So what are the pro's vs. con's for shooting at a range... I talk to some people I know and some don't like in-door ranges and they prefer out-door...and vis-versa... just looking for some opinions.

They're just different. Also, I think access to one or the other is more difficult for some, so the "don't like" may be partly because of travel distance . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

To me, there are two major health concerns when using an indoor range: 1) the most important - is airborne lead contamination, and 2) potential hearing damage due to noise. When shooting indoors (there is an indoor range less than 3 miles from my front door), I always wear both ear plugs and muffs, and the noise is still bothersome.

Regards,

Dave

I much prefer to shoot in my club's indoor range during the winter when the temp is in the single digits and the wind is blowing a gale. Otherwise, I like the outdoor range. Double-O-Dave is correct about the lead contamination problem indoors for ranges that have inadequate ventilation, which is just about all of them. I've had problems with elevated blood lead levels in the past, and now always wear a half-face respirator with P100 filters when shooting indoors. We're usually just shooting .22s indoors, so a good pair of muffs will do the job, but if someone is shooting anything larger I agree it's a good idea to double up.

Two things I can only do at my outdoor range: Long distance rifle shooting, and trap shooting.

Two things I only get at my indoor range: Year-round comfort, powered target trolleys (no waiting for a range shooting halt to replace your target).

There are other site specific perks that may offer value to the user. There are several indoor ranges near my home and the amenities range from bare-bones to extensive. The range rules and price structure also vary. The more noticeable differences are restrictions to ammo and lane time.

My club has fresh air ducts over each shooting station that push air very forcefully. Takes some getting used to. Some members wear brimmed hats to deflect it.

There are many variables to consider - noise, lighting, airflow, rain, temperature, drive distance, shooting distances, ability to shoot reloaded ammo, etc

I prefer shooting outside unless it's cold, raining, or too windy. Thankfully my city has opened 2 indoor ranges in the last year. Previously there were none. One of them just opened last week. The newest one allows you to shoot reloads whereas the first one did not. Since 90% of my shooting is reloads I rarely visited the range that's been around for a year now.

Indoor ranges are fine for pistol distances but most people aren't too interested in shooting rifles at 25 yards.

I prefer an outdoor range over an indoor one any day of the week.

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Jorge

I haven't been to an indoor range since I was a kid. Still I prefer outdoor. Much more comfortable for me. I like being outside even in the cold weather. And I handle the noise much better outside vs inside.

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I dislike indoor ranges intensely.

They are too loud and cramped and limit what shooting can be done.

My outdoor club is infinitely more pleasant physically and offers much more variety from trap to 200 yard rifle to silhouette, to small bore ranges to pistol ranges that allow movement and multiple target sets.

Going to an indoor range is like standing in a closet by comparison.

I can't remember the last time I went to an outdoor range.

There are two indoor ranges I use. Both let me draw from the holster and rapid fire. One has programmable turning targets I can use for reactive shooting.

One of the last times I went to an outdoor range someone negligently discharged a round after the RO/instructor called a cease fire and walked down range to check on a target. I like the fact that I don't have to go down range to check my target at an indoor range.

The only outdoor ranges near me are either public ranges that are only open 2-3 days/week or private ranges that aren't accepting new membership applications...at least they weren't the last time I checked.

It depends on what I'm doing (and the weather).
In the Winter and on rainy days, I go to the Indoor range, but all other times, I go to the Outdoor range.

The Outdoor range only charges $10 for all day, where the Indoor range charges $10 per Hour.

When there are no CHL (Now LTC) classes going on, the owner of the Outdoor range Lets me use the LTC bay to set up multiple targets and practice IDPA scenarios and shoot on the move, whereas the Indoor range is 'Static' shooting.

On an indoor range the sound reverberates off the walls and you get the vibrations several times as opposed to once outdoors. No matter how many pairs of ear protection you wear, you will suffer more damage indoors than out. Ask me, I know after instructing for 25 years.
Plus the air is a heck of a lot cleaner outdoors and you can shoot longer distances.

I prefer a outdoor range. Among its many attributes is the potential to be much longer than a indoor. I have a close to 100 yard safe range on my own property and use it often.

I belong to a small rural "redneck club" about 15 miles from my house. They have a 70' indoor range. Any conventional pistol can shoot there, no rifles other than rim fire. As the club is small me and Mrs Lakesider go there about twice a week lately and have always had the 9 position range to ourselves. Its heated and a heck of a lot better during the winters or rain time of upper NYS. FWIW the club also has up to a 200 yard outdoor range

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Wow thanks for the input guys, I'm prior military and served on MARINE CORP. tanks as a gunner so I'm used to noise.. great point about the ventilation for sure and I've shot at out-door ranges before but doesn't really matter to me, thanks for your input all.

My father and grandfather helped build the local indoor shooting range. But, with politics and the way the place was run, we never go there. As others have said, take a good hard look at the rules, other shooters, owners, board members if its a public club, ect. The place could either be a hazardous because of lack of management, or nit pickity you can't do what you went there to do, or turn things miserable instead of a day of fun. Ask lots of questions, and observe who is there.

