmless, the sole reason for existence of the Range Nazi is sucking all the fun out of shooting. Will arrive at the range with a single antiquated rifle in a calibre nobody shoots anymore, such as .32-20. Will set up a number of bullseye (never human or animal) targets at the 100m point, but does not shoot at them. Instead the Range Nazi will walk up and down the line, questioning others about the legality of their firearms, tut-tutting over the use of human silhouette targets, appointing himself boss of the range safety light, and making note of anybody being even the slightest bit unsafe(!). He will then be sure to bring up the unsafe people he witnessed being unsafe in an unsafely unsafe manner (did we mention they were unsafe?) at the next range membership meeting. Hopes to get everybody he disapproves of (which is everybody) kicked out of the range. Only then will it be safe, and only then will nobody behave in a manner certain to reflect discredit upon the range and shooting in general. Cringes every time a firearm is referred to as a weapon, as if somehow an anti-gun lobbyist will hear it and yell Ah ha! Ban them! Ban them all!. Has the phone number of every member of the range executive committee on his speed dial. Despite his intrusive ways, the Range Nazi will generally piss off when told to do so.

3. The Tea Drinking Man.

Arrives 5 minutes after the range opens, and wont leave until it closes. Takes five trips to unload all his gear from his Buick Riviera (or similar old-fart-mobile), yet only brought two guns. Shooting routine consists of the following: Painstakingly selects a single round of ammo. Unloads it and puts it back in box. Adjusts scope. Has a drink of tea from thermos. Selects a different round of ammo. Loads into rifle. Sights in on target. Consults shooting log. Takes round out. Has drink of tea. Falls asleep. Wakes up. Adjusts sight again. And so on and so on May or may not actually fire within the hour. Rarely makes it through more than ten rounds before the range closes for the day. Becomes annoyed when other shooters a) disturb his concentration (or napping) with the sound of their firing, b) request cease-fires to change targets that are shot out (a concept foreign to him), or c) check him for a pulse occasionally. Has been a member of the range since longbows were considered assault weapons, and is still working on the same box of ammo. When not at the range, can be found at the local gun store engaging the counter staff in hours of meandering conversation about nothing in particular.

4. Jesse and Jamie.

These are the two, for lack of a better term, rednecks. Will show up driving a full size diesel pickup that cost more than their doublewide trailer. Due to gender-ambiguous names, it is certain you will confuse who is who, and use the wrong name in conversation. Jesse (or Jamie, it depends) is down about the mill laying him off again. Hes pretty sure foreigners of some sort are responsible, and is waiting for his unemployment to kick in. Until then they subsist on Jamies (or Jesses) earnings as a hairdresser. Listen to both kinds of music, country and western. Truck will have at least one kerchief-wearing dog in the back named Buddy. Eager to compare a) hunting knives, b) belt buckle sizes, c) brands of chewing tobacco, d) line dancing steps or e) recipes that start with take a side of beef. Shoot his and hers lever action rifles, and believe that any calibre less than a .30-30 is unmanly, while anything bigger is wasteful. Guns will be stored in vinyl gun socks from Target (if theyre over 40) or Walmart (if theyre young uns). Optics, if any, will be of no more than 4x magnification and look as if they were used to hammer in nails at some point. Like to talk about how good it will be once the season starts and they have the opportunity to fill up their spare freezers. Dress almost exclusively in plaid jackets and jeans, but each has a set of formal cowboy boots at home for special occasions. Instinctively distrust the government, and wonder whatever happened to Preston Manning.

