Indoor v. outdoor ranges

[The Lone Haranguer]

I do most of my shooting at this indoor range. It is cool and comfortable even when it is 115 degrees outside, and only rarely are cease-fires called, unlike the outdoor one where they are called every fifteen minutes and the range officers harangue you with bullhorns. While I have not done so yet, if you are "holster qualified" you can draw and fire from your holster.

For the times when I shoot rifles, I prefer this outdoor range. The indoor's maximum range is 25 yards, not much of a challenge for even a .22, and this range has sturdy benches (some even with rests and vises, plus they will lend you spotting scopes) at each lane. However, I am not really "into" rifles and don't shoot them very often.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I've got the best deal in my opinion. My neighbor, about 2 miles up the road, has 80 acres of property, with a nice canyon. I have an open invitation to go shoot up there anytime. I mainly shoot my pistols at 15 yards, and short range rifle at about 75 yards, SKS and 22 mag. Another bonus, he's an ex-marine, he likes guns and chat about guns all the time. Save a raging downpour, I'll go shooting up there in the snow, cold, or wind, I don't care.

 

[mp510]

Also, a lot of my shooting is shotgunning, and I know of no place to do that indoors.

I have shot shotguns indoors (plate shooting). The smoke fills the air very qickly, and there is the potential from a lot of lead dust as well (bird shot hitting steel). You aren't missing anything.

 

[FireArmFan]

I like both. I do most of my shooting indoors, because I live within 10 minutes from an indoor range and the nearest outdoor range is more like 35-40 minutes away and they are pretty strict as too when they let the general public shoot. My favorite place to shoot is on my land up at my cabin. It's outdoors, no range fee, no range officers, no restrictions and I can shoot at whatever pace I want. Unfortunately my cabin is a 3 hour drive so I can't really just take an evening to go shoot there.

Pro's to outdoors: generally longer ranges, better air quality/ventilation, more personal space, less crowded.

Con's to outdoors: The outdoor ranges i've shot at all had range officers with cease fires and all that (although I understand it's necessary) I like to shoot at my own free will and collect my targets when I want. Also depending on location they can be somewhat seasonal (looking outside i see about 1.5-2 feet of snow right now)

Pro's to indoors: you can shoot year round, longer hours especially during this time of the year. close drive if you live in the city or suburbs. no range officer (where i shoot at least). electric target carriers to bring in and put out targets.

Con's to indoors: shorter ranges (mine is 50 yards), worse ventilation, a little more crowded, ammo restrictions, rules against quick fire (although I bet most outdoor ranges have that too)

I enjoy shooting so I'll shoot indoors or outdoors as long as I get to shoot. Like I mentioned I do most of my shooting indoors and my range changed management year or 2 ago and it has improved a lot. The ventilation is much better than it was. I usually go during the week when it's not so busy and I never feel crowded by other people.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

All of my shooting has been at an outdoor range. It's nice there, it's not usually very crowded. Sometimes the RO can be a PITA, but it's not too bad. I've been to an indoor range/gun shop but didn't get to shoot there. Since of the three guns I own, 2 are centerfire rifles so most indoor ranges can't accomodate them.

 

[Chris B]

I prefer outdoor ranges. The one I frequent the most is a public range constructed at the back end of the Carroll county landfill. The RO's are nice guys, especially if youre respectful and a safe handler. Never too busy except weekends. No rapid fire or prone kind of stinks but oh well. Year membership was $75 dollars for out of county residents last time I bought. Occasionally they'll hang a couple bowling pins at 200 yards and let me go at it (it's really fun to hit a swinging bowling pin at 200 yards with an open sighted AR.

At the indoor ranges I can't use my rifles and I always end up with someone shooting a magnum caliber next to me, or once there was a guy with a TEC-9 showering me with hot brass.

