Had my first indoor range experience today.....

[Exposure]

Wow! It was staggeringly loud.

My wife and I went to the local shooting range and punched some holes in paper.

Aside from the fact that it was mega loud even with hearing protection, and I had a headache in less than 30 minutes, it was pretty cool.

I felt a little uncomfortable with other shooters so close to me and the fact that we were discharging firearms in an enclosed space but it was fun. And once again my wifes Walther P22 proved just how awesome and accurate it is. I love that gun!


I do sorely miss the multitude of sand pits we had around us back when we lived in Maine. It was so easy to just drive 10 minutes and be in the middle of nowhere and shoot at whatever we wanted for free!!!

Before we left though I did look at a beautiful Bushmaster AR15 in the M4 configuration that I had previously fallen in love with. I had gone there with the intention of buying it but after realizing that I had no place to shoot it I balked. When we lived in Maine we fired hundreds of rounds every week with all of our weapons. Now we don't have that opportunity. I kind of regretted my move to Chalotte NC today. So we left the shop with the M4 still hanging on the wall. They also had a gorgeous FN FAL that I really wanted.

We are already talking of moving to a more gun friendly area in another state, possibly Arizona or Nevada.

 

[psyopspec]

I know the feeling, they're a little stifling and it is an odd vibe having people so close. I'll always be more of the outdoors type of guy.

Remember that that Bushie probably won't always be available, and if you find a decent deal on one, it would be wise to make the purchase.

 

[Atticus]

Wear double ear protection (plugs and muffs)....you need it indoors. Try to avoid shooting next to anyone using a .357 snubby (like me lol)...they're simply brutal indoors.

 

[Exposure]

psyopspec- STOP!!! I'm going to be back there on Monday if I keep looking your post. And yes, it was a pretty good deal, at least as far I was concerned, and that is what counts.

Atticus- After we left I looked at the stash of foam ear plugs in my truck and said to my wife that we should have worn those in addition to our ear muffs. DOH!!!!

 

[psyopspec]

psyopspec- STOP!!! I'm going to be back there on Monday if I keep looking your post.

And the psyoper said, "Come, taste the fruit of the AR tree." No longer able to fight temptation Exposure came, laying waste to unholy amounts of hard-earned cash. Rejoicing, he touched his hand to the telescoping stock. Exposure smiled, and was well-pleased through all of his 938 years.


Look it up if you want to. Book of psyop, chapter M4: .223. It's even in the red words.

 

[Dbl0Kevin]

You don't know what loud is until you have a guy shooting an M1 Garand a couple lanes down from you on an indoor range.

 

[joab]

First time I shot indoors I got claustriphobia(?) so bad I couldn't hit anything. I flinched every time the guy next to me shot , the cameras made me nervous and
I kept expecting my grandmother to come in a hit me with her wooden spoon for bringing a loaded gun into the house.

 

[Remander]

I grew up in the country shooting anywhere, anytime.

Then I moved to the city and, after a few years, started shooting again.

I began at an indoor range in the city, but soon found an outdoor range a few miles away. It's less convenient, but I enjoy the outdoors much more. Instead of 30 minutes or so at the indoor, I tend to hang at the outdoor range for hours, shooting handguns, rifles and even shotguns sometimes.

The outdoor range experience beats the pants off indoor. Some days no one else is around, and it's like being a kid in the country again.

If you are a city shooter and can find an outdoor range, make a trip and try it. It makes the shooting experience much more enjoyable.

 

[c_yeager]

It's good training to learn to shoot with that kind of noise around you. Definatly double up on the hearing protection though for safety. The first thing I noticed when i went to an indoor range for the first time (aside from pretending i was Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon) was how you could feel the shockwave from the guys shooting magnum callibers from the other end of the line (this made me buy my first .357 snubby actually). It gives you an idea of how much raw energy we are dealing with.

 

[joab]

Anybody else get dizzy and nauseated at an indoor range.
I have to limit myself to about an hour with breaks to keep from getting sick to my stomach

 

[Edmond]

Anybody else get dizzy and nauseated at an indoor range.
I have to limit myself to about an hour with breaks to keep from getting sick to my stomach

Most indoor ranges around here are dumps. They have poor lighting and poor ventilation. And some of the people who go in there just make you nervous about being around them with firearms.

