My range: Ammo limitations

[CDR_Glock]

I have a silly question: my range allows only factory ammo and factory reloads. However, no reloads from home are allowed.

Someone on a local trading site sells reloads. Can I use those at the range? What is the difference amongst buying reloads from a factory, versus a business (ie The Trader) versus home reloads?


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[Hondo 60]

You'd have to ask at the range whether it's ok or not.

Some factories produce reloaded ammo. The difference? Just that the brass has been used before.

I see no difference between factory reloads & my reloads.
I'm sure the range is concerned that some home reloads aren't safe. Meaning some joker may make +P+++++ ammo, which then blows up the gun etc, etc.

 

[rcmodel]

What you do is collect up some nice factory ammo boxes from the range trash can.

Then reload yourself some nice factory looking reloads.

Then put them in the factory boxes.

I would challenge any range owner to tell the difference by looking at my reloads.
(Although mine might be a little shinier.)

rc

 

[benzuncle]

There is a certain gun store/range chain in Central Florida that doesn't allow reloaded ammo to be used anymore, citing a blown up revolver that some joker scoop-loaded ammo using a coffee scoop or coal shovel or some such thing. I don't recall people scooping loads for semi-auto pistols but imagine there is someone out there that feels it is important to them to do so. Funny thing: more people have committed suicide at this chain's ranges than have had their guns blow up. So I guess melon-poppers are okay as long as you rent your firearm from them.

When I feel the overpowering need to use their ranges, I do what rcmodel suggests.

 

[LiveLife]

What you do is collect up some nice factory ammo boxes from the range trash can.

Then reload yourself some nice factory looking reloads.

Then put them in the factory boxes.

Too funny - I like the way you think! If you want to be even more accurate, sort your brass by head stamp and primer color (nickel plated or brass). If you reload FMJ RN bullet profile, it will be very difficult to tell whether they are factory or reloads.

I would challenge any range owner to tell the difference by looking at my reloads.
(Although mine might be a little shinier.)

Depending on age and storage conditions, many factory ammunition lose their "shiny" look and appear dull on the brass and copper. Some new plated bullets are hard to tell from jacketed factory bullets as they have very smooth copper finish on them (Rainier, Berry's, Powerbond/RMR bullets, etc.)

Have fun now!

 

[RandyP]

My local indoor range has a prohibition on bare lead reloads for starters..... to much for their air handlers to filter it seems.

I don't make any announcments or anything but always shoot my FMJ reloads and at least so far there have been no issues raised.

 

[swiftak]

How do they know they are reloads or factory?

 

[LiveLife]

How do they know they are reloads or factory?

Like rcmodel posted, if FMJ/Plated RN come out of factory boxes with matching head stamp and primer color, real tough for the range to press the issue.

I just pulled a bullet off Blazer Brass 230 gr FMJ 45 Auto (Lot # H11N25) with "CCI 45 AUTO" head stamp with nickel plated primer and it is a COPPER PLATED bullet.

So, pull a bullet off the factory ammo and duplicate the components (jacketed/plated bullets and nickel/brass primers).

If anyone asks about the ejector marks on the case lip, they are from "feed/chambering" practices done at home with the "factory" ammo.

Disclaimer - Well, this is THR, so you should do what is right for you.

 

[malefactor]

If the range master is watching and your rounds are failing to fire it could be a good indication they are reloads and that you had no idea what you were doing.

Just saying...I've seen this before.

 

[Muttt]

Keep some empty boxes from your factory ammo and then just stick them into the old boxes. Viola, factory ammo.


Thats a stupid rule.

 

[FROGO207]

My indoor range is just the opposite! They encourage reloads. The limit is 1000 fps on anything over 22LR and lead or plated only with a 45 cal max. We have 5/8 steel for the backstop so those limitations were put in place to save lots of patching. Outside is anything goes as long as you are safe and don't damage anyone's property. I wonder about the 50BMG at 100 YDS however as we have a couple members that do shoot them there.

 

[swiftak]

bds, thats what I mean. If someone at the range is checking ammo that close they have way too much time on their hands. My reloads look like factory ammo. I'm sure alot of peoples do.

 

[RustyFN]

If you are shooting tight groups it will be a dead give away that you are shooting reloads.

 

[LiveLife]

bds, thats what I mean. If someone at the range is checking ammo that close they have way too much time on their hands.

I agree. I have never heard of any range requiring factory reloads only.

If you are shooting tight groups it will be a dead give away that you are shooting reloads.

Shoot some "flyers" from time to time and "loudly" complain about your lousy shot groups and you'll be fine.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

What RC said.

 

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THERE IS ALWAYS SOME CITY COWBOY WITH A NEW SET OF RELOADER & dies
THAT WONDERS WHAT ONE AND ONE HALF TIMES THE POWDER WOULD DO TO
A TARGET OR OLD CAR BODY.
ONLY TO FIND OUT HOW TO BLOW UP A GUN IN HIS FACE!!

 

[altitude_19]

I've had cases of Ultramax come from the factory with various headstamps (Speer, Federal, etc). They remanufacture cheap ammunition and don't bother trying to cover that fact up. No knowledgable person should question a box of Ultramax no matter what the headstamp is. Just make sure they don't stand out (silver bullets, too loud, too quiet, etc).

 

[RhinoDefense]

"Factory" these days means "federally licensed ammunition manufacturer".

That could be a full blown production facility. It could be a small time setup in a pole building with a couple Camdex. It could be a cost-wise person with a few Dillon progressives working out of their home.

There is a confusion and stigma about reloaded ammo these days that I simply don't get. I've had more big name "factory" Remington, Winchester, Federal, Hornady ammunition fail, blow up guns, primer seated backwards, bullet seated upside down, et al. Never ever had a single occurrence from my personal handloads or the ammunition my company loads and sells. I've been doing this quite a few years.