I would specifically also add in the bottleneck pistol cartridges by name (even though I don’t personally have any). 357 Sig for example. (There are a few others people shoot, like 9x25 Dillon, for example). Anything not listed needs to be approved by management.
just set a velocity maximum… say nothing faster than 1400-1500fps…
that should cover most if not all “pistol” calibers… with exception of some of the other more “exotic” bullshit hybrid calibers…
if someone wants to bitch and say how their 5.7 is a pistol and they should be able to shoot it… politely tell them to pack sand…
If you need double ear protection by better ear protection. If the backstop can handle it quit bitching. Rifle ranges move slow with target set up and all the bs. Pistol ranges move faster if you don’t need a hundred yards pistol range is perfect. Guns are loud ear pro should handle anything you may encounter at a range
How about:
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This is the pistol range. No rifles allowed.
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Rifle range. No pistols allowed.
If the shooter is using a caliber native to rifles then it’s off to the rifle range they go. Alternately, as a rifle shooter, I like nothing more than a vast expanse of table and surrounding free space in which to scatter my array of shit. Take all benches and tables out of the pistol area and go to small wall mounted platforms for handguns and ammo. Sure it will piss off a few, but hey - it works.
When you join feel free to suggest that
Pretty much what we’ve got now- but rim-fire rifles are allowed. We need clarification on the whole “native to rifles” I am personally wanting to see pistol caliber carbines opened up on the pistol range.
What you can do is ban ammo based on kinetic energy…
.50 BMG has ~18,000J of energy at the muzzle depending on ammo and barrel length.
.308 has ~3,600J
5.56 has ~1,700J
.50 AE has ~1,500J
.44 magnum +p+ has ~1,400J
.357 magnum has ~1,000J
.45 ACP has ~700J
9mm has ~400J
.22 LR has ~200J
Although the calculations aren’t something you do off the top of your head and hot .50AE can have more energy than weak 5.56, it’s still a good way of determining what’s allowed and what isn’t, especially since it’s the kinetic energy that does damage to your backstop.
So you can say, anything with less than 1500J is allowed as the technical rule, and list commonly allowed calibers and commonly disallowed calibers. It would allow subsonic 300BLK (700J) but disallow supersonic 300BLK (1800J), for example.
Or you can be annoying and only allow people to shoot ammo that they buy from your store.
My suggestion was based on the KISS principle, and with the assumption the governing body was trying to set-up some new range definition.
The problem is the OP wants an exception (to the current rule) so he can shoot his pistol cal carbine on a range the board has designated as Pistol Only - for whatever reason(s). He simply needs to go to the Board and see if it can be worked out.
More than likely they (the board) will be reluctant - some members, seeing one guy with a carbine on a “Pistol Only” range will assume it’s open to any long gun & caliber. Reasons could be honest mistake or a self serving justification.
A possible solution would be to add a short range berm or two to an existing rifle range.
A better one is to build (or open) one or more short range “IPSC” type bays for general use - including holster work and drills. We have three large bays that are for one person or group - on a first come first served basis - since there is no Firing Line. And with limited time on site if others are waiting. A couple of other shorter range bays do have a firing line and are open to multiple shooters (no holster work) as well as full autos.
Small clubs or areas with encroachment may not be so lucky.
fairly accurate
We have two pistol ranges, and one unimproved range- still limited to rim-fire and pistol. Shotgun, rifle, trap and skeet are further away.
The rule now is “pistols and rim-fire only” with the primary reason being noise. (When we have training classes or matches we open them up to rifle and shotgun leaving one for regular members not participating to shoot pistols.)
We had someone show up shooting an AR pistol with an extremely short barrel. I wasn’t there but I happened to be at the board meeting and had to explain … well it is a pistol, and said we ought to limit it to pistol calibers. With the same ruling I would like to open it up to various PCCs because that would actually give us more freedom while not being louder to the people that are there to shoot pistols and rim-fire.
Since I knew what I was talking about I got tapped to write the new rule for a vote. I plan to show up with three versions…
Simple: “pistol calibers only- ask an RSO if you have a question”
Medium: basically what you said- with the necked pistol calibers mentioned by name"
complex: listing calibers not allowed
You need to be specific. Identify what cartridges are acceptable there and what ones aren’t. Forget if it’s a pistol or rifle, the lines are blurred these days.
My range has about 10 “general” purpose ranges that are limited to .22,shotgun, and pistol calibers.
We have big signs explaining that no firearms allowed chambered in bottleneck RIFLE calibers are allowed, you shot them and get caught you lose your membership forever. Reason being is there is a small airport near the range and some retard put one over the berm and put a .30 cal hole in a propeller. Thank god the owner/pilot found it before he went up.
We also have a mandatory video and a test for all new members,explaining this in great detail.