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

[Kanewpadle]

I shoot at an indoor range regularly. I don't have the luxury of shooting outdoors like some folks.

When shooting indoors such things are common. You just have to deal with it. I don't like it either. However, I've done it a time or two and expect others to deal with it just the same.

If the range officer is smart, he or she will put the magnum shooters on the far end of the range if they can.

 

[venomballistics]

I genuinely appreciate the feedback. It really helps inexperienced shooters like me manage expectations.

I looked at the range rules carefully and there do not appear to be any restrictions on what can / cannot be fired.

My wife and I will use this info to help make a decision about where to shoot in future. Thanks again.

Rich

my local indoor ranges also cater to rifles.
That said, you encounter any number of toys that'll ring your bell.
Working with a 460 at one time, it's a balance between load development / sight adjustment, and courtesy.

The sooner newcomers learn that not all guns are created equal, the better off they will be.
wasn't that long ago that the focal point of marksmanship was with long arms, often chambered for some serious cartridges.

As you evolve some, you owe it to yourself to test drive a few of these heavy artillery pieces.
familiarity is your friend.

 

[handejector]

Keep the comments on the topic.

 

[cal50]

Any magnum revolver fired inside a confined space is punishing.
I wear molded / custom ear plugs and flight deck muffs and the over pressure from magnums is uncomfortable.

Using a public range is luck of the draw on who or what you will be next to on the line.

 

[loveaffair#686]

The indoor range at which I usually shoot has no restrictions about this, as far as I know. The first time I shot my 629 there, I asked the range officer if .44 Magnum was allowed. He said it was no problem. It does get some looks, though. Now I'm going to be worried people are secretly cursing me under their breath... :-/

 

[Gunhacker]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It's all about courtesy. Unfortunately, we can rarely call it common courtesy.

Add common sense to that, on the part of the range owners. It used to be that the default standard was no magnums or big bore rifles.

But on the other side of the coin, in certain areas outdoor ranges have become fewer and far between as suburban sprawl shuts them down, so maybe it's more the case that range operators are aware of that and softened their stance with there being no alternatives available to many shooters these days?

In the location where I'm at, I moved to the far eastern section of the country in 1987. At that time the city of Brentwood was a rural farming community, within 5-8 years later... not anymore.

A tract development was constructed near The Brentwood Gun Club range which was out in the middle of freaking no where, surrounded by open farm land. The first time I drove out to find it I got lost.

As the tract development grew and got closer to the range, the home owners started complaining about the noise and risk of stray bullets. The range built a 20ft high U shaped backstop made from what looked to be railroad ties around the range... but the development eventually grew until it was right there on the opposite side of the backstop. They were ultimately successful in getting the range shut down.

Which is a supertanker load of crapola... the developers built and people bought with the full knowledge that the range was there... how could they not know?

And then the Johnny come lately jack wagons had the brass to complaint as if the range magically appeared during the night like a mushroom?

Yeah, It still steams me to think about even with it being well over 10 years ago since it's closure.

But as to the question of a 500 magnum (or any magnum) being appropriate at an indoor range... my question is what's the alternative then, to people that have them, if there's no other legal place to shoot them?

Prohibiting them feels like it would be the same as banning their sale... if you can't shoot it why buy it.

 

[rz625-8]

What you say about noise Sonny???? Ya all got to speak up a little louder.

 

[jmace57]

Unfortunately, I took my wife to the range for the first time to shoot my little .32 ACP. She wanted to see my hobby, and see what it was all about. A guy came up to the lane next to me and started shooting a .500,and as the original poster mentioned, the shock wave was scary even to me (especially as I was not expecting it). I looked at my wife, and she was in tears and was yelling "get me out of here!". Needless to say, she has never been back.

 

[Georgia1911]

My usual range allows up to 500 S&W Magnum and even highlights that fact on their web-site. I have shot my 44 Mag there and not been shy about it. The most obnoxious firearm I ever observed at an indoor range was an AR with a muzzle brake. I don't know what caliber it was, but you could feel the pressure wave behind the firing line each time it was fired.

 

[ginzo]

Rich,

I go to a little indoor range near me. 6 lanes, 45' total. Last time I went, I asked, and they allow up to .50 Today I brought a 29-2, 6'5" barrel. As a courtesy, I told anyone there that is was going to get loud. Then repeated after I was set up and ready.

One father and son were so excited, they asked to video me firing it! The son was speechless (about 12 or 13). He couldn't get over the flame that shot out of it. I ran 12 rounds to sight the gun in. It was enough. My thumb and web area are SORE.......... Just another point of view.

Chuck

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

The rod and gun club I belong to allows 22 rifles and any handguns except Contenders on the indoor range.

However, when I first got my 460 I still double checked with the club president to make sure the 460 was OK to use on the indoor range for initial sighting in at closer range since the 460 and 500 don't really play by "normal" handgun rules. He heartily said "no problem" and then said he wanted to see it in action.

I got my first 44mag before the 460 and double checked with him before using the 44 mag as well.

Most times we have the range to ourselves so this usually isn't a big deal. But if there are others there and I am about to start banging away with anything 44 mag and bigger I give my fellow shooters a quick heads up.

Bottom line is as others have said, it depends on range rules. If anything goes be prepared for this to happen once in a while. But I would like to think that the majority of us who like to play with the big boomers have the consideration to take 2 seconds and warn others close by before unleashing the thunder..

