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Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:52 pm
by Texas Flyer
Hello Everyone,
I was wondering if anyone else has had any negative experiences at Quail Creek off of 35W and 1171. During our first, and possibly only visit there, we had a RO tell us we could collect our brass and during a cease fire. While we were posting new targets my friend's 12 year old was collecting casings at which point a tall, older, skinny, scruffy looking RO came up and started to yell at him. He did not understand what that he was doing anything wrong and according to 4 witnesses he POLITELY informed the RO that he was just picking up the brass for his father. We realize that there was obviously a miscommunication somewhere but when we returned from posting targets this RO came back and started yelling at him and accusing him of back talking and ignoring instructions and then started with the threats and scaring the crap out of my friend's son. I assume this is one of the guys that is causing me to find a lot of comments on the internet referring to Quail Creek RO's as Nazi's or it being like a prison camp. Is this still the normal behavior out there? I'm trying to give the others a fare shake but I think that guy should have been more professional first off, and secondly, spoken to my friend instead of yelling at his kid at length right in front of him. I can only assume they don't provide a contact email address on the website as it would be constantly full of complaints.
Having said that, the shooting facilities are quite nice, their ammo is decently priced, and their rules are normal common sense stuff if you don't mind the occasional unprofessional behavior of at least one despicable human being of an RO.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:05 pm
by michael e
Never heard of the place, but if I go to a range that wont let me get my brass they wont get my money. I shoot 45 GAP 10mm 357sig, Im not lossing that brass . If the guy had started yelling at my kid it would have been handled right then. My normal range cleans the area for me when I get there and keeps people away as much as they can so I can find my brass.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:19 pm
by C-dub
I, personally, haven't been the brunt of their wrath, but I have seen it directed at others. Sometimes it was warranted, but not to that extreme, and other times it was for instances like you experience. Unless you live out that way and this is the closest range to you most others are way better.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:52 pm
by Texas Flyer
Quail Creek does let you collect your brass in case anyone is wondering. I completely agree with their safety rules and really liked 75% of the people that were working there. Sadly it just takes one jerk to ruin it. I am just sick and tired of the people we have to deal with at ranges and gun stores being a bunch of arrogant, self centered, chip on their shoulder jerks. I have been driven out of every store and turned off to every range in Fort Worth that I have shot at because I can't stomach these people and their attitudes. I buy ALL of my guns and ammo online now and have my FFL's done buy a private individual that does them on the side from his home. I actually feel bad that I have to describe the industry that way as there are some great people out there too. I just feel they are seriously outnumbered.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 7:24 pm
by THX
Sounds like the RO was just angry because he was in the stall during a cease-fire (almost did that myself a couple hours ago).

I'm not really into places with anger issues. In fact, if I had a 12-year old and someone decided to yell at him instead of me, I probably wouldn't be into that either. If he's handling a firearm unsafely then yes, let him have hit; but for picking up brass during a cease-fire? Maybe if it's the 5th time the kid's been told.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:03 pm
by olafpfj
I've shot there a few times. Seemed like the RO was really laid back...almost too laid back. I tend to only go early on weekdays, though, to avoid the weekend warriors. I got barked at once for firing my 10/22 too fast and I thought he was a being a bit uptight about it. I wasn't rapid firing I was squeezing off rounds about 1 sec apart in kind of a timing groove. He thought it was too fast...whatever. I'm usually the only person on the 100yd. range. Never an issue picking up my brass (M1 Garand 30-06)...everything else I shoot is bolt action. Haven't shot pistol there.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 9:09 pm
by The Annoyed Man
Texas Flyer wrote:Hello Everyone,
I was wondering if anyone else has had any negative experiences at Quail Creek off of 35W and 1171. During our first, and possibly only visit there, we had a RO tell us we could collect our brass and during a cease fire. While we were posting new targets my friend's 12 year old was collecting casings at which point a tall, older, skinny, scruffy looking RO came up and started to yell at him. He did not understand what that he was doing anything wrong and according to 4 witnesses he POLITELY informed the RO that he was just picking up the brass for his father. We realize that there was obviously a miscommunication somewhere but when we returned from posting targets this RO came back and started yelling at him and accusing him of back talking and ignoring instructions and then started with the threats and scaring the crap out of my friend's son. I assume this is one of the guys that is causing me to find a lot of comments on the internet referring to Quail Creek RO's as Nazi's or it being like a prison camp. Is this still the normal behavior out there? I'm trying to give the others a fare shake but I think that guy should have been more professional first off, and secondly, spoken to my friend instead of yelling at his kid at length right in front of him. I can only assume they don't provide a contact email address on the website as it would be constantly full of complaints.
Having said that, the shooting facilities are quite nice, their ammo is decently priced, and their rules are normal common sense stuff if you don't mind the occasional unprofessional behavior of at least one despicable human being of an RO.
Read this thread: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=13537. Sounds like things haven't really improved much out there. I'll never go back there again.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:20 am
by Texas Flyer
Thanks The Annoyed Man. That was enough to convince me to not ever go there again. It's a stinking shame that they have jerks working there. I have an airplane right across the highway and it would have been great to kill two birds with one trip up there. I will continue to share my experience with people I meet about their horrible, unprofessional behavior. It's not shocking that they don't care how they treat their customers. They don't even have a "contact us" email on their website. I hate to lump the younger RO that we dealt with first in with that old jerk because he was a good guy. I guess I will try Alpine out next...

