Can You Bring Your Own Gun To A Shooting Range?

Going to the range for the first time, or for the first time in a long time, can be intimidating. There are a lot of things to know and rules to follow. But knowing whether or not you can bring your gun to the range is one of the first answers you need; to get the process started. For more detailed information on gun rules and etiquette, check out our complete guide here. As far as whether or not you can bring your own gun to a shooting range, I answered it below in bold, and in more detail after that.

So can you bring your own gun to a shooting range? Most gun ranges allow you to bring and shoot your gun at the range. They may have some restrictions on types of ammo that can be used or sizes of calibers, but most gun ranges allow shooting handguns and most rifles brought by their patrons. Additionally, most ranges have guns to rent at the range if the guns you own are restricted.

Not all gun ranges are uniform in rules and restrictions, so we’ll take a closer look at some that are widely accepted by most ranges across the United States.

Detailed Explanation

Most gun ranges allow range visitors to bring their own guns and shoot them without any issues, which includes both indoor and outdoor ranges. Usually, they require some sort of questionnaires to be filled out and signed by each participant before shooting. The questionnaires usually ask about the participants’ mental-health status, and require compliance with the rules of the range—which includes listening to the commands of the range officer. After signing and being told the rules, they can take their guns onto the range and begin shooting. The whole process usually only takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and then you’re hucking lead down range.

Some ranges aren’t as cut and dry as others. Some have restrictions on types of ammo that can be used, caliber sizes, and how guns must be handled while at the range.

General rules on ammo

Some gun ranges don’t have any restrictions on what ammo can be used. In that case, find whatever ammo you think you will like best and go to town. For all other gun ranges, which includes quite a few, you may need to call and ask. If you don’t want to do that, just make sure you’re using common factory ammo. Ammo that is pretty safe to use anywhere is lead core ammo with a copper jacket and a brass case. I’ve never been to a range that doesn’t allow its patrons to shoot this kind of ammo.

Ammo that might give you trouble is any steel-core ammo. This type of ammo is meant to penetrate barriers more efficiently than lead-core ammo, or softer-metal ammo. Most ranges have a problem with this because it tends to damage the equipment in both indoor ranges and outdoor ranges. The tough steel ruins the bullet catch system (in most indoor ranges) and creates perforations and imperfections on steel targets (often at outdoor ranges). That can cause the targets to be destroyed more quickly and can make the targets unsafe to shoot.

Some gun ranges may require that you use their ammo while at their range. This is rare, but if they do, I would look for another range. The ammo they sell is generally marked up considerably, which can get pretty pricey. Most ranges will make you use their ammo only when using their guns.

General rules on caliber sizes

There isn’t necessarily a hard-and-fast rule on caliber sizes that are okay at gun ranges. Some allow everything up to a 50 BMG, while others don’t allow any rifle calibers larger than a .22 (those are meant more for handguns). If you have a specialty cartridge, the best rule of thumb would be to call the range and ask if they allow that specific caliber there. For most major handgun and rifle calibers, you should be just fine to shoot them on most ranges. Most outdoor ranges allow all calibers, while many indoor ranges allow only handgun calibers—though many allow for bigger calibers too.

Many outdoor ranges have specific areas where certain types of guns/calibers can be shot. For example, many have steel targets set up very close for handgun use only. It would be dangerous to whip out a rifle and start firing away. Someone could get seriously hurt because the steel targets aren’t likely rated for that powerful of a round. There is usually another area with highly-rated steel targets farther back from the shooting line.

Here is a list of some of the most popular calibers that are allowed at most ranges. It certainly isn’t comprehensive; there are just too many calibers to list them all. Regardless, here are a few

Handguns

.380
9mm
10mm
.40
.45
.38 special
.357 magnum
.44 special
.44 magnum

Rifles

.22
.223 Remington
5.56 NATO
.300 AAC
.30-06
.30-30
.308
7.62X51
7.62X39
And many more

How to transport a gun to the range

Since most gun ranges will allow people to bring their own guns to the range, they usually have specific transportation rules they want patrons to obey. Obviously, like all other gun-range rules, this depends on the specific range; but there are some rules that are prevalent enough in the gun-range community that we’ll mention them here.

Keep the breach open

This rule is pretty simple. It usually applies to those bringing a gun to the range as well as those renting guns. Patrons must keep the breach of the gun open when not on the shooting line and actively firing. If it’s a handgun that means removing the magazine and locking the slide to the rear—exposing an empty chamber. For a revolver it means opening the cylinder—ensuring no rounds are in the cylinder or in the barrel. For a rifle, it means that the action is in the rearward position with no magazines, clips or ammunition of any kind near the gun. This makes it easier for others to know the gun is not loaded and won’t fire accidentally.

Keep the gun in the gun bag

Many ranges require patrons that bring their own guns—to bring them in some sort of gun case. Obviously, cases can look very different from one another but the general purpose of requiring them is to keep the guns out of peoples’ hands while completing paperwork, browsing through the store or really doing anything where minds are on other tasks. It’s the first level of safety for shop workers as well as other visitors. Having a gun in a case keeps fingers away from tiggers and prevents accidents. Also, when guns are put away, they are often stored with covers or locks on them, which again, prevents potential accidents from happening.

Common gun range rules

Some gun ranges have many rules, while others have only a few. No matter how many, there are a few gun rules, that if obeyed, keeps everyone safe. Every gun range I’ve ever been to has these four rules.

ALWAYS treat every gun like it’s loaded.
Keep fingers off triggers until pointed in a safe direction and ready to fire.
Don’t point a gun at anything you aren’t willing to destroy.
Be aware of everything in front of and beyond your target.

These seem simple, but so many people ignore one or two in the moment—especially when they are new to shooting. So many things are happening when going to the range the first few times that people forget these rules. It’s common for them to be focused on something else, like adjusting hearing protection, and forget they are holding a gun; or they begin waving the gun in unsafe directions with a finger on the trigger after they’ve hit the target they were aiming at.

It doesn’t take a lot to mess one of the rules up and put someone in danger. But ingraining these rules into memory fixes that problem entirely.