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The point is nobody should get hurt at the range. It isn't about liability, it is about not shooting yourself in the leg, or shooting a person next to you.

Bayou Rifles has been there since 1936 and, as far as anyone knows, nobody has ever been shot. Twisted ankles and bee stings, yes - but no bullet wounds.

I shoot 2-3 rifle matches there every month. Never been asked to sign a release. I don't know what the paperwork at an IDPA match is like.

I think the no-draw-and-shoot from the holster rule is a little too strict, but that is just my opinion. I think most people are not so clumsy as to shoot their own leg, or their neighbor. Still, it happens a few times every year, somewhere, and the Bayou board of directors has not been convinced to accept the risk. It means no IDPA matches at Bayou, and no practice for IDPA that involves draw-and-shoot.

Regards,
Andrew

PBratton wrote:
Andrew,

I too would not mind that kind of change, however, to do it safely, we would have to find a way to have Draw 'N Shoot lanes that offered protection for the shooters on either side...

Yes, it would require some thought and preparation but the no-draw rule is irksome to people who want to practice for IDPA etc.

I would start by amending the rule to state that, if nobody else is present on that range at the time, the rule is not in force. Shoot yourself in the leg, you call 911 on your own dime.

The short range - 3, 7, and 15 yards - at Juliff often has one vehicle with maybe one or two people (who are there together, having come in one car). If there is nobody else involved, I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to draw and fire.

You are right too, that having a shooting lane separator of some kind would offer protection to shooters next to the one drawing. I just do not see how to do that cheaply and without sacrificing space on the firing line to walls or other partitions.

It is easy enough to practice draw and dry-fire at home, and practice shooting from low-ready at the range, but Bayou would benefit from having action pistol matches, which involve drawing and firing. PSC has them and has an excellent Safety record.

Regards,
Andrew

I'm not aware of any "slow fire" policy, and I'm quite familiar with the Range Rules.

You can download the Range Rules from the bayourifles.org website. If you find any rules about slow or rapid fire, please let me know.

I hear people firing pistols at the short line - 3, 7, 15 yard - quite rapidly sometimes. Nobody objects or says anything. As long as the rounds all hit the berm, there is no problem.

The rule against drawing from the holster does, indeed, exist. Many members feel it is silly but the Board was worried someone might shoot himself in the leg. The president and much of the Board are younger, newer folks - and the rule might get eliminated if enough members push for that.

Regards,
Andrew

Tom,

I don't see why not, but I'm not Membership Director anymore.

Try going to the website and emailing Greg, the current Membership Director; tell him the date (as close as you can) that you took the orientation, and see if he has a record of it. If so, it seems to me he should be happy you finally decided to join.

Best of luck!

Regards,
Andrew

phrogg,

Email Greg - address on the web site - and tell him you need to schedule an individual New Member Orientation.

If he is not available, ask him if he will delegate it and I will do it. When I had that job, the orientation consisted of going over the range rules, talking about Safety, and showing people around the range.

Addicks is nice, and better if you take the NRA Range Safety Officer class (through the club), and volunteer 1/2 day every once in a while as RSO. Gives you extra range access. Juliff is open to all members at all times.

Regards,
Andrew

You can find out quite a bit from the web site, http://bayourifles.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but as a member (and former membership director) I can tell you some of the good points.

The bad points for pistol shooters are that there is a rule against drawing from the holster and firing. No rule against so-called "rapid fire", but there is a concern that someone will shoot himself in the leg, drawing. The other bad points are that there is no IDPA / action shooting; only Bullseye, and that at Addicks, not Juliff.

Come to the across-the-course Highpower match this Sunday and you can check out the range (gate is open during matches) and meet some people. We'll be there from 7 AM to sometime after 12 noon, it is a 100-round match (two 600-yard slow-fire strings instead of one).

Obviously, I love the club and the Juliff range so I'm not an "objective" source of information.

Anecdote:
In around 2005 there was a movement to have IDPA matches. They held some "demonstration" matches that went very well, and the Board was pretty well convinced to waive the no-draw-and-shoot rule. At the Board meeting the best proponent of IDPA was asked to speak, and he did so - very convincingly, until he used a phrase about "adrenalin" and excitement - at which point some of the Board members turned pale, their eyes rolled back in their heads, and they voted down the proposal. It was a shame - so close - but there is great fear of anything that might seem not-well-ordered or happening-too-fast.

The club has been at Juliff since 1936 and there is no record of a firearms-related injury. Can't say there has never been one, I wasn't there, but the club has no record of one. Very proud of the Safety Record and unwilling to chance damaging it.

Sorry to write a novel in response to a simple question. Come to the match and check out the range and the people.

Regards,
Andrew

Edited to add: if you are primarily interested in action pistol, Pearland http://www.psc-range.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is your very best bet. If you are farther South of Houston, check out Greenwood in Lake Jackson.