Does Your Range Require Their Ammo?

M

Martowski

New member
I range just opened up by me and they have a policy of only being able to shoot their ammo at the range. They indicate it's for liability purposes, and they even require .22 ammo to be purchased from them. Their ammo prices aren't horrible so they aren't gouging people, but the fact is I can get similar ammo for slightly cheaper from other sources and this eliminates me using my own reloads or experimenting with different types of factory ammo.

Do your ranges have similar policies and is this fairly common?
 
The range near me doesn't require that you buy their ammo, however they insist on inspecting the ammo you bring with you. The reason I was told is that they only allow lead or full metal jacket. Apparently, the copper jackets on hollow points were flying back and striking peoples hands and faces. Also, I think they may have also recently went to a "no-handloads" rule.
 
It's pretty common apparently. I've never even seen a range in these parts that SOLD ammo, say nothing of requiring you buy it but it's a topic of conversation on this forum regularly.
 
No I belong to a private range and shoot what you want. The only restriction we have is only to take the brass you shoot. All other brass belongs to the range. The money made from the brass is used for range supplies, targets 1X2's and the such
 
The ranges I use require their ammo only for any guns you might rent from them.

I have gotten my ammo from them as I am a member and get a break on price.

I have only used one of their guns to see if I wanted to buy one and only had factory ammo to run through it that I had brought into the store. They questioned me about it but did allow me to use it.

The policy seems to be that if you rent one of their guns, you MUST purchase their range ammo and it makes no difference if you purchased range ammo the day before or not.

They made an exception for me and that is not the norm.

Geetarman:D
 
None of the ranges by me do this. There are a few that only allow brass (they don't want to have to sort out other stuff ... and you can pick up your own brass) and the ones that rent guns require you to buy their ammo if you rent a gun from them but if it's your gun, then you can bring your own.
 
Yeah, I've seen some ranges that say no to steel case ammo and others that have the requirement of only their ammo through their guns. But this range requires it through all firearms. The owner said they couldn't have someone bringing in bad handloads and such, but when I questioned him about .22 ammo he still said it was for insurance liability.

The range just opened and it's literally the only public range in town and the only one for at least 50 miles with indoor lanes, and I do have a membership and will buy their ammo of course. Was more curious if this is common or not.
 
While I can understand their reasons I would never give any business to a facility that required me to buy ammo from them or not allow me to pick up my brass. I'll find another range.
 
It seems that "insurance" is always the reason given, yet I can see no explanation for the far more common scenario of ranges with no restrictions whatsoever. Possibly, some business owners are really bad at finding good insurance. More likely, insurance is a publicly acceptable excuse for a decision designed to maximize profit. Maximizing profit, I have no issue with, lying to do it, I take exception.
 
For the guns you brought, you can use any ammo you like EXCEPT steel case and bullets with steel cores. Reason being, the steel case ammo usually has steel cores (their reasoning), and the steel cores blow holes in the bullet traps. They inspect your ammo, although some guys have been sneaking in the penetrator stuff. The policy is likely changing to "if we find you shooting unapproved ammo, you're out and not allowed to return... EVER." Don't blame them.

For rental guns, you have to use their ammo, but it's usually relatively inexpensive stuff remanufactured by a local guy. Personally, I don't like that type of ammo in my own guns (it was giving my dad's gun fits the last time we were there).

They're fine with you picking up your own brass.
 
One I shoot at only requires you to buy ammo from them is if you rent one of their guns. But they do want to inspect to make sure of the type you use. They say if you can attach a magnet then it is a no go.
 
I don't shoot at our club unless its a match, (I shoot at home) but they don't care what you shoot.

The place where I do my LEOSA annual qualification is an indoor range in Portland that does require you to use their ammo, but its not a bad deal, the charge me $45 for the qualification witch includes ammo and a laminated card saying I qualified IAW the LEOSA. They give you a box of 50 and you use 25 for the course. No big deal, its a highly professional outfit (Clackamas County LE Training Center who's indoor range is open to the public and members).