 

[jrfoxx]

I have used both indoor and outdoor ranges, and of the two, I HIGHLY prefer outdoor.Less noise and smoke, and more elbow/breathing room.That said, I HIGHLY prefer the national forest nearby (until I buy a house and get my own range) over both BY FAR.The forest is open 24/7/365 (ok, pretty sure shooting after dark is illegal, not positive though, havent ever checked as I wouldnt really want too anyways), its free, and I'm always the only one there shooting.Pretty hard to beat.Only downside is the 45 minute drive each way, but still worth it. I do have to find a new spot though, as a somewhat gruff, and for some reason suspicious Ranger didnt like my last spot for pretty much bogus reasons, but theres no point argueing.I know he sat watching me for about 15 minutes, and I think he just didnt really beleive that all the really loud, deep BOOMS and thick white smoke were from a flintlock rifle, and not fireworks or somesuch, as he just didnt seem to buy my "story" about the flintlock, target shooting, and being alone....oh well.

 

[woad_yurt]

I've shot at indoor ranges three times in 25 years. All else has been outdoors. I like outdoor ranges because one has more space; it's a little looser. I'm lucky in that I have a state range fairly close by that has no attendent. You just go there and shoot. Ceasefires are by consensus. I appreciate not having someone breathing down my neck.

 

[skipjack_1st]

This will be my first Michigan winter shooting at an outdoor range. So far I prefer the outdoor range due to the number of target's and their position that I can set up. Target retrieval indoors is nice but shooting down a lane gets old and for other than doing bull's not much good for practice.

Outdoors darw firing is no problem as well.

 

[Liko81]

I prefer indoor ranges purely on a safety/convenience factor. The indoor ranges I frequent have tracked target holders, meaning no one is EVER downrange during business hours. It also means you can change targets as often as you wish without calling or waiting for a cease-fire. The downside? limited rifle/shotgun shooting and some cartridges are banned (in particular the range I frequent does not allow .50AE, .45 and .38 LC, or FN 5.7).

I haven't yet been to an outdoor range with a similar format (the ones I've seen are IPSC/IDPA type "tactical" ranges). I would imagine a pulley system for targets would be impractical at best, so range control is imperative. On the plus side an outdoor range can usually handle almost anything; there's one in Austin where the backstop is a 25ft, 15-ton pile of dirt; ain't no round, rifle or handgun, that'll get through that. An outdoor range would likely also allow kneeling and prone position firing (which my preferred indoor range does not allow).

Best of both worlds? Outlaw! An old G/F of mine had grandparents who owned a HUGE area of land out east of Mesquite (D/FW area) with absolutely nothing around for miles. We rummaged through a rubbish heap for plinking targets (an old orange Gatorade cooler and some aluminum cans) and shot her Ruger 77/22 (much fun) and her granddad's .308 (ouch) practically all day. It was without a doubt the most fun I've had shooting in my life. Unfortunately that g/f was two g/fs ago and I have not since had access to an area big or deserted enough to shoot outlaw safely .

 

[QuackAddict]

I've been to an indoor range up here once, and after leaving promised myself that I wouldn't be back. It was poorly lit, and the ventilation sucked. My lungs were burning from all of the contaminants and particulate matter in the air, and I had to go outside for fresh air a few times to avoid passing out. To complicate matters, the guy in the next stall was sighting in his .458 Lott, and must've gone through a whole box, before seeking some much-needed advice.
So that being said, I prefer outdoor ranges. What could be better than touching off rounds on a crisp, bluebird day? You can't do this in France.

 

[glockman19]

Those who have read my post on Bizzare Range Session, http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=314720 has changed my shoooting habits. I would visit the indoor and outdoor range at least once a week. I have found another indoor range but as others have mentioned, they are:

Indoor ranges tend to be louder, darker, more packed, shorter and uglier.
They also tend to be more restrictive about what you can shoot.

I also have found that the lead your body absorbes at indoor ranges can be hazardous.

I agree:

Outdoor ranges are far more pleasant places to hang out. The light is better, the air is nicer, on and on. But if it's raining you probably won't be shooting.

I like the additional distances and the ability to shoot rifle calibers. Can't shoot a M1A, AR, or other hunting rifle at an indoor range and why would anyone want to shoot a rifle with a 12-25 yard max?

