Range Closed

Nov 2009
53
0
Bothell, WA
Looks like the Seattle Rifle & Pistol Association's range at Machias is closed for the forseeable future. One of the neighbors is claiming that a round left the range and went through one of her windows.

'Every time I hear a gunshot I fear for my life. Every time' | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOMO News

While this really sucks balls if true, this is the same neighbor that claimed a shot from the range passed through her house in August - when the range was closed for maintenance. She lobbied to close the Machias range then. I'm not going to call her a liar, but everything doesn't add up. A lot of things have to go just right for a round to get out of there. And from what I understand, the house is way off axis from the range. It makes the likelihood of any round getting to her place low; but multiple times? Something is going on there; if it's associated with the range, they have a huge problem that needs to be fixed. If not, then there is douchebaggery afoot. What that might be would be nothing more than speculation right now.

All ranges are under pressure. If you wonder why some ranges implement seemingly stupid rules, this is why. You simply can't have any round get off the range.
 
Jan 2013
123
0
Silverton, OR
Our range on the long range has two metal barrels welded together end to end with the interior lined with burlap. A small rectangular hole on the bench end and open on the target end. These huge mufflers greatly reduce the off axis sound levels as well as make a blue sky shot almost impossible.

Not all shooting is done through the barrels but its an idea Seattle might look into.

you can see photos of them here: Lower Range 50yd. 100yd. 200yd. | Welcome to Four Corners Rod and Gun Club web site
 
Nov 2009
53
0
Bothell, WA
Machias is essentially a highpower range. They have several firing positions depending on distance. Their longest is 500 yards. Using several firing lines means that they only need to have one target pit at the berm. They are a pretty active club for highpower and long distance shooters. They run a lot of matches. The club only allows 300 members including archery, shotgun and pistol shooters. So, it's not like every Bubba with a black rifle is shooting things up out there. I don't know anyone from there, but I know enough folks in the highpower and club range community to know that they take this **** seriously and I can't see why the Machias guys would be any different. Why is there a problem now when there hasn't been one before?
 
Feb 2013
212
0
Puyallup, Wa
Maybe you guys know better than me, but what kind of bullet can go through a window and ricochet off a fridge?
 
Jan 2013
123
0
Silverton, OR
A very interesting update article on this story

Update: Range confirmed closed in case of Machias home hit by stray bullet - Seattle gun rights | Examiner.com

It appears the range was actually closed on the day of the suspected bullet hit for a work day. And no shooters were active at the time of the shooting.

this article also goes into the bullets very unlikely path passing through hardie plank 5/8" OSB the insulation in the wall and 5 layers of dry wall before hitting the fridge. All in a straight line!!!!

Hmmmm Me thinks I smell a problem
 
Nov 2009
53
0
Bothell, WA
That article was about the incident last August. The range reopened and the incident I posted here was new last month and the range has closed again. There were shooters on the range at the time of the most recent occurrence. The interesting thing is that it is the same homeowner both times. Given the spurious nature of the first incident, it kind of makes you wonder about this one...
 
Jan 2013
123
0
Silverton, OR
Sorry about the confusion. If you look at an aeral view of the range there is a house that is directly in line with the target berm. Now what developer sold what idiot that house I can't imagine. But I would have never ever bought it.

Not sure if this is the house or not as I read no address in the stories (can't imagine why LOL)
 
Jan 2010
371
0
Sherwood, OR
I would definitly be asking for an independant review, and then charging her with making a false report to police once this thing is over. Ballistics will be their friend here. I am willing to bet she doesnt' know enough about them to create an legitimate staging of the problem.
 
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