Indoor ranges not allowing steel or aluminum ammo.

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As I said before, I must be VERY fortunate.

The two indoor ranges I go to don't check my ammo like Nazis and charge about the going rate of all the other ranges in St. Louis. The only time they insist on you buying their ammo is when you rent one of their guns.
 
My indoor range does not allow steel ammo either. Chief reason has always been it rips up backstops faster than regular ammo. Aluminum is allowed and can be bought for the rentals. Every cash register (Three) has a magnet where the clerk can check the ammo going onto the range. I assume this is so they can test suspect ammo, as I have never had the magnet treatment. I have only been asked if my ammo was steel or not before using the range.
 
stchman said:
I've never had an indoor range inspect my ammo ever. Sounds like a bunch of Nazis.
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When it's your range, your rules. Unfortunately the bunch of Nazis at DFW Gun Range didn't check closely enough and they burned up: https://www.guns.com/news/2013/02/25/tracer-rounds-burn-indoor-dallas-gun-range-to-the-ground-video

I don't fault a range for banning projectiles that damage backstops. But a range that bans steel or aluminum cases because the range finds it too much trouble to sort? Shame on them. That has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with greed.

1. Get a magnet for the steel.
2. Hire a homeless guy to sort out the aluminum.
3. Profit.
 
Both of my local indoor ranges check ammo. One just asks you if you've got anything they don't want you to use. The other visually checks every round and if you've got anything "wrong" they will take it from you until you are ready to leave.

The first one is concerned about their recycling profit. The second one has an old, worn backstop and JHP and birdshot will come back at you pretty hard - I've personally experienced it.

Luckily, we have a well-run "anything goes" outdoor range too. I'm happy to abide by the rules at the indoor ranges, and then when I want to do anything outrageous I just drive the extra 15 minutes to the outdoor range.
 
The term "nazi" has been used in a couple of posts here to describe ranges who check for steel ammo. Use in that context diminishes the horror of the real nazi's and what they did and represented.

The indoor range I currently use is the best I've ever been to. Newer, with a state of the art ventilation system, clean, well lighted, and friendly helpful staff.
They don't allow steel cored ammo. They don't check, but there's a full time RSO in the shooting area at all times, I assume he watches for steel cases. I bought some Tula "range friendly" ammo, steel cases but copper lead projectiles. I informed the RSO of what it was, he checked it with a magnet and told me I was good to go. Aluminum cased ammo is fine, and they have no problem with you picking up your brass.

They have a "power lunch" day on Wed., 11-2 is half price range time, and they provide lunch. It's ranged from fried chicken to pulled pork to chili, but mostly hotdogs, all gratis. They also have what I call "geezer Mon"., seniors are again half price 11-2. Tue. are also half price for all 11-2.
 
dogtown tom said:
When it's your range, your rules. Unfortunately the bunch of Nazis at DFW Gun Range didn't check closely enough and they burned up: https://www.guns.com/news/2013/02/25/tracer-rounds-burn-indoor-dallas-gun-range-to-the-ground-video

I don't fault a range for banning projectiles that damage backstops. But a range that bans steel or aluminum cases because the range finds it too much trouble to sort? Shame on them. That has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with greed.

1. Get a magnet for the steel.
2. Hire a homeless guy to sort out the aluminum.
3. Profit.
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People who say stuff like this are also the one that complain the loudest if the range use fees are increased to cover additional expense.

Have you seen what insurance costs for an indoor range?
 
One of our indoor ranges allows you to bring you own factory ammo but no reloaded ammo
Two of our indoor ranges do not allow your own ammo and must buy their ammo

All three of them do not allow steel of any kind and you must submit you ammo for inspection.
 
lysanderxiii said:
People who say stuff like this are also the one that complain the loudest if the range use fees are increased to cover additional expense.
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Not me. I'll pay more for a range that doesn't nitpick about what my cases are made of. BTW, if I pick up my own brass....what the heck business is it of the range? Those that leave their brass are gifting that to the range.....its gravy for the range.;)

Have you seen what insurance costs for an indoor range?
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Which has nothing to do with anything. If a range cannot cover its operating expenses from user fees, its not much of a business. Relying on brass cases to sweep up in order to turn a profit? Yeah, that range needs a business plan.
 
