Handloads at indoor range

[Reloadron]

Reloadron: I can purchase plated bullets for nearly the same cost as lead. Plus I don't have to futz with lead removal from my barrels. And no, the no lead requirement is not a statewide rule. I believe it keeps the indoor air cleaner (no 'purple haze'). If I want to shoot lead rounds I can bop over to my outdoors range I belong to.

Understand that but what is the plating over? For example X-Treme Bullets are popular but they are a lead bullet with a copper plating. So while I understand plated bullets the plating needs to go over something. Do you mean no bullets with exposed lead? Just using X-Treme as an example. There are totally lead free bullets like solid copper and other alloys but they get expensive. That is why I questioned it.

Thanks
Ron

 

[mgmorden]

I wouldn't shoot there. The local indoor range requires that you by their ammo for rental guns but in your own guns you can shoot what you want. They do have adv official ban on "rapid fire" but don't seem to enforce it if you're staying on target.

Usually though I just shoot at the gun club. It's father but outdoors and except for obviously unsafe behaviour you can do as you wish.

 

[GBExpat]

... You all were correct....according to their business model, I would BUY reloads from them, they steal my brass, RELOAD it and sell it back to me. ...!

Keep in mind that by agreeing to their Range Rules you are also agreeing that they are entitled to keep your fired brass, so there is no actual "stealing" involved.

Ayup, best of luck to them & their business model.

Odds are that they will probably have enough non-reloader folks that don't understand (or care about) the true cost to them of shooting there to keep the business viable.

 

[Shootshellz]

Reloadron: No solid (exposed) lead bullets allowed. The only other lead free handgun bullets I have ever seen were the tin products from Zero bullets (not sure if they are still available). All the copper non-tox bullets I have seen have been for rifles.

 

[CraigC]

Back when I lived in Florida, my local indoor range started doing the same thing, righter after they stopped selling their own cheap, crappy reloads. I just started putting mine in factory boxes.

I would just pick up my brass and not say anything about it. It's YOUR property.

 

[Morrey]

All true and good advice. I chatted with a shooting buddy this eve who told me the new range wanted to focus on giving lessons that lead to getting a CWP. Also he said they wanted to target new women shooters who needed to buy a gun, ammo and shooting gear like range bags, glasses and hearing protection.

I honestly don't think they want shooters like me who own all their own guns, gear and hand load ammo. I pretty clearly see their direction after all your posts and thoughts.

 

[Bama Drifter]

There is one close by that has somewhat of an attitude about handloads. I just put them in a factory box and never had a problem. As to picking up brass; whatever lands forward of the rail is then the property of the range, behind the rail can be picked up.

^^^ This.
It's same reason a lot of African PH guides suggest packing your reloads in factory boxes: the nimrods inspecting your stuff will be none the wiser. I've got a couple Remington green/white .357mag boxes that are getting so frayed I can't believe my range still lets my ammo in. YMMV, good luck!

 

[Dudedog]

The indoor range I shoot at lets you use your own ammo for pistol and rifle > .243 cal. (I think they are trying to avoid 5.56 green tips) They check for steel cases or steel in bullets with a magnet if you bring your own ammo.
You are welcome to your own brass if it is on the safe side of the firing line, and they don't care if another shooter gives you the brass they have fired.

I don't agree with having to buy the ranges over priced ammo, but can sort of understand them trying to control the ammo used on the range, but not being able to pick up your own brass is Bovine excrement IMO.

Not very friendly people IMO, I would not support them if there was ANYWHERE else to shot within 50 miles, even if it cost more. (and yes if it costs more to support some business who care more about their customers I will generally pay the price)

The outdoor range where I shoot know me on a first name basis and lets me pick up my brass and other brass lying about as long as I don't get carried away and try to clean up the whole range. (they do sell brass left for scrap so it does generate them income)

Oh, if you rent their guns they do require you to use their ammo, this is perfectly reasonable since it is their gun.

 

[X-Ring]

I have been attending the same range more or less monthly for the last 30 years. Less the couple years they were closed between owners. They know me so well no one even asks me what I am shooting and they expect all the brass I can find to go missing after I leave.

 

[MDof2]

Like others have said. Find a new range.
You buy ammo, you own the ammo. Including the brass.
Some ranges don't like reloads. Shoot there enough, build a bit of a relationship with them, and they'll let you shoot reloads. Anyone can come in off the street with a box of fresh reloads from their bench and Kaboom. Generally speaking, ranges will let you shoot your ammo so long as it doesn't have steel in it. The steel tears up back traps.

 

[Reefinmike]

All i can say is track down some factory boxes, load using the same headstamp and a close enough bullet- ie dont use a cast lead semi wadcutter when the box says jhp.

 

[Mostly Lead]

A new range opened up near me in the last year or so. Called and talked with them before they opened to ask about shooting my reloads.

Their position was related to liability insurance. While "my" reloads were obviously pure and virtuous , what about that "other guy" off the street that nobody knew? What are his reloading processes?

I can believe they got an insurance discount for only allowing factory ammo. I can believe they are concerned about keeping their clientele safe by providing a tightly controlled environment. But I don't believe I'll be shooting there...

It's a big world, we'll both do fine.

 

[LiveLife]

I personally have not done this but heard of reloaders picking up empty factory boxes from the trash can and putting their reloads inside ... I know, not very High Road but dang, what a terrible range policy for reloaders!

