Puzzled about range rule

[loki.fish]

Ok, a buddy of mine took me to a local range he's a member of. As I was reading some of the rules posted, I got to one that confused me. So, I figured I'd ask the more experienced guys to clarify. The rule:
"No military metal jacketed or ball ammunition allowed."

Does this mean only lead cast bullets? The "range" is more like a giant wildlife refuge and the actual pistol/rifle ranges were far away from the building the owner/workers were in. Since we were just shooting .22s, I didn't bother to ask about it and it was late when we left so I couldn't ask on the way out. I plan to ask them, but I wanted an idea of what to expect before I think about joining.

 

[Ed Ames]

Yeah, they don't want metal jacketed bullets.

I've only seen that rule at ranges that were worried about overpenetration of their backstops or in some cases metal targets. Almost always indoor. Hard jackets really chew through materials that will stop lead without any effort.

Might also see it if the range was reclaiming lead I guess....

 

[Flopsy]

My range sells me full jacketed bullets to fire off in their indoor range...I'd be perplexed too. They like to look at the ammo you're bringing in to make sure it's good stuff, but they only prohibit obviously badly done reloads.

 

[MisterPX]

That pretty much means no FMJ's. SP, HP, lead, are all good to go.

 

[loki.fish]

Well, that kind of makes no sense at all. It's an outdoor range with dirt mounds as a backup. I don't see what FMJ bullets will do that discourages them in this case, but hey, there are some things I don't know.

 

[Fn-P9]

Im a little sketchy on the details but at my the range I goto, Some people set the hill side on fire apparently shooting military surplus ammo. Either knowingly or unknowing a tracer was in the group. My range also says this ("No military metal jacketed or ball ammunition allowed.") thats my guess.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

It would bet that Fn-P9 is likely correct. While else would they stipulate "Military" metal jacketed bullets, as apposed to just full metal jacketed bullets period?

 

[Greybeard]

Indoor range operator here.

A primary reason for the rule at many outdoor ranges is that rifle FMJs, if hitting ground short of target, are most prone to "skip the berm". High discharges can easily penetrate wood baffles without deformation. Golfers and similar individuals downrange can often get quite upset over either.

 

[redneck2]

One time we were shooting at a maybe foot diameter rock about 200 yards out in a field with an SKS and military ammo. One of the rounds hit the rock, bounced back at maybe a 45 degree angle over 2/3rds of the way.

Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. I'd second the thing about military stuff wanting to skip.

 

[deadin]

I would guess that they had some bad experiences with AP, tracer or incendiary at one time or another and find it simpler to just restrict "military" ammo. (Gee, I didn't know what the red tip meant on this old surplus ammo I picked up cheap. )

Dean

 

[Ben Shepherd]

No "military" fmj you say? Outdoor range? Easy.

A lot of surplus FMJ stuff is a mild steel jacket instead of copper. This means it can spark when it ricochets. They don't want a fire.

Out where I live, the west desert gets set on fire at least twice per year this way. So far we've been lucky, none of the fires have got away from the fire dept.

That's why I ALWAYS take a lot of water when I go, and save the 100+ yard stuff for non-steel jacketed ammo.

Whant to know if your surplus is steel jacketed? Use a magnet.

 

[kimbernut]

FMJs????

I'd be interested in the answer to their answer to this question myself. To ban tracer rounds I can understand but an FMJ ban I do not understand.

 

[AJ Dual]

As has been said, the ban on Milsurp ball and FMJ is one of four things, or any combination there of:

1. Overpenetration concerns depending on the nature of the range and the backstop.

2. Riccochet concerns.

3. Spark/fire concerns.

4. A desire to try and force range patrons to buy their ammunition there, rather than bring their own inexpensive bulk ammunition.

 

[.38 Special]

I think Ben hit the nail on the head. Two of the outdoor ranges in my part of the world (brushfire country) do not allow military FMJ becasue of the steel jacket/fire risk.

 

[unspellable]

bullet bans at the range

Our indoor pistol range allows lead or FNJ but bans soft points and hollow points. The say the sharp edge on the jacket chews up the baffles in the backstop.

We have no bans at the outdoor range. Things don't get so dry here so we don't have to worry about fires.

 

[Jim K]

I don't know this from personal experience, but I was told one range had a fire from tracer or incendiary bullets, and banned them. So some of the wiseguys who believe rules are made for someone else, scraped the paint off tracer bullets and used them anyway. ("I got a Second Amendment right to start fires and burn forests...")

So the range banned all FMJ or military type bullets rather than argue with the yahoos as to what was tracer or not.

Jim

 

[Carl N. Brown]

At the gun club I belong to we have had a few metal
swinging targets ruined by folks who shot military ammo.

 

[JohnKSa]

Greybeard nailed it.

One of the ranges I frequent has a similar rule and the reason given is exactly what Greybeard said.