TexasCHLforum.com

Question: how do you think that a range disarms you?

No, seriously... show me a range with a proper 30.06 on the door to the lanes and I will shut up. Having a "No loaded firearms" sign does not disarm you if you voluntarily (and mistakenly) think that applies to your carry gun that you do not intend to fire at the range. I have carried a concealed handgun EVERY SINGLE TIME that I have ever walked into an indoor range. The only reason that you would not would be if you owned only one pistol, or you wanted to shoot every pistol that you could conceivably conceal.

I have never seen a range that had a problem with you having a concealed pistol on you that you intended on keeping holstered and not using at their range.

Methinks that you are severely over thinking this.

The local North Texas Field and Stream chapter forbids the wearing of sidearms as well as rapid fire. I belong to a range that allows these activities.

ntexaschl wrote:The local North Texas Field and Stream chapter forbids the wearing of sidearms as well as rapid fire. I belong to a range that allows these activities.

They do not ban concealed carry. Check their website.

A lot of folks seem to think that they're exempt from the golden rule of concealed carry - that is, concealed means concealed.

If you only have one gun and want to practice with it, then unload it in the car, put it in a gun rug, and walk into the range wearing a backup that you don't plan to shoot this time. Unless there is a PC30.06 compliant sign, you have no legal requirement to disarm, and the range police should never know whether you're carrying unless you open your mouth and tell them.

Ranges don't want people pulling from a holster, and/or being away from the firing point with a loaded gun in someone's hand. By carrying concealed, and leaving it in the concealed holster, you're helping to avhieve both of yjose goals and most ranges I've seen will not have any problem with that.

Bass Pro, North of DFW airport ask that you remain holstered until you reach the firing line and holster when leaving.

I can't imagine going to the range and not practicing with my EDC. My wife and I try to go to the range once a week.

I CC to my lane then unholster and lay my EDC on the lane table. Then I unpack our range bag. We use a couple of military surplus pouches to hold supplies for our individual guns. My wife does not usually carry so her carry pistol is in a pistol rug. I hand her her pistol and supply pouch and she goes to her lane. If we have our 22 revolver with us, I unpack it at this time, too. Then I put the range bag and any rifles and/or shotguns we will shoot later on the bench behind the lanes.

Returning to my lane, I remove the defensive ammo magazine from my EDC and replace it with a magazine full of FMJ. I usually leave the one defensive round in the chamber. I go through a series of practice shots, work on any problem areas, then lay the EDC on the range table. My wife and I often swap our carry guns at the range to get some practice with each other's firearm.

The last thing I do while packing the range bag is to load a magazine of defensive ammo in my EDC, chamber a round, then reholster. I do usually wait until I'm at home to top off the EDC magazine.

Again, unless you are working on a problem, why would you go to a range without practicing with your EDC?

All of the ranges I've been to allow licensed concealed carry. The procedure is that you only handle guns when on the firing line - including my concealed carry pistol. The exception to this would be when I attend IDPA or GSSF matches). For both of those competitions, the rules state that participants may not have a loaded firearm unless they are about to shoot a stage and have loaded and made ready per SO instruction.

Not to draw the thread off-topic, but to draw a parallel. A large number of gun shops and stores that offer gunsmithing have signs stating something to the effect "guns must be cased, unloaded, and chamber open". My understanding is that this is intended to be in reference to guns that you bring in for them to work on. It could be that the notice in the original post may be constructed with the same intent?

I shoot mostly at the Texas City Municipal Gun range. They have a similar rule. I asked about it and they told me that if I keep my weapon concealed and do not fire it. That I could keep it loaded and concealed. Seemed fair enough to me. It doesn't really apply that much though , cause the weapon that I would want to be most proficient is the one I mostly carry. So I will usually shoot at least a mags worth while I'm there to check my marksmanship and the working order of my EDC.

My local range has a similar 'all guns must be unloaded and actions open' sign. But I got curious about LTC being their intention and asked the range master one day, and he gave me a silly grin and asked, "do you see a 30.06 sign ?" (there is not one just FYI) so that answered my question on it. I suspect most ranges are the same. They know the 30.06 rules most likely, and only intend for the guns your handling to be open and unloaded. My range is actually ok with you concealing until you get to the firing line and unholstering/reholstering there.

The indoor range I used to go to didn't have a problem as long as you were responsible. I'd often go unload my carry mag, load the target ammo and shoot then reload holster and leave. As long as you weren't acting like a fool and flashing it around etc. there wasn't a problem.
During the summer I would go out to some of the various spots in the National Forest to shoot. You would be by yourself so you could go to your target while carrying your loaded rifle. It was also nice because you could practice moving and shooting, shooting from unusual positions, and from drawing. I can't wait until next year where we will be moving closer to National Forests again. The indoor range I went to was very nice. The odd part was is that there is no rapid fire but they have 3 or 4 full autos you could rent. (yes there was staff to accompany those) As for worrying about what a sign on a door says as long as you keep it concealed don't worry about it. It's not the proper signage. People seem to nit pick and worry about any and all signs.

rotor wrote:

ntexaschl wrote:The local North Texas Field and Stream chapter forbids the wearing of sidearms as well as rapid fire. I belong to a range that allows these activities.

They do not ban concealed carry. Check their website.

Apparently concealed carry is not banned. However, from their website under Range Safety Rules..."no firearm may be worn or carried on any active shooting range in a holster." This is the statement upon which I based my original post.

Keith B wrote:The ranges I have been to require you to stay concealed with your carry weapon. If you choose to shoot it, then you must either unload it in the safe area or wait until you get to the line to draw from concealment, then unload it. You cannot draw from holster to shoot. Once you have finished shooting it you can reload and conceal again at the line, but can't draw it out. Each range is different, and they treat open carry differently, so you must follow those rules on if they even allow it off the shooting line.

I have done this many times.

I refuse to go to a range that has rules prohibiting this. And I am quite vocal to the management about it.

The Shoot Smart in Grand Prairie has a sign to the effect of "licensed open carry is fine, just keep it in the holster." I open carried the whole time I was there, to and from the line and around the store area. They also allow drawing from your holster and firing if on a private lane. I really don't see the issue with this policy. "Keep it in the holster until you're on the line" is not a complicated concept. I'm not sure I would frequent a range that was much more restrictive than that.

LucasMcCain wrote:The Shoot Smart in Grand Prairie has a sign to the effect of "licensed open carry is fine, just keep it in the holster." I open carried the whole time I was there, to and from the line and around the store area. They also allow drawing from your holster and firing if on a private lane. I really don't see the issue with this policy. "Keep it in the holster until you're on the line" is not a complicated concept. I'm not sure I would frequent a range that was much more restrictive than that.

Perfectly acceptable and logical rule.

Safety first.