new shooter. need help

[Supaduke]

Springvale is fine. The RO's are volunteers that have to deal with a constant flow of unlicensed or inexperienced shooters. They are there for your protection and everyone else's. A she'll be right attitude is not good enough for a public shooting range. They can not afford any injuries. Perhaps certain members should show a little more respect to people donating their time to maintain a range for your enjoyment. If you are a licensed shooter that can follow basic safety procedures and range protocol you won't have any issues at all. Springvale is an excellent range and the only one in metro Melbourne open to the public.

[Supaduke]

It's just my personal experience, but by all means go to springvale to shoot, they deal with alot of unlicensed/new to/tourists/unsafe people and as such run a very very tight ship, theres just something about having someone breathing down your neck ( sometimes literally ) that puts me off, rules such as bolts up till your ready to physically squeeze the trigger, as in load, sight picture bolt down bang, if you missfire and they catch if they wait 15 seconds and take the rifle off you yours or range rental to clear it like i'm a licensed experienced shooter please leave me be, little things all in the name of safety i guess, it's not personally against they ro's or anything but maybe i just had a bad run but i think thats enough for now i wouldn't bother going to little river if your just taking a air rifle waste of fuel/time if your in the eastern northern suburbs

I have been there dozens of times , I have never seen or been told about the bolt up practice.

Do you look dodgy or something?

[AusTac]

It's just my personal experience, but by all means go to springvale to shoot, they deal with alot of unlicensed/new to/tourists/unsafe people and as such run a very very tight ship, theres just something about having someone breathing down your neck ( sometimes literally ) that puts me off, rules such as bolts up till your ready to physically squeeze the trigger, as in load, sight picture bolt down bang, if you missfire and they catch if they wait 15 seconds and take the rifle off you yours or range rental to clear it like i'm a licensed experienced shooter please leave me be, little things all in the name of safety i guess, it's not personally against they ro's or anything but maybe i just had a bad run but i think thats enough for now i wouldn't bother going to little river if your just taking a air rifle waste of fuel/time if your in the eastern northern suburbs

I have been there dozens of times , I have never seen or been told about the bolt up practice.

Do you look dodgy or something?

I must look like i came down from broady with my grey market .22 or something haha or maybe i coped the old fella on his bad days i dunno

[halfcocked]

I found them not very welcoming or helpful. On a real power trip and spoke to everybody like crap. Very unprofessional imo and not a good look for any business.
In saying that its a great range and ill continue to go back. You meet people of different personalities everywhere you go. In my experience once these type people see you a few times and realise you know what you're about and not a idiot tourist waving a rifle around, they lighten up.
Dont be put off. Its an ideal place to shoot just some different cats running it lol.

[halfcocked]

If hunting pests in state forest can you have unlicensed persons accompanying you? I take it they cant shoot, right?

[AusTac]

You can have as many unlicenced mates with you as you want but id have paperwork, and ONE firearm and everything firearm/ammo related in your secure posession, and nope can't shoot unless your on an approved range

[halfcocked]

Took the 22 and 17 to toolangi today for some sighting in. First time firing the 17. Its alot louder! I prefer the nifty little plinkster.
Drove in a fair way. Parked. Walked down a steep hill then setup on a flatspot. Used an old log as a rest and another old log for target which i pinned up. Worked a treat.
Few 4wd and motorbikes could be heard on the road above. You can hear a pin drop out there so just waited until they moved on before firing. Generally would fire 5 rounds then inspect and have a cuppa in between every 15 or so. A bit of a break is smart to not upset other park users or allow anyone to zoom in on your location attract unwanted attention etc. Picked up all brass. Was a good day out.
The place has great 4wd tracks if you have lift kits etc. Some realll deep rutts around. There were bullet holes in signs and hole riddled beer cans. This reflects bad on us shooters. Should take your rubbish with you leave things how you found them.
Gave both receivers a wipe over. Very hard to get into! So small. Need to buy proper sized rods and brushes for 22 and 17.
Cleaned the shotty thoroughly as i have a gunslick kit for it. Was pretty grotty. Oiled it all up and im happy with it. Its a good feeling.
Do you dry swab it before next use to remove oil in the shotty barrel?

[AusTac]

Mines chrome lined so i keep it dryish, and good to hear your being smart about it, as i'm sure your aware got to watch the back drop, toolangi would have been damn cold today lol

Theres a place not to far in that looks disgusting, range produce, smashed clays and junk everywhere, shot up signs, its crap

Some very big holes in that place

[halfcocked]

Had another mountain as a backdrop. Yeh was pretty frest around 10.45 when we arrived warmed up though around 1 then got cold again lol.
Geez that sounds bad. Yahoos! Im into my fishing too and always clean up my rubbish before i go.
Only fired 37 rounds in total. Prob hit up springvale again next and put 200 through it.
Saw 1 wallaby btw and few droppings not sure what from. Heard a few gunshots but not alot or constant.

[darwindingo]

Heard a few gunshots but not alot or constant.

Blaze Orange and live to shoot another day

[halfcocked]

Heard a few gunshots but not alot or constant.

Blaze Orange and live to shoot another day

What does that mean?

[AusTac]

Blaze orange safety gear haha, so people don't think your an animal it's that bright clothing you see in the outdoorsy shops

[Rifle realist]

Blaze orange camouflage clothing is available. Animals don't see the the same way we do, so you can reduce the chance of an animal seeing you and increase the chances of being seen by another shooter.

[halfcocked]

I think id prefer to be shot. Die with dignity haha

[MR. WINCHESTER]

Blaze orange camouflage clothing is available. Animals don't see the the same way we do, so you can reduce the chance of an animal seeing you and increase the chances of being seen by another shooter.

Too bad, if you're 'colour blind' ... like me !!!

[Rifle realist]

I think id prefer to be shot. Die with dignity haha

I was only trying to explain the difference between hiviz clothing on work sites and camouflage clothing. I don't wear it, I have the luxury of having access to several million acres to shoot on and often the only shooter there. If the only place I could shoot was some where anyone can roll up and shoot then I would want to be visible.

[halfcocked]

Yeh i know what you're saying. So animals really cant identify the blaze orange?? Even a hat would do the trick in that case.
I know for a fact it takes me 10 secs lining my cross hairs up on a paper target, it'd be the same on a live targets head, there'd be no mistaking a human. You dont shoot at movement you identify the target 110%!
Perhaps someone with poor eyesight using a shotty could be an exception. Something to consider.

[darwindingo]

Blaze gear doesn't seem to bother them one bit, I only have the hat but I know guys that wear vests too and they have racked up mind boggling numbers of deer etc. This is why I wear the hat, I was with a mate and we took a deer. We cut it in half and piggy backed half each out of the bush, I had the front end and as I walked out of the blackberry's I spotted another hunter (saw the sun glint of his watch) he came over and said that he was only a new shooter and had almost taken a shot out of excitement when he saw the antlers but noticed a few flashes the orange through the cover and thought it was a bit odd. Thankfully he decided to wait and clearly Identify his target (as one should always do) obviously it could have turned out differently if the excitement had taken the better of his judgment even after noticing the contrasting flashes of orange..

Be Safe and Always Clearly Identify Your Target.

Jeff

[halfcocked]

Holy #$@*!!! Thats lucky as mate!

[darwindingo]

Yep.. My mate carry's an extendable aerial from a boom box with a bunting flag on the top now for the carry outs

[halfcocked]

[quote="darwindingo"]Yep.. My mate carry's an extendable aerial from a boom box with a bunting flag on the top now for the carry outs [/quote thats fantastic haha