Shooting range

An outdoor shooting range with a sheltered shooting stand and several other unsheltered stands. The targets are placed at the foot of the mountain, which the photo is taken from. This particular range is in use by both civilians and by the Swedish Army Norrbotten Regiment.

A shooting range or firing range is a specialized facility designed for firearms practice. Each facility is typically overseen by one or more supervisory personnel, called variously a range master or "RSO – Range Safety Officer" in the United States or a range conducting officer or "RCO" in the UK. These supervisory personnel are responsible for ensuring that all gun safety rules are followed at all times.

Shooting ranges can be indoor or outdoor and possibly restricted to certain types of firearms, e.g. handguns only or rifles, or they can specialize in certain shooting sports such Skeet shooting or 10 m Air Pistol/Rifle.

Specific locales

This article discusses Shooting Ranges in a general sense. For more specific discussion of shooting ranges in specific locales, see:

• Shooting ranges in Australia
• Shooting ranges in Switzerland
• Shooting ranges in the United Kingdom
• Shooting ranges in the United States

Likewise, in countries with gun laws heavily restricting the ownership and use of actual firearms, Airsoft guns often are used instead for "shooting range" practice. By their nature, "shooting ranges" for Airsoft competitions may be located nearly everywhere, even in-doors, with no significant restrictions other than the wearing of protective face masks. This article, and the articles for specific locales, do not address "shooting ranges" intended for Airsoft guns.

Type

In urban areas, most shooting ranges will be at indoor facilities. Similarly, in less-populated areas, shooting ranges are often at outdoor facilities.

Indoor

Indoor pistol shooting range.

• Stationary target practice

Indoor ranges usually have a back wall with a sloped earthen berm or bank, with reinforced baffles additionally situated along the roof and side walls. Ranges with proper ventilation pull smoke and lead particles away from the shooting line and discharge them from the building to reduce potential lead poisoning.^[1] When ranges lack proper ventilation, employees and users are exposed to lead dust from bullets or cartridge primers. It can be inhaled or can settle on skin or clothing.^[2] Additionally, discharge of firearms in indoor ranges can produce noise levels of over 140 dB sound pressure level.^[3] To combat this, it is commonly recommended to "double up" ear protection by using both earplugs and over the head earmuffs. To protect range bystanders from sound exposure, many modern ranges have an air-locked corridor for sound-proofing, with two doors at opposite ends of the egress corridor. Most indoor ranges restrict the use of certain powerful calibers, rifles or the use of fully automatic weapons. In many shooting ranges, .50 caliber or higher bullets are not allowed.

Outdoor

Outdoor shooting ranges are often required for longer distance shooting sometimes exceeding 1,000 metres (1,094 yd). Training might also specifically require exposure to the elements such as wind or rain.

Outdoor shooting ranges usually are backed by a high retaining wall, earth mound, sandbag barrier or specially designed funnel-shaped traps to prevent the ricochet of bullets or shots going outside the bounds of the shooting range. Most outdoor ranges additionally restrict the maximum caliber size, or have separate ranges devoted to use for higher-powered firearms.

Air rifle

Outdoor air rifle ranges are usually for the practice of the sport of Field Target shooting where metal targets are placed in natural surroundings at various ranges and elevations.

Small-bore rifle

Small-bore (.22 Long Rifle caliber) rifle ranges are typically 50 metres (55 yd) to accommodate the Olympic 50 m Rifle event, but they can extend to 200 metres (219 yd). These ranges are found around the world as part of various cadet shooting programs sometimes reduced to 25 metres (27 yd) or in American parlance "the thousand inch range"^[4]. Often called miniature rifle ranges, they featured as carnival games or were used in the military for zeroing in full bore weapons.

Full-Bore Rifle

Range for large calibre rifles are seldom shorter than 100 metres (109 yd) except in the case of “Zero” ranges (for setting or checking a rifle and telescopic sight “Zero”). Military ranges are typically at least 500 metres (547 yd) -1,000 metres (1,094 yd) to safely accommodate the range of most rifles (up to 500 metres (547 yd). Public ranges can be as long as and typically accommodate hunters and sportsman participating in sports such as 300 m Standard Rifle, metallic silhouette or benchrest shooting (ranges up to 2,000 yards (1,829 m).

