Went shooting at an indoor range today...not as awful as I expected

C

checkmyswag

New member
I still prefer outdoor ranges, but this one was nearby.

What I did like:

didn't hear any rapid fire
didn't see any safety violations


What I didn't like:

had to ask their range policies/procedures before entering the range (they didn't tell me)
targets didn't stay still
there were no cease fires to change targets, so when I had to change my target it flopped all over, potentially in front of the other lanes
was stuffy
brass was EVERYWHERE
 
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That sounds like a very poor indoor range. I've been to a few indoor ranges and there have been a couple I really liked and a couple I'd never go back to. My experience the newer the range the better because they have more updated equipment. Also a range where they do sponsored competitions like by glock or other major brands will have better equipment and be nicer in general
 
The thing I don't like about most indoor ranges is the poor ventalation. Before I found out how to get the gun powder taste out of my mouth I would have to taste the gun smoke for days.
 
I guess I have been spoiled. The only indoor range near me is a NSSF five star rated range less than a year old! I just started shooting this year so I have never had to experience anything other than that. :)
 
I love the indoor range here. I do live in louisiana though so I would much rather be indoors than out in the 100 degree 100% humidity heat. I shoot outdoors a lot more when october hits.
 
didn't hear any rapid fire
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Ah, another PC range. Dont you just hate that? How are you supposed to learn anything?

didn't see any safety violations
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What, no bullet holes in the counters, dividers/walls and ceilings? If not, that would be the first indoor range (outdoor too for that matter) I was ever in that didnt. Generally though, Ive seen a lot more at the indoor ranges than I can remember seeing at the outdoor ranges.

targets didn't stay still
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You act like thats a "bad" thing. :)

there were no cease fires to change targets
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Other than a mine, and a couple of friends basements, most places Ive shot indoors that were actually a "range", had a pulley retrieval system of some sort. No cease fire necessary.

was stuffy
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That tends to be the nature of the beast. Some places are cheap too, and only run the fans once in awhile. Others often dont run the heat or air either, unless people really start bitching.

brass was EVERYWHERE
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Great, aint it? :)

Assuming they let you pick it up, many places dont, indoor ranges are a great place to scrounge brass. I usually always leave with more than I came with. :)
 
greensboro NC

first I want to comment on the title of the thread. my first thought was that someone was shot at an indoor range, glad that was not the case.

we have a nice indoor range here in greensboro. the owners and management provide first time shooters with safety information and instruction. rules are common sense and posted for everyone.

the lanes are positively ventilated (no lingering smoke), kinda cool in the winter and warm in the summer.

targets are fastened to a pulley system so no cease fires needed.

the facility also offers concealed carry classes at the going rate for the area with the addition of a few months membership to the range.

non members can shoot for a nominal daily fee and memberships start at $35 for 3 months.

all in all, a nice range.
 
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didn't hear any rapid fire
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That is what annoys me about ranges around where I live. I can't rapid fire at any. To me this is a negative.
didn't see any safety violations
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I don't know where you were but from my experience people can be just as stupid indoors as outdoors. Actually it shows more when inside. Look up next time to see the bullet holes in the ceiling.
there were no cease fires to change targets
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I like this better. It means no waiting to put your target out. You can shoot at your own pace and no one is interrupting your shooting to change their target.
 
Well, I am glad you are okay! ROFL!!!

When I read the title, I thought you meant you had been shot at an indoor range! I was expecting a thread about an accidental/negligent discharge.

Wow.

Jason
 
That range sounds fairly hands off, which I think I might enjoy more than my local range. There, no brass is sitting around because they have a guy that stays in the range the entire time and sweeps every 2minutes or so. Often hitting your bags with the broom or occasionally your foot while you are shooting. I have to stop shooting after every magazine to collect my brass so it doesn't disappear. This guy also acts as a range officer, and sometimes it is a knowledgeable employee and sometimes a kid that mis-enforces or over-enforces of range policies. You get the feeling that he is staring at you waiting to catch you doing something wrong. It is high tech, but also fairly spendy at $21 per hour. I guess my thoughts on it is that is I have to have a minimal oversight range or a tightly controlled range, I would prefer that lax one granted that it is at least safe.
 
My local range makes new folks read and sign the range regs, and they give you a quick verbal summary of same. The Range Officers watch the lanes pretty closely and now and then you hear someone get yelled at about some range violation or other, usually about shooting targets closer than 21 feet. The result is a safe, comfortable range.

Most ranges, as another in this thread said, have pulley-driven target retrieval systems like on "Lethal Weapon." :D So no cease-fire required.

I regret that my indoor range, in common with most of them, does not allow rapid-fire. The rule is 1 shot/second max. This rule is often violated and mostly the range officers are tolerant of this within reason.

Many indoor ranges do not allow the use of hollow-point rounds. This is a pain since it means that you cannot test the best HD rounds at the range.

Overall, I enjoy shooting at indoor ranges. Of course, nothing compares to driving out to the desert and shooting at reactive targets with no one around for miles.
 
PC, NOPE just the liability insurance.....

saying what can and cannot go.

All brass on floor is the RANGES' and they are making MONEY off the resale to commercial reloaders, the clients for brass or SCRAP!

In home state all DNR ranges are single fire or MUST have a three-second spacing between shots, for all firearms.
 
there were no cease fires to change targets,
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Why would you need a cease fire if you have the typical power target retrieval system?

If you want the target to stay still get a length of heavy chain, tie and string and a binder clip to the chain (it should be half resting on the floor) and clip it to the bottom of the target backer (Bullseye shooters have only been doing this forever).
 
I mention the cease fire...not to go downrange, but in order to not disturb my neighbors when my target is being retrieved or set out. It was swinging about and I thought, wow is that actually going into their lanes!? It was pretty tight quarters.

I can join a super nice outdoor range for $200 the first year, then $100 a year after that...may look at doing that.
 
My local indoor range

Pro's
7$ for the day come and go
allow outside reloaded/lead ammo
rapid fire allowed
mag changes/holster fire after they certify you are qualified(uspsa shooter)
AC big + in south FL
lazy target retrieval

Con's
Unprofessional staff/salesmen
LOUD
no cold range(its nice to have silence for a few min)
No conversations because of no cold range(I like talking to shooters at the range)
 
A Gander Mountain Academy just opened up a couple minutes from where I live. Me and a guy from work were thinking about banging out a couple rounds there. The range looks nice and well maintained with individual stalls, and bullet resistant glass between the shooters. The targets can be programmed to quickly move away, advance and turn. It looks like a good range and for for $20 an hour, use your own ammo (no reloads), bring as many firearms as you want... Sounds like a weekly/every other week outing.
 
That sounds like a very poor indoor range.
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I was going to go deep of the other responses, but that sums it up, including proper ventilation. Me, for $15 a day from 9am-7pm, used to be 9pm.:confused:

In Vegas I hate going to the outdoor range, besides I don't like there systems being a pain.

Also, It's to cold, or to hot, to windy or to dusty. Last time it was all those, except hot, and to top it all off (??:mad:), they started to sweep up the shooting area :mad:, kicking up the dust all over my exposed gun's which are not your crappie Taurus's, or what ever cheap gun I can legally dog online!

TBS, my indoor range right now is to hot, and they can't keep up with the 110*F weather, it's a whole 85*F with air. To hot for my comfort.
 
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