Comp Etiquette at indoor ranges.

[Jack's My dog]

I have a NC Corvette comp on my AR, that I am thinking about pulling off the gun for the indoor range season. It spits fireballs 2 to 3 feet laterally with every shot and gets a lot of questions regarding what caliber it is (Just plain old 223 wylde). The efficacy of the comp is noticeable when compared to an A2, and I appreciate it for that, but as you guys are aware, the trade off is a substantial increase in volume and concussion (none of which is noticeable when you are behind the gun). Hopefully this winter I will be able to get a few new shooters out with me, and I don't want the concussion to harsh any of them out, so I think the comp is going away for now. But wonder what you guys think about using comps in indoor ranges? I know they are plenty of firearm configurations that can really bark, so is it something I should not worry about as far as etiquette towards my fellow range users? Thoughts?

[Hmac]

Indoor gun ranges are loud. I recommend that everyone that shoots at one wear ear pro sufficient to keep themselves comfortable. Personally, shooting a couple of 11.5 SBR's at Mills/Bill's indoor range in Baxter, I've never had anyone else on the range complain. Both have BattleComps on them. Thus far, I've concluded that it's not an issue based on my experience. If it was to be really objectionable and somebody asked me to lay off, I'd consider it, but I don't go there with the assumption that my rifles will be too objectionable to shoot.

[MnHornet]

I didn't vote.
I have two pretty nasty brakes, and try to be considerate of others.
Anything sixteen inches and shorter are going to be loud, sorry.
If I could find a thread protector for my M24 contour I would probably change it out, it's unnecessary.

[nhluke]

I'd just check/glance around if there were any new shooters or people that were already struggling with the blasts. Then wait to shoot the brakes when they leave or give them a heads up of chest thumps and fire. The fact you asked makes me think you probably wouldn't mag dump a brake next to a shooter that is already shaking holding a .22. It's an indoor range and most people know what to expect. I think it's possible to be courteous and still accomplish what you are trying to do.
Im a closet fan of fireballs.

[Ghost]

I was at bpr once shooting suppressed 5.56. Had the rifle bay all to myself and sitting along the far wall. Along come a couple guys shooting with a brake and they pick the lane directly to my left.

I finished quickly and left, I'd have maybe stayed had they been a couple lanes over but it went from relatively quiet to obnoxious and wasn't fun for me anymore.

But, so be it. It is a gun range.

[FJ540]

There's a product out there that resolves this issue. I even know the guy who makes it.

[crbutler]

I guess I don't see the point of shooting centerfire rifles on paper at less than 100 yards in most normal range circumstances.

If all you are after is function check, maybe. Otherwise it's all just making noise.

I find most folks using comped rifles indoors are just obnoxiously showing off. Lots of mag dumps and such. That being said, it is a range, and one expects this sort of thing on a public range; but using stuff like this may end up having them ban them at that facility...not everyone brings 2 sets of earplugs and the sharp pressure front from the muzzle blast will give nearby newbies a flinch before too long...and anyone in that bay is nearby.

Put it this way, how would you feel if someone pulls out a Barrett .50 on the next bench over at an outdoor range? You may think it's a neat gun, and you may think he has every right to it, but you will be moving quickly.

If you even ask the question, you already know the answer...

[FJ540]

I shoot for groups at 50yds indoors in the winter. Sure beats waiting for a day warm enough to not shiver outside.

[Hmac]

I guess I don't see the point of shooting centerfire rifles on paper at less than 100 yards in most normal range circumstances.

If all you are after is function check, maybe. Otherwise it's all just making noise.

I find most folks using comped rifles indoors are just obnoxiously showing off. Lots of mag dumps and such.

One could argue that the AR15 is the most widely used rifle in the US these days. That particular firearm is mostly a 100-yards-and-shorter rifle. And shooting at paper is the focus of virtually all carbine (and pistol) training.

As to your experience....I certainly would never want to shoot where you shoot. Where I shoot (Baxter), I've never seen mag dumps, nor any other behavior that would be characterized as "obnoxiously showing off". Please let me know where you shoot so I can stay away, for fear that shooting my 11.5 SBR with comp will put me in the "obnoxiously showing off" category.

[Holland&Holland]

I guess I don't see the point of shooting centerfire rifles on paper at less than 100 yards in most normal range circumstances.

If all you are after is function check, maybe. Otherwise it's all just making noise.

I find most folks using comped rifles indoors are just obnoxiously showing off. Lots of mag dumps and such. That being said, it is a range, and one expects this sort of thing on a public range; but using stuff like this may end up having them ban them at that facility...not everyone brings 2 sets of earplugs and the sharp pressure front from the muzzle blast will give nearby newbies a flinch before too long...and anyone in that bay is nearby.

Put it this way, how would you feel if someone pulls out a Barrett .50 on the next bench over at an outdoor range? You may think it's a neat gun, and you may think he has every right to it, but you will be moving quickly.

If you even ask the question, you already know the answer...

