Quoted: ...Would I be able to get away from the air quality problems with a set up like this?
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I’m no expert, but I’d think that would get you out of needing a proper ventilation system. Still you may encounter other state or local ordinance issues since then the lead from your range isn’t being captured.
A few idle thoughts:
A ventilation system for an indoor range should have its intake behind the shooters and the exhaust near the backstop. This means the moving air will take the lead, smoke, etc. downrange away from the shooter. The moving air must be under enough pressure to accomplish this, which will require some big fans. If not heated, this moving air can be pretty cold. Obviously, the range must be fairly well sealed up to avoid leaks and maintan the proper air flow. The exhaust air must be filtered before being discharged or re-used.
An outdoor range doesn’t need this, but does need a clear area downrange for bullets that miss the backstop. This means a lot of land! You might be able to get around this with bulletproof baffles above the range to prevent bullets from escaping.
I’ve never seen moving carriers (that move the target from the shooters position downrange to whatever distance they want) for an outdoor range. I’d think exposure to the elements would be an issue here.
However, if you don’t have moving carriers, you’ll have to periodically call a cease-fire so shooters can walk downrange and change their targets. This is a major pain for everybody involved.
You can avoid a lot of expense by requiring lead-free ammo on your range. However, this makes the range dramatically less usable. (IMHO, this approach is really suitable only for LE agencies.)
Keep in mind that existing ranges in your area may be grandfathered. A new range might not be able to duplicate their construction.
Research everything thoroughly before doing anything! A gunstore started up business not too far from me recently with the intent of later adding a range. They’ve since been told they can’t since they’re in the flight path of nearby airport.
They’re now looking to move!