Shotgun

Specialist ranges cater for various clay pigeon shooting events and require special layouts and equipment.

Firing point

The firing point normally be at a defined point on the ground, and on a civilian range will usually be level and flat. Outdoor ranges without a covered firing point are usually grass, often on a slightly raised, flattened mound. Outdoor ranges with a covered firing point are usually concrete or tarmacadam. Outdoor military range firing points are not usually covered and may have other configurations, e.g. sloping, a gravel base or hole in the ground.

The firing point cover can be as simple as a tent, to a frame with only a roof (to keep off rain or sunshine) to a substantial building with appropriate apertures to shoot through.

Shooting targets for woodchuck hunting

Targets

Civilian Targets are usually made of paper or a plastic coreflute, sometimes with a canvass or hessian back on the larger long range types. Most competitive targets are a solid black circle on a white background. The black circle may have scoring rings. Targets of other shapes may be used such as used in pistol (hand gun) target shooting.

Those who choose to use military surplus rifles in competition on firing ranges at set distances include bolt and semiautomatic actions, with targets used as per military standards, current and historic. The same applies for the matches they shoot. Older bolt action matches fall into; Pre WWI, Between the wars, WWII, Post WWII to the Vietnam War. A number of countries have recently limited the use by civilian populations of the semi and full automatic firearms, to the detriment of competition at an international level.

Other target types include a metal plate that is knocked over by the bullet such as in the air rifle sport of Field Target or handgun discipline of IPSC, and stationary metal plates of scaled animal outlines on which bullet strikes mark as well as those that mark the paint which is painted over again after scoring.

Butts/Backstop

The butts/backstop is the area behind the target into which the shot safely falls. Outdoor and sometimes indoor ranges have earth or sand butts. Indoors angled plates with collectors may be used, often with a rubber curtain through which the bullet passes and is then stopped by a metal plate.

Ranges without automatic target placements sometimes have concrete bunkers where personnel can reposition and replace targets.

Wind flags

Outdoor shooting ranges sometimes have wind flags, positioned between the firing line (where the shooters are) and the targets. Shooters observe these flags to make an estimate of wind speed, which is then converted into lateral minute of angle point of aim corrections or, alternatively, windage holdoff corrections.

The flag method is the most common method used to estimate wind speed. A flag blowing in the wind will naturally blow away from the flagpole, with the angle of the bottom of the flag to the flagpole increasing with increasing windspeed. To estimate the wind speed in mph, the angle in degrees between the bottom of the flag to the flagpole at the mid-range position between the shooter and the target is divided by 4. For example, an angle of 60 degrees between the bottom of a flag and a flagpole would be estimated as a 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) windspeed.^[5]

The clock method is then used to determine full value, half value, or no value corrections in minute of angle for this wind. Aligning the target at the 12 o' clock position or direction, with the 6 o' clock direction being directly behind the shooter, winds at 3 or 9 o'clock are equated to full value, winds at 1,2,4,5,7,8,10,11 o'clock are equated to half value, and winds at 12 and 6 o'clock are equated to no value.^[6]

The minute of angle correction (full value) is then commonly estimated as ((Range meters/ 100) times Wind mph) / C, where C is a constant. The constant C equals 15 for ranges from 100 to 500 meters, 14 for 600 meters, 13 for 700–800 meters, 12 for 900 meters, and 11 for 1,000 meters.^[7] For full value winds, this full windage correction is used. For half value winds, the minute of correction in windage given by this formula is halved; for no value winds, no minute of angle correction in windage is required.^[8]

Multiple flags are required for two reasons. First, the wind speed closest to the mid-point of range has the greatest effect on the projectile.^[9] In addition, the wind at one part of the range will not always be the same at another part.

Wind flags are not always actual flags, sometimes streamers are used, small triangle flags, or even pin wheels. Factors such as the range length and expected strength of the wind determine the best type of flag to use. When no flags are available, a small leaf or other small light object can be dropped from shoulder height, and the object is then pointed at by the shooter; the angle between his arm and his torso can provide an equivalent wind speed estimation as a wind flag, although it will not be at the mid-range location along the bullet's trajectory.^[10]

Common safety practices

Some ranges require that all guns be unloaded and variously securely encased and/or trigger-locked prior to entering, or leaving, the range facility, irrespective of whether one holds a concealed carry license in jurisdictions where concealed carry is legal.