5. The Paramilitary Poseur

Difficult to actually see at the range due to the camouflage and SWAT gear he is wearing. Generally at least 20kg overweight, the Paramilitary Poseur is the ultimate expression of the suburban commando. Eager to discuss the best type of ammunition to use against marauding feminist ninja bank robbers or armor-plated bears. Loves to drop cryptic references to his past life as an Airborne Special Forces Delta-SEAL, which he cant go into detail about for security reasons. Note: this person has never been in the military or the police. Hes most likely a mailman or a mall security guard; any job where he gets a uniform, but which doesnt require too much hard work or talent. Claims to be a master of some arcane martial art nobody has ever heard of, like Krav Jitsu Fu. Could kill you just by staring at you really hard. Weapons of the Poseur will generally have all sorts of tactical accessories added to them, effectively tripling their price and mass without doing anything to improve his shooting. Has strong opinions on the .338 Lapua vs. .408 Chey-Tac debate, despite never having fired either. Will own at least one SKS made up to look like a Dragunov, and a sniper rifle that turns out to be a hunting rifle with the biggest scope one can get (for under $100) mounted on it. Shooting bag will contain a) back issues of Soldier of Fortune, b) a really big knife with teeth up the back, c) 10 rounds of military surplus 5.56mm FMJ that he bought at a gun show, and d) a 1970s vintage Soviet night vision scope that wont mount on anything he owns.

6. The Man in Tac-Black

A rare sight at civilian ranges, but easy to spot once hes there. Generally arrives in a 44 straight out of Mad Max, or a Crown Victoria with poorly-concealed lights in the grille. May or may not have a moustache reminiscent of a gay porn star, but will have a very short haircut. Weapons are generally black, scary looking, and numerous. Can easily fill a rack with what he brought just to do some informal plinking with. The envy of the Paramilitary Poseur and the sworn nemesis of the IPSC wiener. Insists on lying in the dirt in the prone position instead of using the shooting bench like a reasonable human being. Gets confused when not everybody is shooting the same type of weapon and serial as he is. May even begin what he calls a run down without warning, so be wary. Shooting bag will contain a) the Dropzone PSP catalogue, b) a bayonet for at least one of his rifles, c) hundreds of rounds of 5.56mm FMJ he stole from work, and d) a number of 30 round magazines that have been pinned to 30 rounds. Takes pride in hitting targets that others can barely see, but becomes bored easily and will often try to use a shotgun or even a pistol for targets at long range. Quick to recognize others of his own kind and engage in the arcane ritual of who-do-you-know-and-where-have-you-been. Also has strong opinions on the .338 Lapua vs. .408 Chey-Tac debate, having fired both. Doesnt flinch when firing, or when those around him fire. May, in fact, be stone deaf.

7. The Punk-Ass Amateur

A common sight at most ranges, a danger to himself and everyone around him, but blissfully unaware of the fact. Arrives at the range in a small import car, which bottoms out two or three times on the rough access road. Weapons will be made by Norinco or Hi-Point, as they cost less than anything else and he really doesnt know any better. Barrel may still be full of the original packing grease, as weapons maintenance is a foreign concept to him. Targetry will consist of pieces of the cardboard box the weapon came in with hand-drawn circles on them. Fires off 40 rounds of ammo bought at local store (for full price) as quickly as possible. Fond of such effective shooting positions as the from the hip, the close my eyes and flinch every time I fire and the ever-popular try to hold the rifle one-handed like a pistol. Wont hit a thing and doesnt care; hes there to bust caps and socialize. Once out of ammo, will roam about the range examining other shooters weapons and looking hopeful in the off chance they let him try one. Often accompanied by Idiot Girlfriend.

8. The Idiot Girlfriend.

Usually found in the company of the Punk-Ass Amateur. Typically between the ages of 18 and 26, the Idiot Girlfriend doesnt like the range, but wants to ensure her boyfriend isnt involved in any activity that doesnt include her. Arrives woefully unprepared for the range, with no water, unsuitable clothing, and often no hearing protection. Will, however, have flawless makeup. After a period not exceeding 20 minutes, will immediately begin complaining about a) how hot it is, b) how cold it is, c) the lack of washrooms, d) the condition of any washrooms there happen to be, or e) the noise. If she isnt the centre of attention when she first arrives, she will make it her business to be. A drama queen at heart, she will resort to pouting, whining, stamping her little feet and locking herself in the car if she believes her boyfriend is more interested in shooting than in her plight of discomfort. Rarely seen actually firing, but will try it if the gun seems cute or non-threatening enough. Likes .22s due to the low recoil and quiet report. Not a fan of the .338 Winchester magnum, for obvious reasons. In the off chance she fires something with even the slightest bit of recoil, she will immediately begin a display of overacted injury normally reserved for World Cup matches.

