I guess I've been extremely lucky, because I've never had the kinds of problems the OP and others have stated. Course, I've only been to 1 public range in my life. In Gloster, Ms., there is a range on the National Forest Land. Open to public, honor paying system, and good cement benches. Usually no one was there, unless it was right before hunting season. For a couple of dollars, shoot all you wanted. I use to go the weekends before hunting season, just to watch the show. You'd see all kinds of shooting. Some knew what they were doing and some didn't have a clue.
I've been fortunate to shoot on several private ranges and that's always good. Where I live now, I can shoot 100 yds off the porch, or 300 yds up at the barn, but if I want to shoot further, I have to go about a mile to my friends place. He's got a 600 yd range there.
The range stories I've read, here on the fire, just amaze me.
