Could be he just wanted to be around other folks. Lonely old men often have a hard time talking to folks. Next time, trying talking to him, asking about his weapons, might make a new friend.
A lot of old guys don't get much company, he may live alone and long for contact with younger people. This is as much a social event to him as a chance to shoot. Give em a brake
We always try to give as much space as possible and respect others already set up.
The old man was rude. Open bays available and he just walks up and starts setting up where you and your sons are shooting.
I do not care how lonely he is, he is a stranger and I am with my boys and thousands of dollars of firearms and ammo, you bet I got a problem.
Red Brush correct? Were you in the main pistol rang, if so alot of people just use that one defacto.
Are the bays at this range set up for 2 parties/groups on the same bay or is it more of a one person thing?
Would it hurt to try a little kindness? Yes, the old boy was rude. Yes, he violated the normal social rules and etiquette. Why not ask him what he is shooting? Ask him if he shoots often at this range—you know how it goes. Might make an old man's day, and you might make a new friend.
From the sound of these posts, Hoosier hospitality is rare as Sherman buttons at an Atlanta picnic.
Were you at Strictly Shooting? I know every time I've been there, they have assigned me a lane, even when no one else was shooting. Maybe he took that a little too literally....My teenage sons were off school today since they haven't used any snow days this year. I took them to the range. The range we go to has 5 different bays four of which have metal targets. Two of those have reactive metal plates. We were lucky enough to have the range to ourselves most of the time we were there until an older gentleman pulled up and decided to use the shooting bay we were using.
I was a little surprised when he pulled into the bay we were in because all of the other bays were open at the time. I had the boys put all of the guns down and wait for him to put his ears on and get set up. The guy turns to me and asks if there is a problem. I said no, we are just giving you time to get set up. He replied that we could all shoot. I just nodded.
He put his ears on and proceeded to start shooting. After a bit I told the boys to start packing up so we could move to one of the other open bays. About the time we were loaded up he started slamming his gear around and just left.
It isn't a big deal, but I never shoot in a bay where someone or a group is already shooting if there is another open bay. If is was just me it would be one thing, but with my boys there that is enough to keep track of for safety purposes.
Is my thinking off or is this a normal expectation?
The bays are large and set up 25 to 50 yards apart. There are large earth embankments between each shooting bay. Several people can shoot in a single bay, but it is usual practice not to go to an occupied bay if other bays are open. Especially when one of the open bays has the reactive targets he was shooting at.
Walking distance is the same at all of the handgun bays.