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The Rambo look for target shooting!

  • 08-01-2007 4:43pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭


    I think that all military type clothing should be banned in target shooting clubs. It gives a very thuggish image to target shooting as a sport. I agree that when hunting such clothing may be suitable, because it is camouflaged, cheap, warm etc. But why do we have so many grown men wearing “desert camo suits” and “jungle fatigues” while they shoot the dreaded paper targets. Did they miss out on something in their childhood? I have brought non shooters to my club on occasions to demonstrate that we are not all nutters only to be confronted with people dressed like something that looks like a scene from “Full Metal Jacket”. For God’s sake some of these guys must think we are at war! I genuinely worry about some of these people, dressed from head to toe like they are straight out of a major combat situation, armed with a .22 rifle! I have noticed that some clubs have banned this. What are other people’s views on this? Am I the only one that thinks this is doing harm to our sport?

    Do you think that military type clothing should be banned on ranges? 11 votes

    Yes ban military clothing
    0% 0 votes
    No
    100% 11 votes


«13

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,921 ✭✭✭Remmy


    I think that a large majority of shooters who go to the range also hunt so it would make sense that they would have camo clothing .Why should they cease to wear it just because it offends some peoples sensibilities :rolleyes:

    I would agree ,however, that the walter mitty types going around in their black tacticool bill liners should be taken aside and had a few words with .What possible use could 5.11 black coveralls have in either shooting or hunting !:confused: And believe me Ive seen a few!

    But as far as the camo goes ,I have nothing against it .Unless you want to suggest a new line of stylish range wear that we should all be kitted out in ;):D

    Thanks,
    Remmy


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 118 ✭✭17HMR


    I thought that most ranges banned (or at least seriously frowned upon) military/tactical dress ?

    And, military camo patterns (more suited to desert amd jungle) are generally looked down on out and about as well ?

    Going around looking like paramilitary training units does none of us any favours...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    Give me a break! Many of these people live in the city, they have never hunted in thier lives! Many of them dont even have land that they can hunt on! Granted some people hunt and target shoot on the same day, but they are in the minority. I would suggest wearing normal outdoor type clothing (or for indoor shooting normal indoor type clothing). Peoples sensibilities is not what worries me, it the the fact that Joe Public (who has a vote by the way) sees people may have watched too much TV being armed to the teeth, dressed up like Rambo. This alarms people. This is one of the reasons why some people associate target shooting with thugs. If we want to demonstrate to people that this is a sport, no an excuse to have a trophy pistol/rifle we need to think about how we are percieved. The practical shooting people have realised this long ago.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭Umiq88


    Ban military clothing yes

    Ban camo jackets or trousers no

    Realtree or similar patterns arent really offence and if someone looks at it they're more likely to associate it with hunting or country sports as oppsed to some nutter wearing full camo where they jump straight to the wrong conclusion of someone being a threat and wants to shoot everyone


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,393 ✭✭✭✭Vegeta


    I've had a long drawn out debate abut this before with Dvs. In my opinion is that people should be able to wear what they want.

    If a person is safe with a firearm what care do I have what the guy/gal wears. I don't know, people wear camo hunting, the average Joe Public know this. Why are they so shocked when they see it at the range.

    Are people who shoot targets ashamed to be linked to hunting?

    Maybe some deer stalkers would like to practice in their hunting clothing.

    Perhaps a person new to hunting buys some camo clothing (not all of which is cheap, most expensive piece of hunting clothing I own is a camo jacket at 150 euro, followed by my waders), he then joins a range and has no money for clothing for the range. Not all ranges are spotless and ordinary clothes may not be suitable at some so rough, hard wearing clothing is suitable.

    I also think if camo clothing is banned, it is a slippery slope. Why not tracksuits and baseball caps, GAA jersey, Soccer jersey, runners.

    Surely a range is a place where someone can go and safely practice their marksmanship. Not be judged by the shooting community for what they wear.

    Yes camo has a negative stigma attached in this country because of the North's violent history but if a portion of the shooting community supports the ban of camo, it only affirms their beliefs that camo is worn by people up to no good.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    As I pointed out, and I think most of us will agree MOST people that wear this type of clothing are not hunting on the same day. I know many famers and like many ranges they are not working in spotless conditions yet they do not all seem to be dressed in militay clothing.

