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Posted: 5/2/2006 5:28:15 AM EDT
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At the indoor pistol range I frequent, at least once or twice per range session I get hit by some fragment of a bullet that bounces back from somewhere. A couple of times it has even been an entire bullet that is severely deformed. It rarely hits hard enough to cause more than a slight red mark, but I did get a small cut on my cheek once. It seems awefully dangerous, but each time a bring it up with a range officer they act like it's no big deal. This is the only place I've ever experienced this, but the range itself doesn't look terribly different from any of the others I've been to. Unfortunately, switching pistol ranges is not an option as the next closest one is about 20 miles away and this one is only 2 - 3. I just wouldn't end up going as often if I had to travel that far. I guess if nothing else this is a great example as to why you should ALWAYS wear eye protection. The specs on the range are: 25 yds indoor, target hangers are small and have no 90 deg angles, and the backstop appears to be the typical heavy black rubber. Anyone else experience this or have any thoughts as to the cause? |
Ya gotta protect your jimmy.  Jimmy Protector  HKO |
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I got caught with a 22 hard enough to break the skin through my mustache. I think it has alot to do with the back stop angle. Some angle horizontally and some angle vertically. The horizontally angled ranges mean the bullet has to either hit the floor or the ceiling before the bullet comes back. Unless the ceiling is taller than the width of the range, the bullet has to hit in alot more places to get back, there fore losing more energy. When they're angled vertically, the bullet ricochets out towards the wall, which means it only has to hit any surface a few times before coming back, unless your range is on the slim side. More than a few times I've went along time with out shooting due to the fact I hate indoor ranges. Idiots, lead splash, high prices, poor lighting, bad fan placement, and lack of free space all contribute as to why I'd rather shoot with mother nature, even on her bad days. |
it happens to me too everytime I go to a private indoor range. sometimes bullets bounce back undeformed! (  )backstop is old wood from railway tracks..it's so hard that bullets bounce back |
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oddly enough the only time i have ever been hit by a bullet or fragment was at an outdoor range and that was due to it coming back off the hill that was the backstop. normally it was just dirt flying in the air. if there are rounds coming back at you regularly it is likely due to "hot spots" in the backstop. if there is a lot of spent lead in the rubber or wood or whatever they use then it is more likely for something to come back at you. |
That's the one. I really am beginning to hate that place, but I can't stand the guys at Knights and their prices are ridiculous. Driving all the way over to Fowler & I-75 is just too far for what you get. I really wish someone would open up a decent range in central Tampa. |
They did. "Streets of Ybor City".
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I have been to the Dale Mabry range on several occassions, and while I have certainly experienced "splash-back" on occasion, I found the experience to be akin to having a pea thrown at you lightly. If you look at the floor, you will find occasional bullet remains there. However, they tend to be flat (like 5 pieces of paper on top of each other in thickness) and generally not dangerous. I have never been cut or anything like that. Still, I must admit that it is a little unnerving. I have never experienced splash-back at Knights. |
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