Why no rapid fire at the range I go to

[Five-O]

There is a rule, one of many, that says you can't do rapid fire. You must have three seconds interval minimum.
Why? Is this common to all ranges? When I shoot my autos I so desperately want to fire rapid, but alas, not at the range.
I might add, it's a county-owned range. Perhaps that's why they prohibit rapid fire.
Or do private ranges have the same rule?

 

[Mags]

Same rule at my county range. Must be insurance reasons is all my figure, not to mention the rangemasters do not know each shooter's skill level or understanding of firearms safety. Rapid fire with inexperienced shooters can cause all sorts of bad things to happen from the safe but annoying muzzle flip to the very dangerous strafing.

 

[ThrottleJockey72]

I think you're gonna find that at just about all ranges. Unless by "private range" you mean the one "bill" has set up on the back 40. It is a safety thing and I presume an insurance thing as well. Not everyone is as proficient as the rest of us and rapid fire by an inexperienced shooter can be ugly, much like the first time you fire full auto. PLUS, it forces you to concentrate on shot placement.

 

[Funderb]

i agree. the inexperienced ones become the problem.
at our member range there is a specific range for rapid fire and draw practice.
i thought that was pretty thoughtful..

 

[smithmax]

My public/private range used to prohibit it on the public range, but you could do it at the private ranges. Now you can do it anywhere. They do prohibit full auto weapons though, and say that it's a PR issue with the neighbors.

My guess for your ranges is that it's a liability issue to the county to allow rapid fire.

 

[evan price]

There are three common reasons ranges ban rapid firing:

1. Far too many shooters have proven themselves incapable of controlling a gun on anything more than slow fire. My club range the roof of the firing line looks like Swiss cheese from all the bullet holes from people letting the muzzle climb. This can be dangerous when the muzzle climb lets the bullets go over the berm and then you could have bullets hitting God knows where. Since ranges tend to be endangered species nowadays, nobody wants to provoke the antis to shut them down.

2. The neighbors of the range don't want to hear rapid-fire. See the last part of the previous answer.

3. The other shooters don't want to have to deal with rapid fire. A bench rest shooter and a AK bump-firing don't go well together. Let's face it- a lot of ranges are set up for sport hunters, not practical gunnery.

 

[divemedic]

The reason the public range in my area doesn't like rapid fire is because of the Fudds. They claim it breaks their concentration.

 

[scottaschultz]

The range I most frequent is run by the state (of Missouri). It is one of those ranges where they call cease fire on the 1/4 hour, you unload your firearm, put a chain across your booth and step out. When they call all clear, then you can go down range to set your targets (which they supply). And no, they don't allow rapid fire. All this for only $3 an hour!

I know a lot of people hate this type of setup because it is too controlled. Well, the one thing I have never heard while setting targets is live fire!

To be honest, I don't trust people that I do not know with guns, even if they have a CCW permit.

Scott

 

[bdickens]

The two ranges I frequent prohibit rapid fire per their rules, too but they will in praacticality let you shoot as fast as you can if you can control it.

 

[9mm+]

Reading all of this makes me appreciate my favorite range (Eagle 1 in Raleigh) even more. Rapid fire IS allowed so long as you can control it. Their general rule is "if you break it, you pay for it". Pretty straightforward approach. I usually shoot off a few sighting rounds and then unload the clips.

 

[Vonderek]

They do it because they don't want you to have any fun or train correctly. Makes it kinda hard to practice double-taps and Mozambiques. Whatever the reasoning, it's a stupid rule. If there are inexperienced shooters acting unsafely then the ROs can correct those shooters. Why screw things up for the experienced shooters?

 

[Mandolin]

I've been to 1 range, indoors an they don't care how fast you fire. Must be something to do with renting submachineguns. I have fired 1, an Uzi. the muzzle climb is pretty large. There's a reason you fired automatic weapons in bursts . Still, it was a lot of fun and I'd do it again, if I had the money.

 

[MetalMan52]

rules

Our range had an incident where a local farmer's barn was hit with an errant round. Let me first say that the range was properly constructed with very high berms behind the target locations. But the range had to install an overhead baffle system and increase the height of the berms in order to stay open after this incident. After the baffles were in place you would not believe the number of strikes that showed up on them. When you look at the location of the strikes from the shooting positions you wonder when the hell people are doing. I don't know if they are just plain stupid, inexperienced or what.
There are range officers on duty and they do keep a good eye on things and have seen folks banned for life for serious rule violations and a few even arrested.
I don't like to have to only single load a rifle but after seing what can and does go on, I understand the logic of protecting the safety of the shooters, the surrounding neighbors and their efforts to keep the range open.
I only wish we could get through to the small percentage of shooters who make things tougher for the majority.
Pat

 

[happygeek]

The private range I pay yearly for membership prohibits more than 1 shot per second. The reason given in the rules is to keep the neighbors from calling the cops complaining about "machine gun fire". The difference in sound between a couple rifles rapid firing and a M249 or M240 opening up is rather noticeable, but then we all know how ignorant the general public is.

