***if you want to read where I get shot/grazed, skip to paragraph 3***
Well, well, well, what can I say. I actually got shot at this range today. Literally!!! When I first walked in and walked around I immediately saw that mostly everything was overpriced. I was actually amazed at the insanely high markups. Free market so, whatever it is what it is.
Anyway, I was instructed I had to sign in to use the range. No problem, I signed in and browsed some more while laughing to myself at the prices. Nobody asked me if I needed any help or anything. After about 15 minutes, I think it was the owner asked who was next for the range. That would be I. He asked me if I had any ammo with me. I said "yes sir", the owner explained that I can't shoot my ammo .223 or 5.56, and he only wants people to shoot "his" ammo. After his stern explanation he rang me up. First, checking my 6 Magpul clips with a huge magnet to see if I had any steel tip ammo, which I did not. He then said "go ahead use your own this first time since you seem like you like know what you're doing". I thought that was actually cool, so I offered to buy a box regardless, but the owner said, no worries. Sweet, and proceeded into the range.
Here's where things get absolutely bananas! I was placed at lane 10 so I walked over, and started setting up my AR15, clips etc. There was a couple next to me in lane 11 shooting a pistol, while clearly shooting steel tip ammo. Sparks flying everywhere. It was like Iraq in their lane. NUTS! I'm thinking to myself "I thought you couldn't shoot steel tip anmo here?". No sooner than me thinking that, the guy in lane 11 takes a shot at his target, and zzzzzippppp! I get hit in the shoulder with a piece of steel tip that deflected off the back stop down range. I shouted "WTF I just got shot!!!" I immediately looked at my right shoulder of my track jacket, and there was a piece of hot shrapnel melting into the shoulder of my track jacket. I immediately started feeling under my jacket and t-shirt to see if I was bleeding, and if I was ok. (Let me be clear, at this point I realized I hadn't been directly shot, but grazed by the steel tip bullet that deflected off of the end stop down range, shooting back at me). The girl, and guy in lane 11 immediately stopped shooting. They both had a look of shock on their faces. The guy on staff in the range immediately told them "hey, you can't shoot steel tip here" (a little late to tell them now, don't you think?) he immediately had them pack up and leave. During this time, the owner was looking through his window into the range, and I believe saw the entire ordeal unfold. He said something on the PA system, and the two people in lane 11 along with the range master left. The range master (for lack of better terms) came back in about 30 seconds later. I will say this, he didn't ask if I was ok, the couple didn't ask if I was ok, the owner didn't ask if I was ok. NOBODY DID! I was in utter shock, and disbelief. I hunched over and said out loud "I don't think I want to fucking shoot here, I'm shook" at this time I picked up my rife sitting on the counter in my lane, and tried to pull my clip out. Of course it had to be jammed for some strange reason. I just kept thinking, I need to get the hell out of here. The range master came up and said, "hey is your AR15 jammed" I'm thinking to myself, "yea it's jammed, and I just got fucking shot!!!???" I got the clip out, packed my stuff up and left. Walking out, nobody asked if I was ok, nobody said anything to me. In fact they looked at me like I was an alien. I walked out in a mental fog in disbelief of what just happened.
I have to say this was hands down the craziest thing that has ever happened to me. I have shot all over the place, and have never experienced anything like this. If that steel tip bullet would've been one inch to the left it would have hit me directly in my right shoulder and done serious damage. Or worse, if it would've been a foot to the left it would've hit me directly in my head or face!!! Thank my lucky charms it only grazed my shoulder, melted a tiny hole in my jacket and tore my shirt under, and hit the back wall.
All of this being said, I am shooting up a flare to tell EVERYBODY not to go to this place. The range is extremely dangerous. The lanes are just wayyyy too short, and poorly designed. Please don't go and risk your life or health. read more