Whether you require firearm training for your job or you are trying to refresh and maintain your fundamentals, practicing at an indoor range is an important part of safe gun ownership. Careful design goes into the development of indoor ranges, from the use of target retrievers to bullet trap design. Bullet traps are an especially important component for an indoor range. These traps play an important role in how indoor gun ranges stop bullets.
What is a Bullet Trap?
A bullet trap is exactly what it sounds like - a trap designed to catch and collect bullets so they don't go through the walls and make it easier to clean up later. One of the hazards of an indoor or outdoor gun range is the buildup of bullets and the increasing lead exposure. For an indoor range, a bullet trap makes it easier to collect and clear out the bullets for a safer environment for both customers and employees.
Bullet traps can consist of a variety of materials and designs:
Granulated Rubber: This material captures the bullet and even self-heals, making it an excellent option for forensic ranges. It is also a cost-effective option, making it ideal for small ranges.
Steel: This type of trap is a bit tougher and is designed for heavy use. In addition to handgun bullets, steel traps can typically handle rifle ammo up to 7.62 and 3,000 fps.
Modular: This trap is essentially a concrete floor that can quickly be cleaned of rounds. It can also be called a freestanding trap.
Vertical: Many traps are built to be horizontal, but a vertical design can be attached at the end of a range and tends to capture more bullets.
What Other Protections Do Indoor Ranges Have?
Having a way to trap and clean out bullets is important, but a range needs other features to protect patrons inside the building and people outside the building from bullets. Good ranges that prioritize safety should include these features:
Thick walls: The range itself should be surrounded by thick walls that will not allow bullets to penetrate them. Many ranges have rules on what kind of ammo can be used on them.
Transition or prep area: There should be an area between the check-in for the range and the range itself. This is where you would put on your hearing protection before entering the range. Some ranges also include handwashing stations here for after you're done practicing.
Separate shooting stalls: A shooting stall gives you a rest to put your gun and ammo on and helps buffer sound and blowback from other stalls.
Certified range masters: Range masters ensure the shooters on the range are practicing safety at all times and using the range appropriately.
How Can You Prepare for a Safe Visit to the Range?
The range is already built to keep you safe, but you can ensure an even safer visit by taking along the correct ammo for your gun. For indoor ranges, avoid hollow point ammunition and go with frangible range ammo as it uses less lead and is less likely to ricochet. You can check to make sure your ammo is range training rated. Be sure you can operate your firearm and that the recoil is not too much to handle. The best way to have a safe range experience is to get out and practice so you can become familiar with the process and your firearm. Contact Hot Brass Firearm and Bow to reserve a shooting lane and learn more.
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