NIGHTLORD40K
Member
I see plenty of it on the floor at local ranges here.
One of our ranges bans steel-cored or jacketed bullets and all 7.62x54R ammo. They have a "NO MOSINS" sign on each of the airlock doors, lol.
Strange explanation at the range.
- Thread starter castile
- Start date
One of our ranges bans steel-cored or jacketed bullets and all 7.62x54R ammo. They have a "NO MOSINS" sign on each of the airlock doors, lol.
I've seen various reasons given for prohibiting various types of ammo at ranges.
1. Will ricochet too much. (FMJ at a rifle range.)
2. Will damage the backstop. (Steel/Steel Core projectiles at an indoor range.)
3. Fire hazard. (Tracers & steel projectiles.)
I've also seen ammo prohibitions that probably relate to the range's recycling efforts although that's not usually the reason provided. Like prohibiting steel case or aluminum case ammo, for example.
1. Will ricochet too much. (FMJ at a rifle range.)
2. Will damage the backstop. (Steel/Steel Core projectiles at an indoor range.)
3. Fire hazard. (Tracers & steel projectiles.)
I've also seen ammo prohibitions that probably relate to the range's recycling efforts although that's not usually the reason provided. Like prohibiting steel case or aluminum case ammo, for example.
Scooter22
Member
Interesting thread. I never knew there could be a problem with unburnt powder accumulation. I'll pass it on to the two local indoor ranges my son and daughter, with their spouses, use. Never heard of a problem but this is good info.
Howland937
Member
I've only shot at one indoor range in my life. No steel cases or steel bullets, though aluminum cases was fine. Any ammo brought in was checked with a magnet whether it was in factory boxes or not. They never kept one piece of my brass though, no matter what I was shooting. I never asked them why they didn't allow steel. I also never asked them why they didn't allow rifles above rimfire or why they didn't allow more than one shooter per lane, etc...
It's surprising how much and how far downrange powder residue and soot from burnt powder will coat the floor of an indoor range. I had the misfortune of tripping while leaving a shooting box during an indoor match and hit the concrete pretty hard on one hand, both forearms, and my exceptionally handsome face. When we got me back to my feet, my face, forearms, hands, and everything else that hit the floor during or after the impacts were blackened.
Most people don't go past the main firing line on an indoor range, so they aren't aware of what it's like. In addition to any fire hazard, it's also really slippery on smooth concrete surfaces.
Most people don't go past the main firing line on an indoor range, so they aren't aware of what it's like. In addition to any fire hazard, it's also really slippery on smooth concrete surfaces.
mstreddy
Member
OP, it's not necessarily sparks from the guns, it's from a still burning/sparking case landing on the ground. I can attest first hand to a case coming out of the gun, landing on the floor while still emitting sparks and igniting the unburnt powder on the firing line. This happened to me with a pistol round, IIRC it was the infamous AMERC. Or I may just be attributing it to the worst ammo on the planet. Case ejected, landed, I noticed the sparks in my peripheral vision, and in the time it took to look down at it, the point in front of the lane and the next couple of lanes went up like a flash fire. The range guys keep a 5 gallon bucket full of water for just such an event. At the time, the shooting area up to the firing line had carpet on it. This was at an indoor range, btw.
As to the steel cased ammo, at this range, it was more due to the fact that back then, many of the steel cased stuff had steel jackets as well. So, they just kept/keep all of it out. At another indoor range I go to, they don't care about steel or check your ammo.
As someone mentioned above, their house, their rules.
As to the steel cased ammo, at this range, it was more due to the fact that back then, many of the steel cased stuff had steel jackets as well. So, they just kept/keep all of it out. At another indoor range I go to, they don't care about steel or check your ammo.
As someone mentioned above, their house, their rules.
The only commercial indoor range I have gone to requires you to buy their ammo! I said: “have gone to”, not shot at. I thanked them kindly and left, never to return! I guess if you don’t handload it might not make much difference. I have no idea what happened to the fired brass, I didn’t shoot there!
Same here!
armoredman
Member
The one indoor range I used to work at swept down the range every night, in a bunny suit and respirator. Never had a flash fire there, lots of blown out light tubes, but never a fire. I will say our rules about brass was simple - you want it? Take it, less mess for us to put up with. Heck, we had squeegee looking things shooters could borrow if their rare/expensive brass fell beyond the line.
We had 55 gallon barrels FULL of range brass in the back - every once in a while we'd roll one out and say take your fill. Need a bag? Can do! Tragically, I was not a reloader back then, or I'd be set for life.
We had 55 gallon barrels FULL of range brass in the back - every once in a while we'd roll one out and say take your fill. Need a bag? Can do! Tragically, I was not a reloader back then, or I'd be set for life.
yea, I've had a local range they take out a magnet and run it over your ammo if you didn't buy it there. It isn't sophisitcated or hard, if it is magnetic, not getting shot at that range if they can prevent it. simple is easy to follow, highest likelyhood of success. never heard of the unburnt powder igniting, but whatever, they can say whatever reason, their range their rules. Steel ammo can do a lot of damage to a backstop, so - what the OP is hearing may be something the range employees heard from their boss who heard it from an insurance company.