 

[Lakeshore]

The indoor range I've used for years prohibits rapid fire but I've never seen the rule enforced. Guys blast away fast as they can pull the trigger (including the occasional sub-machine gun), no one seems to mind or complain. The faster we shoot the more ammo the proprietor sells, I suppose.

 

[oneounceload]

I so desperately want to fire rapid

Why? Do you own stock in an ammunition company, or are you trying to emulate some video game? Have you mastered your controlled breathing and trigger work?

I have seen way too many inexperienced folks with some hi-capacity gun trying to recreate something they saw in a movie or game. They wind up not hitting much, except everything they're NOT supposed to, and ruining everyone else's time there.

 

[SSN Vet]

rapid fire is less likely to be controlled fire....

uncontrolled fire is more likely to land off of the range property...

read accidental injury or property damage.... along with law suits and range shutdowns.

The rod and gun club I belong to is currently in a voluntary shutdown, untill the burms are built up higher (they're already 15' +) and add'll sand is piled up behind the target boards....

All this because a guy in the condo. complex next door found a stray round had ripped through his tanaue cover and landed in his truck bed.

Needless to say the range pre-dates the condo. complex by some 30 years.... but that doesn't matter any more. The condos are there and the range is under fire.

We'll only be able to stay open if we can keep the dim whits out and maximize range safety.

 

[Justin]

Public ranges generally enforce this kind of rule because they have to cater to the lowest common denominator.

In my experience, private clubs generally don't have such asinine rules.

If you really want to learn how to shoot rapid fire, though, I'd suggest you get some instruction and start attending local IDPA matches for practice.

 

[eflatminor]

Find another range

Several ranges in my area (SoCal) restrict rapid fire. They do not get my business. The few I found that allow rapid fire (and drawing from a holster) get ALL of my business...and I go through over 30,000 rounds per year. Screw the ranges with their nanny mentality.

 

[jerkface11]

3. The other shooters don't want to have to deal with rapid fire. A bench rest shooter and a AK bump-firing don't go well together.

I don't see why. There's no difference noise wise between one guy bump firing an AK and 10 guys slow firing their model700's

 

[twency]

All this because a guy in the condo. complex next door found a stray round had ripped through his tanaue cover and landed in his truck bed.

Needless to say the range pre-dates the condo. complex by some 30 years.... but that doesn't matter any more. The condos are there and the range is under fire.

We'll only be able to stay open if we can keep the dim whits out and maximize range safety.

If I lived in that condo, I'd raise a ruckus too. "Stray" or otherwise, if rounds are leaving the range, the range needs to be modified, or the shooters need to be modified, or both.

Growing up on a farm, I had little sympathy for people who moved in next to smelly agricultural areas and then complained about the smell. And if the condo residents complained about the noise, I'd say "you knew (or should have known) the range was there when bought the condo." But a round leaving the range is not something that should be dismissed as "well, that comes with the territory."

(Please note, I'm not accusing you of this attitude SSN Vet. Your comments make me think you frown on stray rounds as much as I do. I just get mad at those who play fast and loose with guns and safety rules. Imagine if instead of the truck cover, it had been a person standing there.)

 

[Zach S]

The indoor range I go to has the same rule.

The busted lights in the floor and holes in the ceiling tiles are the reason for the rule.

It's loosely enforced, depending on how many people there are shooting, and if you can keep all your shots on the paper (or off the floor, out of the ceiling, etc)

 

[inherentical]

I don't see why. There's no difference noise wise between one guy bump firing an AK and 10 guys slow firing their model700's

It offends their delicate sensibilities?

 

[eatont9999]

The private range I go to says 1 round per second, but I see people doing more. I guess if you are all alone, there is no one to stop you.

 

[DeepSouth]

I would think these ranges would at least allow a "Double Tap" on a target for practice.

Thankfully I can I can do what ever I want right out my front door, with no problems. Heck I've killed deer shooting out my kitchen window.

Rural Alabama, it's the life.