As to not being allowed to pick up brass from the range floor, how about using brass catcher so your brass never hits the floor?

To Mostly Lead and others who posted ranges requiring factory ammo, could be the reason behind that policy is so that they can sell range brass as "once-fired"?

Personally, I would not shoot at such a range.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

The only thing my indoor range owner ask me any more is if I'm shooting my magnums.
They don't want me right in front of the windows if I am. Understandably so.

One of the range officers complained to me about the noice one day and told me not to bring back my 41mag.

When I got home I called the owner and told him what happened. I told him that my 41 magnum was under their minimum caliber size, he wanted to know who told me that and that I was more than welcome to bring my magnums.

He told his range officer that "this is a shooting range, it's loud! If you don't like it go somewhere else to work". They have really good customer service, that's why I go back every week.

 

[bbqreloader]

I got lucky, I love my indoor range, they gladly allow most reloads, (no tracers or steel core), will let me me pick up brass (hell, even sweeps it my way if the people next to me are not collecting theirs). They employ a gunsmith who will accept old ammo for destruction. If you want to find out why no reloads (probably $$) great, if not then find somewhere else.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I wouldn't shoot there. The local indoor range requires that you by their ammo for rental guns but in your own guns you can shoot what you want. They do have adv official ban on "rapid fire" but don't seem to enforce it if you're staying on target.

And if it's the one I am thinking of, they also rent full-auto guns for use on the "no rapid fire" range. Never figured that out.

 

[TimSr]

There are certain minor liability issues with handloads and with people on the floor picking up brass, but the ill will and loss of business far outweighs those minimal risks. I've had more issues with flying brass than people picking it up. I have yet to heard of a handloading catastrophe that affected a shooter in another booth. Any range that would permit guns or ammo that might penetrate their backstop would be negligent.

In the OPs case, I'd find another place to shoot, and very important, I would let people who run the first range know why. No need to get nasty, just calmly explain that your entire desire to shoot is contingent upon shooting your own reloads and reclaiming your components. Often these rules are something new range owners do out of ignorance, and if they know it is costing them business, they may seek other professional opinions and rethink their policy.

I've not run into a range with such a policy, and I always ask by phone before I even go there. I also ask about any ammo type restrictions, and specifically ask about any large caliber guns I way be shooting. Some restrictions are very necessary because of a ranges construction, and they will usually explain it to you. The ignornant rules for the sake of showing me whose in charge would cause me to pass up that one.

 

[Reloadron]

Reloadron: No solid (exposed) lead bullets allowed. The only other lead free handgun bullets I have ever seen were the tin products from Zero bullets (not sure if they are still available). All the copper non-tox bullets I have seen have been for rifles.

That makes much more sense, now I get it. Your original post read:

My indoor range forbids the use of lead bullets (except .22's) and steel/aluminum cased ammo; reloaded ammunition is allowed (other than the above lead bullet prohibition).

They do not forbid the use of lead bullets, they forbid the use of bullets having exposed lead. That is where I was confused. Thanks for the clarification.

Ron

 

[maddmaxx11]

They won't be in business long. Shoot somewhere else. There is a range here that says no to reloads if you ask them because of insurance. Everyone shoots reloads there, they never ask to see your ammo.

 

[TimSr]

So ... they charge you a fee to use the range and require you to buy & use only their high-priced ammo with the understanding that they will own the fired cases of the ammo that they just required you to buy at a premium price? <chuckle> That is nuts.

What is nuts is people who agree to those terms, and go in and shoot anyways, and then complain later that their brass was stolen, when they agreed to give it away as a condition of entry.

 

[GBExpat]

What is nuts is people who agree to those terms, and go in and shoot anyways, and then complain later that their brass was stolen, when they agreed to give it away as a condition of entry.

That too ...

 

[TwoEyedJack]

What you have to look at is the total cost of shooting. If a range had a "no reloads, you have to use our ammo" policy it still might be a better deal than a range that allows you to shoot your own depending on their ammo cost, range fees, and how many rounds you intend to shoot. You just have to do the math. Also, take into account the distance you have to drive.

I have never actually shot at an indoor range since I was a student at Penn State and took a riflery class. The range I go to is 10 miles away, open every single day, gives me the combination to the gate, and costs $25 per year. The only bad thing is it is only 100 yards on the rifle range. When I need to shoot longer ranges, it is in the BLM land near Sand Hollow, which is a longer drive but free. I put my 4-wheeler in the truck to set and check targets

 

[Reloadron]

TimSr makes a few very good points. It's one thing to rent range time by the hour and another animal to take out a range membership. Renting by the hour and you commit a "bad" they ask you to leave. However, sign a written agreement for membership, plop down your $300 plus and you may lose that membership non-refundable. That could suck big time. Important to know what you are signing and agreeing to.

Ron

 

[joem1945]

I belong to a club with both a indoor and outdorr range. At either range I take my brass catcher with me so I don't have to chase brass. There are very few reloaders there so there's plenty of free barss to pick up. I shoot reloads and don't rent any of their guns anyway. Also bring my own targets.

 

[Das Capitolin]

We have two indoor ranges here in Reno, NV. One allows factory ammo only, and the other will let you shoot anything. Neither of them allow you to pick up brass, since they don't want you wandering outside your lane or reaching around people's feet.