9. The Homie

Formerly considered a sub-variant of the Punk-Ass Amateur, the Homie has been sighted in sufficient numbers to grant him his own category. His arrival will be heralded by the booming bass coming from a stereo more powerful than the car he put it in. Drives a blinged-out import car or a lowered SUV, anything that would look at home in The Fast and the Furious. Like the Punk-Ass Amateur, will bottom out two or three times on the poor road leading to the range. Weapons will generally match his vehicle for sheer tackiness and lack of practicality. If he has the money he will own a Desert Eagle, in .50 calibre, with a gold chrome finish. Will definitely have a Glock 9mm, as it is what all his heroes on MTV carry. Actually thinks shooting with the weapon canted 90 degrees to the left is effective; cannot understand why the ejected brass keeps hitting him in the face. Dress of the Homie is distinctive and usually follows a theme of a ludicrously oversized track suit, lots of chunky 8-karat gold chains, designer sunglasses that cost more than his guns, and a particularly offensive cologne he applies with a cropduster. Likes to speak in ebonics and flash gang signs. Parents are tax attorneys and live in a gated community. Would likely wet himself if ever confronted by real gangsters.

10. The Recreationist

A strange breed, the Recreationist likes to travel in packs. Dressed in a costume made up of at least four kinds of animal skin and wearing a hat with a tail hanging from it, the Recreationist loves to pretend he lives in the time of the frontier. This applies to his firearms, personal gear, and hygiene when in character, unfortunately. Prefers to be called by some self-applied moniker like Mountain Mike or Raccoon-eating Dave instead of his real name. Owns a $6000 handcrafted Italian reproduction blackpowder musket and a custom belt knife that cost more than a used motorcycle. Spent three years and thousands of dollars researching his outfit for authenticity; still looks like a hobo. Has never slept outside a night in his life, and takes 4 different medications for allergies. The Recreationist loves to use period slang, often saying things like varmint or dadgummit, believing this makes him more authentic. May occasionally become confused and throw in a Get thee hence or Zounds! for good measure. Has nothing but disdain for newfangled weapons, newfangled indicating anything capable of firing more than one aimed shot in a minute. Loves to engage in staged duels with others of his own kind, as he is an actor at heart. Once shot will begin a 10-minute death scene worthy of Sir Laurence Olivier or the Idiot Girlfriend. Arrived at the range in a BMW 740i with onboard GPS navigation and a car fax.

11. The Guest

The Guest, as the title implies, is not actually a member of the range, and does not own any guns. Theyre just somebody who got invited to come along by one of the other archetypes. Guests will generally just stand quietly and not touch anything until invited to do so, but some are prone to know-it-all-ism, and have the bad habit of thinking they actually have some sort of skills with firearms based on their extensive combined CounterStrike experience and collection of action movies. The quiet guest will gamely try anything he is handed, so the temptation to hand him the hardest kicking rifle you own and then tell him to put his eye right up on the scope must be avoided. Initially leery of firearms, the guest will usually quickly overcome their fears, make the obligatory it doesnt sound like that on TV comments, and settle into some good supervised fun. The obnoxious guest will immediately make his way to the rifle rack, select the most visually impressive weapon, assure onlookers that he requires no help, and then spend 10 minutes trying to figure out how to chamber a round. Quiet guests may become a regular fixture and eventually become shooters themselves. Obnoxious ones are seldom invited back.

