Does your gun range ban .50 BMG?

I can see why some ranges ban them as the range is significantly further than more common rifle. Having said that I'm very glad my local range has not.

The range master usually asks that you set up on the end if there are other shooters around so they don't get blown away by the muzzle blast but that is about it. For longevity of the gongs (~2-3" thick steel) they ask it not be blasted away alot but occasional shots aren't a problem.

Our local range bans them on the main range, but they have a High Power range that they can be used by reservation. Note that the people who can afford the mighty .50 are the same people who can well afford the extra cost.

Yes; No .50's. Max range is 100 yds anyway at my range, so it really does'nt offer a .50 workout. I support the ban; I don't need the bast or the dirt in my hair & on my stuff. If I ever get one, I will reverse my opposition.

Banning guns at a gun range??? How is this different than antigunners banning guns? If you can't shoot it, it's defacto banned. It becomes a museum piece!

Yes, .50's are noisy. IT'S A FRICKING SHOOTING RANGE! It's SUPPOSED to be loud! Yes, .50's have quite a muzzle blast. SO WHAT!

Next you'll be banning .30 cal's because they're noisy and have muzzle blast too. AR-15's will be next, because someone doesn't like their looks. How about large bore handguns, are they next? Just as with gun control, It's incremental.

My range allows them (or I'd find someplace else to shoot) but they restrict steel bullets, in all calibers due to fire danger. They have targets berms at 100, 200 and 300 yards and steel targets out to 675 yards. They allow the .50's to fire on the steel.

They even have a ".50 shooter's special" on the (I think it's) first Sunday of every month. .50 shooters pay 1/2 price and are grouped together at one end of the range so they deafen and blast only each other. lol.


Lou

Are we socialists?

Everything, everyone and every gun range is not equal.

How to regulate each range should be left in the hands of the individual or body put in place to regulate such things.

If you don't like it, go somewhere else; if enough people go somewhere else, a new gun range can be born.

Our range in Koko Head crater is too small for us to safely shoot .50 BMG. We would need to get special permission to use one of the military ranges, Schofield or Marine Base Kaneohe. Slim chance of that though, unless you belong to one of the select gun clubs.

Disadvantages of living on an island. I guess it could be seen as a trade off, for the year round great weather and being surrounded by the best beaches in the world.

Fiddletown said:

Yes, my club bans them. We have concerns about our berms and facilities and potential problems with people in the area should a bullet leave our property.

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A typical load from a .50 (647 gr. bullet at 2,910 fps) will travel about 6,600 yards. A typical load from a .308 (168 gr. bullet at 2650 fps) will travel about 5,000 yards. The difference is less than a mile. This is a specious argument at best.

Do you charge those who fire high power rifles more than you charge those who fire .22's? If not why not? The HP's are doing more damage to your "berms and facilities." Shouldn't they be paying more? How about the shooter who fires off 20 rounds during load development v. the one who fires 200 while function testing his semiauto?

Earlier I wrote,

Banning guns at a gun range??? How is this different than antigunners banning guns?

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Fiddletown said:

And don't tell us how to run our range.

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Asking a question, as I did, is not telling you how to do anything.

Perhaps I've missed it but so far, I haven't seen anyone answer the rest of the OP's question.

If the answer is yes, does it also ban ".416 Barrett"

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the .50bmg is at the top end of of rifle cartridges.
using one on a 100 meter range is a tad pointless.
but I would guess depends on the range setup neighbors range users etc.
small range near houses etc unfriendly neighbors more hassle than its worth.

big range plenty of space no neighbors crack on

our range will allow the .50 but will not allow SBR in any caliber:banghead:

My range has a 300 yard, 200 yard and 100 yard setup and they 'banned' 50 BMG from the 300 yard because they don't want any one to shoot the gong they have on the 300 yard range. They still permit it at the 200 yard and 100 yard ranges even though the 100 yard range has gongs too. I don't get the logic since it is more likely to put hole thru the gongs at 100 yard than 300 yards. Why they could not just say, no shooting at gongs with 50BMG I have no idea. Got to make you wonder!

My other favorite 'ban' is 'no AR-15's' sign at the other range. So it is ok to use a Mini-14 or something like that. And nothing restricting 50BMG. I have no idea what that is all about?

Banning guns at a gun range??? How is this different than antigunners banning guns? If you can't shoot it, it's defacto banned. It becomes a museum piece!

