"Bullseye Reloads" Banned at State Range

[joem1945]

If a range claims any brass that hits the floor, get a brass catcher. I use one because i don't like to chase brass.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I've been checking different ranges around here... some of them say do say you can't pick up any brass. With a revolver of course that particular problem goes away... but I can't see myself personally reloading, how many do I have to save up to be worth trying to sell?

At least one range sells their own house brand reloads, but that one's kind of a far drive. Most of the ones that say they have restrictions on ammo say if it sticks to a magnet you can't use it.

As for pricing, there is one that charges $12 a day if you use their ammo or $18 if you bring your own. I didn't see any that *require* you to use theirs.

 

[g.willikers]

The closest range to us only allows either factory ammo or their own reloads.
Since I reload for most of what I shoot, that means I don't go there very often.
But it's understandable the way things have gotten in this country.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Sounds like the range at Lake City.

 

[md2lgyk]

The indoor range closest to me bans reloaded ammunition AND steals your brass. One trip was all I'll make there!

Ditto. There's a new indoor range not far from me that only allows factory ammo you buy from their store. And guns you rent from them. Don't see them being around for long.

 

[ilbob]

years ago I shot at a range that only allowed their reloads. IIRC, 50 rounds of reloaded 38 special was $5 and $2 of that was brass deposit that you got back when you turned them in.

they changed their policy shortly after I started shooting there as they decided they wanted to sell reloading equipment and supplies more then they wanted to sell reloads.

I was there one Friday night when a guy blew up his brand new S&W Model 29 44 magnum on a reload. Someone had told him about "packed" charges, and how they made for a much hotter round, so he took a 44 magnum shell filled it full of powder, tamped it down until no more powder could be put in, and then added a bullet and a heavy crimp. I heard the load report, but did not realize anything was amiss until the range officer pointed it out to me. Barrel and cylinder was pretty mangled. Shooter was shaky but no injury.

 

[Twiki357]

I have an indoor range a few blocks from my house. The only restrictions are certain types of factory magnum ammo that damages the backstop and picking up brass. You can pick up your own brass, but not anything others have leave behind. That made it revolver only for me. I’m certainly not going to sit there trying to sort my brass from everything else left on the floor.

 

[MErl]

Twiki, I read that rule as "You fired 50 rounds, pick up 50 pieces of brass." It doesn't have to be the exact cases that went through your gun, just don't scoop a handful.

 

[HankB]

The closest range to us only allows either factory ammo or their own reloads.

Sounds like I'd be using factory cardboard boxes instead of Midway's plastic ones for my ammo . . . you know, the stuff made in my factory.

One range I went to frequently instituted a "brass that hits the floor is ours" rule, since they decided they were going to start selling store reloads. (They got themselves a couple of STAR reloading machines.)

I started dropping Berdan primed brass there. Eventually they stopped their "all your brass is belong to us" policy.

 

[Blue Thunder]

I am fortunate at my membership range where the RSO in each of the ranges has swept the lane clear of brass and asks you "Do you want to keep your brass or can I sweep it up for recycling". They let you shoot your factory or reloads, or their reloads. They have had two guns blow up, a .223 rifle and one Semi-automatic handgun both using shooter supplied reloads. I like and support their policies.

 

[statelineblues]

Many of these restrictions may not be the ranges fault; a lot of insurance companies put pressure on firearms ranges to restrict ammo (factory only), shooting style (no drawing from the holster, no rapid fire), etc., to limit liability.

Years ago I used to go to a nice range about half an hour from where I was living. The range and store were renting their space, and one day I went there they were having a "Closing Business" sale. The insurance company for the building owner told him to get rid of the range or they would not renew his policy. So the range got the boot.

 

[David4516]

Not really. There is a really nice range south of town but they have such a waiting list that they aren't even taking new reservations.

Tri County?

 

[JSH1]

Yes. Tri-County Gun Club: http://www.tcgc.org/the-club/joining-the-club/

I see that they are taking applications again but the wait list is almost 2000 people.

 

[David4516]

I'm from Beaverton but moved to WA state a few years ago. I'm familiar with Tri County and my dad is a current member there. I don't understand this whole 'wait list' thing. If they have paying customers who want to sign up, why not let them?

Anyway more back on topic, I don't think I'd shoot where I couldn't use my reloads, as they comprise 90% or more of the ammo I shoot...

Also, can a range legally take your brass if you want to keep it? I mean isn't that theft?

 

[JSH1]

I'm from Beaverton but moved to WA state a few years ago. I'm familiar with Tri County and my dad is a current member there. I don't understand this whole 'wait list' thing. If they have paying customers who want to sign up, why not let them?

• They require you pass a 2 day membership class with written and live fire tests. There are only so many seats and so many classes
• They don't want to turn it into the range I used in Alabama where every weekend every shooting bench had a line 3 deep.

Also, can a range legally take your brass if you want to keep it? I mean isn't that theft?

They can if it is their clearly marked policy that you agree to when you sign the waiver and agreement to the range rules.

 

[ilbob]

There are some other considerations associated with brass that has been left by other people. I went through this with a lead expert a few years back. This is the deal.

The fired brass is contaminated with lead. Therefore it has to be treated as hazardous waste.

The person doing the shooting owns the brass, even after it hits the floor so can pick it up.

Brass that is abandoned by the owner is just hazardous waste and has to be treated that way. It has to be collected in an approved way and disposed of properly (usually recycled in some way).

Because many commercial ranges are too cheap to hire someone who actually understands this to help them set up their range, they tend to follow rules that they see from other commercial ranges without understanding why the rule is in place.