Gun Range restricts ammo used.

If they check one of the rounds with a magnet, this prevents a steel core from damaging the indoor range.

If there is foreign ammo which is not steel core and is prohibited, then it would look like simple bias, to force people to buy more grossly-overpriced US ammo (larger than .22).

do a lot of people shoot stuff bigger than .50? I thought it wasn't legal without a tax stamp?

something else to think about, just about all ranges sell casings( rather it be for scrap or reloaders)

steal cased ammo( wolf for example) is just about worthless in both the scrap and reloading market.

do a lot of people shoot stuff bigger than .50? I thought it wasn't legal without a tax stamp?

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Shotgun slugs?

Wolf ammo has steel cases.
Some ranges do not allow steel-cased ammo due to the fact that it is difficult to reload, and most ranges sell their "brass" to reloaders.

Every indoor range that I've gone to has had a "No Wolf Ammo" rule.

Quite a few ranges sell ammo and prohibit use of any other ammo, sometimes with statements about "possibly dangerous" ammo. The only thing endangered by customer's ammo is their bottom line.

Some restrictions are based on misunderstandings, like ranges that have banned steel case ammo because "steel bullets" hurt the backstop. Only on those ranges do the cartridge cases go down range. Some ban any ammunition with a painted marking on the bullet, since they don't want to bother to learn what the markings mean. One would think that such ignorance would not exist in the gun community, but it does.

The upshot is that you live with the rules of the range, or you find somewhere else to shoot. You can try education, but with some of the really ignorant, you might be banned from the range for being a "wise ass".

Jim

Where does everyone find these restrictive indoor ranges? We've only got one where I live, and they allow anything you bring with you; except steel core of course.

If I shoot indoors, it is at Bill's Gun Shop in Circle Pines MN. They will allow anything but aluminum cased ammo. I have yet to see aluminum cased ammo for sale anywhere... 50 yd indoor range. Shoot what got-shotgun, rifle, class 3, pistol, etc for $10 for unlimited time

I have yet to see aluminum cased ammo for sale anywhere...

If you mean that any ammo right now is hard to find, then sure. But if you are suggesting that aluminum cased is just very rare, then you have not done much looking.

Blazer aluminum is a very very popular round. Not reloadable, but generally a tad less pricey than Blazer brass. You can (in ordinary times) find it nearly anywhere. I know in MN that Fleet Farm used to carry it (I have bought many many cases there); and Wal-Mart once in a while.

BigGuy52 said:

There are two indoor ranges that are close to where I live.

The first one charges a lower price to use their facility, but requires that only ammunition made in America is allowed.

The second range is a bit more in their fees, but any manufacturer of ammo is OK with them. They just limit a person from shooting anything bigger than a
.50 caliber.

I always go to the second range. I don't mind shooting Wolf or other foreign brands for just target practice.

Has anyone else experienced this?

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the reason is because they can't use steel cases like wulf/bear but they CAN use remnington/winchester and sell then empty case...

my range allow any ammo BUT doesn't allow silhouette targets... go figure.. that's one reason that i have't enter the .22lr rifle match this month :banghead:

My local range allows any ammo you want in your own gun, but only ammo they sell in their rental guns. I do understand their point, lawyers being what they are. Sometimes it just depends on who's behind the counter at the time though. I have rented guns there and if I know the guy behind the counter he has OK'd the use of my own factory ammo, in a factory box I brought in. A different guy, who could be the main character in an "idiot in a gun shop" thread, refused to rent me a gun because they were out of ammo for it, even though I had an unopened box of factory ammo in that caliber.

Rentals is understandable, unknown ammo could possibly damage the firearm, and the range is stuck with the repair bill. The ranges I worked at had no ammo restrictions, just caliber, no rifle but .22lr in the indoor, (one guy got a Mini-14 on there, but 8 holes in the backstop), and the other was if you start a fire, you get to help put it out. That was the huge outdoor one.
The range I got to is free and unsupervised, well maintained by the city, only restriction is please don't shoot the equipment.

do a lot of people shoot stuff bigger than .50? I thought it wasn't legal without a tax stamp?
__________________
Ray Charles

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There are some rifled guns out there that people have like the rare big bore elephant guns. As I understand it the BATFE does not seem concerned about them. Some how it appears currently that it is alright to own them. If you have a 20mm cannon or other breach loading rifled weapon without the tax stamp they will go after you.

I have one local indoor range that does not allow HPs and another lead or steel core ammo.

The (outdoor) ranges around here refuse FMJ rifle ammo.

Pkoch62,

Shotgun Slugs are probably larger in caliber vs the .50 and despite the power and energy availible to the, does not have the.... punch that the .50 does. The backstop of the range I shoot at will deflect low recoil slugs halfway back to me on the floor all mashed and spent.

The heavier slugs probably stay in the backstop or otherwise find thier way wherever it can find a path.

At the range I shoot at, as afar as I know no one has had any of slugs escape as it were through the backstop. I do get put into one of several specific lanes when I bring shotguns and slugs where the backstop can work.

When I shoot the winchester slugs, I dont see them again. Same with the Brennekes. Now the winlite hollow points smash flat and bounce halfway back. The wife's buckhammer are not seen again.

Other ammuntions I have shot produced wad, plastic and other trash that kinds of flies halfway downrange and fall to the floor. Maybe on my next shoot when no one is present on the line, I may get permission to be escorted to the back of the stop to examine it in my lane.

The only ammo restrictions at any of the four ranges by me(three indoor, and one outdoor) is no tracer ammo. That's it.

So I guess banning Wolf is common after--as witnessed in my nearest indoor range.

I think my gun club range frowns on artillery pieces, but everything else is good. Gawd, I love that place.

I know of an indoor range that won't allow steel cored rifle or pistol ammo or solid lead pistol ammo, only copper jacketed. But copper plated bullets are OK, and so are lead .22LR's. Steel cases are OK too. Go figure.

Their range, their rules.

First one sounds like they want to keep American jobs. Second one just allows anything but high power rifle calibers.

The indoor range I go to doesn't allow lead bullets. They say it's for the safety/health of the guys who work on the line day in and day out. They don't allow hand loaded rounds in their rentals either.

Think you got it tough?? I only have one indoor range within 75 miles of me. They will only let you shoot what you buy from them. No outside rounds what so ever (Per insurance restrictions) ( I think it so they can sell Independance 40 S&W for 29.95 a box of 50). With the ammo crunch, no telling what they may have on any given day. Needless to say, guess where I do not shoot? I drive 60 miles to the nearest outdoor range where you shoot what you brought.

CountGlockula said:

First one sounds like they want to keep American jobs

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It could be that or because American made ammunition is rarely steel cased. Sorting through brass to find the steel cased ammo is not high on most range employees lists of fun things to do. Restricting everyone to American made ammo sounds patriotic and cuts down on work. Sounds cynical but I've known a range owner who would do exactly that sort of thing.