Outdoor range vs indoor range

[Mapledown]

Over the winter in Florida, I began to shoot at the outdoor range in our area. After a few months shooting outside, I must admit that I’m spoiled and frustrated that the arrival of June means I’m going to be shooting mostly inside for a while.

Today was probably my last day taking the 1022 outside, unless we get the odd cool morning when I can run out to shoot for an hour or two.

No groups over an inch at 50 yards. Mostly four shot groups so those are the ones I compared for progress. Number of shots in red and group size in blue. Here is my best group of the day:

Maybe this should be 0.45 instead of 0.43, but less than a half-inch anyway. It is also interesting to me that my shots on the lines were better than the groups in the circles. I’m going to print up some targets with only cross hairs and no solid shapes and see what results I can get.

My full write-up for the day:
https://backontherange.wordpress.com/2018/06/07/15-enjoying-the-outdoor-range/

 

[blume357]

Good shooting... and I agree... indoor ranges suck... my gun club has all outdoor ranges but both the pistol and rifle ranges are covered... so its tolerable in the summer, at least in the morning....

 

[powder smoke]

My buddy ask me to Join him at an indoor range in Brewer. I declined once I seen
the rules, when your brass hits the floor it is their's you can not pick it up.
I reload, so I said I'll pass. Not going to give it up thievery imo. ps

 

[blackhawknj]

Here in NJ, indoor shooting is the norm. Overcrowding, overbuilding, no firearms discharge ordnances, noise abatement ordnances, etc.

 

[pete44ru]

.

It's just the opposite here in New England - I shoot at my club's indoor range during cold/inclement Winter weather & on the 5 outdoor ranges (7, 25, 100 & 200 yds & the archery range) during the warmer Summer.


.

 

[Fox Mike]

My buddy ask me to Join him at an indoor range in Brewer. I declined once I seen
the rules, when your brass hits the floor it is their's you can not pick it up.
I reload, so I said I'll pass. Not going to give it up thievery imo. ps

Take a sheet and a roll of duct tape. Make yourself a 'tent'. The brass never will hit the floor, fold the sheet up after shooting and take your empties with you.

 

[Mapledown]

With the indoor range, I'm definitely trying to turn lemons into lemonade. I'm not going to stop practicing, that's for sure, so I do what I have to do. I agree with those who only take pistols indoors. Shooting a rifle at 25yards even with my 1022 is just frustrating now, even though I really appreciated it when I first started.

There is a long indoor range up in Tampa that hosts any kind of rifle up to 50bmg. At least we can sight in for 100 yards and practice the hand skills, breathing, trigger control, etc. I may not go as often because it is around an hour drive each way, but at least it is there if I get the rifle itch.

 

[Mobuck]

I'm SOOOOO fortunate to have a private 0-100 yard range just past my backyard gate and a 150-300 meter range just up the driveway. Need more? Just go down and mow out a path in the CRP up to 1/2 mile.

 

[Bob Wright]

and frustrated that the arrival of June means I’m going to be shooting mostly inside for a while.

If its only 90 degrees or so, why go indoors?

Bob Wright

 

[Colonialgirl]

Dade City Gun Club Range has a roof over the firing line for both the 25 yard pistol section and the 100 yard rifle section; They also have several fans in each area that keeps the temperatures bearable; Police up your own brass.

 

[blackhawknj]

Brass hits the floor, it's theirs ? Use a revolver or a 22. Or fire aluminum and steel cases and Berdan primed :mrgreen:

 

[contender]

While I agree that losing brass to an indoor range isn't acceptable to us reloaders, there is a real reason beyond money.

Empty brass that falls forward of the firing line,,, should NOT be recoverable unless the range is completely COLD! I have seen IDIOTS trying to recover brass in front of a firing line,,, putting themselves downrange of the booth next to them.

To cure the issue,,, use only firearms that eject worthless brass,,, (non-reloadable types,) OR,,,,, use a revolver & retain your brass.

Safety first!

And yes,,, some ranges use the spent brass as an extra bit of money in their till to help stay in business.

