Feasibility of large indoor ranges?

[NorCalAthlete]

Ok, bear with me on this one.

I've been thinking about how certain ranges out in the East Bay catch flak for noise and such, and how certain people are constantly trying to get these ranges shut down. As much as I enjoy shooting outside on a nice day, one main reason we need outdoor ranges is I don't really see any indoor ranges that 1, allow rifles, and 2, have anything past 25 yards to shoot at.

That being said, how feasible (aside from cost) do you guys think it would be to set up / run an indoor range that allowed rifles and had a run out of at least 100 yards? What's the reasoning behind most places not allowing rifles (aside from their backstop being too weak)?

Is it as simple as beefing up the backstop, thickening the barriers between lanes to buffer the louder noise from rifles, improving the noise canceling tiles on the ceiling, and running the lane out?


I'm envisioning a bit of a dream range where you have ~ 20 lanes that stretch to 100 yards but allow you to run your target out anywhere in between; maybe have built in spotting scopes attached to each lane; good ventilation, a high ceiling, thick lane dividers, and padded floor mats to shoot off of; etc. I think I'd be perfectly happy to pay a bit more for a local place to shoot that provided all that. Plus you'd likely need to find an industrial area to even lease a building that size, so neighbors probably wouldn't complain about noise and maybe would come shoot after work/on lunch/etc. Industrial area means no hour long drive outside of town just to go shoot, indoors means shooting longer hours (could stay open till 8pm? rather than close at 4 like some places). I dunno, just seems like there'd be a lot of benefits if you could actually get such a place built.

What do you guys think?

[hermosabeach]

Well I hate shooting indoors next to rifles.

With plugs and muffs, it is still loud


Rifles are a challenge as shooters hate for a range to check their ammo.

So people sneak in green tip, ap, bimetallic bullets and rip up backstops.



The glorious EPA is a real threat for anyone looking to invest the capital in a range.




I agree there is a market for more indoor ranges.

Industrial areas are perfect for the noise in urban areas.



The NRA and a variety of target manufacturers can help with the logistics of setting up a new facility.

It also never hurts to have a police department that has inadequate facilities in the area.

If a few departments train there, the local city councils become more supportive.

[NorCalAthlete]

Like I said as far as the backstops - is it as simple as building them bigger and beefier (even if it comes at a higher cost)? Throw some Hesco barriers and tires in there for all I care, what's so hard about making a barrier that'll stop rifle rounds at an indoor range vs outdoor?

[HibikiR]

Riverside Indoor Shooting Range down south handles everything up to .308 so they must have all the answers.

[Mitch]

You don't actually need a building 100 yards long: just dig a big trench and cover part of it to deal with the noise. The backstop could be earth. The cover would end at some point as most of the noise is at the firing line and you don't want people shooting it up anyway.

[NorCalAthlete]

Riverside Indoor Shooting Range down south handles everything up to .308 so they must have all the answers.

Perhaps backstop-wise, but they only go out to 50 feet (although I think that's a typo on their website, because the pics look more like 50 yards).

Is spacing the problem for indoor ranges? Don't want people hitting each others targets at longer ranges given how each station is closer together and narrower than your typical outdoor range?

Logistics of space?

Using Google I found a few ranges that seem to fit in other states.

http://www.triggertimegunclub.com/the-club/ranges/rifle-range

http://georgiagunclub.com/gallery/

http://www.shootersworld.com/shooting-range/rifle-range.aspx

These places have exactly what I had in mind, but took it a step further! Tablets with live video of your target for hits, well lit, nice bulletproof glass barriers instead of dinky cubicle looking ones between lanes, etc.

And ONE in California!

http://www.p2krange.com/facility/indoor-ranges

I think if you plopped something like this somewhere easily accessible, people would flock to it. I'm drooling thinking about if a large indoor facility like these opened up in say, San Mateo's industrial district. Yeah, there's Los Gatos Rod & Gun - but they're kind of a PITA to get to. There's Metcalf, but it's a pretty long drive from SF. There's Coyote Point just north of Foster City, but they're only open very limited hours to the public, aren't very well lit, etc.

Something centrally located, indoor, upscale with the "waiting and viewing area" like these places have...I think it'd be awesome!

[Norcalkid]

Chico just had a new indoor range that allows rifles (I think) open in May. I just can’t see how it is going to make it. They have invested a ton of money and only the 50 foot range is open. I have only been there twice but nobody was shooting either time. Maybe something like this would make it in the bay area but here in Chico we have a indoor range with a flat fee, 2 local nonprofit clubs/ranges with in a 15 minute drive, a free range in Oroville and were a 20 minute drive from countless places on forest land. I just don’t see any need for a fancy and expensive pay by the hour range (unless you live within a 2 or 3 minute drive of it and get a membership).

http://downrangechico.com/

Not really answering your question, just a guy that lives near a range like your talking about that opened with in the last 6 months and has been a casual observer.


Chico also just had a suicide by gun at the other indoor range this week.

[CSACANNONEER]

Riverside Indoor Shooting Range down south handles everything up to .308 so they must have all the answers.

I worked at an indoor range that allowed 50BMG. .308 is nothing if you have the proper backstop.

[highpower790]

I often look at the warehouse I work in and wonder what a 300yd indoor range would be like.

[CSACANNONEER]

I often look at the warehouse I work in and wonder what a 300yd indoor range would be like.

I'd love a 1000 yard indoor range but, it would have to be 100 feet tall for some of the slower longrange rounds to be shot in it. Hell, it would need to be over 30 feet tall to safely shoot a 50BMG.

[rvicta]

P2K's rifle range goes out to 100yds. A few of the lanes (or maybe all of them since I only know about the one I was on) include a target camera so you can see your shot placement without having to bother with a spotting scope.

[UBFRAGD]

what's so hard about making a barrier that'll stop rifle rounds at an indoor range vs outdoor?

I have often wondered about that too. The outdoor range I shoot at has a dirt berm backstop. It is regularly serviced by a lead recycling company. What, they don't work indoors??

[Sheldon]

Its a matter of all the containment walls, roof and walls, that will have to withstand a round if hit too ......not to mention the costs to light the structure and keep it at a comfortable temperature.