A viral clip sparks debate as gun owners argue whether hunters should be banned from public shooting ranges

Colion Noir says he stumbled across a clip of The Fat Electrician on a podcast, and it kicked off a surprisingly heated argument online: should hunters even be allowed at public ranges?

In the clip, The Fat Electrician paints a picture a lot of people instantly recognized. He says the “hunting-only” guy shows up with a pricey bolt-action rifle, an even pricier scope, and a seated setup that looks like it belongs in a science lab.

Then comes the part that makes the internet boil. The Fat Electrician complains the hunter fires one round, clears the chamber, cleans the rifle, and basically burns fifteen minutes between shots, while other people came to actually shoot.

Colion Noir doesn’t pretend the frustration is imaginary. He says if you’ve spent real time at a public range, you’ve seen this exact mismatch play out in neighboring lanes.

Two Lanes, Two Cultures

Colion lays it out like a personality clash more than a gun clash. On one side you’ve got the hunter, slow and deliberate, treating each shot like a “one-and-done” moment.

On the other side you’ve got the run-and-gun or defensive shooter, who shows up with magazines, ammo, and a plan to shoot a lot – because reps are the whole point.

Colion even jokes about the hunter’s pace in a way that still feels familiar instead of cruel. He describes the bolt-gun guy firing, cleaning, sipping coffee, possibly cooking breakfast, reflecting on life, and then – finally – shooting again.

And three lanes down, Colion says, the faster shooter is basically thinking: I came here to shoot, not to join a quiet retreat.

That’s where the “ban hunters” idea becomes clickbait gasoline. It’s not really about banning anyone. It’s about two groups sharing the same space, but acting like the other group is doing it “wrong.”

The 200-Yard Pistol Moment And The Internet Freakout

Colion pauses on one line from The Fat Electrician that he knows people will attack. Electrician claims he can consistently hit a target at 200 yards with his concealed carry pistol.

Colion says the internet hears that and instantly yells, “No you can’t,” and demands proof.

So Colion gives context and basically says: it’s not easy, it’s not normal, and it’s not some casual everyday skill – but it is doable. He describes it as a reps-and-fundamentals thing, a “know your gun” thing, not a magic trick.

That’s an important pivot in Colion’s argument. He’s not trying to dunk on hunters. He’s explaining that what sounds insane from one side of the firing line might feel totally reasonable from the other side.

To the hunter, the guy ripping mags can look reckless. To the guy ripping mags, the hunter looks like he’s waiting at the airport for a delayed flight.

And both people, in their own heads, end up asking the same question: why are you even here?

Why Colion Says Hunters Shoot Slow On Purpose

Colion’s strongest point is simple: hunters aren’t practicing for the same kind of day.

He says hunters don’t come to the range for “fun” in the same way. They come because one shot matters, and the consequences of a miss aren’t just an ugly group on paper.

Colion explains it bluntly: miss the wrong way and the animal suffers, miss again and the animal is gone. That creates a totally different mindset.

So, yes, they’re meticulous. Yes, they look bored. But Colion says they’re rehearsing for a moment that cannot be screwed up.

That framing matters, because it turns the slow shooting from “annoying behavior” into “a different kind of seriousness.”

And honestly, as someone who’s spent time around both kinds of shooters, I think he’s right about the mental model. A lot of range conflict is just people assuming the other person’s goal is the same as theirs.

It isn’t.

The Old “Hunter Vs Tactical” Fight That Never Dies

Colion also calls out something deeper: gun owners argue with each other like it’s a sport.

He references a skit he did years ago about different types of gun owners – the hunter, the tactician, the competition shooter, the collector – where everyone thinks their way is the “right” way.

He even quotes the kind of tired stereotypes people throw around. The “Rambo AR-15 yahoos” line shows up, and so does the equally snobby line about hunters acting like the Second Amendment is about hunting.

Colion’s response is basically: everyone is missing the point, because the point isn’t whose hobby is purer. It’s that people use the same tools for different purposes, and they talk past each other.

Then he drops a detail that makes his argument land harder: he says he’s basically become all of them over time.

He describes how he started as more of a “tactician,” then competed, then hunted, then started collecting. And once you’ve done more than one lane of this culture, you stop thinking your lane is the only lane that counts.

That’s a real thing. A lot of the loudest arguments come from people who only live in one shooting world and assume everyone else is doing cosplay.

It’s Not The Same Skill, Even If It Looks Similar

Colion draws a sharp line between “impressive” and “the same.”

He talks about the hunter aiming at what he calls a fist-sized vital zone, not a big silhouette. That’s a different standard than ringing a man-sized steel plate at distance, even if both are technically “hits.”

And this is where he’s trying to calm everybody down. He’s not saying one style is better.

He’s saying they are different games with different stakes, and pretending they’re comparable is how people end up insulting each other.

From my perspective, the range argument usually starts because public ranges aren’t designed for mixed “tempo.”

A place that works for slow, precision work often has totally different lane expectations than a place that works for fast drills and lots of volume. When those get smashed together, people get annoyed and start acting like the other guy is the problem.

Sometimes the real problem is that the range has one set of rules for two completely different range days.

Colion’s Take: Don’t Ban Anyone – Fix The Mindset

Colion is clear: he doesn’t think hunters should be banned from gun ranges.

He also says he doesn’t really believe The Fat Electrician was fully serious about that idea. Colion treats it more like a harsh joke that landed because it hit a familiar nerve.

But he still says he understands the frustration. If you came to shoot and you end up next to someone firing twice an hour, it can feel like you wandered into a “gun monastery.”

And if you came to focus, to shoot carefully, and the guy next to you is blasting like it’s cardio, you might feel like you’re trapped beside chaos.

Colion’s solution isn’t a new law. It’s basic perspective: learn what the other person is doing before you decide they’re the villain.

I’d add one more thing: a lot of ranges could solve 80% of this drama with simple structure – designated “slow precision” lanes, designated “rapid fire/drills” lanes, and clear communication at the counter.

Because most shooters aren’t actually mad that other people exist. They’re mad that their own range session got wrecked by someone else’s totally different plan.

The One Thing Colion Says Should Unite Everyone

Near the end, Colion zooms out to the larger fight. He says politicians and tech giants don’t want gun content recommended, and he frames it as a culture war gun owners are fighting together.

That’s his reminder that internal fighting is easy, and unity is harder.

And even if you roll your eyes at the “culture war” phrasing, his underlying point still lands: when gun owners spend all their time fighting each other over who “belongs,” they make it easier for outsiders to divide them.

So the viral debate about hunters at ranges becomes a test of maturity. Do people want to build a bigger tent, or do they want to keep gatekeeping their own corner of the firing line?

Colion’s answer is pretty clear. Same range, same right, totally different languages – and no reason at all to kick anyone out just because they don’t shoot like you.