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Going Prone at Indoor Range

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chrome

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Minuteman
    • Aug 21, 2005
    2,444
    4,645
    VA
    #1
    Anyone else regularly go prone at indoor ranges?

    Reason I ask is my current range has nice setup but I find myself fighting the wheeled stools, the position of my rear bag on the bench, and a few other little things.

    I've seen people go prone (on mats) before but curious for those who are zeroing and/or working on load eval, you prone it out?

    I.e., am I fucking weird?
     
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    #3
    Not weird at all. However most may not let you shoot prone. If you are allowed, definitely bring a mat and wear pants/long sleeves or you’ll just be laying in lead lol. I tried going prone in FL and on base in NC...both times I was told that the bullet goes too high and will hit the ceiling before it hits the target....think about that lol. I was then told at the Bragg MWR outdoor range that if I go prone and shoot at 100yds, my round will go over the 15’ berm despite my target being at the base of the berm.

    Hopefully you have a range that isn’t staffed by retards that don’t know the first thing about anything (odds are against you on that one).

    Only concern about an indoor range is the close proximity to other shooters and the high frequency of NDs they deal with. That would be my biggest concern going prone at an indoor range or crowded outdoor range where you’re laying between benches.
     
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    #4
    I go prone to shoot my .22 indoors at my regular range. Shooting tiny targets at 25 yds is the best practice I can get on a regular basis.

    Range guys are cool with it.

    I never take a mat. Laying on the concrete on Friday got me 2 new chest hairs!

    Guys at another range in the Denver area thought I was crazy for going prone. Until they saw my groups at 100 yds. But that range kinda blows. Near my home, would be nice to have 100 yds, but not a fan of the place.
     
    #6
    Yep me too. I prone out on a mat to shoot my 22 under the bench at the local indoor 50y range. It's not wide enough to get both front and rear support with a rifle. I get some sideways glances. Then again they're generally more slack jawed on the rare occasion someone asks to see my target. The average hand gunner and spray and pray ak guy thinks a group is keeping most of the shots on the paper, at 15ft.
     
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    #8
    I dont even have a fancy 22 and shoot groups smaller than a 45 hole routinely. people are funny. I always bring extra rounds and when people ask, I try to be nice and educate. I even offer to let em shoot a few rounds.
    More folks who learn a little, might be inclined to buy a decent 22 rifle and get shooting.

    May need a scope with closer parallax though...... Its messing with me (goes to 35 yds) under those crappy florescent lights....
     
    #9
    You are not weird at all, well at least with this subject :LOL:. I take my Crosstac Recon mat and shoot prone most of the time, I prefer it. I go to Shooters World in Tampa and they are great about letting me do it.
     
    #10
    I shoot mostly outdoors but there are 2 100 yard indoor ranges that I’ve been too. One where i live and one out of state where I routinely work. I’ve asked both to shoot prone due to their short narrow benches and not being able to establish a good position like you stated. Both places told me no because “my bullet would strike the ceiling”.
     
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    #11
    Thanks for all the replies and confirmation. I did not think about the potential safety issues (other shooters having an ND, etc) when going prone at the range. Granted, this 100yrd indoor range is for rifles only, which *could* potentially decrease the chances of being swept by a muzzle, but the risk is still there for sure.

    I've seen others prone before, but that assumption doesn't mean the range allows it, granted the ROs are in the space on a regular basis switching people in/out.

    I'll confirm with them next time Im there and see how it goes.
     
    #13
    chrome said:
    Thanks for all the replies and confirmation. I did not think about the potential safety issues (other shooters having an ND, etc) when going prone at the range. Granted, this 100yrd indoor range is for rifles only, which *could* potentially decrease the chances of being swept by a muzzle, but the risk is still there for sure.

    I've seen others prone before, but that assumption doesn't mean the range allows it, granted the ROs are in the space on a regular basis switching people in/out.

    I'll confirm with them next time Im there and see how it goes.
    Click to expand...

    If it's a rifle-only range then going prone shouldn't be an issue.

    At a regular public range? Maybe if you're the only one shooting...
     
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    #14
    GySgt Smith JE said:
    I shoot mostly outdoors but there are 2 100 yard indoor ranges that I’ve been too. One where i live and one out of state where I routinely work. I’ve asked both to shoot prone due to their short narrow benches and not being able to establish a good position like you stated. Both places told me no because “my bullet would strike the ceiling”.
    Click to expand...
    Whether, stupid, asinine, or defying logic, comes back to Their house, their rules.
     