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:13 pm
by olafpfj
I've only had the young guy...never met the old guy. Guess I've been lucky. I thought the young guy was a little too loose checking chambers on the 100yd line but there are usually only me and one other on the line.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:47 pm
by Texas Flyer
olafpfj wrote:I've only had the young guy...never met the old guy. Guess I've been lucky. I thought the young guy was a little too loose checking chambers on the 100yd line but there are usually only me and one other on the line.
Well what was funny was that not too long after the older guy, that was the problem out there that day, finished yelling at my friend's kid for picking up brass he called a cease fire. Everyone stepped back from the line and he just yelled down to us from the pistol range and asked us if our bolts were open and cleared. We had seven shooters on the 100 yard range. We all said yes and he took our word for it. I mean, make up your mind man. You're going to yell and belittle people for minor stuff then gaffe off the major stuff. LOL If I hear from the grapevine that that guy is no longer employed there I might go back but until then I will not.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:46 pm
by 45er
Guaranteed, if someone decided to yell at MY kid for something like that, they'd find out what REAL wrath is.

That is uncalled for to berate a minor that way. If the kid had done something that warranted addressing an immediate safety threat, then fine, but just because the kid is cutting into their bottom line for re-selling brass? Let me show you what yelling really sounds like.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 11:00 pm
by olafpfj
45er wrote:Guaranteed, if someone decided to yell at MY kid for something like that, they'd find out what REAL wrath is.

That is uncalled for to berate a minor that way. If the kid had done something that warranted addressing an immediate safety threat, then fine, but just because the kid is cutting into their bottom line for re-selling brass? Let me show you what yelling really sounds like.
The proper protocol would be to discretely inform the parent that their child is causing problems and expect them to deal with it. If the parent doesn't address the problem to the RO's satisfaction then the wrath should be directed at the parent. You NEVER directly interact with a minor unless there is a serious and IMMEDIATE threat of injury or loss of life beyond the casual..."hey...don't do that son."

I am very protective of my kids and would never in a million years suffer some over zealous RO yelling at them.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:06 am
by pcernuch
agreed. unless involved in a dangerous sort of violation, any issues regarding my child and or wife will need to be taken up with me.

god bless.

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:33 pm
by Texas Flyer
Hello again everyone. Thanks for the replies to this posting. The owners out at Quail Creek actually got in contact with me after I posted this and invited me for a face to face visit to talk about the incident that happened to us last Friday. Fortunately I was going right across the highway from there today anyway and was able to stop in with my nieces in tow just like Friday. After talking with them today, reading everything posted on this forum and talking to other people, I have decided that I WILL keep going back to Quail Creek to shoot. I cannot stress enough how concerned the owners, Chris and Hank, were about what happened while we were there and wanted to make sure that we have pleasant experiences at their facilities in the future. The fact of the matter is that if you do encounter a problem and can be rational about it, Hank and Chris are more than willing to help get it resolved. I am looking forward to dealing with them in the future and I hope that everyone else goes out and gives Quail Creek a fair chance. Thanks again to Chris and Hank for their invite, hospitality, and customer service!

Re: Quail Creek Shooting Range Problems?

Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:43 pm
by jmra
Glad to hear everything worked out. Did you talk them into putting contact information on their website?