What's wrong using that???

[Fight CA GC]

I will be picking up my 1st rifle soon and I plan on breaking it in that same day.

So, I have been looking at prices for ammunition and noticed steel-cased is cheaper to buy. That's great, but the shooting range I usually attend does not allow steel-cased ammo.

Not too long ago, I went to Burro Canyon with my cousin. I remember the Range Master checking for the ammo containing steel/metal. We didn't have any of that, but the people next to us did. The employee told them they couldn't use it.

I'm completely confused and ignorant about this. What's wrong with steel-cased ammo? It's not armor piercing ammo (It's illegal to use anyway, I think). Are they worried about people using armor piercing rounds? I don't know. What's the deal?

[Garv]

Sparks?

[Joe Blowitup]

my guess is they reload cases they pick up or sell them and don't want steel cases mixed in. If they allowed it most of what they pick up would be steel.

[CK_32]

It's because most steel case is bi metal and will spark, fire hazard and I've even been told by a R/O it's not allowed on their insurance policy for being a "fire hazard".

But the main reason is because a lot of indoor ranges resell people's spent brass, and they don't want to be charged to sift or have to sift them selves through the steel cases stuff that needs to be disgarded.

[Fight CA GC]

Well, I don't think the STEEL CASE is going to have enough speed and friction, with whatever it makes contact with to cause a spark when it gets ejected.

[ke6guj]

were they checking the casing for steel, or the projectile? they don't want any steel in the projectile because it is reported to cause sparks that can start fires.


as for not wanting steel cases, many ranges claim that they prohibit it at their range since it damages firearms. But since it is the customer's firearm, I don't know why it should matter to the range, unless it is really that the steel casing is worht a fraction of the value of the brass case when it comes time to sell off the recovered casings.

[Fight CA GC]

my guess is they reload cases they pick up or sell them and don't want steel cases mixed in. If they allowed it most of what they pick up would be steel.

This makes the most sense to me.

[Fight CA GC]

were they checking the casing for steel, or the projectile? they don't want any steel in the projectile because it is reported to cause sparks that can start fires.

I'm not sure what part they were checking for the metal. I would guess they check the projectile and could care less for the casing.

[Galt]

Burro canyon is checking for steel BULLETS. Anything with a steel or bimetallic jacket is not allowed due to fire hazard. Consequently, most of the cheap steel cased ammo also contains a bimetallic jacket.

[Sleighter]

What range will you be going to? If you let us know we can find out the actual policy and help to clarify it for you.

Generally any projectile (bullet) containing bi-metal or steel cores can and will spark when they hit a rock and can cause fires. We lost one of the public Outdoor ranges in Riverside 2 summers ago to a fire caused by a guy shooting bi-metal ammo. It ended up burning quite a few acres and after that they shut down the location to shooting.

[Fight CA GC]

What range will you be going to? If you let us know we can find out the actual policy and help to clarify it for you.

Generally any projectile (bullet) containing bi-metal or steel cores can and will spark when they hit a rock and can cause fires. We lost one of the public Outdoor ranges in Riverside 2 summers ago to a fire caused by a guy shooting bi-metal ammo. It ended up burning quite a few acres and after that they shut down the location to shooting.

Insight Shooting Range.

Their website says "NO STEEL CASED, STEEL CORE, OR EXPOSED LEAD AMMO".

[Sleighter]

Well ok then. My guess is that they recycle the brass for money and don't want to sift. Steel core is hard on the backstop, and exposed lead is toxic at high levels. The best way to find out would be to ask them directly though.

Also, I reviewed their website and it mentions rifles are only allowed if they are pistol calibers. So you may want to check and see if they have changed and they allow rifle calibers to be shot there.

[hellayella]

go to Raahauges then since you are already saving $ using steel case ammo then $30 range fee shouldn't be too exorbitant...

[OldShooter32]

"Sifting" out steel cases is easy. Magnets will solve that quickly. Aluminum cases are a PITA tho.
Sac Valley lets you shoot the steel-cased ammo and only on the silhouette range is FMJ and steel/magnet-attracting ammo prohibited to mitigate damage to the target steel.
I've seen a lot more stoppages and failures with steel-cased ammo, but other than that, they shoot -- bigger groups than "expensive ammo" but still shoot.

[colossians323]