Indoor Basement Range

[Producer]

OK, I am not looking to be slammed, however... out of (very peliminary) curiosity......

Is it possible to set up a small shooting range in a home basement? I got about 35' x 5' to play with. I live in suburbia, MA. We have a association and everyone has around .5 acre lot, so we are not too spaced out from each other. I have an excellent repor with my neighbors.

Legal ramifications is the primary concern. What gave me the idea is that I saw a tractor trailer that had a shooting range in it. Might of been on this site.

 

[M1911]

I would recommend against it, due to lead contamination and the fire danger from unburnt powder. I suggest instead that you use airsoft or pellet guns.

 

[Admin]

I would recommend against it, due to lead contamination and the fire danger from unburnt powder. I suggest instead that you use airsoft or pellet guns.

I've thought about it myself. But lead is very dangerous, and because of that it went no further.

 

[TonyD]

They used to make small traps for .22's for just such an occasion.

 

[Admin]

They used to make small traps for .22's for just such an occasion.

They still do. But I dont know how much lead that will throw in the air from repeated use indoors. Maybe Jim will know.

 

[Executive]

The cost of installing an adequate ventilation system would certainly outweigh the convenience of shooting at home. I would also look into State and local laws concerning discharge of a firearm within "X" feet of a dwelling. Nice thinking outside the box, though. We need to have more of that type of stuff: ideas, even radical ideas, that are floated out there to see what people think.

Chris

 

[Nickle]

We had to close down almost all of our indoor ranges in our armouries up here due to lead contamination. I also concur to Airsoft or Air Guns (Pellet/BB).

 

[TonyD]

How much lead gets in the air during reloading, especial cast bullets? I'd think and exhaust fan and keeping the trap cleaned out would be fine using .22's. Then again I'm no environmental engineer.

 

[Nickle]

Funny you mentioned reloading. The biggest hazard there is the residue from used primers.

Tony, indoor ranges are far more hazrdous than reloading areas. I won't cast bullets in my house, the bullet casting setup at the shop is in the garage.

 

[Producer]

Thanks for the replies. Your all right about the lead, and it quickly put out that fire in my head.

 

[tele_mark]

Funny you mentioned reloading. The biggest hazard there is the residue from used primers.

Tony, indoor ranges are far more hazrdous than reloading areas. I won't cast bullets in my house, the bullet casting setup at the shop is in the garage.

This worries me. How hazardous? I vacuum the area up of primers after a depriming/sizing session. Is that enough to avoid the hazard? Should I not be reloading in the basement?

 

[M1911]

I'd think and exhaust fan and keeping the trap cleaned out would be fine using .22's. Then again I'm no environmental engineer.

Neither am I. I can say that several years ago I helped rebuild our gun club's indoor range. I did not do the bulk of the work by any stretch of the imagination -- I probably did less than 40 hours. Before we started, my blood lead levels were below the detection limit. Since then, my blood lead levels have been significantly elevated.

Don't do it.

 

[dwarven1]

Neither am I. I can say that several years ago I helped rebuild our gun club's indoor range. I did not do the bulk of the work by any stretch of the imagination -- I probably did less than 40 hours. Before we started, my blood lead levels were below the detection limit. Since then, my blood lead levels have been significantly elevated.

Don't do it.

Oh, joy... I was on the work party cleaning out the range last fall... and my mask didn't fit real well due to the beard. Now you've got me worried - I'll have my doc check the levels when I get my bloodwork done next month.

Like I didn't have enough to worry about!!!

Why is it that everything I like to do is either illegal, immoral or fattening... or elevates the blood levels while reducing the blood pressure?

 

[M1911]

The test is relatively cheap -- around $20 or so. Just make sure the doc checks which vial is required. The lead test requires a particular vial and if they use the wrong one they'll have to do it again. You can guess how I found that out. Twice.

 

[dwarven1]

The lead test requires a particular vial and if they use the wrong one they'll have to do it again. You can guess how I found that out. Twice.

Ouch. I'll remember to tell them.

 

[blkbd]

I beleive the snail trap have the best rating at keeping lead level very low and there are non toxic rounds but there cost for a snail trap and having to allways use the non toxic ammo would drive the cost way up. my big concern would be your local laws about discharging of firearms in town limits.

 

[boston_007]

http://www.mass.gov/dos/leaddocs/lead_firing.htm

 

[dwarven1]

* Always load bullets in a ventilated area.

* Do not load bullets in the home or in areas where children frequent.

* Do not allow children into the bullet loading area.

* Keep the bullet loading area clean by using detergent.

If Jarrios knew that the commonwealth was giving reloading advice out on it's website, he'd have the king hissy fit of all time!

 

[Len-2A Training]

If Jarrios knew that the commonwealth was giving reloading advice out on it's website, he'd have the Queen hissy fit of all time!

I fixed it for you! [If you have never met Barrios, you might not understand.]

 

[Nickle]

This worries me. How hazardous? I vacuum the area up of primers after a depriming/sizing session. Is that enough to avoid the hazard? Should I not be reloading in the basement?

All you have to do is be aware of the situation. Don't eat or drink in the loading area, don't store food there, keep it reasonably clean and make sure to wash your hands before eating. Also make sure your vacuum doesn't blow the dust all over the place. I'm not showing any problems from lead exposure due to reloading, and I grew up loading ammo, and still load ammo.

 

[dwarven1]

I fixed it for you! [If you have never met Barrios, you might not understand.]

Never met him, but I understand anyway.