Shooting Indoors or Out

I shot indoor weekly matches for a few years, one of our members came back from a physical with elevated blood levels, prompting the other usuals to go test and we all were.

We quit holding matches there but still had our outdoor matches on Sat and Sun, I kept casting and reloading as well. It’s not instant but levels gradually went back down.

If you find me at an indoor range now, we are probably at a sanctioned match.

Good to hear that you found the cause of your problems; but now you have a NEW problem: skin cancer! You just can't win, there is some inherent danger in anything you do these days.
Happy and healthy shooting to you and don't forget to police your brass!

I have never had a problem finding at least 3 others to help carry my pop up canopy from bay to bay.

If you have shade in Texas, you’ll have people near by.

I’ve shot indoors a hand ful of times. It’s overall not an enjoyable thing for me. The noise bothers me more than anything. I’m fortunate that I have a good outdoor facility close to my house, within about 15 miles anyway. It’s not set up for much more than target shooting and some trap shooting l, but it’s a good place to test loads, work on pistol shooting, and practice for the local rimfire silhouette competition.

i prefer outdoors, less noise, no timer running at an hourly fee which adds up. less convenient, drive farther, no targets or ammo available for purchase, but still prefer it and I can practice shooting at steel targets at various real world distances, there's something a bit unnatural about just shooting in a lane at a paper target. in door ranges are good, I go to them sometimes, but outdoors is just better if a place is available.

We can not shoot on public land in my state or any surrounding states, so it's private indoor or outdoor ranges only.

I prefer indoor ranges. I have a booth that I can change out the paper targets at will, and I can set the target at any distance I want with a push of a button. With the private outdoor ranges I've been to, the targets are at a set point, and you can't go out and change them while the range is hot.

Some indoor ranges definitely have vastly better air systems than others.

I remember an old one in Pasadena, Texas that left you feeling like you just came out of a coal mine. I'm not sure if that one is still open or has been improved.

Get a RESPIRATOR...

During winter, I started shooting indoor plate matches with a friend and the smoke/dust was terrible.
Lots of coughing/gagging at the very 1st match, so we both bought respirators for the 2nd match.
We looked like Darth Vadar, but didn't care, no more coughing.
Masks can be had with or without eye protection, some under $20:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=respirator+mask&crid=3AEB4VU37Z6UJ&sprefix=resper,aps,1551&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_6
When indoor is your only choice, you adapt.
works for me,
jmo,
.

chicharrones said:

Some indoor ranges definitely have vastly better air systems than others.

I remember and old one in Pasadena, Texas that left you feeling like you just came out of a coal mine. I'm not sure if that one is still open or has been improved.

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That is true. Every range (indoor or outdoor) will be different thus the shooter's experience will be different. I can't say that I've ever had a problem with the ventilation systems at any of the ranges I've ever visited in my lifetime (knock on wood).

I used to shoot at an indoor range, turned out it did not have that good of air system.
I had heard you should get you blood lead levels checked it you shoot indoors, I did and mine were sky high. (over 70, but I felt fine)
I stopped shooting at the indoor range.
Some indoor ranges are done right (good air systems) some (most?) are not.
If you do shoot indoors I would suggest you get your blood lead levels checked, most insurance will pay for it.

Of our two local indoor ranges, one has an air-handling system that resembles a hurricane at your back - you can watch your smoke head downrange, but only if you're quick. The other range produces a gentle headwind, so that your smoke envelopes your head and pretty much stays there, at least until you've processed it through your lungs. The sweet taste of lead and lube lingers in your sinuses for hours afterwards.

Frankly, I hate both places. They're crowded, loud*, and expensive, and they jangle my nerves every time. I only go to them now for CCW requalification. I'm fortunate to have an outdoor range about 35 minutes away - it's really only good for handguns and other weapons which require no more than 50 yards, but each shooter gets his own 10x25 or 50 yard bay surrounded by berms, and as long he does nothing foolish, is allowed to undertake whatever practice he sees fit.

*I've mentioned it before, but I doubt it is possible to adequately protect one's hearing at an indoor range, at least if centerfire rifles and other high intensity cartridges are allowed. Even if muffs and plugs are combined, enough energy can still enter directly through the skull to eventually cause damage, I suspect. Those of us in the hearing aid business consider it "job security", but honestly, I now recommend people avoid indoor ranges if they have any other reasonable options.

I only use indoor local range for functional testing of new/used guns and/or range load development. Prefer outdoors for everything else. Downside is Ohio gets too darn cold in winter to shoot outdoors for any long period of time.

