Wexford Range Trip

[mongose99]

Quick Story:

On friday i bought my first .22 handgun, a beretta neos! I bought it and just could not resist going to the range as soon as possible to test it out. So i went on friday afternoon and shot about 350 rounds and I love the gun, its great. No real problems except for some cheap ammo jamming and otherwise its very accurate and very fun. In fact it was so fun i could not resist going back on saturday. So i picked up so more ammo and arrived mid-day saturday at the wexford range to test some more ammo and just to shoot. Well after about 30 minutes i was approached by a PA game official who told me to pack up my guns and follow him, he also asked a lady on the 50yard range to do the same. He said he counted the lady shooting at least 10 rounds and me shooting at least 15 rounds before changing magazine. Seeing as both the lady and myself were shooting our identical beretta neos pistols, which can only hold 10 rounds, i stopped him and informed him of this. He said "You can only have 6 rounds in your gun at a time and I am going to cite both of you for this violation." Now i have heard of this rule, and the reasoning behind it, to my knowledge, is to allow for shooters to check their targets after 6 shots. Now on a busy day no one checks their targets after simply 6 shots! So i figured 10 is fine. So now I believe I will be receiving a citation in the mail for having 4 extra rounds in my magazine along with this other lady. I was, for lack of better words, livid. What a day. Anyway, anyone else ever have this happen to them? Seems kind of ridiculous in my mind.

[Philadelphia]

Quick Story:

On friday i bought my first .22 handgun, a beretta neos! I bought it and just could not resist going to the range as soon as possible to test it out. So i went on friday afternoon and shot about 350 rounds and I love the gun, its great. No real problems except for some cheap ammo jamming and otherwise its very accurate and very fun. In fact it was so fun i could not resist going back on saturday. So i picked up so more ammo and arrived mid-day saturday at the wexford range to test some more ammo and just to shoot. Well after about 30 minutes i was approached by a PA game official who told me to pack up my guns and follow him, he also asked a lady on the 50yard range to do the same. He said he counted the lady shooting at least 10 rounds and me shooting at least 15 rounds before changing magazine. Seeing as both the lady and myself were shooting our identical beretta neos pistols, which can only hold 10 rounds, i stopped him and informed him of this. He said "You can only have 6 rounds in your gun at a time and I am going to cite both of you for this violation." Now i have heard of this rule, and the reasoning behind it, to my knowledge, is to allow for shooters to check their targets after 6 shots. Now on a busy day no one checks their targets after simply 6 shots! So i figured 10 is fine. So now I believe I will be receiving a citation in the mail for having 4 extra rounds in my magazine along with this other lady. I was, for lack of better words, livid. What a day. Anyway, anyone else ever have this happen to them? Seems kind of ridiculous in my mind.

I can't give you much advice about the citation. I think the game official is a prick for not just giving you a warning. He likely has nothing better to do and is bored with his job.

If my range had a rule like that I would find another range. Sounds like they are afraid of guns and shooting. There's definitely a noticable group that believes guns are only for hunting and applies the hunting style rules to all shooting sports. Screw them.

[XD45]

rules are rules IMO

[neonghost79]

I have been the the Wexford range many many times over the years. They do have a pretty strict set of rules...though I agree with some of them...I don't agree with all of them and the 6 round cap is stupid! I have been there on a number of occations when the range was full of idiots...and at that time I was glad the range master was there. He is a member at the Millvale Sportsmans Club right by the Wexford gamelands...there is a whole different story! I was there a few years back with a member and the same range master was there..i asked him if the range had the same 6 round limit...he was like "no way...you can do whatever you want here" we procceded to have interesting game of defensive pistol shooting! Needles to say the dude knows his stuff....good luck with the whole citation thing....

[crlovel]

What the others said. Rules are rules, even stupid ones. Pay your fine and find a new range to shoot at.

[Emptymag]

As much as the rule about round limits sucks, it IS the rule, and since you say you "have heard of this rule", why did you not follow it?

In addition to "hearing of a rule", there should be signs posted with the range rules. It is your responsibility to read, and follow them. (All of them, not just the ones that aren't stupid)

In a few weeks, we'll be having the June group shoot here in Pgh.
If you are able to follow our range rules, you are welcome to join us. If not, please stay home.

Sorry, but these "complaints" about being "busted" for not following the posted rules don't draw a lot of sympathy here.