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    #17
    GySgt Smith JE said:
    I agree with you. They spent the money building the range. Their house, their rules. So I’ll follow their rules and use their ranges sparingly when I can’t make it to the outdoor ranges.
    Click to expand...
    Sorry, was not singling you out, lol, I have have never been to an indoor range where I can comply with all the bullshit myself. Whether buying high priced targets, no brass retention rules, and the constant noise, and gunfire does not really bother me.
     
    #18
    Fig said:
    I don't get this thread.
    I wouldn't even start to think about needing to get low under 300 yards.
    Click to expand...

    It may be me shooting for too long of a session, and not taking too many breaks between groups, but I just found myself and my setup (rifle, bipod, bag) not as comfortable/stable, when utilizing this range's awkwardly shaped benches and very mobile wheeled stools, as I normally am when I am prone. So that was the genesis of the inquiry.
     
    #19
    Well, yea. The closer to the ground you are the more stable you get as a general rule, but what are we taking about, 50 yards max? Massive and unnecessary overkill.

    A 100 yard square range does nothing for me at all except to confirm zero and for load development. So, to me an indoor range is really only for pistols.
     
    #20
    Milo 2.5 said:
    Sorry, was not singling you out, lol, I have have never been to an indoor range where I can comply with all the bullshit myself. Whether buying high priced targets, no brass retention rules, and the constant noise, and gunfire does not really bother me.
    Click to expand...

    I knew you weren’t singling me out and I agree with all your points about the silliness of some of their “rules and regs”. And as @Fig has brought up. I only utilize them to confirm zero or work load development when it’s not possible to make it to an outdoor range.
     
    #21
    Fig said:
    Well, yea. The closer to the ground you are the more stable you get as a general rule, but what are we taking about, 50 yards max? Massive and unnecessary overkill.

    A 100 yard square range does nothing for me at all except to confirm zero and for load development. So, to me an indoor range is really only for pistols.
    Click to expand...


    Agreed on 100 indoor, this is primarily for load verification so trying to control for the variables I can.
     
    #23
    My range allows prone.
    72A25BDD-4F16-46B5-ADE0-EF15804FE7E7.jpeg
     
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    #26
    308pirate said:
    Not even useful for that, since virtually none allow draws from a holster, movement, or target transitions. Things that to me are essential for practical pistol craft.

    Shooting bullseyes with a pistol is 100% a waste of time for me.
    Click to expand...

    ^Valid. And I am actually very surprised, this range I am referencing allows pistol shooters (on the pistol ranges) to draw/draw from concealment, rapid fire, target transitions, but no room to move obviously.
     
    #32
    chrome said:
    View attachment 7198715

    My 'normal' 1k range (R4 on Quantico) is closed for the winter, but look forward to getting out there late winter/early spring):

    View attachment 7198716
    Click to expand...

    Here's my "local" (2 hr drive) mile long range

    Screen-Shot-2013-05-04-at-11.53.51-AM.png
    ​

    The line is now covered under a very nice pavilion. You'll see people shooting from benches, prone in between them, from barricades, tripods, etc.

    I don't have a portable barricade, so I take a 4 ft step ladder.
     
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    #33
    308pirate said:
    Here's my "local" (2 hr drive) mile long range


    Screen-Shot-2013-05-04-at-11.53.51-AM.png


    The line is now covered under a very nice pavilion. You'll see people shooting from benches, prone in between them, from barricades, tripods, etc.

    I don't have a portable barricade, so I take a 4 ft step ladder.
    Click to expand...

    Nice!
    Where is that?

    My mile spot in da cheese forest area.
    014BAB32-E6B3-4008-9A36-05681D79342C.jpeg
     
    Last edited:
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    #40
    308pirate said:
    No place I've ever been to allows shooting across any lanes. That's different from what one could get away with before getting kicked out.
    Click to expand...
    The sportsmans club in Issaquah, WA has crossing lanes. The layout is goofy due to limited acreage and topography. Once I realized it was so, I asked the range master for clarification. He said it was no big deal, astronomical odds of a problem, etc. I packed up and left.
     
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