Being that he's from Florida I don't see cold weather being much of an issue.That being said, I prefer outdoor to indoor. I'll go out even in the snow to shoot, rather than being at an indoor range with poor ventilation.

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1st smiles,lies.Last,gunfire.

On a nice day, how can you go wrong with an outdoor range? Plus I find there's a little bit more space between shooters and no one is on top of eachother

I just joined an out door range this past week ..

outside is less noise, better air quality, varied positions to shoot from, longer shooting distances out to 300 yards .. 8 different ranges .. bring your own ammo (cheaper) .. cost 100 first year 75 for following years for family .. children to 18 living at home .. locked gate to let your self in and out .. opened sunup to sunset .. No gunsmith, ammo or supplies .. can't rent weapons .. safety could be questioned as you might be on the property alone if an accident were to happen .. range officer there about 8 hours during the day during the week but all daylight hours on weekends ..

indoor range 75 yards max .. warm in our Midwest winters .. noisy loud, poor air quality at times, have to use their ammo, have to use their targets .. costs 10 for a 1/2 hour with 5 dollars for additional guest age limit .. only 2 people allowed per lane .. can be long waits on weekends .. Tuesday night Ladies Only for 4 hours .. free gun rentals for the ladies .. No men allowed on the range except the ranges own instructors free instruction on how to shoot that night which is a great deal for a woman new to the sport or for carrying .. guns both pistols and long guns for rent by the 1/2 hour for 10-15 dollars good selection .22 to 45CP.. usually around 15 to 20 pistols and 3-4 rifles 2 shot guns .. 2 AR's there a little more to rent ..

Some outdoor ranges don't have dividers between shooters and shooters take brass hits as well as revolver cylinder side blasts.
I don't even like being pelted with casings by the guy next to me. I imagine the guy next to me probably took some of my brass also.
Indoor ranges are very loud as well. For these reasons I made my own sand bullet trap for less than $100 in my back yard that stops any gun shots fired at it. I even get to pick up my own brass. Granted I am lucky to live out in the country where I can safely shoot my guns.

I've always held the opinion that incorporating dynamic movement, GOTX/getting off the X and scenario and close-quarter skills into defensive shooting training was imperative. Luckily, I've always had a private outdoor range available to me. With the exception of beginners, I find limited benefits from statically standing in an indoor range booth shooting at motionless paper targets in the context of effectively training for self-defense.

JMHO, YMMV

I prefer indoor ranges.

I live in an inner ring suburb of Cleveland. That last outdoor range anywhere near here that I recall (apart from the North Olmsted Sportsman's Club trap range) closed twenty years ago when an anti-gun jackass in the NASA Lewis Environmental Health Department got theirs closed after repeatedly ordering lead tests until he got the result he wanted.

I greatly prefer indoor ranges because they're available rain or shine. You don't lose your brass either. On the more modern ones you don't even have to call a ceasefire to change targets.

Shooting's like baseball, meant to be played in warm sunshine.

Outdoor. I'll shoot outside in the dead of winter rather than shoot inside. In addition to the reasons given, outside the light is much better.

In addition, the clientele of private clubs tends to be better because the members are more often serious shooters, while the indoor range gets a lot of yahoos who like to show off to their girlfriend/buddies.

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Common sense isn't so common.

Pros for an indoor range-
Night shooting
Weather
Targets on wire.

Pros for an outdoor range-
Everything else.
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You can join an indoor club around here anytime. Our outdoor club has a two+ year waiting list. For me, I'd probably sell most all my guns if my access to shooting was limited to an indoor range.

After shooting outdoors as most of have started and kept with for some time, shooting at an indoor range can lower the skill level.
Lighting, confinement and noise levels has an effect on performance. That said, for self defense scenarios practicing both indoors and outdoors is something to take into consideration.

Its been mentioned a bit but bears expounding on. The weather where you live can and will make a big difference for most people of where you will shot. Like I said before I have almost a 100 yards safe range right behind my house and I do a lot of shooting there. That works well for GOOD weather shooting.

Now in BAD weather shooting at least for me its hard to beat a indoor range as least as in regards to pistol shooting. I live in the Adirondack mountain area of Northern NY and yes for some reason this was not too bad a winter, but that is far from typical. It still was bad enough that we went to the indoor range at my club, I never shot outside since early December other than to test out a couple new magazines for functionally!

. Most winters we get many feet of snow that can stick around for months, temperatures that can hit -30F at night and stay around the 15-20F during the day for weeks at a time. Add to that a very cold wind and at age 70 really do not fell much like shooting outside. So other than special reasons my range is not used much in inclement weather. Add to that I would have to do some rather interesting snow removal/control to get to the target/backstop area to begin with.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I used to work at an outdoor range. Detroit.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

i prefer outdoor range , can shoot shoot from 5-200 yards. (indoor up to 30). outdoor is much more sociable also to me. and i can shoot a variety of weapons. and the break to reset targets , i feel is a good thing.

