Do you guys get distracted when you shoot with other people around?

I went out shooting with a buddy, and wanted to get some serious practice in with the 500JRH, but he wouldn't shut up!!! I tried to use that to my advantage because when I'm hunting, it isn't always under ideal circumstances. But GOOD GRIEF!!!!

I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn!!

I suppose you want people to be quiet when you putt as well....

Get inside the barn. You can't miss! It really does make it easier, unless the guy who owns the barn shows up. Then you might ask if he would rather you play with your .500 or his daughter?
My range is in the front yard. I've never been to a public range, though I've shot at some private ranges with other guns going off. I don't find the guns to be a problem. If someone is talking to you, say 'excuse me, I need to concentrate here'. If that doesn't work, it does take down all 'polite barriers' to your next request, even if it might be physically impossible.

db

Well of COURSE!!!

Seriously though, it wasn't THAT big of a deal, its just I figured people knew to be quiet when stuff like that is going on. Maybe its just me, and ya really DON'T have to be quiet at the range?? Like I said, I tried to use it as "practicing for any and all distractions while hunting", but still...

I mean, its not like a green jacket was riding on it or anything!

some of my best shooting is with somebody else to talk to. people unsafe with firearms is a bigger distraction to me.

When l go to the range for serious practice l go alone

Get in your bubble. Learn to ignore everything around yourself and concentrate on the basics. When competing formally one either learns to concentrate fully or lose.

try a night shoot with flashing blues and siren. they say that with the flashing lights you can see the target dance but all i saw was my front sight.

I can't say I've ever had that issue. Living way out of town, my shooting range is my back yard. Usually it's just my dad and I out there, and we both keep quiet when the other is shooting. I'm like you though, if someone was jabbering away while I was trying to shoot, I wouldn't be happy.

See that was my problem. Where I normally shoot, there is nobody around. Had I not taken my buddy, it would have been dead quiet. Places I shoot have been pretty remote my entire life. I grew up in a small town, and for all but 10 years of my life, I've never lived in a town with more than 5000 people. Any more than that, and its to much for me.

Its good practice for sure, even though I don't ever plan on competing. And when I hunt, I'm usually alone or with my wife. Maybe that was why it seemed so "loud"... it doesn't ever happen to me.

Now that night shoot with flashing lights-- that would be fun! I bet that would screw with your vision. Two of our friends are cops, and they told me it was the hardest part about shooting when they went through the academy.

That makes sense. I guess if you've spent your entire life shooting at a noisy range, you'd be used to distractions. If not, you wouldn't.

Only you can control your thoughts and your focus.

I just tune them out. Concentrate on your shooting and the rest just falls away......

Concentration is learned and earned through practice just like proper trigger control and grip pressure. You learn to tune out noises and talk by doing it .In the informal blackpowder matches I have shot if you can't take a ragging and still shoot you don't stand a chance,they will beat you without firing a shot. You learn to tune it out and stay with your shot routine,then you get to give a bit back. So learn to tune it out for the 5 to 10 seconds it takes to break the shot and you will be a better shooter for it. J.M.H.O.

Well its good practice and no talking at the range was ever as load as my heartbeat with a pissed lion ready to charge at 20 yards. Its good practice

I agree totally. The more distractions the better (hunter it will make you). There are black rifles galore at my range all the time. I've learned to tune them out. I was totally focused on my buff at 30 yds., lion at 23 yds., rhino at 30 yds., elephant at 12 yds. I heard nothing and concentrated only on sight picture and trigger control, just like I do at the range.

You're a much braver man than I am.

I might add, that when 5 or 6 black rifles are shot by young studs trying to impress their girlfriends by attempting to make semis sound like full autos, I get a little irritated by their stupidity. When that happens I pull out my .416 Taylor Encore with a fish gill muzzle break. Usually takes 2 shots to convince everyone they want to quit and leave. I call it my "bench clearer". It's so recognizable now that just pulling it out gets them up and going.

That almost makes me want to go to a public range and take my 460. I'd see how many rounds I'd have to send downrange before the muzzle blast became too much for others.

I suspect that you and I both learned how to tune out distractions like crowds when we were prize fighters, Mark. I know I never heard a thing when the bell rang.