Is a S&W 500 Appropriate at an Indoor Range?

Llando88 · Nov 22, 2014

My wife and I were target shooting our M&P9 at our range the other day.

Suddenly, from the position to my immediate left came a combined shock wave and blast like I've never felt before. It literally washed over me physically, and penetrated into my skull past my Howard Leight Impact Sport ear muffs.

My wife left immediately. I lasted about two more rounds of this, before packing up and heading out to the lobby. I was maybe half way through my planned practice course of fire.

The shop owner explained the gun this individual was firing was a S&W500. My ears were still ringing, so I didn't stick around to ask any more questions.

The range I use is a typical 25 yard, indoor, lighted range of 12 bays. The ceiling is normal height, maybe 9 foot, and it's well insulated, with double doors.

For my part, I didn't know to expect people to shoot guns like this, so I wanted to ask y'all's advice.

I guess my question to any S&W500 owners here, is this large pistol something that is appropriate for someone to be firing at an indoor range? I.e, is this typical, and I should just expect this to happen from time to time?

Or, is this unusual enough that maybe I need to think about finding another facility to shoot at?

Thank in advance...rich

johngalt · Nov 22, 2014

Most indoor ranges that I've been to dont allow magnums due to the damage done to the backstop. I don't shoot much inside because of the noise, magnums are much worse.

I don't have a 500, I would not want to be next to one. I normally use both plugs and muffs inside, I have no idea if that is enough for a 500.

I've also seen people shooting center fire rifles inside, usually an AR15. That is also far too loud.

Rpg · Nov 22, 2014

I avoid indoor ranges like the plague.

I find them unpleasant primarily because of the heightened noise.

I'm fortunate in that my club range is outdoors.

Marshwheeling · Nov 22, 2014

I had a similar experience once when the kid in the next lane started shooting his Desert Eagle .50. The shock wave and noise were not so much painful as extremely annoying. I asked him what he was shooting, and he was a little sheepish as he showed me. I don't think he had expected it to be so obtrusive.

When he offered us a chance to try it, I took him up on it. Meh. I won't be running out to buy one; I suspect the same would be true of the S&W 500, or more so. The perfect piece for the Harley rider:

"A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
-Macbeth, Act V, Scene 5

mickeyblueyes · Nov 22, 2014

I got clipped in the face by a .45 ricochet I can not imagine what a .50 cal would do. I got asked what I was shooting once,it was just a Glock 40 cal.
I think you did the right thing, and the range officer should have refunded part of your shooting fee because of the need to leave early.

deadin · Nov 22, 2014

I was practicing with a Free Pistol (which is almost Zen-like) at an indoor range when my neighbor touched off a .308 carbine (I think it was a "Tanker" Garand) next to me. The thing that really hacked me was I had had the range to myself until they assigned this guy to the lane next to me. I was in the end stall next to the wall......

cmort666 · Nov 22, 2014

It depends upon what you're shooting out of it, and where you are on the range.

Absolutely, one of the the most obnoxiously loud handguns I've EVER heard on an indoor range was a Hi Point .45 with a muzzle brake. It gave my 4" 29-2 with Winchester White Box 240s a run for its money.

If possible when shooting .44 Mags and above, courtesy would indicate that one gets as far to one end of the range as possible. That Hi Point was just about dead center on the firing line.

When I was diagnosing a problem in my 4" 29-2 and testing the repair, I both went to the farthest point from the center, AND waited until most shooters were done.

I've never believed that trivial courtesy was that much trouble. A lot of people today disagree.

LedFowl · Nov 22, 2014

The indoor range I frequent has one you can rent.

NYlakesider · Nov 22, 2014

At the large gun club I belonged to we had a 50’ indoor range. It was in the basement below the main club floor (which was reinforced concert) and all above were safe.

We had restrictions on what could be used, basically it was 22RF in rife or pistol, no other rifles even if pistol caliber, and center fire pistol none jacketed rounds below a certain velocity level. We had 4 outside ranges that anything legal could be shot.

We had to add no muzzle loaders as one brainiac deiced to shoot his Ruger Old Army down there. Darn you would have thought common sense would stop stuff like that. As a RO I have found that common sense sometimes is not too common.

Budasac · Nov 22, 2014

I have had similar experiences when I use to frequent indoor public ranges. One place I went to had four lanes in another room for larger calibers. They put me in there by myself with a .40. About ten minutes later a guy started to shoot a S&W 500. By the time I put my gun down to see what the hell was going on, I noticed that all shooters from the other room were at the door trying to see what the guy was shooting. I've also dealt with idiots shooting large caliber rifles at 16yards next to me.

Now I belong to a private indoor club. 10 lanes, 25 yards, No Magnums, and .22lr rifles only. Much more relaxing.

