Does your gun range ban .50 BMG?

[Frank Ettin]

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."

First, that's not what I said, Second, you know absolutely nothing about our range or our situation, so how dare you make such a preposterous statement? We built our range, and we know it's design parameters. You have no idea what they are. As far as our range goes, you are completely ignorant.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

If it is banned due to a range restriction (our berm is not built to handle it) I'm okay with that (safety issue) but if they are banned for any other reason it gets a from me.

 

[JohnBT]

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

Private rules vs. legal bans

The difference is that most gun ranges are private property and they get to set the rules about who shoots what, where they shoot it and when they shoot it.

Gun bans involve the government and the government has to answer to the rule of law. In other words, the 2nd Amendment does not apply to private ranges with private owners and private rules.

See the difference now? Or are to going to argue next that because the range isn't open at midnight it's infringing on your rights?

John

 

[ArmedBear]

I've been on the board at a range where we had to ban .50 BMG, .510 DTC, etc.

It was an INDOOR range. Some people did shoot .50BMG once or twice; we didn't want holes in our building. (It is a 100 yard indoor range, so it was popular for sighting in just about anything, out of the wind and weather.)

We allowed everything short of .50 BMG.

 

[Dogwatch Dale]

My INDOOR range (25 yds) not only allows them, but proudly states that .50 BMG are welcome in their promotional material.

 

[geophysicishooter]

Only ban on .50 Barretts I've seen was at a range on the NW side of Houston and the ban there only applies on the weekends..

 

[Pulse]

ever since my local range upgraded all Rifle ranges with Electronic Scoring systems they baned any cartridge above 4.5k joules of muzzle energie.

 

[hangovur]

These are some scary posts from people claiming to support individual rights.


This is not Tyranny...... its their property. If they want nothing bigger than .17 HMR than that is their prerogative and their aint a darn thing you can do about it other than...

1) find another range

2) fork over the capitol required and spend the time to make your own range.


Past that, thank them for taking the time and effort to give you a place to partake in your pastime/hobby. They have not infringed upon your rights.


"Tyranny of the majority" We call that Democracy.

 

[flying_gage]

Since I walk out my back door and shoot off my porch, I have to go with the gentleman who says they are welcome on my range but I get to shoot too!

Seriously though, I know back a couple years back a co-worker purchased one and in the Chicagoland area there was only one range where he could shoot. The rest said no. Not sure if that is still the case. I guess you have to respect that.

If someone tells you not to poop on their floor, would ya? Overly simplistic I know, but conveys the spirit of what I would guess the intended message to be. Me, I'll just build the berm in back bigger with my skidsteer and throw a bunch of railroad ties in and put out my sign, ".50's welcome here!"

 

[WardenWolf]

Fact is, the .50 BMG has a massive muzzle blast, is very concussive, and tears up berms. For the first two reasons alone, it is generally considered impolite to shoot such a weapon on a tightly packed range. You are disrupting other shooters by causing a blast that they can not only hear, but feel. Repeat after me: Buying a BFG does not also buy you the right to be an ***hole. I have no problems with the way my range does it, by banning them from the main range but allowing them to rent out a high-power range. I really don't want to be beside one of those things.

 

[AKElroy]

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!

It's a free blissfully free country. Feel free to open a range with the proper improvements to handle the .50. As for me, I choose a range where I can actually sight in my rifles without having to clear the line for someone else's hobby. Even w/ plugs & muffs, no one is gouing to sit on either side of a .50. The shooter does not get anywhere near the noise or blast; he's in the best spot. I have no trouble if you want to shoot all day at my range; If It were mine, though, you would be buying the whole line. No one can use it while you are shooting anyway---

 

[lvcat2004]

My range has quite a few separte ranges, and there are no restrictions on most of them.

I would NOT want to be shooting next to these 50's, but I don't see them very often. I think these guys with 50's come early in the morning or late PM so that they don't disturb others.