    It is nothing to do with being ashamed of being a hunter. When you hunt generally people dont see you. For Joe public the only time that he/she will see a civillian with a gun is on a range.

    The fact that some of this clothing is expensive is not relevent.

    Unfortunatley many people judge us on how we appear. Dress like you are ready to kill an enemy when all you are facing is a target and to many you appear unbalanced. In some of the more extreme cases I some may say that you are unfit to have a firearm.

    This is not a good time for shooting to get a bad image!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,612 ✭✭✭bullets


    I see your point even though I dont agree with it.

    after a couple of trips up to the range I now
    fire at I saw A LOT of camo gear on people that were only shooting at
    paper targets. Myself and the guys that were with me did find it
    a little bit Bizzare. And wondering why all the camo surely
    they all cant be hunters. We silently wondered what was with
    the sheer amount of camo on poeple that looked/sounded as though
    there came from Urban Areas rather than Rural areas.

    I dont agree that they should be Banned as
    I think people should be able to wear whatever they like.
    They are not harming anyone and mostly whoever is at the
    range would not be there if they did not have an interest
    so most of the time the rest of the public would not even
    be bothered by poeple wearing the camo as they would not
    be seen.

    It could be like if your a Biker you dress a certain way
    if your a rapper/raver or into a paticular pastime or sub-culture
    fashion and clothing comes into play a lot when walking down the
    street to act as indicators to let people know what your interests
    may be etc etc.

    A real weak Practical Reason I could thinkg about is.......
    when were being thought to shoot in
    the reserve army were were always told Camo and Green Colours
    will relax the eye more than other colours and after looking through
    a rifle for a duration your eyes do become tired we were always told
    to look at green grass or something after a few minutes.

    As I Kids/teenager I wore Camo and Army gear a lot of the time
    simply cos I liked it. But I was not gung ho or acted like I was
    going to war. When ever I went Orienteering, hill walking or
    Camping I donned Camo without any thought or reason.

    I know loads of people that buy clothes from the
    Army store as the simply like them and they dont shoot.
    My Girlfriend bought some moleskins and jumper for her Brother as
    a christmas present!!

    With that said when I visited the range for the first time
    I did go out and buy some
    earthly green and brown coloured clothes (Not CAMO or militery)
    so I would not stick out like a sore thumb.

    I did not want to appear like a Yuppie city boy or give any bad
    impressions that I could be some nut-case.

    I'm a goth so the stereotypical views on Goths to clueless Joe Soaps
    are that they all are weirdos that wear black and are mad satanic devil
    worshipping freaks that go listening to heavy nasty music
    and blasting there way through high schools...nothing could
    be further from the truth but If I arrived on the range with an
    ankle length leather jacket and knee high boots with bits of metal
    hanging out I dont think the range would be keen on letting me
    become a member or handing me out rifles and letting me shoot.

    ( BTW I like nice mellow music and wear normal clothes
    just I like them to be black ;-) and I dont have a ghosty pale face
    long black hair or have any bits or metal hanging our of me)

    Better to blend in with the crowd on Some occasions.

    ~B


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    Apart from the 1% of people that are hunting and target shooting on the same day why would you want to dress up in the costume of a solider? Is it that you watched so many war films that you feel that you can pretend to be the hero form the film? If you are old enough to hold a FAC are you not too old for this kind of make believe? One of the worst offenders can be the pistol shooter! Is he off hunting with this Glock18? I hope not! Or maybe he is part of a special forces unit! A lot of these people need to grow up! I have shot on ranges with serving members of the army and cops as well. Guess what, none of them wore uniforms at the time! Thankfully many clubs have the same point of view as I do.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,783 ✭✭✭maglite


    what about all black swat style

    the range of functional clothes is limited when it comes to shooting

    and you tyhink 16 is too old to play in greens, i pitty you ,, will you retire to the rocking chair at 40???