12. The IPSC Weiner

Loves to congregate with others of his own kind and take over entire ranges for days at a time so he can play gunfighter. Will construct entire towns out of plywood and cardboard in order to shoot for one afternoon. Owns a custom racegun worth more than the car he arrived in. Likes to dress in obnoxiously coloured clothes with firearms manufacturers logos prominently displayed on them in hopes others will think hes sponsored. He isnt. The mortal enemy of the Man in Tac-Black, due to an ancient dispute over the definition of practical shooting. Engages in realistic combat shooting scenarios such as being seated on a toilet while wearing a holstered handgun, and suddenly having to dispatch two armed terrorists who broke into his bathroom. Will collect your ejected brass before it has a chance to bounce, whether he shoots that calibre or not. Likes to work into conversation the number of dubious shooting academies hes attended, and name drop any quasi-celebrity IPSC shooters he knows in order to impress others. Doesnt work. Hates being confronted by questions like just how practical is a pistol that falls out of the holster, fires if you even look at it dirty, and requires 60 hours of maintenance a week? or what kind of lunatic would immediately holster his pistol and yell clear at a stopwatch-wielding bystander in a real gunfight?, or the dreaded wouldnt a shotgun be more effective?.

13. The Hippie.

A rarity at most ranges, the Hippie is usually an acquaintance of a shooter who has been brought to the range after shooting their mouth off about guns one too many times. Could be considered an offshoot of the Guest, but is different in that they have no interest in shooting for shootings sake; theyre looking for further evidence to support their patchouli-soaked and generally worthless opinions. Ironically, will arrive clad in more army surplus than the Paramilitary Poseur. Hippies will claim this is done to make an ironic social commentary, but the truth is that camouflage is less likely to show stains, and they cant afford real clothes. Will comment about the negative energy coming off the guns, but rest assured, your firearms are not generating an ionic discharge. They are referring to the aura that a non-organic, inanimate object inexplicably possesses. More likely witnessing an acid flashback, or possibly hallucinating out of hunger due to all-tofu diet. Will try firing, only after wondering aloud why anyone needs guns, and inquiring as to how many children youve shot at. Do not let the Hippie fire from anything but a supported position, as they will certainly scream and drop your weapon sights-down onto the concrete. This is an excellent way to convert a precision rifle scope into a hollow black tube. After firing a minimum of rounds, and picking up an idiot cut along the way, the Hippie will leave, never to return. They will, however, now feel free to consider themselves an expert on firearms.

32 Responses to “Which one are you?”

  1. BobG Says:

    Personally, I haven’t been to a range in over fifty years; I prefer going out in the boonies to shoot. Luckily we have a lot of that close to Salt Lake.

  2. JB Says:

    Please tell me there are more types out there because I’m afraid to be pigeon-holed into these 13 types. What about those of us that have a few .22 rifles and handguns and maybe a defensive pistol and bravely come to the range to put up with all the other types, to shoot a few hundred rounds and stay familiar with our weapons. Are we not colorful enough to warrant your attention? 😉

  3. anon Says:

    The Stress Master

    This person probably has more guns than boxer briefs, and of similarly varied styles. Will bring a mass of weapons to the range, none of which ‘belongs’ with the others. Will go back and forth between wonder-nines, single shot frontier rifles, and military surplus they bought on the cheap. Ammo will be from wal-mart or some other big box store because anyone who pays a dollar a round is just crazy. Arrives from work, or even during work, in khakis and a button down driving his wife’s minivan or asian sedan because his trophy wife nixed his sports car as soon as they got engaged. Shooting is the one independent activity he has left. He has 4 AR’s but has never been in the military, and a dozen rifles, but has no interest in hunting, and only got into shooting because of some perverse need to keep up with relatives or in-laws that are in both categories and he has nothing else in common with. Sets up 8 or 10 targets at once because he hates walking down range to change out targets or check his shots and isn’t about to spend good money on a spotting scope. Doesn’t keep score, doesn’t care, doesn’t spend money on good ammo, but can’t figure out why his groups aren’t ‘tight’. Fires off rounds nearly as fast as an IPSC Weiner, but is perfectly happy if everything hits paper at 15 yards while he pretends that the little black circle is his obnoxious co-worker or some politician that keeps saying he represents everything that is wrong with society. Will probably have a stroke at 50. Wife will then marry the pool boy and use the insurance money travel around Europe.

  4. EMP Says:

    #5 doesn’t “envy” #6. He thinks he IS #6.

