Home on the (Really Tiny) Range...

[Calvin Cooledge]

Hi Folks!
This is a subject related to the recent ones. After I clean my
R9S, I feel the need to fire it once or twice to be sure I've
put it back together correctly. That means a trip to the range,
which lately, I've had more trouble finding time to get there.

Is there a 'firing can' or something I can have at home in my
basement where I can test fire it without actually using a target?

I seem to remember a pic of Karl doing this at the factory. What's it called? Who sells it? Can I make one? (Hah! That's a laugh;^) Am I ALLOWED to do this?

It seems silly to go to the range (10 miles from here) and paying for a lane just to test fire the pup.

TIA!

Steve

[Newt]

Just stick it out the window and shoot it up in the air ,a couple a times ,toward the bad side of town. (just kidding of course)

[ESQ_NY]

Hi Steve.  Depending on where you live, it may be illegal to discharge a handgun in your home, especially if your home is near other homes.  Also, if people are in close proximity, and someone hears the shot, you may have a visit from the police. I live in Long Island, NY.  If I were to discharge a .22 in my house, let alone a 9mm, I would expect that I would frighten my neighbors and may end up with a visit from the local police if anyone realizes where the shot came from.

Personally, i would nto worry that you have improperly assembled the R9.  Have you even reassmebled a gun to find that it was not properly assembled when you actually fire it?  I have never had that happen and would not worry.

[Calvin Cooledge]

Hi Steve.  Depending on where you live, it may be illegal to discharge a handgun in your home, especially if your home is near other homes.  Also, if people are in close proximity, and someone hears the shot, you may have a visit from the police. I live in Long Island, NY.  If I were to discharge a .22 in my house, let alone a 9mm, I would expect that I would frighten my neighbors and may end up with a visit from the local police if anyone realizes where the shot came from.

Personally, i would not worry that you have improperly assembled the R9.  Have you even reassmebled a gun to find that it was not properly assembled when you actually fire it?  I have never had that happen and would not worry.

You make some good points, your Esquireness;^) No, I have never assembled my guns incorrectly. I will not worry again.
I was looking for an excuse to fire the bad boy. I actually could do it, since I have an underground fortress (kind of;^) with cinderblock construction and dirt on 3 1/2 sides. No one can hear my silent screams anyway;^)

So, thanks again for your calming influence, and a hearty welcome to the list! We all love it here, and hope you will too.

Steve

[Brenden]

Sorry for some,but I can just open my back door and discharge to my hearts content!!

I have done so day or night without any problems..

Must say I am "in the country" on 120 acres..

Feel lucky I am I say..

Steve,
I believe that "device" you are thinking of is quite hefty in price,and most probably is a no-no if you live in "town"

[Richard S]

As my Cherokee grandmother might have said, "Brenden speaks truth."

[R9SCarry]

I have two ranges quite close - plus live in a pretty rural region - but there are houses dotted around within earshot.

Neither close neighbor would be too bothered by gunshots - probably most others wouldn't - 22's anyways are pretty OK.  But centerfire stuff I always feel is a bit ''unsociable'' for noise and desist.

However - have thought of what Steve asked about - and reckon it could be fairly simple in principle.

What I have in mind is a simple box - say approx 18"x18" by 3 feet long, made from OSB or ply - with top as a removeable lid.  Whole interior lined with 2" thick blue insulation board - and at one end a hand access hole and opposite that at far end - several sand/dirt filed bags.

This is only a basis but I think for 9mm, 38 spl etc this could work well - and sound from it would probably be muted enough to not really escape the building enough to matter.  I would situate it also so that beyond sandbag end was also a safe zone, with more sandbags, phone books - just a safety region in case of bullet escape.

Last place we lived I could do a ''Brenden'' - miss that!!

[3425Centennial]

I live on top of a ridge on 11 acres. No neighbors. But its cold in the winter here in Colorado. My kids are away at school. No wife (so I play a lot). I made my own shooting range in my basement.  Very simple:
a 24 inch x 24 inch 3/8 thick AR400 steel plate. This is covered by a 24 inch x 24 inch 2 inch thick rubber range block. I don't worry about noise as I don't have neighbors close enough to hear. Nobody but me in the house so safe to shoot. The steel plate stops the bullet. The rubber range block prevents richocheting bullets and encapsulates most of the lead. Not cheap but the big smile on my face is priceless.

I got the the range block at: www.letargets.com/htm/blocks.htm
I got the steel plate through a local metal shop.
This works for me and its cheaper than a professionally made bullet trap. No indoor shooting range nearby.  Temp outside as we speak 10 degrees.