Whether indoors or outdoors, all shooters are typically required to wear eye protection as well as hearing protection (ear muffs or ear plugs) at all times when within the defined boundaries of the range. Indoor ranges can be particularly unsafe, due to high lead exposures and increased noise exposures.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recently issued a new Alert, Preventing Occupational Exposures to Lead and Noise at Indoor Firing Ranges. The Alert presents five case reports that document lead and noise exposures and examines firing range operations, exposure assessment and control methods, existing regulations, and exposure standards and guidelines. More information about reducing occupational exposures at indoor firing ranges can be found at NIOSH Firing Range topic page.

Likewise, the rules of the appointed supervisory personnel are to be followed at all times.

Specialized classes and licenses

These will vary from country to country, and even within a country. In some countries, no license or advanced training beyond just gun familiarization (for rental guns) and range rules familiarization is required for using a shooting range. In other countries, participants must be part of an organized club, and must hold licenses for ownership of individual firearms. A common requirement is that the shooter must be of legal age (or have a guardian present), prior to shooting.

In the United States, concealed carry license classes are often available at shooting ranges.

Other services

Many gun ranges offer services to aid both novice and expert shooters.

Typically, a gun range will offer safety courses, concealed carry courses, and advanced training in firearms techniques, for a fee. In addition, some states in the USA require employees who use firearms on the job (e.g., armored car drivers, security guards) to have certain certifications. In most cases, a shooter may take a class and qualify for these certifications at a gun range.

Many gun ranges will let shooters rent firearms, as well. In most cases, ranges (especially indoor) rent out handguns and rifles in various calibers, however there are ranges that rent Class III/NFA firearms (full-auto weapons, suppressed weapons, etc.). Some ranges offering gun rental also provide instructors at little to no cost as part of the rental fee.

See also

• Gun politics
• Schützenverein
• Shooting sports
• Sport venue
• ISSF shooting events (Olympic events)
• Metallic silhouette
• Tannerite

References

1. ^ "RISKS OF LEAD POISONING IN FIREARMS INSTRUCTORS AND THEIR STUDENTS, Anthony M. Gregory, THE ASLET JOURNAL, March/April 1990 Volume 4 Issue 2 "[1]
2. ^ Take Aim at Protecting Yourself: Solutions for Preventing Lead Poisoning and Hearing Loss at Indoor Firing Ranges. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
3. ^ Preventing Occupational Exposures to Lead and Noise at Indoor Firing Ranges. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Publication No. 2009-136. April 2009.
4. ^ p.194 Clark, Johnnie M. Gunner's Glory: Untold Stories of Marine Machine Gunners Ballantine Books, 2004
5. ^ Sniper Training. Field Manual No. 32-10, 17 Aug 1994, Headquarters Dept. of the Army, Washington, DC, p. 3-31.
6. ^ Sniper Training. Field Manual No. 32-10, 17 Aug 1994, Headquarters Dept. of the Army, Washington, DC, p. 3-30.
7. ^ Sniper Training. Field Manual No. 32-10, 17 Aug 1994, Headquarters Dept. of the Army, Washington, DC, p. 3-33.
8. ^ Sniper Training. Field Manual No. 32-10, 17 Aug 1994, Headquarters Dept. of the Army, Washington, DC, p. 3-34.
9. ^ Sniper Training. Field Manual No. 32-10, 17 Aug 1994, Headquarters Dept. of the Army, Washington, DC, p. 3-32.
10. ^ Sniper Training. Field Manual No. 32-10, 17 Aug 1994, Headquarters Dept. of the Army, Washington, DC, p. 3-31.

External links

• Calgary's Shooting Centre - Canada's Premiere Shooting Destination
• Australian Shooting Ranges
• Calgary Shooting Centre - Premier Indoor Shooting Range
• Black Wing Shooting Center Ohio's Premier Shooting Destination
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health – Indoor Firing Range Topic Page
• Gun Club List: a listing directory of Gun Clubs and Shooting Ranges around the world
• UK National Shooting Centre
• UK NSRA (National Small-bore Rifle Association)
• Arizona Clay Target Shooting from Clay Target Center
• Arizona Shooting from Ben Avery Shooting Facility
• NortheastRanges: A Directory of Shooting ranges in the Northeastern United States