    Natural colours are functional they hide the muck as well as you


    now i wouldent wear fill DPM( i think this is what we mean when we talk about military clothing),,,the exception to this is when its wet my gore tex gear is DPM,, it was very cheap when i bought it €50,ish

    and i will get a rabbit or 2 the same day i go shooting the gun is already dirty


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    to be honest I think that 40 is too old for fancy dress with real guns!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    BTW I see hillwalkers, farmers etc. all wearing functional outdoor clothing that is not military style!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭civdef


    For the sake of PR, whatever the rights and wrongs of it, I prefer if people leave the cammo look at home when going to the range. I have no problem with people wearing cammo going hunting.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    My point exactly ! Civdef


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 379 ✭✭Dvs


    Hey Coffeepot,
    Are you just blowing off steam!:D :

    Dvs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,271 ✭✭✭.243


    civdef wrote:
    For the sake of PR, whatever the rights and wrongs of it, I prefer if people leave the cammo look at home when going to the range. I have no problem with people wearing cammo going hunting.

    i agree,there is a time and a place for this "army style" clothing,for a minority sport that has little or no positive coverage by any media all they need is an inch and we are put in the same slot as "threat" to joe public weather we like it or not, bascially army camo means "man with gun" in any form to the uninformed.Does midland have this code of no camo ???


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    DVS

    Yes I am! Fun isnt it?


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,644 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manic Moran


    I ordinarily wear jeans, though if I have a reason to, I'll wear camo: BDU trousers are in my wardrobe, and they lots of big pockets to carry things in.

    NTM


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 801 ✭✭✭jaycee


    coffeepot wrote:
    Peoples sensibilities is not what worries me, it the the fact that Joe Public (who has a vote by the way) sees people may have watched too much TV being armed to the teeth, dressed up like Rambo. This alarms people. This is one of the reasons why some people associate target shooting with thugs.

    Well , if Joe Public is looking at people in normal civilian shooting jackets , and assuming that it is military attire ... He is just wrong. If he/she thinks that people are "armed to the teeth" , It is the responsibility of anyone bringing a new person to a shooting range to explain what the various firearms are , what competitions they are used for, what degree of training is involved , and the amount of skill and dedication required to compete.

    Range safety rules must be brought to the attention of the visitor and as always , any infringements of range safety must be brought to the notice of a safety officer.

    He , or she needs educating on how things work in the real world. Many peoples warmest and most waterproof clothing is their hunting jacket. They are strong items of clothing that can take some punishment , and nobody is too worried if some grease , gun oil , muck or bits of fauna become attached to it. No army that I know of uses "Realtree timber" pattern for its soldiers.

    Like the Firearms and the safety procedures , this needs explaining to anyone who doesn't understand. What isn't needed is a respected branch of sporting activity , hiding and trying to second guess every erroneous conclusion that ignorant persons may jump to. If I wear black pants , am I now a "Ninja" ?, White ..a member of the KKK ..? Jeans ... a student demonstrator..?
    Of course not, people know the difference ..don't they..?, and so it is with the humble shooting jacket , a matter of knowledge and education.

    I also disagree that most people view target shooters in the same light as thugs. Most people view thugs as thugs. Preconceived notions based on little or no facts are always scary , some people obviously believe that a robber can easily be spotted by the fact that he will have a hooped jumper and be carrying a bag marked "Swag".

    God bless the Beano .!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭civdef


    some people obviously believe that a robber can easily be spotted by the fact that he will have a hooped jumper and be carrying a bag marked "Swag".

    Everyone knows criminals are easily identified by their inner-city-Dublin accents.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 118 ✭✭Gerri


    civdef wrote:
    Everyone knows criminals are easily identified by their inner-city-Dublin accents.


    That is very offensive,please remove.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 379 ✭✭Dvs


    And their hoodie top,
    trainers and track trousers...



    No thats bloody joggers!