[Brenden]

I live on top of a ridge on 11 acres. No neighbors. But its cold in the winter here in Colorado. My kids are away at school. No wife (so I play a lot). I made my own shooting range in my basement.  Very simple:
a 24 inch x 24 inch 3/8 thick AR400 steel plate. This is covered by a 24 inch x 24 inch 2 inch thick rubber range block. I don't worry about noise as I don't have neighbors close enough to hear. Nobody but me in the house so safe to shoot. The steel plate stops the bullet. The rubber range block prevents richocheting bullets and encapsulates most of the lead. Not cheap but the big smile on my face is priceless.

I got the the range block at: www.letargets.com/htm/blocks.htm
I got the steel plate through a local metal shop.
This works for me and its cheaper than a professionally made bullet trap. No indoor shooting range nearby.  Temp outside as we speak 10 degrees.

Hey..I understand the temp thing..

It was 8 when I went to work this morning and 12 went I came home!!

I can understand the inside thing!

I don't have the room for something like that,but I am setting my kids up for the BB/pellet gun inside thing!!

I would also think that if noise was not a problem.a "box" of some sort would work great!!

If I was making it "myself"-this meaning ME..I would test it outside first..

I am not so handy-may make hole in wall..

"Last place we lived I could do a ''Brenden'' - miss that!!"

Chris that is a statement that I have not heard in a bit.

Thanks..

BTW I am spoiled-homes are getting nearer and nearer all the time..
I understand progress and that all want to have their own 5 acres in the woods..
As my Wise old Gram said-They don't make anymore land-preserve what you can!!

Brenden

[sslater]

Calvin:
3425 Centennial seems to have the best set-up - no close neighbors (yet) and steel plate / rubber range block.

Check out http://www.snailtraps.com/checkit_home.htm.
$225 and up.  Not too bad pricewise, but intended for safely unloading a gun - not "on purpose" test firing.  That kind of duty will run you into the $1,400 range.  
And where I live (Michigan) it's definitely illegal to discharge a firearm inside a residence.  Not to say its never done, but a visit from the police will probably ruin your day.    

Steve

[Aglifter]

Well, couple Ideas... Do you have a basement?  If so, it'll be pretty hard to hear it from another house -- my uncle actually put a range in his...don't know why since he lives on a farm, but I guess he had his reasons.  

[Calvin Cooledge]

Well, couple Ideas... Do you have a basement?  If so, it'll be pretty hard to hear it from another house -- my uncle actually put a range in his...don't know why since he lives on a farm, but I guess he had his reasons.  

Yes, in fact I do. It's practically buried underground and has a Big HonkinŽ insulated steel door.

Anyone make a silencer for the R9?;^)

Steve

[jarcher]

In the army we had a "clearing barrel."  You see them as decorations at gun clubs as well.  This was just a big metal barrel tipped at a 45 degree angle and filled with sand.  You clear your gun and dry fire into it to prove clear.  It could take a .45 or a 9mm.

I would not recomend firing a pistol inside your house.  Too much can go wrong aside from the legal issues.  If you must, use frangible, lead free ammo.  Federal and others make a completely non-toxic line of frangible ammo.

But if you really worry about function, just cycle some dummy rounds through it.

[Calvin Cooledge]

Int he arms we had a "clearing barrel."  You see them as decorations at gun clubs as well.  This was just a big metal barrel tipped at a 45 degree angle and filled with sand.  You clear your gun and dry fire into it to prove clear.  It could take a .45 or a 9mm.

I would not recomend firing a pistol inside your house.  Too much can go wrong aside from the legal issues.  If you must, use frangible, lead free ammo.  Federal and others make a completely non-toxic line of frangible ammo.

But if you really worry about function, just cycle some dummy rounds through it.

OK, I'm sold. I'm only going to the range from now on to test fire my R9S. No thoughts of having my own range at home.  B.O.R.I.N.G.! Actually, I don't really WANT an excuse not to go to the range;^) I'm just trying to save some dough for Christmas.  For now I'll just settle on cycling my dummy rounds like Jarcher said.

Lance Armweak
Home on the Range; Home for Deranged. You decide...

[3425Centennial]

In my basement setup I shoot Federal BallistiClean ammo.  No lead. When the bullet hits the steel plate it fragments into very small particles and dust. My R9s has not had any problems shooting this ammo. I have been getting this ammo via Ammoman.  So far about 150 rounds fired. NO failures of any kind.