I enjoy them both of course for separate reasons.
INDOOR:
I tend to pay more attention to trigger control.
OUTDOOR:
#1 I absolutely love being in nature, the smell, the scenery.....
Extremely relaxing for my nerves. No matter where I am I DO NOT get too relaxed because unknowledgable people are always around making a day out a potentially dangerous outing.

May all of you have a very safe and enjoyable time

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M&P 357sig,G31 357sig,M&P 9

This thread has reinforced just how fortunate I am to live in Montana. I shoot in my back yard. My gun club has rifle out to 1260 yds. VERY few restrictions.

The local indoor range where I'm an annual member is about a 5 minute drive at a legal speed from my front door.

The outdoor range that has trap,skeet,sporting clays,pistol and rifle out to 1000 yards is a half hour away with the pedal to the metal.

I like indoor pistol shooting up to 50 feet;further than that the lighting is a factor.It's a really nice modern range and fun place to shoot except when there's a rifle shooter next to me.

On Sunday evenings from 6 to 8 there's suppressed shooting only that doesn't require ear protection.All other times the range rules require all shooters to wear eye and ear protection.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

To borrow from another analogy, shooting indoors is like taking a shower in a raincoat.

If one lives in a place that has no convenient outdoor range and / or the weather is terrible for long spells, I suppose an indoor range would be practical, but a distant second.

I dislike everything about shooting indoors. The only reason I ever do it is when My trigger fingers gets to twitchin' on days when the weather is just too bad to shoot outdoors.

Out doors you don't have to worry about ventilation, the sounds of gun fire are less when not in enclosed spaces, In my area outdoor ranges are safer. Indoor ranges around here don't have cease fires or range officers keeping an eye on the "Rambos" and "Newbies" and other idiots that frequent shooting ranges. Plus I just would rather be outside for about anything.

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Real men love cats!

yes, I bought some 28 db ear muffs and it did not block out the rifle fire -indoors

...my indoor range is close and allows rapid fire..the outdoor ranges are farther away and do not allow rapid fire...the other indoor range, farther away, also does not allow rapid fire
..I'm usually not there long, because I only use 1 box of ammo....so, what are the health concerns regarding length of time being at an indoor range?

I use both equally and prefer outdoor ranges, because they’re usually not as loud, the air quality is better, I can always pick up my brass, and it’s outside. For me the only benefit of an indoor range is the climate control and ability to change/check targets and shooting distance without waiting on other shooters.

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213th FBINA

Pistol- Indoor.

Rifle- Outdoor.

We have an excellent outdoor range, that is currently melting from 4 ft of snow. It also gets cold up here in the winter, too cold and snowy and icy to go shooting.

This will be first year not also belonging to an indoor range. The indoor facility is 25 miles south, and was state of art when it opened years ago with vg ventilation, separate protected lanes but poor lighting for old man. The indoor offered a way to keep pistol skills up, which can quickly deteriorate.

Always nice to revisit old threads.
I don't get to shoot near as much as I'd like, indoor are usually crowded and a bit more expensive as I'd prefer. Outdoor ranges are few and far between, the nearest I haven't visited in years due to the attitude of patrons and employees.
An indoor range that I've frequented caught fire the other night and the outdoor range I patronize is a 2 hr. drive.

I like a outdoor range, it's free. ( my son's back yard )

Am always missing the dates on posts. Good point about distance, our outdoor range is not even 5 minutes away. It's also one of the reasons i moved up here 25 yrs ago.

Outdoor all Summer. Rifles, pistols or shotguns.

Indoor all Winter. Handguns only.

My club's indoor range was professionally built to NRA standards, PLUS just went thru a 1/4 million$ upgrade. No issues with air quality and noise. I've been a member there for 47 years.

$65 annual dues and no range fee. Open 24/7. Just to be safe I had a lead in blood analysis a few years ago. It didn't even register on the scale. Just proves that my goofyness is due to something other than shooting.

Outdoor, at an impromptu range. Loaded in the truck, right next to the target stands and the ammo crates, are a couple of pop up canopies and some firewood. Might even be some hot dogs and roasting sticks. Add in a table or 2 and chairs for everyone to sit and we can be comfortable for a day long session.

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The best I can with what I got

I would love outdoor ranges. Problem is, around me all are membership only. With a waiting list longer than my life expectancy. My indoor range allow me to shoot without time restrictions as often as I want or until I run out of ammo.

Since most of my shooting is with a handgun I prefer the indoor range at my club. The outdoor range has a minimum of 25 yds. I can't even see most of the handgun targets at 25 yds. half the time and don't like shooting at that distance. Plus, a RSO has to be present at the outdoor range and has limited hours while the indoor is open 24/7.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

Without access to an indoor range, I could not have begun to do the level of rehabilitation I've described in my thread "Rehab with Model 41" under Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols. With some of my health issues climate control is important. I'm fortunate that I belong to a club with an indoor range that is available 24 hours a day outside of scheduled club functions.

Indoor ranges near me are $15 - $20 per hour. The county outdoor range is $8 per DAY. And, I can shoot my rifles. Of course, I am in Arizona, so winter is not much of a concern!

Seven years old. Hopefully the issue is worked out . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Rip Van Threadle.

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