    Dvs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭civdef


    I hear Lidl have a sense of humour on sale next Thursday. It'll be German of course, so a bit strange for our tastes, but still good value.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,843 ✭✭✭Clare gunner


    Well,I suppose it would be more in keeping that we should show up in these PC days with our baseball caps [Burberry] on back to front looking like complete retards.Dressed in jeans with the crotch down around our knees,or a shell suit outfit complete with gold chains,walking with an ape like shuffle, moving your hands about in some sort of spastic gestures,talking like we da man out ta pop a few caps at dem homeboy muthafuka targets from da barrio from East LA.Oh not to forget safely carrying the piece in the front of our pants.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
    If we were to jugdge that type of dress with thugs and gang bangers you would be had up for being Politically incorrect and have all sorts of do gooders on your case.So why judge people wearing wearing cammo as thugs?Or a danger to shooting???It is also very offensive TO ME to be associated with a very nasty ficitious chacter from Hollywood,who NEVER BTW wore cammo in any of the films,by another shooter supposedly! I wear cammo or green on a range or forest.
    [1] Because it is cheap and durable.
    [2] Green is a traditional hunting color in Europe.Not flouresent orange or jeans.
    [3] It is warmer and less noisey than some of the expensive dayglo rubbish that is foisted upon us as shooting clothes.
    [4] Hillwalkers need Dayglo as they get lost all the damn time,when they arent tramping across private property.Farmers are just tight,and will wear grandpas wedding jacket from 1940 if they can get abit of twine around the waist.:D [Tounge firmly in cheek here]
    [5] I would hardly call surplus a uniform.The reason it is surplus,is proably because an army has discarded it.Best example is the Bundeswehr OD moleskin pants.MUCH favourd by German hunters,who take great pride in wearing total green,and look more in uniform,in their traditional hunting kit than we ever will in our surplus khakhi.
    [6] Quit judging books by their covers.The worst showoffs are supposed to be the most disiplined.Not mentioning some certain police units here and in the UK.Came onto one range in the UK all done up as if they were going off to storm the nearest embassy.Trouble is the range they came onto was the REAL big boys playground.The SAS range at Stirling lines,Hereford. Guess who was not impressed and who was told what sort of clowns they looked like?

    I personally dont care if the guy next to me is wearing pink hunter wellies,fishnet stockings,a yellow polka dot dress,a big floppy hat,and spouts a zapasta moustache,and is carrying all his shooting kit in a handbag.
    Does he shoot safely,does he shoot well?Thats all I careabout.

    This nonsense that cammoed shooter equals nutter is irrevelant nowadays.If a dedicated target shooter lost his dog and went out popping folks with his single shot 22[somthing I would be more worried about than a spray&pray merchant,as the target shooter will know HOW to shoot accurately and well].

    You can be sure the press whores will make somthing,and everything from his lifestyle.
    Target shooting & hunting mags= Libary of mayhem on firearms and survivalism and bloodsports
    three firearms=Arsenal of deadly weapons.
    Living in a clapboard shack= Armed compound
    Copy of Playboy under bed=sexual pervert with an extensive porn libary.

    This is a kind of snobbery we can do without these days.It is the same as the snobbery around three shot semi autos and that doubles must be side by side.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,843 ✭✭✭Clare gunner


    civdef wrote:
    Everyone knows criminals are easily identified by their inner-city-Dublin accents.

    Wha ya on about Sham??Sure everyone knows it us Limerick lads is de better criminals!!!Now take tha back or i'll come up an shtab ya!!!:D :D

    Anyway whats Lidls selling thats German next week???:)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    Well Clare Gunner I am new to this boards thing so I dont know how to show quotes properly sorry. Just to take each of your points:

    1 Yes it is cheap and durable, so is much of outdoor clothing. Hillwalkers seem to be exposed to the elements and they use fleeces alot. They are warm, cheap durable etc. are many other forms of outdoor clothing. Combat clothing is not the only type that is cheap and durable.

    2 I am not talking about hunting! I am talking about target shooting on a range. Green is a great colour, no argument there! I have no problem with wearing green on a range. I am referring to people in full millitary clothing shooting on a target range. Here is the opening line to my thread "I think that all military type clothing should be banned in target shooting clubs". I have no problem with green. I have no problem with this kind of clothing being used for hunting.

