.50 AE DESERT EAGLE EXPERIENCE - NOT A GOOD ONE!

[chief38]

I went to our indoor shooting range club yesterday and I was not a happy camper. I brought my M41 .22 target pistol and as soon as I took the first shot a sound louder and more violent than I had experienced before followed by a giant concussion occurred right next to me. I could feel the huge concussion in my chest and on my face and so I put my pistol down, stepped back and looked at the lane next to me. The guy was shooting a Desert Eagle in 50 AE. After he fired off a few more shots I wasted no time in leaving the firing line and waited outside the room until he ran out of ammo before returning into the range area. Not only was it deafening even with wearing two forms of hearing protection, I have not felt a concussion like that in all the years I have been shooting! It would have probably been no issue had this occurred outdoors, but in a room 15 or so feet wide it was not good!

I know about the Desert Eagle in caliber .50 AE but had never seen or heard one being shot up close. OK - just my personal opinion but there should be some sort of range rule that unless you are on the firing line by your self, that combo should not be shot with others in an indoor range environment.

Our indoor shooting range club has 4 isolated range rooms and each one accommodates 5 shooting lanes. I'd say there is approximately 3 feet of width between them so no shooter is particularly far away. There are walls separating each shooting position however in this case they did nothing to isolate sound and concussions. While I do not have any issues with someone owning a Desert Eagle in this caliber, if I owned an indoor shooting range I would have only let this be fired if there was a room available only to the person shooting that gun for a limited amount of time. It was simply unfair to subject 4 other shooters to this type of noise and violent concussions indoors.
Again, outdoors - no issues!

I have shot hundreds and hundreds of rounds from .44 Magnums, .500 S&W Magnums as well as other super large caliber handguns but have never experienced the concussions and decibels of noise that I did yesterday. Thankfully the ammo must be so expensive that after only 40 rounds the guy who was shooting this left the range. Maybe he did have another box of ammo but there was no mistaking that he knew the others on this particular range were not happy at all and could not shoot their own guns. IMHO even when something is legal there is something called "common curtesy". This shooter obviously had little to none of that! Needless to say my cage was a bit rattled and I did not do my best shooting yesterday.

 

[Breakaway500]

50AE is a barker! I have an AMT that fires it and shooting it indoors will clean out the range.Ammo is about $2.50/round

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I bought the first on in Central Ohio at Christmas 1991. They were set for release in early 92.

I took it to The Powder Room and shot it on Christmas Morning. I got thrown out!

If I remember correctly, Factory 300's are almost 1475 fps (advertised velocity). Supersonic is a no-no on most indoor ranges around here.

Ivan

 

[chief38]

I bought the first on in Central Ohio at Christmas 1991. They were set for release in early 92.

I took it to The Powder Room and shot it on Christmas Morning. I got thrown out!

If I remember correctly, Factory 300's are almost 1475 fps (advertised velocity). Supersonic is a no-no on most indoor ranges around here.

Ivan

The .50 AE makes a .44 Mag look and feel like a .22LR - lol

 

[Bro. Dave]

I had a shooting buddy who bought one and invited me to shoot it once. That was enough for me, just once!

It kills on both ends!
Although I'm don't consider myself recoil shy, that was a form of self-punsihment I don't care to replicate.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Indoor ranges in my area are the norm, so I know how you feel.

 

[CBR1943]

Guns make noise. Get used to it. I shoot many different handgun calibers from .22rf to .308 Encore and a .30-30 revolver and everything in between. They all make noise. I have as much right on the range as someone shooting .22 CB caps.

 

[mckenney99]

Chief, we all have probably run into the same type of situation on indoor ranges.
In my case, I drove across town and paid for an hours range time at an indoor range. There was already 2 guys in a stall at the far end but they weren't actively shooting when I walked in. I believe it was a 6 stall bay, so I took the stall at the opposite end bay. I was getting ready to start shooting and these guys cut loose with a 5.56 AR Carbine (yes rifles were permitted on this range). Like your situation, the concussion/blast indoors was palpable and painful. I immediately packed up my gear and went back to the counter. I explained to the owner what the issue was (they understood) and I got a credit to come back on another day. Yes I was a little irritated and disappointed, but I then calmed down and admitted that the other guys were on the range first and they were within the rules to shoot what they were shooting. It was just another of life's little disappointments but not life changing.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

This calls for a new type of range etiquette. When someone is ready to fire their Eargeloudenboomensplitter they should shout "Fire in the hole !" so other shooters can brace themselves, not try for a shot, etc.