 

[venomballistics]

While on occasion, the point of the range trip is to tune up the thunderpipes, most often, I am perfectly content with the usual suspects such as 45 auto and midrange loaded 44 mag.
unleashing something like a 460 or 500 on an indoor range isn't just abusive to others, its your full recommended daily allowance of shock and awe as the operator thereof.
theres really only so many rounds one can fire from one of these guns.
Theres a reason they only hold 5 rounds. the 6th would put a final sun spot in the last remaining portion of your retinas that you'll need to drive home with.

 

[chief38]

I shot a 500 S&W indoors and even wearing plugs and muffs it was painful to my ears. The recoil is nothing compared to the noise and I would try to discourage you from shooting it indoors.

 

[Triathloncoach]

I am an hour away from an outdoor range. The indoor ranges near me allow everything. You can rent machine guns, 5O BMG s, etc. It's awful for me. But it's a gun range. Gun ranges are loud. I go sometimes and shoot suppressed, not so great when someone is blasting away on a 308 right next to me. But it's allowed, and I'm fine with the business decision of the range owner. It's very difficult to keep a small business in business. But I shoot much less often because of the noise at the range.

"He'll" is other People.

 

[Keith44]

This reminds me of the last time I went to an indoor range. I had my first .44 Magnum, and a newly purchased 45 caliber cap and ball revolver. There were no posted restrictions, and the range officer said both would be fine. I shot the 44 just enough to sight in the scope (about 12 shots IIRC) then I loaded up the cap and ball...the other guys at the far end were giving me dirty looks before the smoke reached their lanes, and my shooting buddies said the guy running the counter jumped out of his shorts. I was asked to not bring either gun back. I can't imagine a .500 S&W going off in such a confined area. These days I am lucky enough to own a private shooting range, just out my back door.

 

[huang]

As a matter of fact I shot my .460 indoors today. I only shot 15 rounds and I let people know it was going to be loud. I notified the desk I'd be shooting it and they put me in with some military guys. Near by there is only an indoor range. If I'm going to shoot her I try to go during off hours, and like I said I let people know, and generally if someone has interest I give em a shot or two. It is a balancing act when you notify folks, I do not want to sound boastful, so even before I take it out I let people around me it is going to get loud for a while.

What I hate is the macho guys that poo poo me because I'm shooting a .22. I always start off with a .22 just to get my head in the right place. For those manly men I may not notify them prior to lighting it off.(Since the macho guys are so manly I figure they can take it).

Huang

 

[Riflemann]

The indoor range I belong to has 15 lanes that are 50' for pistol, and a 6 lane underground rifle range that is 100 meters long in West Fargo ND. We have no limit on caliber in the pistol range, several members shoot 500 and 460 S&W's on a regular basis never had an issue with people leaving because of the noise, if anything the other shooters step back to watch these hand cannons at work. The guy that built both our ranges researched several ranges around the country and put in very good acoustics that at least help control some of the sound from the big magnums. When I shoot any of the big magnums I always go to one end or the other to be respectful of others that might not welcome the shock wave effect.

 

[vipermd]

Yes, A 500 S&W is appropriate at an indoor range. I currently have my own ranges 0-50 yds, and 0-250 yds both outdoors. With the current "global warming" forcing the temps closer to 0 or sub-zero, I am looking at possibly joining and using and indoor range. My policy has always been to notify other shooters if I was using 357 mag snub, 44 mag 4" or any thing 338 Win and up, that it was going to get LOUD. I do carry a pack or two of extra foam plugs (10 pairs per pack), and 3 pair of headsets, 6 pair of shooting glasses. I have never been told which lane to shoot in, but always try to distance myself for everyone's comfort. 30 yrs ago, living in Chicago, I only had a couple options of ranges with in 1 hr drive one way, so when I got there I was going to shoot. I had minimal time and could nor would wait an hour for people to leave so I could shoot. I always offered extra protection to those that wanted it. Yes the 500S&W is appropriate as my suppressed 22 lr. I now shoot 24 hrs per day with night vision and suppressors, except for the Barrett ( no can ). Even though my "neighbors" are a quarter mile away I let them know if I am using big boomers/ Tannerite. So I will try to be courteous, make sure every one has their ears ON, but yes it is appropriate. Be Safe,

 

[canative]

I own the 500 6.5 and have never shot indoors with it, just out of courtesy to others. I only take it to outdoor ranges and camping.

 

[KJS]

The 25 yard indoor range I use allows everything up to .44 Mag without limit. .460 & .500 Mag can be used so long as the bullet weight doesn't exceed 350 grain.

This means I've heard some exceedingly loud guns. One gun was so loud I had to assume it was a .454 Casull. I got that one wrong -- turned out to be a .357 MAXIMUM. Everyone at the shop knew this guy as double doors don't do much to muffle the sound of that monster. I've also heard a .50 Action Express that made the concrete floors vibrate. Fortunately, the people shooting such extreme calibers tend to be gone pretty fast due to to sky high cost of the gigantic rounds they're firing. And the youngsters firing the .50 AE couldn't realistically use it for hunting unless at a petting zoo distance, which I found highly amusing.

This is one reason I always wear heavy duty muffs over plugs even if I'm just shooting a .22. One never knows what the guy in the lane next to me might be shooting. I also try to come at times when the range is least busy.