    3 I am not suggesting that Dayglo is worn. I just mean normal outdoor clothing! Less noisey is not an issue when you are on the range! Walk in a park on on a beach some day or go up the mountains, many people have found it possible to dress in a practical way without spending a small fortune and without looking like they are in a combat zone!

    4 Dont know what to say to this except hillwalkers now have GPS I like my 1940's wedding jacket. I have great pockets in it for extra mags!

    5 I take your point, however I do know sevral individuals who wear what could definitley be described as a uniform! In Germany hunting is much more popular. I dont think that shooting as a sport is under threat in Germany like it is here.

    6 I am not judging books by thier covers. I am concerned that others do.

    I am just concerned that if some shooters are childish enough to dress up to play soilders that this can panic voters! There is an election very soon! I want to keep the items that I have. The perception people have of our sport is very important. Ok DVS is right I am blowing off a bit of steam. If I did not think our sport was under threat I would not care what people wore. I might think in some cases that it is a bit sad that a grown man would dress up like that just to shoot paper, but I would not really care!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,393 ✭✭✭✭Vegeta


    Would you like to explain why you think people wearing camo at a range is bad for the sport of target shooting.

    I accept you think it is sad that someone wears camo to a range, that full grown men dress up etc but you'll have to do better than that to convince me it is damaging the sport.

    What exactly is your fear, that people will link camo to hunting or the IRA or the army??? I just don't get it. I can accept that no one wants to be linked to the IRA or anyone like them. On the other hand I'd have no problem being linked to the army or hunting.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    Vegetta,

    When people like me hunt generally we are not seen by the public, so what we look like is not so important. We are quite discreet. That is why I have no problem with what people wear when they hunt.

    However as I'm sure you will agree most people in this country are not very keen on shooting. If they see civilians with guns in real life it will be on a range in most cases. This is where we as shooters have a chance to project a positive image of shooting. We need to show it to be a sport and our firearms as "sporting equipment". If we look like some of the people from "Bowling for Columbine" some people may think we are of the same mind as some of the people portrayed in that film. To enjoy shooting on a range you do not need to look like a US marine. This scares some people. I have seen it scare people. To Joe public if it looks like a sport it is a sport. If we look like nutters, maybe we are nutters! There is alot in the media about gun crime at present. Shooters like ourselves know that firearms that are legally held do not cause problems in this country. Joe public however does not know this in many cases, and he has a vote! Do you not think I have a point?

    I am not alone in thinking this way, the practical shooting people have strict rules about this also. Many clubs around the country have rules about this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,393 ✭✭✭✭Vegeta


    I agree with 90% of what you are saying. Our sport is indeed in a tricky situation.

    The problem I have is that if you ban people from dressing a certain way because of how the public feel you are pretty much telling the public "yeah we don't want to associate with people who dress like that"


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    I have tried to promote our sport. I have introduced sevral people to it. Some tried it once, that was it. Others are now very involved. All of them were suprised at the range of firearms that are available to some of us legally. I did my best to demonstrate how as shooters we are safe and responsible mature people. On one occasion in particular I was embarressed when asked by a person I brought as a guest to the club why a particular pistol shooter could be "of sound mind" because of his clothing. (sory I cant go into too much detail here as I would identify people concerned, but you can get my drift) I was lost for words. What should I have said? Pistols are not for hunting! This guy is not a hunter, I know him. This is the type of thing I am talking about.

    As for the point that combats etc. are cheap, I know! Most shooters have no problem spending huge amounts of money on equipment, so why skimp on range clothing? Anyway good range clothing can be cheap and non military.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,843 ✭✭✭Clare gunner


    coffeepot wrote:
    Well Clare Gunner I am new to this boards thing so I dont know how to show quotes properly sorry. Just to take each of your points:
    OK, just left click your mouse,drag it over the lines you want to quote.It should turn blue. Click on the symbol in the above toolbar that looks like a speaking bubble,and it should replicatewith quote at the beginning and at the end.
    1 Yes it is cheap and durable, so is much of outdoor clothing. Hillwalkers seem to be exposed to the elements and they use fleeces alot. They are warm, cheap durable etc. are many other forms of outdoor clothing. Combat clothing is not the only type that is cheap and durable.