 

[Mapledown]

Dade City Gun Club Range has a roof over the firing line for both the 25 yard pistol section and the 100 yard rifle section; They also have several fans in each area that keeps the temperatures bearable; Police up your own brass.

Thanks! Dade City is not that much farther away. I'll check it out!

 

[Mobuck]

My Daughter and SIL shoot aluminum case ammo at the range even though they don't reload.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Dade City Gun Club Range has a roof over the firing line for both the 25 yard pistol section and the 100 yard rifle section; They also have several fans in each area that keeps the temperatures bearable; Police up your own brass.

Thanks! Dade City is not that much farther away. I'll check it out!

I Think the fee is $20 and shoot as long as you like; Switch between pistol and rifle with no problems. The range officers are generally a friendly bunch and well trained. The coffee up in the club house is FREE and they supply the targets too.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Revolvers don't spill brass on the floor.

Honestly a couple of hours in the morning or in the evening is about all I can take outside during the summer for shooting, fishing or model airplane flying or mowing the grass. Kinda the price we pay for year-round outdoor weather.

 

[wizofwas]

I'll shoot out doors all summer long, the heat doesn't bother me. I get cold when it drops below 80.
The Wyoming Antelope Club has covered it's shooting area and has fans in the overhead so it's not too bad. $20 for a non member and you get 3 targets and can shoot all day long, if the range is open. Some days are open longer than others, check schedule. The Manatee Gun range is also outdoors and has a covered area to shoot from. They have the pistol range and rifle range all the way out to 1000 yards. Both places, you police your own brass and can keep it with no problems..

 

[Tom W]

I went to the Russell County Sheriff's training range today. It started out hot, but got cloudy and was actually pretty decent. I took my Ruger LC9s Pro, a NEF 30/30 and my Ruger #1B in 30-06 A.I. The RO brought some Uberti Low walls an a High wall, in three or four different calibers. After everyone left but the RO and myself we commenced to shooting his rifles. I believe one was a 38-55 one was a 32-20 and I don't remember the other two, but they were small calibers and a joy to shoot. The range was supposed to close around noon or so, we stayed until 1500... Then we policed the area, put the target frames away and waited until the severe thunderstorm abated.
Did I ever mention that I love single shot rifles??

 

[WendyZXZ]

We have access to land out in the country for shooting and often end up visiting with friends and relatives outdoors. That is the main reason we both carry more than one firearm, plus ammunition and eye and ear protection in the trunks of our cars. It does get a nicer reception when you have some to bring out and pass around when the targets get set up and everyone can share with each other and try each others firearms. I keep a H&K USP .40 in the console of my car for easy access and then there is a SKS and a .357 revolver along with a couple of hundred rounds for each plus the mentioned safety equipment.

 

[bobski]

I prefer indoor. no cross wind. same lighting.
outdoor? sun is always moving. can be cloudy. bugs. sweat. rain. and of course....wind.

no need to worry about 'lights up sights up' indoors.
yet, I can shoot both. kinda fun smokin' sights with carbon. kinda cool taking in the elements before 1st shot.(afterall, that's what they created dope books for.)
that is...if you know what a dope book....is. :>

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
I shoot outdoors almost exclusively.
Once upon a time, I shot indoors in two different pistol leagues.
I no longer compete so I don't shoot at those places any longer.
The gun club I belong to has covered pistol and rifle ranges, so I shoot pretty much whenever I want.
I don't shoot very much in the winter and try to avoid extremely hot days as well.
Once I retire , which by the way, my last day is tomorrow, I will have a lot more freedom and opportunity to shoot more than I have in a couple of years.

 

[nekvermont]

I've never used an indoor range and don't even know of one in my neck of the woods. There is a very nice Field and Stream club about 15 miles away that I would definitely use if I didn't have my own 100 yd. range in the back yard. Here's a link to the Field and Stream club if anyone's interested in taking a look. They have quite a list of events scheduled for this year. http://www.caledoniaforestandstream.com/