As long as the range has appropriate facility/berms to handle 50 BMG, and as long as the 50 owners don't disturb other (and they don't) they I think it's all good.

As for some ranges banning them just because they don't like the noise, blast, and "range" of the 50 BMG....I find that ridiculous. Perhaps it's an unfortuate repurcussion of some incosiderate 50 BMG owners, but to ban a caliber without any logical reason (like destroying berms and costing too much to repair, etc.), I find that to be a slippery slope. What's next then??

 

[JohnBT]

Sit next to a .50 BMG, are you nuts? Probably burned the table too. Notice that the fireball is behind the muzzle.

"A little example of the .50 BMG experiance. Sorry for the poor quality, these were taken from a home video. These photos illistrate the efficiency of the clamshell style muzzle brake."

 

[jaholder1971]

One of my local ranges banned .50 BMG after having to replaces several thousand dollars worth of steel targets on the highpower range they'd set up between 175 and 310 yards, twice. Some of this steel had been in use for 40 years and was eaten by several hundred rounds of .50

 

[Isher]

You don't light off a land speed vehicle

Record contender

In a Walmart parking lot.


isher

 

[bigger hammer]

Second, you know absolutely nothing about our range or our situation, so how dare you make such a preposterous statement? We built our range, and we know it's design parameters. You have no idea what they are.

As I wrote earlier,

This 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."

Thanks for proving my point. ROFL.

As far as our range goes, you are completely ignorant.

I can always tell when I've won an argument. Others start name calling instead of sticking to the facts. Thanks for playing. ROFLMAO.

 

[bigger hammer]

Earlier I wrote,

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

And JohnBT responds,

Private rules vs. legal bans

The difference is that most gun ranges are private property and they get to set the rules about who shoots what, where they shoot it and when they shoot it.

Yes, I know the difference between private property and government control. But the concept is the same, "We don't like certain guns so we're going to ban them."

If the antigunners ever win, this is what it will look like, divide and conquer. A duck hunter won't stand up for the "black rifle crowd." The target shooter won't stand up for the duck hunter. Next thing you know, another gun has been banned. "When they came for me, there was no one left to speak up." – Martin Niemoller

 

[bigger hammer]

This is not Tyranny...... its their property.

I don't recall using the term "tyranny!?"

Past that, thank them for taking the time and effort to give you a place to partake in your pastime/hobby.

Conveniently overlooking the fact that they HAVE NOT given any .50 owner "a place to partake in [their] pastime/hobby."

They have not infringed upon your rights.

Didn't say that either.

 

[bigger hammer]

Fact is, the .50 BMG has a massive muzzle blast, is very concussive, and tears up berms. For the first two reasons alone

I don't find it "very concussive" and if berms are built properly, it does not tear them up.

it is generally considered impolite to shoot such a weapon on a tightly packed range.

I guess what is "polite" varies from range to range. Here's a hint. Guns are loud. They have muzzle blast. I find the muzzle blast from just about any "magnum class" rifle with a muzzle brake to be more annoying than from a .50. But I'd never think to mention it to the shooter of such a gun. In my neck of the woods THAT would be crossing the "polite line."

You are disrupting other shooters by causing a blast that they can not only hear, but feel.

Another opinion stated as if it was a fact. I feel that the shooter with a magnum-class-muzzle-brake-equipped rifle is causing far more "disruption" but AGAIN it's not my place to snivel about it. Put in a set of earplugs to go with the muffs and cowboy up.

Repeat after me: Buying a BFG does not also buy you the right to be an ***hole.

"Repeat after me:" having an anonymous persona on an Internet forum does not give you the right to call others names because you disagree with them. At least not to do it and still to be considered a gentleman anyway. Isn't this behavior against the ethos of this forum?

I have no problems with the way my range does it, by banning them from the main range but allowing them to rent out a high-power range. I really don't want to be beside one of those things.

As I've said, I have no problem with such a limitation if there's a reasonable motive not to allow them. But I don't think that "noise, muzzle blast and bullets shooting too far" are reasonable.

