The issue with indoor ranges is the ability of their backstops / bullet traps to handle the high velocity impact of a centerfire rifle round. The huge difference in velocity/energy means rifles eat up even the best steel, etc.. It’s a big issue anywhere there are steel pistol targets for instance. A target or bullet trap that can take pistol shots all day every day for years will be utterly destroyed by a few high power rifle rounds. The pistols run 800 to 1200 FPS at the muzzle vs. 2400 to 4000 fps. for centerfire rifles. The impact of the latter melts steel and vaporizes lead, so there may be environmental issues too.
Coal Creek doesn’t allow rifles on their indoor range, but they allow shotguns loaded with slugs. (Shot is verboten because it spreads and tears up the target trolleys at the far end of the range.) When the slugs hit the backstop it makes a hell of a spark.
[…] Apparently, the last quiz wasn’t enough to satisfy some gunnies’ desires. Rather than treat you to a whole new quiz, here’s a rematch between the same two potential “assault” weapons. Now can you tell which is which? […]
June 21st, 2006 at 7:57 pm
The issue with indoor ranges is the ability of their backstops / bullet traps to handle the high velocity impact of a centerfire rifle round. The huge difference in velocity/energy means rifles eat up even the best steel, etc.. It’s a big issue anywhere there are steel pistol targets for instance. A target or bullet trap that can take pistol shots all day every day for years will be utterly destroyed by a few high power rifle rounds. The pistols run 800 to 1200 FPS at the muzzle vs. 2400 to 4000 fps. for centerfire rifles. The impact of the latter melts steel and vaporizes lead, so there may be environmental issues too.
June 21st, 2006 at 10:54 pm
Coal Creek doesn’t allow rifles on their indoor range, but they allow shotguns loaded with slugs. (Shot is verboten because it spreads and tears up the target trolleys at the far end of the range.) When the slugs hit the backstop it makes a hell of a spark.
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:14 am
Hard shot and round ball also tends to bounce, which is a corollary reason for banning shot 🙂
June 23rd, 2006 at 7:04 am
[…] Apparently, the last quiz wasn’t enough to satisfy some gunnies’ desires. Rather than treat you to a whole new quiz, here’s a rematch between the same two potential “assault” weapons. Now can you tell which is which? […]