    Where do you shop for that?Most stuff I have seen is hideously expensive for real quality stuff,buy cheap,and freeze.

    2 I am not talking about hunting! I am talking about target shooting on a range. Green is a great colour, no argument there! I have no problem with wearing green on a range. I am referring to people in full millitary clothing shooting on a target range. Here is the opening line to my thread "I think that all military type clothing should be banned in target shooting clubs". I have no problem with green. I have no problem with this kind of clothing being used for hunting.
    3 I am not suggesting that Dayglo is worn. I just mean normal outdoor clothing! Less noisey is not an issue when you are on the range! Walk in a park on on a beach some day or go up the mountains, many people have found it possible to dress in a practical way without spending a small fortune and without looking like they are in a combat zone!

    well, I guess you haven't seen the latestest rave/techno fashion then????Cammo! Flairs,tank tops,etc.As a hunter ,I dont need to be climbing up the north face of the Eiger so bright colors are useless to me.

    4
    Dont know what to say to this except hillwalkers now have GPS I like my 1940's wedding jacket. I have great pockets in it for extra mags!
    Wonder how many know how to use them properly,and they would be better off learning how to use a compass,and investing in a survival blanket and some basic survival skills than hundreds in day glo kit.
    5 I take your point, however I do know sevral individuals who wear what could definitley be described as a uniform! In Germany hunting is much more popular. I dont think that shooting as a sport is under threat in Germany like it is here.
    Actually it is considerd a minority sport,for the elite.Once you have seen the German hubnting test and the annual work involved,plus the money involved,you will see why.Most shooting sports are more so under threat there than in Ireland.Just that they are better organised and not prone to looking down their noses at each other,most of the time.But hunters are the top dogs in the shooting chain there.And no one is worried about the local schutzenverein[local gunclub] showing up all in green in a old style military cut,or responding to military commands.Imagine what they would say about that here.
    6 I am not judging books by thier covers. I am concerned that others do.
    I am just concerned that if some shooters are childish enough to dress up to play soilders that this can panic voters! There is an election very soon! I want to keep the items that I have. The perception people have of our sport is very important. Ok DVS is right I am blowing off a bit of steam. If I did not think our sport was under threat I would not care what people wore. I might think in some cases that it is a bit sad that a grown man would dress up like that just to shoot paper, but I would not really care![/QUOTE

    Well, if that only what the Irish voters have to worry about,then we sincerely have little to bother us. Considering I watched a recently banned paramilitary/terrorist group parade in military attire[black berets,mil style shirt,black cargo pants,black sunglasses,sam browne belts with cross piece,black combat boots],responding to military commands, commerating one of their fallen in Limerick last Sunday.ALL in contravention to offences against the state act 1939.
    I would be more worried about THOSE types than some lads wearing cammo on an approved range.As the last lot have got illegal arms and cammo gear as well,and the majority of voters would be worried about them,if our present lot would extract thumbs from posteriors.
    As I said before,perception is relative.If you are nerveous around guns,it doesnt matter what the shooter is dressed like.If somone loses it,it wont matter what he/she is dressed like.It will be over run by the word ,GUN.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 627 ✭✭✭mcguiver


    I know we've discussed this before, and I'm sure we will again!
    I think combat type gear on a range does give the wrong impression to others about our sport. A sport which stays under the radar most of the time and doesn't attract too much bad publicity.

    I've plenty of camo gear which is great when I'm out on the hills etc., but I'd never wear it to a shooting range.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭Hezz700


    Another example of "The great divide" in Irish shooting here on boards.
    Everyone shaking there fists at one another and passing Judgments on others solely on their apperance. "Grrrrr i'm right and your wrong:mad:" Lets leave that Sh#@~ to the Anti's.

    Personally i don't give a damb what someone wears. I tend to base my opinions of a person on their character. and when it come to shooting, on their handling of firearms wherever that may be. If someone acts the twat i'm all up for admisistering them a good clatter on the ear.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 314 ✭✭Kryten


    We shooters here all know that it dosent matter what you wear. But that is not the real issue. It is what Mr Joe Public and Mr Politician think. They being uneducated in such matters, may think that guys dressed up like paramilitaries on a shooting range with real guns are up to no good.