Frank237 · Nov 22, 2014

I have enough with trying to have some patience with the idiots I run into on the large outdoor range complex I belong to. Large enough you can get away from them by moving a few dozen yards or go to a different area of the Range altogether.

Your post reminds me of the time a guy destroyed some of the backstops at an indoor 25 yd Range I used to frequent back in the 1970's in NJ. He was on the .22 RF ONLY side, shooting a Ruger .30 Carbine pistol with GI ball. The owners charged him for the replacement of the plates they used as a backstop. I doubt the bill was cheap.

Stainless44 · Nov 22, 2014

A - I would expect to encounter any caliber that's not explicitly banned by the range.

B - I don't think I would ever shoot that particular gun indoors (unless a T-Rex had me cornered in my bedroom).

As an example of how I do things, I checked in to the range one day and only 1 of the 15 lanes was taken. They assigned me the lane RIGHT NEXT TO a lady being taught how to shoot by her husband.

I was going to be shooting my .41 mag so I went back out to the desk and told them "I don't want to scare the **** out of the new shooter next to me...can you give me a lane far away from them?"

No problem...I got moved down and we all had a great time.

I don't have a .500...but I do have a .460 S&W mag...I don't know that I would want to shoot it indoors. The concussion can be ferocious, especially if next to a wall.

I'm guessing you won't run into this problem on a regular basis.

cmort666 · Nov 22, 2014

Frank237 said:
Your post reminds me of the time a guy destroyed some of the backstops at an indoor 25 yd Range I used to frequent back in the 1970's in NJ.

I used to belong to the NASA Sportsman's club at NASA LeRC back in the '80s and '90s.

We had just built all new target frames when the Security Office allowed agents of a Federal agency (the DEA, if I remember correctly) to use the range.

We weren't allowed to bring legal full-auto weapons to the range, but they brought their Steyr AUGs and literally sawed the brand new frames in half. Needless to say, they neither apologized, nor replaced the frames.

g8rb8 · Nov 22, 2014

"Is a S&W 500 Appropriate at an Indoor Range?"

It might be appropriate depending on the situation. In hindsight better communication would have potentially helped your unhappy experience. Perhaps the shooter of the 500 magnum did not realize how unpleasant their 500 magnum was for the shooter in the next stall? Communicating with the staff or the 500 magnum shooter may have solved the problem? Maybe they could have moved you to a booth further away. Maybe the guy shooting the 500 magnum would have had another less irritating firearm to use if asked?

The indoor range where I shoot, about 15 stalls, 25 yards, has a Barrett .50 cal range gun. KA...BOOM! It is a rental gun and they use good judgment regarding when they let someone shoot it. Fortunately it's not shot more than a few rounds per day. They have some other interesting rental guns too.
They allow shooting of any caliber however they are respectful to put the higher caliber shooters down at the far end of the range however if they are at full capacity that's not always possible.
I have occasionally asked to be put next to someone shooting a center fire rifle to practice focusing.
John

Retired LTC USAR · Nov 22, 2014

IMHO they should have placed him in a stall as far away as possible from you.

They could also have certain hours when large caliber handguns can be fired.

I also believe they should have compensated you since you did not use your full time due to their actions.

rwsmith · Nov 22, 2014

My range says....

My range says that you can shoot anything. But I realize that it is an enclosed space and a lot louder than outdoors. I had to be careful of developing a flinch that I never had. Anyway, I can shoot anything, but I'm not looking to drive people away. Last time I was there I fired one cylinder to test a really hot .357 load. I fired them and told the line, "That's all I'm going to do of those." and went back to the 9mm.

LVSteve · Nov 22, 2014

This is a big issue with the better advertised ranges in Vegas. As they cater to the tourist crowd everything is available to rent up to the S&W 500 and full auto.

HOUSTON RICK · Nov 22, 2014

I have several times been next a Desert Eagle owner unloading his .50 caliber rounds down range, and several times I have been next to a S&W 500 or Eagle Eagle .50 renters who bought he ammo and rented the gun from the range and never fired them before. Most of the latter are entirely unprepared for the noise and recoil. Use adequate ear protection and use ranges that at least have a sheet of plywood between stalls.

THEWELSHM · Nov 22, 2014

I'm guilty of taking a 500 to the range

It does get noticed.. Most of the time I let someone shoot it

Its no doubt a conversation starter.Mine used to knock out the cameras at the range.I miss that gun, I think Ill get another

thewelshm

tinman931 · Nov 22, 2014

The first (and only) time I shot a .454 Cassul (sp?) was at an indoor range. One cylinder was enough. It got everyone's attention and I was slightly embarrassed.
I occasionally go to a range that allows rifles. Although I respect that there is somewhere people have to go where they can fire their AR15s, I hate being in there when they do.

Is a S&W 500 Appropriate at an Indoor Range?

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