  5. Gregory Morris Says:

    Strange thing about hippies though, is some of them tend to be very heavily armed. At least, the real back-to-nature hippies are. Not so much the flower-power neo-hippies or messy-on-purpose-hair urban hipsters.

  6. Robert Says:

    Aw hell…

  7. Breda Says:

    Hmm…none of the above.

  8. Wolfwood Says:

    Oh come on, you have to find SOME way of describing yourself. I’m like a Stress Master with the temperament of a Quiet Guest. For instance:

    The Mostly Harmless:
    Has a surprising number of guns, yet no military or police background. Is knowledgeable on tech specs, history, custom, and the firearms industry but couldn’t anything other than a ridiculously easy shot to save his life. Has no real clue what he’s doing at the range when it comes to technique, but is one of the safest people there. Most of his guns have unnecessary modifications that help, but only marginally. Faithfully stocks 1,000 rounds of several calibers but keeps it in giant cans in the basement. Has no more than two magazines for any weapon; numbering these magazines is crazier than eights. Often accompanied by several Guests as they burn through $100 worth of 7.62×39 in Mostly Harmless’ SKS while failing to hit the soda can 25 yds away.

  9. Mikee Says:

    Hey, I’m a Mostly Harmless! And when I shoot next to some of the other types, I find that good behavior on my part often leads to an improvement in their behavior and deportment.

    I would add to the list:
    The First Time Girlfriend Shooter

    Thios is how The Idiot Girlfriend starts her shooting career: Wearing her deep-cut, cleavage enhancing tank top that doubles as a hot brass catcher, this beauty is brought to the range by her Punk Ass Amateur boyfriend so she can learn to shoot, just like him. He starts her out with a Glock .40, because the Sig .45 is “just too much gun.” Her first shot is surprisingly accurate, as she does not know to flinch yet. But after that first shot, she turn around to share her joy with the boyfriend, sweeping her loaded, finger-on-trigger weapon across every other shooter on the firing line. Her second and subsequent shots suffer from flinch, and she usually gives up after about 5 total shots because her hands hurt and every shot is worse than the previous one. He continues to shoot for 1.5 hours while she turns into The Idiot Girlfriend.

  10. DirtCrashr Says:

    “really big knife with teeth up the back” – ROFL
    “14. – The Gunblogger…” 🙂

  11. Paul Says:

    Pretty much sums up why I have trouble heading to the range for a little shooting. I have a handful of guns I need to get sighted in too.

  12. EMP Says:

    15. Armed and Bipolar

    One minute he’ll put three shots through the same hole. He’s better than Simo Hayha and he’ll tell you that to your face. Two magazines later the target looks like he fired a shotgun at it with his eyes closed and he loudly wonders why he even bothers, lamenting every shot until one finds the X ring and he’s ready to start busting commies at 3 miles again.

  13. KingsideRook Says:

    Yeah, that about sums it up, as any firearms retailer will probably agree. I wish I could find that old article on the net from several years back about the various types of gun show customers. It was written in the same vein, but had a round-up at the end that involved all the stereotypes.

    KsR

  14. ishida Says:

    Hey, I LIKE my name, thank you very much!(Cody)

  15. nk Says:

    Punk ass amateur. I swear this is true. I’m there with off the shelf rifle and the two guys to the left of me have a hand-built Ruger 10-22 that they shoot every ten minutes (so the barrel will stay cool I guess) looking to place each bullet on top of each other; and the two guys two the right of me have an inline percussion rifle and are varying the charge a grain at a time looking for a tack driver too. I had the feeling they were laughing at me the whole time.

  16. wizardpc Says:

    My story about a #5:

    http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2009/10/we_call_em_tacticool_terry_aro.html

  17. monkeyfan Says:

    “I had the feeling they were laughing at me the whole time.”

    LOL! You want to feel the funny vibe nk?
    ;^)

    I’d rather shoot my PCP pellet rifle in my back yard than piss away a couple hundred bucks at the range surrounded by “the list”.

