Bi metal ammo, indoor range.

Mike38 · January 23, 2016, 11:55 PM

I got to see first hand and in person why indoor ranges do not allow bi metal (steel) bullets. I was at the indoor range I go to every Saturday morning. They actually have two ranges, a 15 yard pistol only paper target only range on one side of the lobby, and a 25 yard pistol or rifle range with a few steel targets on the other side. The pistol only range was being used for training purposes, so I was asked to use the rifle range. I was all by myself, so no problems. After about 15 minutes a man and a woman came in carrying rifle cases, and uncased a pair of AR15 rifles. They started blasting at steel, and it took me a few minutes to adjust to the noise but I adapted. They ran out of Winchester white box .223 so they pulled out a couple boxes of Wolf steel cased bi metal ammo. I put my pistol down to watch the show. It looked like the 4th of July down range with all the sparks flying. Every now and then when a steel target got hit just right, sparks sprayed out, and at least half way back to the firing line. If there would have been a build up of unburnt powder on the floor, things could have gotten real interesting. But this is a very clean range, must get swept daily, so no excitement for me. I waited for the rifle shooters to run out of ammo and leave before I started shooting my pistols again. One good thing about it, they left 100 pieces of once fired .223 on the floor, so I picked them up to compensate for my troubles.

Mosin-Marauder · January 24, 2016, 12:12 AM

Steel Targets and 25 yards alone is asking for trouble, Especially with rifle rounds, but that's just my opinion.

Mike38 · January 24, 2016, 12:38 AM

They claim no one has ever been hit with a ricochet / back splash, but I would think it's only a matter of time. About a month ago I shot my Saiga 223 in that range, but not at the steel targets, paper only, into the safe backstop.

T. O'Heir · January 27, 2016, 02:45 PM

"...They claim no one has ever been hit with a..." Um, they're speaking a falsehood. Been hit myself by bullets bouncing from a lot farther away than 25 yards. However, not allowing steel cored or jacketed(all steel they ain't) is more about not pock marking the back stop.

cjwils · January 27, 2016, 06:03 PM

At the indoor ranges where I shoot, these things are strictly banned. When you enter, they check your ammo with a magnet if there is any question about what you have.

January 23, 2016, 11:55 PM	#1
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	Bi metal ammo, indoor range. I got to see first hand and in person why indoor ranges do not allow bi metal (steel) bullets. I was at the indoor range I go to every Saturday morning. They actually have two ranges, a 15 yard pistol only paper target only range on one side of the lobby, and a 25 yard pistol or rifle range with a few steel targets on the other side. The pistol only range was being used for training purposes, so I was asked to use the rifle range. I was all by myself, so no problems. After about 15 minutes a man and a woman came in carrying rifle cases, and uncased a pair of AR15 rifles. They started blasting at steel, and it took me a few minutes to adjust to the noise but I adapted. They ran out of Winchester white box .223 so they pulled out a couple boxes of Wolf steel cased bi metal ammo. I put my pistol down to watch the show. It looked like the 4th of July down range with all the sparks flying. Every now and then when a steel target got hit just right, sparks sprayed out, and at least half way back to the firing line. If there would have been a build up of unburnt powder on the floor, things could have gotten real interesting. But this is a very clean range, must get swept daily, so no excitement for me. I waited for the rifle shooters to run out of ammo and leave before I started shooting my pistols again. One good thing about it, they left 100 pieces of once fired .223 on the floor, so I picked them up to compensate for my troubles.

January 24, 2016, 12:12 AM	#2
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	Steel Targets and 25 yards alone is asking for trouble, Especially with rifle rounds, but that's just my opinion. __________________ Proud owner of three (four-ish) pieces of history! K-31, Mosin-Nagant M91/30, M24/47 Mauser, Norinco SKS. "You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm..." William Tecumseh Sherman

January 27, 2016, 02:45 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...They claim no one has ever been hit with a..." Um, they're speaking a falsehood. Been hit myself by bullets bouncing from a lot farther away than 25 yards. However, not allowing steel cored or jacketed(all steel they ain't) is more about not pock marking the back stop. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 24, 2016, 12:38 AM	#3
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	They claim no one has ever been hit with a ricochet / back splash, but I would think it's only a matter of time. About a month ago I shot my Saiga 223 in that range, but not at the steel targets, paper only, into the safe backstop.

January 27, 2016, 06:03 PM	#5
cjwils Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2010 Location: Washington state Posts: 401	At the indoor ranges where I shoot, these things are strictly banned. When you enter, they check your ammo with a magnet if there is any question about what you have.