Shooting at an indoor range

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kanook said:
The people that complain about noise at an indoor range are the same that complain about the smoke from a muzzle loader at an outdoor range.

My wife and I were testing some loads for her hunting rifle and the group next to us were trying to get their slide fire stock to work. I knew they do not allow rapid fire at this range. Found the RO and asked him if the rules had changed and he said "yes".

The wife and I waited till the group was done and then we finished with her rifle. They were there first and were not braking any rules (although they were lucky if the could hit the ground with the wasted of aim and ammo)

We could have kept firing but chose to wait. Same goes for when we shoot Black powder. Some people complain, They act like I'm making the wind blow in their direction or making the wind not blow so the smoke blinds everybody.

We are all shooters and should be polite to each other, but as long as I'm being safe and not endangering anybody or anything I will continue.
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Sounds like a contradiction to me. Be polite but only if it works out for you?
 
I guess you missed the part where I mentioned the Slide Fire thing. I was polite and let them finish as they were not breaking any rules.

If you're shooting your pistol safely and it bothers me, I need to move.

If I'm shooting BP safely and you don't like it. Sorry for you.

If you have a muzzle brake on your rifle and set up next to you, it's part of shooting. Same goes for all the other nit picks people keep coming up with.

If I purposely set up so the smoke blows in your face, that's not being polite.
 
To the OP: You're shooting with a 4" barrel right? If so, that shouldn't cause patrons to run off.
I shoot a snub nose magnum....now that's a different animal. It's the fireball from the muzzle that scares people away and of course it's really really loud.

Simply go to the range during non-peak times, I think that would show enough consideration for your fellow shooters.
 
When I had my .460, people would complain about it on the pistol range. It was only 50yds but I was shooting a pistol on the pistol range.

So I get permission to shoot on the 100yd rifle range. Guess what, they complained.

So off to the 200yd rifle range (where I wanted to be anyway). First complaint was I was shooting a pistol on the rifle range, next was it was so loud the could'nt concentrate when shooting.

Moral is no matter where you go, there will be complaints. Be polite, be safe, and shoot on.
 
kanook said:
I guess you missed the part where I mentioned the Slide Fire thing. I was polite and let them finish as they were not breaking any rules.

If you're shooting your pistol safely and it bothers me, I need to move.

If I'm shooting BP safely and you don't like it. Sorry for you.

If you have a muzzle brake on your rifle and set up next to you, it's part of shooting. Same goes for all the other nit picks people keep coming up with.

If I purposely set up so the smoke blows in your face, that's not being polite.
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My apologies, I misinterpreted your post. I see what you're saying now
 
tightgroup tiger said:
The range officers were all watching me shoot through the windows and all I could think was they probably will blame me for chasing off their customers.
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Sounds like this is part of the problem. I thought a RO's job included being on the range, assisting shooters and teaching them how to deal with matters like this.

Perhaps discretely invite the owner out for a cup of coffee (away from the range) and discuss his position on this subject. Find out what he would like you to do to help solve this.
 
If someone is shooting an objectionable firearm, how about the folks who don't like it just waiting a bit out of range, until they're done.
Not too many big boomer shooters do it for very long.
Never understood why some people think they're deserving of special considerations, and the world is required to accommodate them.

My smarter half is very noise sensitive.
If there's a big banger at the range when we're there, she just temporarily retires out of range and reads her book until they're through.
No big deal.
 
When I go to my indoor range and step to the firing line I expect to hear loud bangs. That is why I wear good hearing protection. My range places an age limit of 8 years old on young shooters accompanied by a parent. I typically shoot 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 45 ACP, 45 Colt or 44 Magnum. I really don't care if the shooter beside me is shooting 454 Casull or 500 S&W or for that matter any other hand cannon. If someone else finds the bark of a full power load in a handgun too much they can drag their butt off the range. I sure as heck will not feel bad about what I am shooting. It's a range after all, ranges do tend to be loud with bang noise, as far as I can remember and that is a long time.