I will have to disagree with my friend "CountGlockula":

More pluses about indoor ranges:
Everyone is close to you, therefore friends are made.
I want to focus when shooting. Proximity & discussion is not part or my shooting routine.
No dust, dirt, mud on your clothes; just excess gun powder and brass on your feet.
I'd rather be a little dirty than poisioned by lead.
Easy to pick up brass.
I easily pick up my brass at outdoor ranges. Most Indoor ranges will not let you pick up the brass it's their's, range brass you buy and you shoot is NOT yours to take home.
For handguns, most gunfights happen at 3 yards.
Most of my SD/HD training is based on a minimum of 7 yards to 25 yards as the longest hallway in my house is 65 feet or 21 yards. Most indoor ranges are no more than 12-15 yards.
If you're lucky, flat screen HD TV in the lobby to watch Monday Night Football
I shoot at the range I don' generally hang out and watch TV. Yet at the range I had issues with there is a TV that Employees watch instead of the range like they should.​

So I guess I feel a lot like the poster who said:

Outdoor range all the way, indoor when there isn't a choice.

I've found indoor ranges to be a lot like mens rooms ...

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

Outdoor ranges are better for me. For one reason I don't like exposure to lead and I am still trying to find a 200 yard indoor range.

 

[whg]

Here in No VA there aren't too many locations to shoot outdoors so I usually shoot at the NRA range in the NRA HQ bldg. It's a nice range, but I would really prefer to shoot outdoors since it can get quite loud in there when people break out the big bore stuff.

 

[BridgeWalker]

Glockman, your thread on your bizarre range session is the source of some of my hesitance to try out an indoor range, especially since I can very easily the local indoor range being funky like that.

 

[10-Ring]

I have no real preference. The indoor ranges are more comfortable & convenient for me to use since I can shoot at night & they're close to home. I like the versatility of the out door ranges since I can get my long guns dirty too and that the outdoor ranges are usually a flat fee for the day instead of a per hour fee

 

[no_problem]

WHG<<Here in No VA there aren't too many locations to shoot outdoors so I usually shoot at the NRA range in the NRA HQ bldg. It's a nice range, but I would really prefer to shoot outdoors since it can get quite loud in there when people break out the big bore stuff.>>

WHG:

Welcome! glad to have you join us.

there is a range in MD's eastern shore, Del Marva Sporting Clays. It's just east of Cambridge.

It is a little bit of a drive, but it has outdoor pistol and rifle out to 300 yards. $15 bucks lets you shoot all day.
You can google the range, and get a coupon on their site. Best of luck and hope it helps.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"You can't do this in France."
____________________________________________

Wow, thousands of French people are going to be surprised to find out they're doing something that can't be done. They can even use suppressors without paying a "tax".

Anyway, for the original poster, I would like to suggest a portable target stand so you don't have to depend on the ones at the range. Several companies make them, and I have used one for years. The newer ones made out of plastic are very lightweight.

 

[xjchief]

I started shooting in Hawaii at the State's outdoor range. I was pretty good but they didn't care for my AR or my love of shooting slugs so I got a little grief now and then. The benefits of being outside in a temperate climate were awesome.

I lived in North Dakota for school and we'd just go out in the country or to my wife's family's house up in the middle of nowhere and shoot whatever with whatever whenever. The most fun I've ever had.

Now I'm in Jacksonville, FL and I can only shoot indoors unless I feel like driving an hour over the the outdoor range. I get two options. Range A has awful lighting, no ventilation, and some pretty scary folks with guns in it. Range B is clean, ventilated, lighted but has draconian rules about keeping any brass that touches the floor, won't allow reloads of any kind, and requires FMJ ammo (a slight problem considering I just bought 600 rounds of 45LC without a jacket before giving up on range A :banghead

I think without a doubt the best place to shoot is on a nice size chunk of land where you can do whatever you want, control who is shooting with you, and you can enjoy the great outdoors.