 

[SuperFlanker]

if they don't like .50's i wonder what they'll think of a 25mm rifle

 

[bigger hammer]

As for me, I choose a range where I can actually sight in my rifles without having to clear the line for someone else's hobby. Even w/ plugs & muffs, no one is gouing to sit on either side of a .50.

On .50 days at my range there will be as many as 15-20 .50 shooters lined up right next to each other. SOMEHOW we've learned to live with the noise and muzzle blast. Maybe we're superhuman. Or maybe we're just tolerant?!

When we start shooting, the rest of the range often empties. People come down to see what all the noise is about. Most of us will accommodate their curiosity by having them fire a round.

The shooter does not get anywhere near the noise or blast; he's in the best spot. I have no trouble if you want to shoot all day at my range; If It were mine, though, you would be buying the whole line. No one can use it while you are shooting anyway

Such a blanket statement, emphasized by the part that I've emboldened for you, is just plain ol' wrong. Cowboy up folks. Just about ALL guns are loud. It's the nature of the beast. I'm reminded of those folks who buy a house near a range and then whine about the noise.

And if you REALLY want to know what's irritating it's those darned black powder shooters who obscure the targets with huge clouds of stinking black smoke. But I'd never ask them to move either. Call it "tolerance." Some here sure could use some of it.

And AGAIN I'm reminded that NO ONE has answered the OP's second question. I'll AGAIN repeat it for those who seem to have forgotten it and (I think) are purposefully avoiding it.

… does it also ban ".416 Barrett", or did Barrett provide a loophole for you at the range, by making the .416?"

So those of you who have ranges who ban the .50 do you also ban the .416? How about the .408 Chey Tac? How about the .338 Lapua? Those are all "loud" and have lots of muzzle blast. Are they banned too? Is there some gray area?

 

[bigger hammer]

Sit next to a .50 BMG, are you nuts? Probably burned the table too. Notice that the fireball is behind the muzzle.

Nice pix. But this is very similar to what the anti gunners OFTEN DO. They discuss "assault weapons" referring to semi-autos, such as the AR15, and the next moment show someone firing a true assault rifle on full auto hoping to get people to think that they're the same thing! Ooooh Scary! ROFL.

I've seen muzzle blasts that are EVEN BIGGER than these from hot hand loads fired from short barreled handguns. Ever seen a .500 S &W touched off at dusk? Looks far worse. I've got a compensated .J frame that with hot loads throws a 2' tall "Mohawk" up in the air. Gonna ban that gun from your range too? LOL.

As you your comment that it "Probably burned the table too." I say "nonsense." I usually shoot with a cotton beach towel over my shooting table to prevent it from scratching my guns. (Cement benches here). Most other .50 shooters at my range do the same. NEVER has ANYONE "burned" their towel.

This is just more of the sensationalism and hysterics we've come to expect from the mass media. I'd not have expected to see it here; but here it is.

 

[BhmBill]

My range?

Never been to a range.

I'd rather not subject myself to "one round in the firearm at a time", "wait 3 seconds between shots", "that caliber isn't allowed".

I go into the god forsaken Mohave Desert.

Btw, my .500 mag BFR made fireballs that'd put that .50 bmg to shame.

 

[Ranb]

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.

I used to use the Kokohead range often until I moved away from Hawaii in 1999. I heard that the 50 bmg was banned after some clown tried to shoot a rock at the top of the crater.

So how long will it be until the city or the club decides that everything but the 22 rimfire poses a threat to anything outside of the crater? I hope it is a long time.

So is the cow bell still hung up in the ravine at 425 yards?

Ranb

 

[Ranb]

So for those of you who say that a certain berm can not handle the 50 BMG, or that it tears up the berms more; how big does the berm have to be? Does ten rounds of 50 bmg tear up the berm more than 50 rounds of 223?

Most 50 BMG shooters do not put lots of lead downrange due to the increased cost of shooting them, the berms are going to see lots more of the smaller stuff.

Ranb