One evening a few weeks ago I was at my range doing some zeroing on my rifle when it got too dark to see through my scope so I decided to pack it in. Of course it was still bright enough out to pick up brass at the range (I have a brass fetish 
) so I headed over there to see what I could find. I still heard shots coming from the range so I was curious to see who would still be firing since we have a dusk cease fire at our range (Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol).
There were two police officers there, one was running the other through his qualification course. Turns out they had permission to shoot a little after dusk. I explained that I always come by to scrounge brass, and they said "There's plenty here, plus we're shooting .45 GAP." Of course I waited (anyone need .45 GAP brass?) and I watched some very interesting events unfold.
The drills/qualification rounds were literally done about ten feet from the targets. And they were SLOW, with only static shooting. No double taps there! Besides that all I'm gonna say is that we do things a little different during IDPA matches. It was interesting to observe, the drills themselves were good drills (one hand reloads, heel slide racking while kneeling, etc).
After the pistol round of entertainment was over, then came shotgun. I was not prepared for the thrill I was about to experience!
I could tell this guy had an empty chamber, ok, I was 99 percent sure, but when he started to thumb in his shells, THE MUZZLE WAS SWAYING RIGHT ACROSS MY TORSO! 
By the third shell I relocated behind cover (just out of the line of fire really) and I kept observing, with a slightly elevated pulse. 
The shotgun round was close and slow too, but they were neat drills.
The officers were pretty nice after the drills were done, the one giving the course, who stayed after the 'student' had left, even asked if I'd be ok with him turning off his spotlight. It was dark by this time, but I had my flashlight to pick up brass with so I told him I'd be fine. After he departed I made like a chicken 'pecking' up my brass.
So, my question to all of you, would you have informed the officer that he was waving and requested that he be mindful of his muzzle? I know what my CCDW instructor would say, he'd say "Absolutely!" But, to put it mildly, I felt way outgunned. I'm still here, and that's what matters to me, but it's been in the back of my mind ever since.
) so I headed over there to see what I could find. I still heard shots coming from the range so I was curious to see who would still be firing since we have a dusk cease fire at our range (Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol). There were two police officers there, one was running the other through his qualification course. Turns out they had permission to shoot a little after dusk. I explained that I always come by to scrounge brass, and they said "There's plenty here, plus we're shooting .45 GAP." Of course I waited (anyone need .45 GAP brass?) and I watched some very interesting events unfold.
The drills/qualification rounds were literally done about ten feet from the targets. And they were SLOW, with only static shooting. No double taps there! Besides that all I'm gonna say is that we do things a little different during IDPA matches. It was interesting to observe, the drills themselves were good drills (one hand reloads, heel slide racking while kneeling, etc).
After the pistol round of entertainment was over, then came shotgun. I was not prepared for the thrill I was about to experience!
I could tell this guy had an empty chamber, ok, I was 99 percent sure, but when he started to thumb in his shells, THE MUZZLE WAS SWAYING RIGHT ACROSS MY TORSO! By the third shell I relocated behind cover (just out of the line of fire really) and I kept observing, with a slightly elevated pulse. The shotgun round was close and slow too, but they were neat drills.The officers were pretty nice after the drills were done, the one giving the course, who stayed after the 'student' had left, even asked if I'd be ok with him turning off his spotlight. It was dark by this time, but I had my flashlight to pick up brass with so I told him I'd be fine. After he departed I made like a chicken 'pecking' up my brass.
So, my question to all of you, would you have informed the officer that he was waving and requested that he be mindful of his muzzle? I know what my CCDW instructor would say, he'd say "Absolutely!" But, to put it mildly, I felt way outgunned. I'm still here, and that's what matters to me, but it's been in the back of my mind ever since.
"A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves...and include all men capable of bearing arms." Richard Henry Lee, 1788
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum.
