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

[at_liberty]

At $3 or more per shot, it can't last too long.

I have experienced someone shooting the cannons indoors and think of it as amusing. I did, however, choose the highest level of hearing protection for my headset. The steel curtains between stations do help. Never had one fired right next to me, but I have some awareness of what others are doing close by.

I too warn people when the big magnums are going to start. I stop at .44 Magnum and not necessarily robusto bofundo.

 

[Arik]

My indoor range allows magnums and shotguns. They don't bother me and I noticed that most people will shoot one mag or one cylinder and be done.....price of ammo and all

 

[RaginRog]

.44 Mag and .357 can be a little obnoxious where I go, but hell it's a shooting range. You can't expect everyone to come in and plink with .22 or 9mm. But range edicate would be nice. When I bring my revolvers I always bring .38 and .357 and if the place is empty I'll shoot quite a few "357; however, if the place is packed or I have a couple/new shooter nearby I will stick to the .38 spc rounds.

 

[RaginRog]

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.

Damn that's a big gun.

 

[one eye joe]

If it is your range you get to make the rules. If it isn't you follow them or vote with your feet.

'NUFF SAID ! ! !

 

[vipermd]

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.

Why?? Are you suggesting that a heavier bullet makes more noise? Greater sound wave?? Please explain!

 

[Rick_A]

Why not? If it's allowed, it's allowed.

The range staff should have had him with an empty stall on either side.

I'm usually at the range on weekdays mid day with only a couple other folks there. It never fails that I get placed next to some genteel fellows while I'm packing something extremely obnoxious.

The stink eyed stares don't take the smile off my face. They can take it up with the management. Some do, and some leave.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Why?? Are you suggesting that a heavier bullet makes more noise? Greater sound wave?? Please explain!

I would surmise it's more about the service life of the backstop than the noise with the heavier slugs in that case

 

[Beancounter81]

The indoor range where I'm a member rents 460's and 500's. The noise and pressure wave don't really bother me that much - I have custom ear plugs + muffs as I frequently shoot full-house magnums in .357 and .44. What does annoy me is when someone in the stall to my left leans too far forward while shooting a semi-auto and rains brass on me.

 

[Carrier]

I had a kid next to me let loose with a 338 with a muzzle brake next to me at the indoor range I use and had to be helped out of there as I couldn't stand up. I have hearing issues now and leave as soon as the big rifles come out.

 

[muddocktor]

The indoor range I belong to has an 8 lane pistol side and a 4 lane rifle side, with a dividing wall between them. Any pistol larger than 44 mag has to be shot on the rifle side because of the heavier backstop. And yes, I regularly shoot both 357 mag and 44 Mag at that range. But I do let folks know that I will be making some big booms too. I also try to go during regular workday hours when most land dwellers are at their job so that I don't bother people unnecessarily with the large bangs and plus it makes it easier to run down all my 357 brass my Coonan Classic throws all over too. That auto knows it can throw some brass around. And I try to get to one side or the other if possible, to minimize distracting other folks shooting too.

My last trip to the range had a young couple shooting in lane 7 and I was in lane 2 and they were shooting a 9 and a 40. I had brought my Coonan and my new (to me) 629-3 to get used to the 44 and blow big fireballs with the Coonan. I started out with the Coonan with some healthy 125 grain reloads and after the first few mags, they came down to see what I was shooting. After talking a few minutes I told them that the real noise was about to begin as I was bringing the 629 on the line to shoot a few cylinders and they were interested to watch the 44 run some rounds. They watched me shoot a cylinder or so then went back to their lane to shoot some more.

One great thing about shooting the 629 is that after shooting it a bit, the Coonan 357 Mag auto is as easy to recover from for follow up shots as it normally is for my Beretta 9 MM. Shooting the 44 really makes the recoil from 357 Mag easy to handle afterwards.

 

[model70hunter]

Many years ago I bought a SW 629-4 Classic with the factory port on top.

I took it to an outdoor range near STL. Busch if you are local. This was before the rebuild that separated Rifle and pistol booths.

I will tell you that full house loads rocked the walls. One of the range officers wason me quickly, tapping my shoulder while pointing to the new signs that said NO 50 CAL Pistols. I nodded and said it's a 44 MAg, he said no it is not. I had him read the caliber on the BBL. It says 44, he still did not believe it. He finally told me to finish zeroing it in and do not bring it back.

Keep in mind one may be next to a 300 Win Mag or an 88 Howitzer at times. I took it back the next time and different range folks never said anything.

I hate public ranges but did not have many choices in the big city.

For the OP, I never would have taken the ported 629 to an indoor range.

 

[KJS]

Why?? Are you suggesting that a heavier bullet makes more noise? Greater sound wave?? Please explain!

I was just stating their limit of 350 grain which I'm sure is to protect their back stop. I don't imagine that a 500 Mag is any louder regardless of bullet weight.

 

[Retired W4]

The indoor range I belong to here has a separate room for rifles, and they will ask me what I will be shooting when I come in. They know I own a variety of weapons including several magnum calibers and a DE 50 AE and when I come in with a big boomer they will offer the rifle room to me. Two reasons; back drop protection and courtesy to the other patrons.

My entire nervous system is pretty well shot with a touch of PTSD so while having a really loud gun next to me it takes me a couple shots to get myself to calm down. Try sitting in the cockpit of a UH-1 with two M-60's rattling just a few feet behind you. People need to prepare themselves when entering an indoor range, think safety, and follow the rules. If the noise bothers you or your loved ones you should consider finding a spot out in the country to do your target shooting. I know that is not always easy for some but that might be the answer. Ask your friends and acquaintances if they have or know of a place like that to shoot.

 

[Rick_A]

My big boomer these days is a 7" 5.56 pistol. The ranges here check all ammo so they know what is headed in there.

Screenshot_2014-11-26-11-04-59 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

With the "right" ammo it's a sound and sight spectacular...as long as you're directly behind it, anyway.


20140330_144037 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

 

[44wheelman]

I used to take my 445 supermag to the range, for such occasions... people going nuts with shotguns, homies rapid fire shooting their glocks sideways, etc. My "irritant" loads: 180 grain bullets loaded with a case full of W1680. A cylinder or two would usually send the message. Lotsa flame, percussion, & noise, but not much recoil.

 

[shooter1911]

I shoot at an indoor range all the time, and I don't think you will run into this type of gun often. On the other hand I had the misfortune of shooting next to a guy who was shooting a 460 Rowland the other day. The compensator was quite obnoxious, and if it happens again I will ask to change to another lane as far away as I can get.