 

[Uncle Doj]

I was shooting at an indoor range yesterday. They guy next to me actually stopped shooting to talk on his phone
I was the only other person there and was popping off rounds with a .22 but I stopped for a minute out of courtesy. I was wondering if the loud noise would a)hurt the person on the other end of the conversation or b) damage the microphone on the phone.
Then I began to wonder why I was being polite when the dufus in the next lane was blabbing on a cell phone at an indoor shooting range. So, having taken the quiet time to load up my magazines, I started shooting again.

 

[Shovelhead]

I shot indoor once when a guy brought out a Desert Eagle .50.

He was nice enough to go down the line and advise us that he was going to be firing it before dropping the hammer on that cannon.

I always use plugs & muffs indoors.

 

[ChickenHawk]

I was shooting at an indoor range yesterday. They guy next to me actually stopped shooting to talk on his phone

I did that once because the caller-id said it was my wife and she knew I was at the range, so I assumed it was important (not). I had to remove my muff on that side to bring the phone up to my ear. STUPID! It only took one shot by the guy in the next lane for me to swear off paying any attention to my phone while at the range.

I always shoot indoors. I like that I can put the target at any distance easily (up to 25 yards) and I can retrieve/change targets without a general cease fire.

I always wear plugs (custom made) and muffs (electronic). Even if the guy in the next lane is shooting a cannon it doesn't bother me.

Cheers,
ChickenHawk

 

[mfree]

The range I visit is well-lit and very well ventilated.... but yes, I have trouble sometimes that there's a gap in the lighting right at the shooter's stand, and...

...well, I *think* the guy 4 or 5 lanes over was shooting a mountain-gun length .454 or .45 colt with heavy loads. I have *never* felt the concussion actually compress my chest before then.

At least he was consistent, I got to where I was pausing for a few moments while he shot before letting off a string of a few rounds.

 

[Moparmike]

My first indoor range experience was with poor muffs, shooting a 10mm. The other 2 were shooting a .45acp and a magnum of somesort.

 

[magsnubby]

The only time i use an indoor range is when i need to check the function of a gun after i've done some work on it or to check out a new load. It's only about 10 minutes from my house so it's convenient. Other wise i go to an outdoor range. It's about 40 miles from my house but i enjoy it alot more.

 

[bpisler]

A couple of weeks ago at the in door range i shoot at there was a guy shooting a scoped 300 win mag
with a muzzle brake.He was nice enought to let us know when he was firing off a few rounds.It was very loud even with plugs and muffs.

 

[ralphie98]

The noise of an indoor range doesn't bother me so much until somebody starts cranking off magnum rounds on the lane next to you. Once that starts, I just put my gun down and stand back at the table and wait until he's done making all that noise. No way can I continue to shoot with the concussion from those rounds going off 5 feet from me. I think for my next range trip, I will borrow dad's .357 mag just so I can be "that guy".

The majority of my personal shooting experience has been indoors so the concept of people firing so close to me isn't really an issue.

 

[prisoner6]

Where did you shoot on Saturday? I think I know where you're talking about and if so may have seen you there. May I ask what you were shooting/how dressed?

Actually I think I do remember you, you had the two barrel P22 kit.

Also, there are several outdoor rifle ranges within driving distance if you decide to get the M4. The National Forests in NC and SC have Public ranges.

 

[41mag]

When I go to the indoor range[twice weekly] I try to bring multiple guns of the same caliber{.357/.44/.22}.I shoot one until it's getting hot,put it down & start w/another.It's real easy to burn up a few hundred rounds of "magnum"s that way.Is it impolite to those in the next lane shooting a .22?Or to the person there for the first time-maybe their first time shooting period?I thought that way at first.I even mentioned feeling that way to a staff member.The ranges' opinion was that I had spent my money to shoot there.As long as I follow the rules there's no problem.

"My" range offers both a long gun & a handgun shooting area.Normally everyone shoots whatever on the long gun side.I'd think that they'd put the smallbore shooters on the handgun[quiet] side.But what do I know?

 

[Exposure]

Hey prisoner6-

Yeah that was us! We were in lane 1 and we did have the 2 barrel P22. I also had my 1911 which jammed on the first round. DOH! Functioned flawlessly after that though.

Where were you? Shooting or hanging out in the shop? Sorry I didn't PM you first to let you know we were going to be there.

 

[benEzra]

Aside from the fact that it was mega loud even with hearing protection, and I had a headache in less than 30 minutes, it was pretty cool.

Yes, definitely double up on the hearing protection. I usually double up even when shooting outdoors; it's more pleasant that way, and I still have excellent hearing and no tinnitus despite 15+ years of avidly shooting centerfire firearms. Hope to keep it that way.