just a question to my fellow AR shooters; I joined a local conservation (gun) club this past April. i’ve been out there about half a dozen times to shoot my AR and i’ve brought my son to shoot his .22 rifle and both of us to shoot our bows. the problem i run into is the less than friendly looks i get when shooting my AR. no one has said anything to me overtly, however the “bad vibes” are definitly there. I don’t shoot rapid fire when at the range. i’m more interested in slow and steady accurate shooting when i’m at the range. so my question is, does any one else run into hostilities when shooting their AR’s from so called fellow firearms owners? just wonderin’ if it’s me!
We’re our own worst enemy sometimes. Bullseye shooters don’t want action pistol. Trap/skeet don’t want anything else. Hunters don’t want “assault rifles” or pistols. Some want loading restrictions, rounds per minute, square ranges, fixed positions, no drawing from holsters. Much frustration.
Disdainful looks. “Oh, you’re one of the those.”
We do it to ourselves, really, through various acts of assclownery. One fellow bumpfiring at the club can prompt a wide variety of encumberances.
At a retailer, I picked up ~2500 rounds of 55gr FMJ and JSP. A fellow in line behind me opined, “a lot of prairie dogs are going to fall this summer!” He couldn’t believe I would shoot it in a long weekend at a defensive rifle class. Whatever would I want a class to learn THAT for. Ugh.
Some just look, some ask about it… I let most folks shoot a round or two and they all like it.
I go to a public outdoor range range on a National Forest and all types of shooters use it. Blackpowder, AR’s, all types of pistols and hunting firearms.
One of the shooters I meet about two months ago is a retired LEO from FL and he had a couple of Class 3 items. 
.
thanks for your thoughts on this guys. you remember that flap about Jim Zumbo’s opinion on “assault rifle’s” a couple of years ago? I thought he was in the minority on this. perhaps there are more “anti-gun” gun owners out there than we think…
It’s sad but ture. Lot’s of dumpOcrap (democratic) supporting hunters out there. 
I’m not anti-hunter ( I’ve deer hunted all my life ) but most of them have the blinders on when it comes to other firearms sports and uses. That’s why I like to give folks a chance to shoot my AR to take away some of the negative stereotypes that others may have toward AR’s and their owners.
.
No, the range I am a member of allows Class 3 weapons…maybe it’s time to find a new range brother.
You’re looking at this as a problem…turn it into an opportunity.
Always getting on Mrs Rembrandt for similar assumptions. For some reason many women tend to read emotions and intent based purely on how someone looked at them. Your analysis of how other shooters looked at you and your black rifle may or may not be justified. Before accepting that as a fact, you should introduce yourself and strike up a friendship. Never met a person that couldn’t handle a few more friends.
I’m with you man, sometimes when I pull out the AK and AR I get looks like I just kicked a baby or something:eek:
I have found that most of the people who give you “The Look” can be converted to our side. Engage them in conversation and use the opportunity to let them see things from our side.
This goes double for non-gunowners, take them out shooting whenever the opportunity presents itself…especially if they are nubile young females.
Maybe check with the staff there and see about hosting a clinic. Sort of like the Home Depot “how to” Saturday morning. Some of it may be ignorance with the rifle, what it’s capable of, etc. Maybe follow the line of showing them the parts, taking it apart, cleaning/maintenance and then a range demo and an opportunity for them to shoot it/them.
[QUOTE=cavscout82nd;182810]just a question to my fellow AR shooters; I joined a local conservation (gun) club this past April. i’ve been out there about half a dozen times to shoot my AR and i’ve brought my son to shoot his .22 rifle and both of us to shoot our bows. the problem i run into is the less than friendly looks i get when shooting my AR. no one has said anything to me overtly, however the “bad vibes” are definitly there. I don’t shoot rapid fire when at the range. i’m more interested in slow and steady accurate shooting when i’m at the range. so my question is, does any one else run into hostilities when shooting their AR’s from so called fellow firearms owners? just wonderin’ if it’s me!
Just keep shooting and let them initiate a response if they don’t like it. Then tell them to piss off. Try looking for other more AR friendly ranges. You think you have it bad? There is a fairly nice outdoor range where I live that will not allow anyone with a semi auto rifle to have more than 1 round in the magazine at a time and 3 rounds to zero IF a Range Officer is standing right over you. Their BS response was “A guy with an Semi AR broke the sear and the weapon went full auto”. I tried to explain that the explanation was BS. The weapon would simply stop firing. They didn’t want to hear it. They also won’t allow semi-auto handguns to be loaded with more than 5 rounds, no double taps or rapid fire because it disturbs others trying to concentrate. What a load of BS and a bunch of Range Nazi’s! I never went back there again. I found a better indoor range where you can shoot up to .50 cal (no AP) and you can shoot however you want, to include full auto!
The other week the wife and I went to a public range. I had my new SBR in tow. After the first mag through the 10.5 my wife whispers to me, “Those guys are looking at you like you are some kind of terrorist.” I replied, “No Baby, that’s just envy!”
-RD62
ARs are nothing. You want to make enemies at the range, try a .50BMG rifle. I just smile and fire away.
After reading everyones response to my question; i think i’ll take my AR deer hunting this year on public hunting grounds!
Hell yea, My buddy just built a 6.8 to deer hunt with
The great thing about less restrictive environments is that a wider variety of folks and shooting are accepted. The bad thing about less restrictive environments is that a wider variety of folks and shooting are accepted.
I’m thinking of doing the same. Building a 6.8 upper for hunting.
-RD62
I’m going to be hunting with my 6.8 XCR this Fall. 
we’re fortunate that our range is where we do our police qualifications, so most of the shooters are used to some rather unusual “shooting” scenarios. Another plus is that the range doubles for cowboy shoots several times a year, and they will leave alot of their props set up. Speaks well of the members that the props aren’t riddled by idiots. I will admit though there have been a couple times when i’ve been on the range and have been joined by some less then savory individuals who exhibit some very unsafe shooting styles and a cavalier attitude that is guarenteed to piss off nearly everyone.
as was pointed out, sometimes we are our own worst enemies.
the only way to reduce the friction when you face that situation, is through patience and education…though you might be tempted to educate them via the “2 X 4 to the forehead”, just chaulk it up to inexperience.
good luck
edit - grammar fix
If your AR has a nasty “compensator” and I’m in the next lane, you’re gonna get that same look from me!