Firing Ranges and Reloads

[Jack B.]

There are at least 8 ranges within 40 miles of us, been to all of them. We are only members of three. Two outdoor & one indoor (gets too hot for outdoor during the summer) they have no time limits, allow reloads and let you pickup your brass. All three of the ranges let you shoot pistol & rifle on the same day at no extra charge. They are not necessarily the closest to me but they suit my shooting preferences the best. They all are very strict on their safety rules which we like.

 

[groundsclown]

On a side note, I noticed in my 2nd post I said Shooters world but they were at Shoot Straight on the other side of Tampa. Sorry about that error.

Reno

I USE to (note emphasis) be a member at SS in Clearwater. They built a new store on Ulmerton & 2-3 months after opening I plunked down my money for a membership. I figured I'd use it during the FL summer months. All was good for several months then one day when checking in a guy asks to see in my bag. Looks at my MTM boxes & says sorry cant shoot reloads here. I said I'm sorry too, I won't be back & I'll let my shooting friends know of this change.
True. Their house, their rules.
But. My money, my choice where it's spent.
I've been a member of the WAC for a good number of years. Outdoor range. Good RO's. Allows reloads...they'll continue to get my money.

 

[ray15]

Don't paint all indoor ranges with a broad brush just because you don't like the one you go to. There are some great indoor ranges, as well as not so great. There are also some great shooters, as there are some that aren't so great, and I'm not talking about target accuracy. I'm talking about common courtesy, good safety practices, etc.

The same goes for reloaded ammunition. There is great reloaded ammunition, and there is some that shouldn't be fired. The question is, which kind is coming through the door of the private range? If I was the operator/owner of an indoor range, I would be very selective on who I let bring their reloaded ammunition into my range, and to tell you the truth, their attitude would have a direct impact on my decision, one way or the other.

Luckily, I'm not in that position, and I don't shoot on indoor ranges. I have in the past, and I was less than comfortable with the shooters in the lanes on both sides both times I was there. It was with a friend who is a member of an indoor range in another state, but I won't be shooting there on my next visit....... It was less the range, and more the clientele, that made it uncomfortable.

Notice I began with the work 'most', not all. It's amazing you are expert on what the typical indoor range is like these days, being that you don't frequent them. I do, and have gone through all in my area and there's only one that is safe from a lead contamination standpoint.. Most do allow reloaded ammo, but those that don't sell crappy reloaded range ammo and it is to protect those sales. A friend took his new Colt 1911 rail gun to the nearest one, and their reloaded range ammo wouldn't even chamber in it, where it runs fine with all the factory ammo he's tried.

I first purchased a membership at that range 25 years ago when it was opened. It was a nice facility then. It's been through 5 sets of owners since, with the last 4 expecting quick riches that didn't come. So there's six approaches to the same exact retail problem. Being that you've not been to these ranges, perhaps you'll take my word on it. If not, well, pardon me if that isn't of great concern.

 

[ray15]

Please delete, double post.

 

[Jack B.]

From my experience it seems that the ranges that have RO's that shoot competitively are the one's that allow you to use reloaded ammo. Most of the RO's where I shoot reload their own ammo for competition.

 

[RealGun]

I have never seen a sign or been told while at a range about no reloads allowed. My question is why would we not be allowed to use our reloads? Maybe because of a few that don't study\read\research and ask questions first just jump in and try reloading then blow their pistol or rifle up at the range? How would they tell if it is a reload? Most I have seen you can't really tell reload from factory, unless you use like cast bullets or something obvious like that. or your brass is mixmatch, but my factory brass is always mixed when I go. I was just wondering about this, a friend of my son told him to tell me be careful going to some ranges as they check ammo for reloads because it is not allowed.

Thx, Reno

All I am familiar with is being charged $5 extra if you want to shoot your own ammo, which cannot be unclad lead. You cannot pick up brass. I have better options for where to shoot.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Notice I began with the work 'most', not all. It's amazing you are expert on what the typical indoor range is like these days, being that you don't frequent them. I do, and have gone through all in my area and there's only one that is safe from a lead contamination standpoint.. Most do allow reloaded ammo, but those that don't sell crappy reloaded range ammo and it is to protect those sales. A friend took his new Colt 1911 rail gun to the nearest one, and their reloaded range ammo wouldn't even chamber in it, where it runs fine with all the factory ammo he's tried.

I first purchased a membership at that range 25 years ago when it was opened. It was a nice facility then. It's been through 5 sets of owners since, with the last 4 expecting quick riches that didn't come. So there's six approaches to the same exact retail problem. Being that you've not been to these ranges, perhaps you'll take my word on it. If not, well, pardon me if that isn't of great concern.

For someone who hasn't been here for very long, you sure get your feathers ruffled easy. You don't know my experience, and don't know me, or the organizations I'm a member of that deal with ranges and range issues, both indoor and outdoor, on the national level. I won't bore you with the details, but I'm through with this thread.

I'm leaving on vacation anyway........

Fred

 

[ray15]

Enjoy your trip.

 

[FN in MT]

I seldom shoot at indoor ranges. But do recall shooting at one in Oregon with some relatives...and one HAD to buy ammo FROM the Range. And it was NOT even remotely cheap.
I had brought a SIG229 in .357 sig and they did not have any ammo for it. So the RO "allowed" me to shoot the 4 boxes of factory I had brought with me.

Paying $16 a box for cheap 9mm pissed me off to no end though.

Whenever I read these Private Range/Indoor Range horror stories, I am SO HAPPY I can shoot on my own property and that the Range I do belong to in Great Falls, IS run under intelligent, common sense Rules.

 

[HOWARD J]

We have a new indoor range near me.
No reloads & you must watch a movie on gun safety at a gun range.
I told the guy that i had been shooting 70 years & I was not about to watch some dam movie on gun safety.
I walked out to never return.

 

[Reloadron]

I think we can all agree that any range, open to the public, can establish their own set of rules and regulations. We all have the option to accept those rules and regulations and shoot there or we can reject their policies and shoot elsewhere. Damn, we have to love America and freedom of choice.

Reloader Fred brings up another interesting comment:

Luckily, I'm not in that position, and I don't shoot on indoor ranges. I have in the past, and I was less than comfortable with the shooters in the lanes on both sides both times I was there. It was with a friend who is a member of an indoor range in another state, but I won't be shooting there on my next visit....... It was less the range, and more the clientele, that made it uncomfortable..

Many of us have witnessed poor shooting habits on the range. My belief, and just my opinion at this point is any good range has a good qualified range officer working the range during business hours. People demonstrating poor habits or unsafe range behavior get a stern warning and if poor habits persist they are removed from the range. Most range stalls have a small table at the firing line and small partitions extending a short distance out to the left and right. I have walked up into a shooting stall, looked left, right and above and wondered where the hell did all the bullet holes come from and that also includes the small table in the stall. Public ranges seem populated by two groups of people. The long time dedicated shooter shooting for sheer enjoyment and pleasure, generally shooting a bullseye type target and the new shooter with a CCW practicing normally with a silhouette target. Then there are the recently divorced females shooting a target hosting a picture of an ex husband taped to cardboard. My point here is at any public range on any given day one can encounter a wide range of shooters, each motivated to be there on their own personal desires. A good safe range will always have a range officer present on the firing line. This just being my opinion.

Ron

 

[Reloadron]

We have a new indoor range near me.
No reloads & you must watch a movie on gun safety at a gun range.
I told the guy that i had been shooting 70 years & I was not about to watch some dam movie on gun safety.
I walked out to never return.

Isn't America great? You exercised your right to freedom of choice.

Ron