I don't mind using their ammo for my qualification, but I shoot way too much to be able to afford a place that requires I use their ammo for all my pistol/revolver shooting.
 
the outdoor range i use is run by the county and there are no restrictions on ammo and you can pick up your own brass. they dont sell ammo so i guess they would'nt have a problem. i could see this being more of a problem with indoor ranges. there not to many places at an outdoor range where the bullet could ricochet.
 
The range I am a member at only requires it when you use the rentals. Even then however in the times I've used their guns, some of the clerks ask if I want ammo as an afterthought, others ask how much I want right when I ask for the rental.

Previous ranges I've been to though had their ammo only policies.
 
The owner said they couldn't have someone bringing in bad handloads and such, but when I questioned him about .22 ammo he still said it was for insurance liability.
Click to expand...

OK, that makes sense....if they don't make enough money to pay their insurance, then they will be liable! :rolleyes:

The range I go to these days has only one rule about ammo. NO TRACERS!
(that also includes incindiary, API, or anything that burns).

The one other rule that covers ammo isn't about the ammo, its about what not to shoot. NO shooting AP ammo at the steel targets! The are steel plate targets at 200, 250, 300, & 400 yds on the main range.

One indoor range I used to go to (now gone, owner retired), had a speed restiction. Nothing over 2000fps, if I remember right. He loaded and sold ammo, but it wasn't required you use it.

SO, with this range you are talking about, I guess anybody that has a gun in a caliber they don't stock ammo for can't shoot there at all, huh?

And nobody who handloads will go there to test their loads....

SO, I wonder if the owner really thought this through. The tiny profit they make on the ammo they sell to every customer vs. the reduction in the portential customer base (some of whom would buy some ammo from them, sometimes, anyway)?

No,its not a common practice where I live.
I think the owner is using "insurance" as an excuse for his policy.
Tell him you have a "friend" who can probably get him a better policy or a better deal on what he pays for that insurance, and see how he reacts!:D
 
I use the ranges at the Sprague Rod & Gun Club, which I've been a member of for 17 years now. If you're in Southeastern CT and are looking for a local gun club, check us out. You can visit our site here:

http://www.spraguerodandgun.com/

We don't sell ammo, but do charge for the skeet ranges to cover the clay birds. The ranges are open to members and guests. I would be happy to make arrangements to meet TFL members who would like to shoot at the club. There are some restrictions on range use:

Basement range, .22 only no .17 HMR, cannot use when hall (directly above) is in use

Pistol ranges, hand guns and .22 rifles only

Rifle range, no .50 BMG, black powder of .50 cal OK

Skeet fields, pay per round of skeet

There are restrictions on hours of operation for the outdoor ranges, 1200 to 1/2 hour before sunset weekdays, 0900 to 1/2 hour before sunset weekends

All ranges are closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. There may also be restrictions on range use due to competitions being held. I think we run IDPA, bullseye, and bowling pin matches on the pistol ranges. I heard someone talking about three-gun matches that the rifle range is used for. We have skeet league teams, I think three of them this season, so the skeet fields are closed during league matches.

I have friends who belong to other local gun clubs and they have similar regulations. I do not know of any local gun clubs that require you to use their ammo. Some of the businesses that have indoor ranges may have this requirement, but I have never been shooting at either of the two that I know of so I can't say for sure.
 
I've seen a very wide range, pardon the pun...

No restrictions.

No restrictions, but take only your own brass.

Lead-free ammo only, due to cost of ventilation system and upkeep.

No steel-core ammo, due to damage to the facility.

Range ammo only, for use in rental guns.

Total Metal Jacket required (this was at a facility in WA state; I couldn't find TMJ anywhere but at the range, so it was effectively a range ammo only deal, even if it wasn't literally range ammo only).

No reloads.

FMJ or TMJ only.

You get the idea. It really does vary from one facility to the next.

The range I currently use is $12 for the day, or $9 for the day if you buy a $20 annual membership. No requirement to buy their ammo or targets. Shoot what you want. Stay all day. Only downside is, they don't regulate the number of people, and the fee paid for all day, so it's possible to pay up, then find all lanes full. No big deal, as you can come back later in the day, or else you just go at off-times.

Restrictions will be much easier once I close on my new place... Go out in back yard, shoot. Life in the sticks... Gotta love it.
 
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