    Suitable range Clothing? ISSF Style speaks for itself as Sparks has posted enough photos of it. Practical Shooting, generally street clothes as anything you need to hand is on your belt. I have even shot with my work suit on with no problems regarding suitability.
    Just an aside.....
    I went shooting once in Arizona with an american guy. Nice selection of guns I must say. We went in, put on the glasses and ear defenders, opened the gun bags, prepared the firing point, layed out the guns and ammo. Then to my utter dissappointment, this guy proceded to put on webbing. F***in hell I thought. I was never on a civilian range before this (in 1998) and thought wrongly, I might add, that I had stumbled upon Michigan Militia types.

    Anyway, Our club does not allow Military clothing to be worn as we do not want to give the wrong impression about our sport.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,464 ✭✭✭Double Barrel


    :confused::confused::D

    :) May I be so bold as to suggest The Uniform of The Day ... :D:D :

    352866040_ef12c2c104_o.jpg


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,843 ✭✭✭Clare gunner


    Apart from the jeans .Jolly good show old boy!!!:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 627 ✭✭✭mcguiver


    Excellent uniform,
    spiffingly good.

    Here's an experiment, next time any of us are due to pay a visit to the firearms officer or meet with the local super, lets dress as we do on the range:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,843 ✭✭✭Clare gunner


    But I always meet mine in a cammo jacket,jeans and jungle boots or a combo on that.Never has botherd him or his predecessor.Guess the Gardai in my part of the world know me and dont judge by apperances.Might be different if I showed up in "wigga" kit.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭coffeepot


    Its a pity the garda in your part of the world dont write the laws isnt it? You will find that they are implement the law even if they dont approve. That is not to say that your FO didn't think you looked great dressed up like you are part of some sort of militia!

    You will find that many shooting clubs and orginisations have banned dressing up in military clothing to shoot on ranges. Why do you think that is?

    Please note:
    1) Green and "realtree" clothing is not necessarily milatery clothing.
    2) Hunting is very different from shooting on a range!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    But I always meet mine in a cammo jacket,jeans and jungle boots or a combo on that.Never has botherd him or his predecessor.
    No offence CG, but how long did it take you to get your pistol licence again?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 627 ✭✭✭mcguiver


    I have to say, all joking aside, I do worry when I arrive on a range and see people dressed in military gear. (I remember watchin one dude complete with water canteen etc. on his belt)

    A lot of ranges I've been on discourage it, and I can understand why Joe Public would have a mental image of what "gun enthusiasts" look/act like.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,843 ✭✭✭Clare gunner


    Sparks wrote:
    No offence CG, but how long did it take you to get your pistol licence again?

    2 years Sparks,but the trouble with your point is;I never met my Superintendant in person.So he couldnt judge me by looks.:D

    So tell me this folks;What happens when we start showing up wearing kit from 5-11 tactical on the practical shooting ranges????What the well dressed private military contractor or bodygaurd worldwide and UC cop wears???It is now becoming a "uniform" plain clothes dress,that any reporter who has done some time in "the sandbox "or any military hotspot,or is paying attention to their job will recognise instantly one day on a Irish range???

    Bet the line will run,"wanna be Rambos dressed in what the gung ho US mercs in Iraq wear on their covert killer missions are now being sported by Irish shooters."

    Get this point;it will matter diddley squat what we wear,if they want to rag us they will find somthing to pick on.

    And to compare us to some sort of US milita camp is mad,because someone is wearing a cammo pair of pants.Has anyone EVER been to one??[I have] and them wearing cammo would be the least of the reporters worries.They would see more mil dress ,etc at a SF/IRA commeration parade.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 UFO