I could not disagree more. Here are a half dozen reasons to shoot a centerfire rifle at less then 100 yards and why you might do so at a range to prepare for them:

1) Self defense. Not many folks can afford a house that has 100 yard hallways.
2) Hunting in MN, many heavy brush areas
3) Youth
4) Dangerous game
5) Function check something you built
6) Get zeroed on paper prior to longer range work

An if one does not have a set of plugs rolling around in the bottom of their bag in addition to their muffs? Then they did not come prepared.

I am not saying one should be a jerk, there are good manners and common sense, but a range is a range and with appropriate manners and common sense one should be able to shoot these with no issues.

Heck, am I not allowed to shoot my .45-70 handgun then? It is going to be short, loud and I can not see ever shooting it beyond 100 yards.

[Ghost]

To some, trigger time is trigger time and you take what you can get. Indoor ranges are easy.

[Jack's My dog]

I guess I don't see the point of shooting centerfire rifles on paper at less than 100 yards in most normal range circumstances.

If all you are after is function check, maybe. Otherwise it's all just making noise.

I find most folks using comped rifles indoors are just obnoxiously showing off. Lots of mag dumps and such. That being said, it is a range, and one expects this sort of thing on a public range; but using stuff like this may end up having them ban them at that facility...not everyone brings 2 sets of earplugs and the sharp pressure front from the muzzle blast will give nearby newbies a flinch before too long...and anyone in that bay is nearby.

Put it this way, how would you feel if someone pulls out a Barrett .50 on the next bench over at an outdoor range? You may think it's a neat gun, and you may think he has every right to it, but you will be moving quickly.

If you even ask the question, you already know the answer...

Couple thoughts...

Just walked in the door from BPR..Indoor shooting is the only access I have to shooting at this time. 50 yds is honestly not that fun with a rifle from a table, but I needed to get out of the house. I'm little stir crazy after the close of the pheasant season, the dogs are even worse. .

Currently I have exactly 1 Ar with only 1 upper. so my options are limited. My options are -shoot it the way it is or switch the MD reconfirm zero etc. Not sure I ever mag dumped at a range before, not really my style, but assume away. Now that I think about it, I may have never performed a mag dump in my life. I think I might be sort of boring .....or cheap.

I do agree that the concussion can be off putting and I share your concern about discouraging new shooters, hence the question. I am just not sure I think that automatically means I can't leave my rig the way it is and use it indoors. I have noticed at Bill's that if everyone is running pistols and someone fires up their AR, it sounds like a cannon relative to the other guns. But I was in the rifle bay today at BPR, and the AR-10 next to me (A2 only) was substantially louder than anything else int he room, at least from my perspective. So I wonder if we rephrased the question to "Is it cool for me to run my AR-10 at the indoor range?", if that would make a difference.(this follows your 50 cal. line of thought).

I think my take away is this: While I don't "try" to be the loudest in the room, if you are, you are going to get some looks. I also think a designated rifle bay is a more reasonable place for a bit more volume given the potential for louder calibers in the area. (Not meaning to harsh you out Ghost someday I will get a can myself) With that said, I am going back to the A2 for now. But I am also thinking about building a 300 blackout 10 inch pistol, I am sure that will have some bark, and I will probably shoot that some indoors.

I am going to be curious to see what ranges will decide to do if and when the Hearing protection act is passed. How long will it be before cans are a requirement instead of a novelty?


ETA:Thought about it more, and think I told a fib. Probably dumped a few Buckmark mags in my time.

[Randygmn]

I have a blast shield on my comp. I use it when at an indoor range. As for shooting an AR at indoor ranges- I own my AR's purely for defensive purposes. I can't ever imagine using a rifle in a SD situation for anything past 25, maybe 50 yards. Anything more than 100 yards would probably be argued as murder, IMO. All this to say, train at realistic distances.

[Jack's My dog]

I have a blast shield on my comp. I use it when at an indoor range. As for shooting an AR at indoor ranges- I own my AR's purely for defensive purposes. I can't ever imagine using a rifle in a SD situation for anything past 25, maybe 50 yards. Anything more than 100 yards would probably be argued as murder, IMO. All this to say, train at realistic distances.

Does the blast shield cuts down on the perceived blast and volume to those next to you on the range?

[Randygmn]

I have a blast shield on my comp. I use it when at an indoor range. As for shooting an AR at indoor ranges- I own my AR's purely for defensive purposes. I can't ever imagine using a rifle in a SD situation for anything past 25, maybe 50 yards. Anything more than 100 yards would probably be argued as murder, IMO. All this to say, train at realistic distances.

Does the blast shield cuts down on the perceived blast and volume to those next to you on the range?

Absolutely. I have the ferfrans muzzle device and QD shield on my 300blk home defense 9" pistol (which is the AR I practice/train with the most- even over my many 556 AR's I own). The blast is quantifiably sent downrange. There are many videos on YouTube with balloons off to the sides showing blast effects with and without the shield on. The differences are dramatic. I have no experience with other blast shields, but I would expect similar or same results. After all, physics is physics.