 

[chief38]

Guns make noise. Get used to it. I shoot many different handgun calibers from .22rf to .308 Encore and a .30-30 revolver and everything in between. They all make noise. I have as much right on the range as someone shooting .22 CB caps.

I have been shooting guns since I was 11 years old and yes I am aware guns make noise. This was way beyond normal gun noise and way way beyond normal concussions from everyday guns. I respect other peoples rights - got it! I am not saying they should be banned. That said, when one particular firearm become so offensive that the rest of the shooters have to walk off the range - that's a problem to me. Those type of handguns should either be shot outdoors or on a range with no other shooters present at the time. That is just known as common courtesy and common decency towards fellow shooters, range officers and anyone else in the immediate area. I do not look at this a "legal/illegal" issue - just a polite, considerate and moral issue towards others.

 

[lihpster]

I'll take a dozen guys shooting .50 BMG at the range over one idiot who flags everybody with their suppressed 22 Niceandquiet.

 

[44wheelman]

New load or gun at indoor range, shooting for groups...inevitably; some obnoxious person or group shows up blasting their 12 ga, full commando with an AR, trying to shoot holes through the back of the range with a Casull, or split ears drums with a 30 carbine in short bbl pistol.

Out of your control, take a break, usually not a long lasting occurrence, go plead for an 20 minutes for your range time (if not busy)

 

[rockquarry]

I shot at an indoor range several years ago for a CCL qualification. Range employees were very pleasant and helpful. However, there were one or more folks shooting ARs and all shooters were pretty close together. Very limited space for the stuff I usually bring to the range - handguns, ammo, spotting scope, chronograph, etc.

I guess I'm spoiled by using an outdoor range at a private gun club as I'm usually the only person on the particular range I shoot on. I'm sure some may not have an outdoor range close to them and are forced to use an indoor range.

I'd find a new hobby if I had to use an indoor range.

 

[Jack Flash]

... I was getting ready to start shooting and these guys cut loose with a 5.56 AR Carbine

I was at an outdoor range when a guy the next lane over started shooting .223 out of a TC Contender with a short barrel.

It was LOUD. The fireball was also attention grabbing. I didn't complain to anyone but I did relocate as far away as I could.

Making rules about such situations is a slippery slope. My .357 Magnum firing full loads out of a 4-inch barrel may be objectionable to the guy one lane over shooting a .22.

 

[silicosys4]

I have to LOL at this one. Go find another range.

 

[Shibadog]

I quit shooting t indoor ranges years ago. Two reasons (1) issues like those mentioned and (2) idiots who were flagging others be pee poor handling (and THAT is scary-I’ve no desire to get blasted by some moron who has NO idea how to safely handle a firearm

 

[LVSteve]

I was at an outdoor range when a guy the next lane over started shooting .223 out of a TC Contender with a short barrel.

It was LOUD. The fireball was also attention grabbing. I didn't complain to anyone but I did relocate as far away as I could.

Making rules about such situations is a slippery slope. My .357 Magnum firing full loads out of a 4-inch barrel may be objectionable to the guy one lane over shooting a .22.

Last time I took my 6" 686 to an indoor range in Vegas it got all the tourists excited. That Remington 125 gr SJHP load is flashy and loud, to say the least. My buddy opined that even the home invaders I miss will be easily ID'd by their singed hair and clothing. The ranges here often have ARs (semi and full auto) to rent so pick your range time carefully or get used to it.

I get that loud guns on other lanes are not conducive to shooting tight groups. I can guarantee that when I take my one optic pistol to the range to zero it, something "exciting" will be going on nearby. Sod's Law applies. However, I also find these situations good training for practicing defensive accuracy under stress.

 

[hkcavalier]

I don't shoot at public ranges anymore, but I recall a similar experience. Maybe I'm a contrarian, but it took it as a training opportunity (degraded environment) vs. an annoyance.

I also recall shooting at an outdoor range next to a guy with a .30-378 with a muzzle brake. It knocked magazines and lighter items clear off my shooting bench from three feet away. I gave him a look and he just shrugged, standard WA state passive aggressive attitude. I moved tables...

 

[Oldsalt66]

One time, I had two very cranky gentlemen complain to the indoor range officer about the volume of my AR 15.

We were in a room specifically designated for rifles and shotguns and they were sharing shooting a 12 gauge Mossberg Shockwave.

The RO and I had a good laugh after which he let them know that gun ranges are noisy places.

 

[ladder13]

I shoot outdoors only. Yes, it’s hot in summer and cold in winter. The range is members only M-F and more than not I have almost the whole place to myself. It is open to the public on the weekend.
Ranges run from 25 yards out to 1,000 yards. People come from hours away to shoot here.

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