Jim Watson
Member
The rental ranges here do not mind me sweeping up my empties.
If they did, I would shoot only .22s and revolvers there.
I don't know if they have a material rule, I don't shoot anything but brass cases and coated, plated, or jacketed lead bullets. I suspect they sell recovered empties for scrap. An employee once offered to sell me a bucket of sorted cases, but never delivered.
The indoor range DOES have a rule against shot. Shoot a shotgun with slugs if you like, but no shot. The legend is that shot can bounce back from the rubber mulch bullet traps.
If they did, I would shoot only .22s and revolvers there.
I don't know if they have a material rule, I don't shoot anything but brass cases and coated, plated, or jacketed lead bullets. I suspect they sell recovered empties for scrap. An employee once offered to sell me a bucket of sorted cases, but never delivered.
The indoor range DOES have a rule against shot. Shoot a shotgun with slugs if you like, but no shot. The legend is that shot can bounce back from the rubber mulch bullet traps.
jmorris
Member
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- Sep 30, 2005
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- 24,181
I have seen this, just to keep equipment damage to a minimum.
Mostly Lead
Member
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- Oct 31, 2011
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- 197
Was surprised at an indoor range when a fire started in the concrete grove about 20' in front of the booths. Everyone was very chill about it, said it happens... Burned itself out pretty quickly.
Indoor ranges are often hampered with rules/guidance from their insurance carriers too. Can't imagine what the liability must be for encouraging strangers to bring guns into your establishment and fire them while standing next to each other.
But hey - their house, their rules.
Indoor ranges are often hampered with rules/guidance from their insurance carriers too. Can't imagine what the liability must be for encouraging strangers to bring guns into your establishment and fire them while standing next to each other.
But hey - their house, their rules.
hutch51
Member
I have a few Mosin rifles. All the ammo is russian milserp so I just assume it can't be used at ranges. Just buy a box from them and press on.
It's not a big deal to me. And after a box my shoulder is done anyway
It's not a big deal to me. And after a box my shoulder is done anyway
kmw1954
Member
What ever reason, you asked, they answered. Which they didn't have to do but they did. From there you can either accept the explanation or reject it and move on out. If it was just an employee that answered then most likely they did not know the true reason for the rule.
I have worked at a large outdoor range for 3 full years now and I constantly get asked questions about our rules with comments as to how asinine some are. To them I respond, "because of the volume and varying skills levels of our customer base we need to install rules to the lowest common denominator just to keep everyone safe. Yet still we daily get rules violations". We are not there to restrict your enjoyment, we are there to prevent you from getting shot by some careless idiot that thinks they are a Cowboy or John Wick.
The first reason they have a No Steel Cased ammo rule is because they need to sell brass cased ammo or they sell the brass cases that is left at the range & they are too lazy to sort out the steel cases.
It just another reason to shoot at outdoor ranges.
It just another reason to shoot at outdoor ranges.
OP
OP
castile
Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2012
- Messages
- 602
I pick up all my brass and more if its not too obvious. I try to at the very minimum leave with the amount of brass I went in with. As for it being an employee ya it was but the manager who was a total ***** was standing right there. When I asked why steel case if it was for armor piercing and got the response from the employee I said I have never heard that before. The manager owner said "are we fighting here" LMAO He was a total rear end. There are several better places to go shoot.
I shot a few times in a small indoor private range. It was a weird old house, that was rezoned commercial, and the basement was made into a range. They had a similar rule of no steel case. They also had a rule that you can't pick up brass. If it hits the ground, its their brass. Their explanation was they sweep up all cases and recycle the brass, and they are not sorting out the steel case. I remember that they also had a list of additional rules on the wall, that seemed odd and irregular. I shot there a couple times till I found a better place.
A lot of the time the steel case ammo also has steel in the bullet’s jacket. I was shooting some regular Wolf 7.62x39 once that appeared to have copper jacketed 123 grain FMJ’s. Imagine my surprise when one round clipped a piece of granite and sent a shower of sparks into the air. Your average shooter with a couple boxes of ammo he got from wherever might not be able to ID a bullet that will spark on impact. Even I messed this up, and I’ve shot a bunch of different ammo and calibers over the years.
DT Guy
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Did anyone else read this and think, "Holy smokes, 'Cowboy John Wick' would be an awesome movie!"?
Larry
Carl N. Brown
Member
Last time I shot at an indoor range*, shooters were expected to police their own brass.
Banning steel jacket and "bimetal" (steel jacket with a copper or brass plating) makes sense for an indoor range a with normal back stop for copper jacket lead or plain lead bullets.
______
* Gunshop with indoor range. And a gun shop that sells reloading supplies.
Banning steel jacket and "bimetal" (steel jacket with a copper or brass plating) makes sense for an indoor range a with normal back stop for copper jacket lead or plain lead bullets.
______
* Gunshop with indoor range. And a gun shop that sells reloading supplies.
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Steve Milbocker
Member
I shoot 22s indoors at our club with 8-10 shooters usually showing up. We sweep the floor after each shoot that usually is less than 2 hours. I was amazed at the amount of unburned powder and soot. Never heard about a fire hazard before a recent post here on The High Road. I can see why it would be an issue now.