I limit my time at the indoor range to less than 30 minutes because I live 10 minutes from it, so I can basically come and go without much expense.

The new problem with outdoor ranges is cider block bays with high wall are just about as bad or worse as the indoor ranges depending on the day because of no air flow, so be careful there too.

Because Florida is one of the air filters for the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico it's not the greatest place to live with respiratory problems ether.

This is a thoughtful issue to raise. I've given some thought to the potential problem, as shoot pretty much exclusively at an indoor range. It's a question of logistics rather than preference.

My actual time on the indoor firing line is typically about one hour per month or less, spread into 2-4 short sessions. Usually I have 2-3 empty lanes to either side of me during the times of the week I pick to visit.

Ventilation at my range is quite good -- in fact, it's challenging to shoot at targets less than 5 yards from the line because the fans moving air downrange can cause the targets to move. The smell of burnt propellant dissipates very rapidly. Only pistol-level cartridges are allowed, so the noise is tolerable with regular muffs.

Compared to the highly polluted air of California's Central Valley, I'm less concerned with inhaled particulates here in general than to my overall lead exposure. In addition to bullets, lead styphnate is a common component in non-corrosive priming. I haven't identified any gross symptoms of lead poisoning so far, but I plan to have my blood levels tested periodically once my Medicare coverage starts in 2025.

I prefer outdoor ranges but none local to me. Indoor ranges someone always shows up with a short barreled AR. Had happened more times then I care to remember. Kinda hard to concentrate when you feel the concussion of those things.

The indoor range here is of recent construction and has good ventilation. My attention span for solo practice is less than an hour, so even though I am a regular shooter in hot and cold weather, my exposure seems not to be great.
For more elaborate practice I go to the outdoor range on a pleasant day.
I haven't been to an indoor match in several months but was out in the sun and breeze Saturday and Sunday for IDPA and USPSA.

I can't even get my head around going to an indoor range.

Meeks36 said:

I prefer outdoor ranges but none local to me. Indoor ranges someone always shows up with a short barreled AR. Had happened more times then I care to remember. Kinda hard to concentrate when you feel the concussion of those things.

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I used to pack my 4" 500 Magnum for such occasions - but it got to be an almost-every-time sort of deal, and ended up feeling like cutting off my nose to spite my face.

Indoor ranges have been the norm for me for over 50 years and pretty much all that's available here in NJ. Massad Ayoob wrote he wore a respirator. I have encountered no problems, as noted, biggest problem usually noise and blast from magnums, CF rifles, etc.

I loath indoor ranges & haven’t shot at one in years. I’ll shoot in the wind, rain & snow before I go inside again. I like being able to draw & fire, engage multiple targets from 0 to 600 yards, shoot some clay pigeons, spin cock my lever action rifle around like Lucas McCain, blow up a pumpkin or whatever I want to do without someone looking over my shoulder or telling me I’m shooting to fast or the brass that hits the floor now belongs to them. Good clean air is a nice bonus.

Well the county .gov runs three outdoor ranges with range officers there. 15 yards to 100 yds.
It was full the other days due to the huge gun show next door at the county fair grounds. So we went to a real outside range. I dislike inside ranges. Never been

One of my least favorite places to be right after a gun show is the closest range. Whew, that gave me chills just thinking about it.

Nasty Canasta said:

I loath indoor ranges & haven’t shot at one in years. I’ll shoot in the wind, rain & snow before I go inside again. I like being able to draw & fire, engage multiple targets from 0 to 600 yards, shoot some clay pigeons, spin cock my lever action rifle around like Lucas McCain, blow up a pumpkin or whatever I want to do without someone looking over my shoulder or telling me I’m shooting to fast or the brass that hits the floor now belongs to them. Good clean air is a nice bonus.

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That's exactly what the outdoor ranges do near me. It's the nature of outdoor ranges in the suburbs of a major city.

chicharrones said:

That's exactly what the outdoor ranges do near me. It's the nature of outdoor ranges in the suburbs of a major city.

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That's what all commercially owned ranges do. It's what the overwhelming majority of gun owners have to deal with. The number of people who have access to public lands or their own shooting range severely pales to the number of Americans who have no choice other than to use indoor ranges. Not many even have the option of an commercially owned outdoor ranges. There is one I can go to, but it's over an hour away and I'd litteraly pass 5 indoor ranges that are closer on my way there.

The most freedom we'll have with regards to drawing, shooting on the move, engage multiple targets is to take expensive training classes or start shooting IDPA. There use to be two indoor ranges that had IDPA matches regularly before COVID, but I'm not sure if they do that anymore. No outdoor ranges in my area have any shooting sports.