    I Like to start the morning off with 100 clays using my semiauto 12g,black of course with extended mag. For this I like to wear green wellies,green moleskin trousers and a nice warm camo jacket with hood. After this its over to the target range with my single shot bolt action rifle for some paper shooting. So I strip down to change into my gear which consists of a pair of silly square toed shoes, yellow leather trousers, a tight leather shooting jacket in Blue and Pink. This has badges of all the places I have shot in such as Bisley,Fermoy,Butlins,EuroDisney,Bray amusements and Limerick city centre. After putting 10 rds into the same hole its on to the Sillouhete range.For this I use my 10/22 with folding stock and 30 rnd mag.Strip again and change into my red 22eye DockMartins,brown leatherhossen, blue blazer and one of those Australian hats Mel Gibson wore in Gallopilli.After this its onto the Pistol range. Strip. At this stage some of the female members are in a tizzy and sending rounds hither and thither. So out comes my single action .22 Ruger. I usually shoot this wearing runners,blue jeans,string vest and a cowboy hat with a pair of Bono wrap around glasses and Princess Leia type ear protectors for safety.To finish the day I take out my 9mm semi auto pistol ( I wont say what make and type it is as someone may recognise me ) to do some 20 yrd paper.So its another strip to change. I feel most comfortable shooting this discipline wearing black knee length suede zipped stilletto boots....!
    Fortunetly the Gardai in their wisdom deemed me to be a suitable person to hold FACs for these guns but I have to say there are some people in my club who think I may be a bit peculiar.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,470 ✭✭✭DonJose


    Rambo types with BB guns = a$$holes.

    Just came back from the States. My uncle is big into the shooting scene and brought me to a range to do some clay shooting. I didn't see one camo jacket and these shooters were experienced guys, with both shotguns and handguns. The echo of a .357 is something else. They would laugh their a$$es off at the stupid Micks with their face paint and .22's.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,316 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    If "Joe Public" see's someone in camo, he'll either think they're miliitary, or students.

    If "Joe Public" see's someone with a gun, he'll see someone with a gun.

    If you're wearing black, you're a goth carrying a gun.

    If you wear tracksuits, you're a scumbag (possibly from Blanchardstown of Limerick) with a gun.

    If you're wearing a suit, you're a yuppie with a gun.

    If your wearing camo, you're a gun nut.

    If you're wearing a football jersey, you may be the enemy.

    If you're dressed up in "clay shooting gear", you're a rich D4 prat.

    No matter how you dress, you'll be put into a catagory.
    DonJose wrote:
    Rambo types with BB guns = a$$holes.

    Just came back from the States. My uncle is big into the shooting scene and brought me to a range to do some clay shooting. I didn't see one camo jacket and these shooters were experienced guys, with both shotguns and handguns. The echo of a .357 is something else. They would laugh their a$$es off at the stupid Micks with their face paint and .22's.
    In the states, you have your Militia's. Usually perfectly legal, and usually they dress in camo. Some are ex-military/reserve, some are civilians.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,470 ✭✭✭DonJose


    the_syco wrote:
    In the states, you have your Militia's. Usually perfectly legal, and usually they dress in camo. Some are ex-military/reserve, some are civilians.
    I know that, but I went to an average joe shooting range and didn't see any camo. A paddy dressed as rambo carrying a .22 looks fecking stupid. One the other hand if any of you guys have one of these, see photo, you're allowed to wear camo underpants ;)

    http://www.fcsa.co.uk/images/radnor/nemesis-1.JPG


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,271 ✭✭✭.243


    DonJose wrote:
    I know that, but I went to an average joe shooting range and didn't see any camo. A paddy dressed as rambo carrying a .22 looks fecking stupid. One the other hand if any of you guys have one of these, see photo, you're allowed to wear camo underpants ;)

    http://www.fcsa.co.uk/images/radnor/nemesis-1.JPG


    thats an FN hersntal usa made .50 cal sniper rifle and from the look of the back ground it looks like either diggle's range or radnor range in england


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,253 ✭✭✭cushtac


    DonJose wrote:
    They would laugh their a$$es off at the stupid Micks with their face paint and .22's.

    At what gun club have you seen 'stupid Micks' wearing face paint?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,570 ✭✭✭Rovi


    cushtac wrote:
    At what gun club have you seen 'stupid Micks' wearing face paint?
    The Glen of Imaal, perhaps?
    I too would love to know where DonJose saw this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,393 ✭✭✭✭Vegeta


    for those of us who forget how Rambo dressed


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