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I agree, besides my feeling that the FFL's are our own worst enemies with the crazy hoops they create for us, the ranges are up their too with their crazy rules.

No.
but it is only a 200yd range for now.

other shooters complain when one is there.

There are no caliber restrictions at my range.

At my local club, yes and no

Lower range has a max of 200 meters, berms at 25, 50, 75 and 100 yards, steel targets at 50, 100, 150 and 200 meters with pneumatic lines underground, target frames, etc: in other words, stuff that could be damaged by normal use of .50 cal so no 50 cal on lower range.

On the upper range, shooters bring their own stands, no buried pneumatic or electric lines, and clear shots to 300 meters, so upper range is OK for .50s.

Whether .50 cal is allowed on a range should be matter of simple practicality. I would prefer to see specific .50 cal days set aside for .50 cal users, because effectively, shooting .50 cal makes the position left and right of the shooters position unbearable due to side blast from the muzzle brake.

they allow it but under strict supervision, its crazy we have these metal gong targets we can shoot at in one of them you can see the bullet wedged in it from the 50 cal i need to take pics sometime

No caliber restrictions at mine.

MIne allows it on one berm/pit at the 600 meter line. We also allow full auto at the plinking range. -Any gun any target, clean up your mess.

Yes.

Mine does not ban them but you do have to bring your own targets. I have never seen one there and to tell you truth since the longest range is 300 yards if I had one I wouldn't shoot it there.

Our range here in Santa Barbara does not allow .50 BMG. We operatre under a special use permit from the USFS and it's their call. We do allow all other .50 caliber offerings, such as muzzloaders, the various Sharps/rolling block calibers, as well as pistol calibers.

Ahhh, the tyranny of the majority ...

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tyranny by majority. haha yes..
my range bans them. Oh well. Maybe when it comes up in the next vote i'll vote to let them in. but on the 200yd range only.

The range near me? Heck yeah, it is a 25yd indoor range, they have FPS and ME limits, which not only bans the .50, but the .204 ruger.... At the range i go to (my front lawn, i live on a farm) .50s are fine, as long as i get to shoot it.

One of our long time members has many years experience running a business doing grading and earth moving. Several of our members are engineers. We know the capabilities of our range. We know how to run it.

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Mods you can lock this thread now- this is real stuff.

Complaining about restrictions at a range (or a gym or a bank or a X or Y) is stupid. Don't say, "I am mad the idiots at MY range have banned the .50 BMG." Find a NEW RANGE to be YOUR RANGE. And to all of the "this is the only range in X miles" - in life, there are solutions and there are problems; ignore one and you have to live with the other.

woodybrighton said:

the .50bmg is at the top end of of rifle cartridges.
using one on a 100 meter range is a tad pointless.

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Many .50 shooters sight in at 100 yards. Many .50 shooters use 100 yards to check their zeros even though they've sighted at longer yards. The .50 does not have the "long range market" cornered. Just because you have a rifle that most think of as being for longer distances does not mean that one can't use it at shorter ones. I know my ballistics down to 25 yards and I've shot my .50 at that distance to confirm them.

Carl N. Brown said:

I would prefer to see specific .50 cal days set aside for .50 cal users, because effectively, shooting .50 cal makes the position left and right of the shooters position unbearable due to side blast from the muzzle brake.

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I handle this by simply letting the shooters alongside me (if they're not shooting .50's that is – those guys know to expect the blast) that I'm going to be firing a shot. Gives them the opportunity to stand fast until I do. They appreciate it and I usually let them fire a round from my gun if they express the slightest interest (and they always do). BIG GRINS on their faces afterwards.

For those who want to shoot steel targets, frangible bullets are available.

RoadkingLarry said:

MIne allows it on one berm/pit at the 600 meter line.

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Larry how are people supposed to sight their .50's in? 600 m is way to far for the initial rounds where the shooter just needs to get on the paper.

fiddletown said:

One of our long time members has many years experience running a business doing grading and earth moving. Several of our members are engineers. We know the capabilities of our range. We know how to run it.

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You've failed to address EVEN ONE of my comments directly. Instead, EXACTLY like an antigunners, you've sidestepped around them. Not unexpected at all. This last bit is virtually identical to those who would ban the ownership of guns. "We know what we're doing. We know what's best for you."