Additionally if the person beside me is shooting a full power 454 Casull more power to them. I should be focused and concentrating on my target and my shots, not anticipating their loud bang. My own bang should come as a surprise to me.

Just My Take....
Ron
 
I have been to ranges where regular Magnums weren't a problem, because of expenses and thoughts put in sound proofing (usually because of neighbourhood considerations, not for us).

So I would say that courtesy goes a long way but range managers have to work on it too. Mine has 22 and air gun only hours for example; it makes planning and enjoying much easier despite limited hours of operation.

I would talk again to the owner and make suggestions.
 
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There is a specific purpose to why I shoot my magnum stuff, that being I only load for self defense, and my self defense loads just happen to be full house magnums. And I also welcome others shooting the same loud fire ball stuff, this helps me to stay acclimated to what I carry. I also shoot 38's, but even those are pretty nasty, full house charges of Longshot are no picnic either.

So to recap, a good sportsman should always consider those around him or her, and respect their presence and purpose as well. This is best accomplished by communicating, inquiring, and then if necessary, taking a step back while they finish their routine. This approach usually goes a long way with everyone, which I think the OP has demonstrated well.

GS
 
Thank you all very much for your honesty and kind comments. I did call the owner of the range and he was the one that made the comment to me about the awfully load bangs. I really like him and his family since they have treated me like there family and I didn't want to hurt his business by chasing his customers off.

I asked him sincerely if he wanted me to stop shooting my magnum loads there and he asked me why I was asking this.

I told him it was because of the comment he made about him hearing some awfully load bangs there" and because of one of his employees complaining about what I shoot.

He immediately started apologizing to me and told me he never meant his comment to mean that. He told me I shoot anything 44 magnum and under and my .357 magnums were more than acceptable to him and if anyone didn't like it, they don't have to come back.

He said they don't offer anything larger than 44 magnums because of the noise they make but people that shoot there, including his employees have to realize this is a shooting range and my guns were perfectly acceptable there and apologized again and said he never meant for me to take it that way and I was more than welcome there and not to give it another moments thought.

I feel so much better now but I will still be very conscience of the people around me. Especially the girls and the children, I won't be responsible for spawning anymore anti's than we already have.

Again, thank you all, Gamestalker, JW, and all the rest of you, thank you for your honesty and for your understanding.
 
I've had folks ask me what I was shooting with my loaded 357s. But it's small compared to the 44's and some rifles. I just wear double ear plugs.
 
I wait until the shooters next to me stop. And then I say "Hey, just so you know this is going to be really loud." Everyone seems cool with that. Then I shake the place up with a .357 snubbie.
 
Reminds me of when I was in Colorado. I shot at an indoor, underground, 100 yard rifle range in Denver. It actually had a cable pulley system that went that far. The guy a couple lanes over from me was shooting a 338 Lapua with a muzzle brake. Being near him in that space was...an experience. :uhoh: Was really glad i wore plugs AND muffs that day.
 
Full tilt, from a short bbl,at an indoor range, is pretty annoying. My indoor range does not allow any magnum ammo. People shoot it occasionally. I won't complain as long as they are polite about it. The noise level indoors is pretty bad. If I know someone is shooting a mag then I wear earplugs and muffs. Plugs alone do not cut it.
 
Was really glad i wore plugs AND muffs that day.
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If I know someone is shooting a mag then I wear earplugs and muffs. Plugs alone do not cut it.
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You should always. I wear plugs and 30db muffs for shooting 9mm at an indoor range. You can't replace your hearing when you start loosing it. You won't even realize it until it's to late.
 
I've fired some fairly heavy loads in my 357 Redhawk at my outdoor range and after 2 or 3 cylinders full was asked by some bystanders what was I firing a 44 mag. When I told them it was a 357 they gave me that you're kidding right?.
 
I get that two. People see an N-frame and hear all that noise and think it's a 44mag.
They're used to hearing or shooting the cheap practice ammunition that's available today.
 
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