No restrictions where I shoot. There is literally a carpet of steel case 7.62x39mm at the front edge of the cement pad firing line, in various stages of corrosion at any given time. I think once a year they rake it all up and dispose of it in the dump.

Edit - just realized this is about indoor ranges. Same thing, the only restrictions are no black powder or black powder subs, or high velocity rifle (it's conventional power pistol ammo only).
 
We have a local range that allows no steel, aluminum, or hand loads. They also wont let you keep you spent brass. I was told "the brass stays here".

It sure will. And I wont be back.
 
The indoor range where I shoot (and have done RSO work) is generally OK with steel/aluminum cases, but steel core ammo is a no-no, and yes, there is a magnet to check. The magnet is generally for demonstrating to the person who brought in a bunch of Tula that yes indeed, those are steel core. Anybody who sees a steel round hit the backstop (especially something like .223/5.56) knows it's steel without the magnet.

Steel core rounds make more sparks (compared to lead core stuff). Steel .223/5.56 and 7.62X39 make a LOT of sparks. Any unburned powder residue is obviously an issue. A busy range that's open for 10 hours can have a lot of powder on the floor toward the end of the day. True, any sparks with powder residue on the floor are risky (which is why this range sweeps the floor daily, and HEPA vacuums it twice per week). Steel just makes things a little more risky.

Handloads can be an issue because one never knows how well those were done save for the person who loaded them. True, the vast majority of people do this well (and safely) - as always it's the boneheads that create the issues.

The linked video is not from this range - I just happened to find it online. Note how fast the fire propagates.
 
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my range that i shoot at doesnt have any rules except be safe and sensible. my range is my two decks and my land. i think i would take up air guns in the basement if i had to go to a commercial range. also been thinking about archery lately.
 
Just curious, do the folks with home ranges have to carry special home owner's insurance so they don't lose their homes if someone gets shot there and sues?
 
skeptical_in_Ohio said:
The indoor range where I shoot (and have done RSO work) is generally OK with steel/aluminum cases, but steel core ammo is a no-no, and yes, there is a magnet to check. The magnet is generally for demonstrating to the person who brought in a bunch of Tula that yes indeed, those are steel core. Anybody who sees a steel round hit the backstop (especially something like .223/5.56) knows it's steel without the magnet.

Steel core rounds make more sparks (compared to lead core stuff). Steel .223/5.56 and 7.62X39 make a LOT of sparks. Any unburned powder residue is obviously an issue. A busy range that's open for 10 hours can have a lot of powder on the floor toward the end of the day. True, any sparks with powder residue on the floor are risky (which is why this range sweeps the floor daily, and HEPA vacuums it twice per week). Steel just makes things a little more risky.

Handloads can be an issue because one never knows how well those were done save for the person who loaded them. True, the vast majority of people do this well (and safely) - as always it's the boneheads that create the issues.

The linked video is not from this range - I just happened to find it online. Note how fast the fire propagates.
Click to expand...

Skeptical - the movie looks like there is a powder train on the floor that catches fire, not loose, scattered powder. Look on the floor under the shotgun barrel. Also, it looks like the ventelation system isn't safe, doesn't work very well
 
PWC said:
Skeptical - the movie looks like there is a powder train on the floor that catches fire, not loose, scattered powder. Look on the floor under the shotgun barrel. Also, it looks like the ventelation system isn't safe, doesn't work very well
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Good point - that does look a bit thicker than the worst I've seen - more like after sweeping loose stuff together to collect and dispose of. I've still seen the floor at indoor ranges powdered pretty heavily toward the end of a 10-hour shooting day (and the sparks when somebody shoots a steel core rifle round are still pretty impressive). Concur about the ventilation system - but I'm pretty sure the unburned powder would land somewhere on the floor, but I would defer to the more experienced/knowledgeable. This last part is more a question than an assertion - wouldn't a good ventilation system keep feeding fresh air to a fire?
 
skeptical_in_Ohio said:
.......... but steel core ammo is a no-no, and yes, there is a magnet to check. The magnet is generally for demonstrating to the person who brought in a bunch of Tula that yes indeed, those are steel core. Anybody who sees a steel round hit the backstop (especially something like .223/5.56) knows it's steel without the magnet....
Click to expand...
Remember, attracting a magnet doesn't necessarily mean the bullet is "steel core", some bullets have a thin steel jacket with brass plate and a lead core.
I've not seen steel core handgun rounds.
 
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