[mongose99]

I wasnt necessarily complaining, i was more so interested if anyone else had ever had a similar experience. The game commision guy said i would be receiving a citation in the mail and never mentioned how long it would take and how much it would be. I didnt think to ask at the time either, i thought maybe someone else maybe had a similar experience at one point in time and could inform me of it

[1832]

As previously stated, "rules are rules." I don't care for the 3 in a rifle and 6 in a handgun rule either, but those are the Game Laws and since this is Game Commission property the GCOs and ROs have to enforce those rules. I shoot at that range regularly and, believe me, strict enforcement has become a necessity due to the actions of some of the folks who shoot there. I was there when the RO had to eject a group of cops who insisted on shooting from in front of the stands and drawing from holsters.

I think if you are "up front" with the District Magistrate, and don't enter into a debate over the rules, he will probably be disposed to give you a break.

[TaePo]

I remember when the Wexford range was nothing but, well, dirt! No rules at all. Hardly a firing line.

I think one has to remember that these are set-up as a nod to hunters and others wishing to sight in more than anything else. And I guess, as the population rose and went from rural to suburban, more yahoos started showing up.

No matter, if it is not your range, you should follow the rules as has been pointed out. Sometimes, what seems like a stupid rule is actually a good one, you just don't understand the reasoning behind it. Could be yahoos shooting 100 rnds at a time, or could be time/location of the range and any new residences etc. Of course, we can see when the state is involved it may seem a 'just because it seems reasonable' excuse!

[NathanW]

I also agree with the majority here, "rules are rules". They have been implemented because of the increasing amount of "YAHOOS" whom come to these ranges. If you believe these rules are radicals, please find a local club and frequent it, as a matter of fact I encourage it! I have never had a bad experience with the range officials at the Wexford game lands, however, I have only been there 4 times in the last 5 years. I always go to my local shooting club, it is safer with far less restrictions. I also went to the Wexford game lands this weekend on Sunday (erroneously believing that there would be nobody there due to the Pen's game). (For those of you whom don't mind I am going to post this in the discussions portions of this site for all to read as well, in hopes that someone whom knows this fellow may bring it to his attention, am inform him of proper gun/range edicate.) I had a HORRIBLE experience there, but it was not due to range officials, it was due to the fact that at 5 pm there was NO range official! Upon arriving at the range (again around 5 pm Sunday) Someone yelled range "range clear check your targets". I was on the 7 yard pistol bay, on the far left side. There were 3 men and a lady in a group to my far right. I preceded down to hang a target and arrived back to a new group of fellows directly beside me. This was not a problem, however I did not want to hit them with my flying brass while they were shooting, so I would wait for a break in their fire to shoot. As I returned to the firing line I bring my own gun up to charge a mag I see a VERY LARGE stainless steel barrel pointing DIRECTLY at MY head with a finger BURIED in the trigger guard!! At which point I duck down and move back The whole time saying "MUZZLE, MUZZLE, MUZZLE"!! At which point the guy turns and looks at me with this very confused look on his face and again pointing his firearm at me, (finger still in the BURIED in the trigger guard mind you) At which point I instruct him to "Point the gun DOWN RANGE"!! He begins going on a tirade that the "Gun is NOT even "F" ING loaded", And next (now get this, and it is no made up, I swear) He begins twirling the gun around on his index finger "COWBOY STYLE" !!! At which I respond, "I do NOT care if the firearm is unloaded, "DO NOT POINT THAT AT ME"!!! So he retorts, "look there is not even a "F" ING "clip (second clue he has no idea of gun edicate) in it!! To which I respond, "What about the chamber!!!?" (you see, the slide was closed.) He replies, "do you think I would point a loaded gun at myself"? To which I reply, "I do NOT care if you point a loaded gun at yourself, do NOT point any gun at me!. Now he goes off on a triad of expletives, at which time I decide to pack up my things and going home. ( I am way to shaken up by all of this to shoot any more, nor do I want to be on a range where someone is displaying this poor of gun handling skills. Before I leave I try to speak as a gentleman to this fellow and explain to him nobody is looking for a fight here, but you should never point a gun anywhere but down range, and he again launches into another slew of expletives and stating that I did not need to yell at him!, I say I was not yelling, but needed to get my point across in an swift manor that he was pointing his firearm at ME. He goes off again, and I call it a day!
This is why there are rules at a shooting area, and above all why YOU need to follow them, even if you do not agree with them. They are there for YOUR safety and those around you.