    The range these days feels too much like a chore anymore. An expensive one.

  18. Lyle Says:

    What about those of us who avoid ranges if at all possible, preferring to shoot, either alone or in a small group, with no other human being within at least several miles, striving to own at least one copy of every firearm ever made since 1725, spending all day shooting and begrudgingly starting to pack up to leave only when the light fails after dusk?

  19. Jeff Says:

    Pinned mag., Preston Manning? Must be Canadian!

  20. Steve Says:

    How about the know it all, AKA the wannabe gunwriter? The guy who corners somebody and loudly, so everyone can hear, tells him everything he “knows” about guns. Likes to talk about “stopping power”. Often found at the gun shop on Saturday or Sunday afternoon chewing the ear off some helpless clerk after he’s done bothering people at the range.
    Those guys used to drive my wife crazy until I explained to her: Never talk to the know it all. Never even make eye contact. Just go about your business and pretend he’s not even there.

  21. Joe Huffman Says:

    A little bit of “The Man in Tac-Black” and a little bit of “The IPSC Weiner”.

  22. Gun Blobber Says:

    16. Milsurp Guy.

    Shows up with an M1 Garand, K.31, SMLE No. 1 MkIII* and an M44, all in original condition (a.k.a. dirty and battered) with an original bayonet and sling, and appropriate surplus ammo for each. Keeps a bottle of Windex handy for spraying down the action after shooting the corrosive surplus ammo. Either has a big bruise on his right shoulder from all those metal buttplates, or carries a rubber slip-on buttpad that he switches from rifle to rifle. Grumbles at the newfangled “plastic” guns he sees on the firing line and insists that any cartridge less than 50mm in length is for wusses. Wishes he had been born 50 years earlier so that he could have fought in a “real” war. Enjoys making some of the loudest “bangs” on the whole line.

  23. Mike M. Says:

    17. Serious Competitor.

    Very rare, the Serious Competitor shows up with only three guns or less. May only bring one. But that one is of VERY high quality, with a price tag to match. Hammerli, Pardini, Anschutz, etc. Regards 25 yards as short range. Considers using two hands to shoot a pistol the mark of an incompetent duffer. Shoots groups most shooters would kill for, then grumbles that he’s shooting badly.

  24. Dave thA Says:

    I’m Mostly Harmless, but hopefully more of the mostly than the harmless.

    Unloading ten different guns and almost as many first time guests to get them all less scared of black rifles.

  25. Michael Hawkins Says:

    Please give credit where due:
    This list of “offensive range stereotypes” was originally posted on the “Weapons and combat” forum of “totse.com” by a Canadian under the name “hellisforheroes”. (april 2007)

  26. Stuart_the_Viking Says:

    I guess I would be one of the “Well armed” hippies. Although I prefer the term “gun toting anarchist”.

    s

  27. Cemetery's Gun Blob Says:

    Thank goodness I’m none of the above.

    I’m just the guy that asks what black powder load would work best in that gun. Regardless of it actually being designed for black powder, or not.

  28. Colonel Reb Says:

    Soooooooooooo glad I live in the country.

  29. Andrew Says:

    My range is my front yard. So I plead no contest!!

  30. Dave Says:

    How the Hell are we supposed to know what a gay porn star looks like?

  31. MrChubbins Says:

    The Gear Whore,
    loves guns because they are mechanical and neat. Competes in local pistol matches and an occasional 3 gun match. Is a decent shot but never places too high, due to swapping gun platforms once a year. Has at least 2 guns in need of service, at least one waiting on parts before it can be reassembled, has a set of parts for the next project that have been in bags for over a year, owns at least one AR lower as a spare, has at least 20 magazines for a rifle yet to be bought, and has a list of future purchases to fill gaps in the collection. The gear whore has actually done kitchen table gunsmithing without having to go to the gunsmith to get the gun back together.
    Typically owns more guns than gun cases and has his RSC stuffed two layers deep.

  32. uh-oh Says:

    I’m afraid I fit so many of them it’s hard to choose. 🙁

Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.

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