I've been barrel swept too many times and have had
heard snaps,pops,hisses and buzzes when checkin my targets on the Long Range.
I have filed 2 reports with the PD regarding incoming rounds on the big end of the 500 yd range. Their concern level appears to be low. It is not necessary to have a Range Nazi, but there should be better signage and target frames on the pistol range.
Some of the crowd who use the pistol range are not sharp enough to place their targets near the berm, so they end up skipping rounds over it and straight at the rifle range toward the 500yd berm. This is no small berm. The berm is massive but the ground is covered in crushed stone and these rocket scientists place the targets just a few feet in front of themselves on the ground. They have absolutely no concept of placing every round into the berm.
The rifle range is not much better, but there is alot of open space after the 500yd berm. The berms on the rifle range are simply target holders and not an effective backstop. The long range side is shut down after 3:00pm during bow season and the entire range is shut down during the 9 day gun season to reduce the chances of hunters getting shot.
We reserve the rifle range for Appleseed shoots, but starting this year we will be shutting down the entire range including the pistol range for exclusive use during the weekend we are there. We get charged enough that we should not have to worry about dodging bullets.
This is a pretty safe place to have a fun shoot even without a Range Officer. From my experience, everyone is watching out for each other and anyone who does something stupid gets a swift reminder. Usually it only takes a single reminder. If you see something at the range and do not confront the poor behavior you are just enabling it. If I am going to be placing targets at the 500 yd berm, I simply head over to the pistol range first and see what is going on. People seem to take the feedback well when I point out where there rounds are going.
I encourage you to attend the shoot to meet people face to face. You may always feel free to leave if you see something which makes you uncomfortable.