Ranges near WL that allow steel core?

[TheOperator]

Hello!

I'm new here so sorry if this is the wrong forum.

I just recently bought myself a mosin nagant (1925 izhevsk with a near mint barrel+bayonet for 150 bucks) and am having some trouble finding a range near west lafayette that wont bar me from shooting it.

As we all know most surplus has soft steel core, and even when you can find (and afford) the lead core they usually have bi-metal jackets that wont pass the magnet test.

Does anybody here know of any places where I could shoot this beauty?

 

[nipprdog]

Linden Conservation Club - Romney, IN

Welcome to INGO!

 

[xM3RC1L3SS1x]

I am unaware of any, but welcome to INGO!

 

[TheOperator]

Linden Conservation Club - Romney, IN

Welcome to INGO!

Well I email LCC about steel core ammo and they replied simply with "no magnetic ammo".

I asked again for clarification telling them 99% of 7.62x54r is steel cased, and they said that was fine as long as you pick it up after.
But if I were to buy some cheap surplus, according to the email I wouldn't be allowed to shoot it there?

Or is this something they don't really enforce?


Also, thank you! I plan on contributing as much as I can to this site.

 

[singlestacksig]

If you are just shooting paper then into the dirt berm, I don't think steel core will matter.. If the range has target holders, maybe they will be worried about damage to them..
WIldcat does not restrict Steel core, if used properly. But you have to be a member to shoot there..

 

[87iroc]

Welcome to INGO.

It sounds to me like their clarification was they don';t want the rusty casings laying around and if you pick the steel its fine. It didn't sound like they cared about the bullets. I'd go shoot and pick up the casings and see if anyone complains.

 

[87iroc]

If you are just shooting paper then into the dirt berm, I don't think steel core will matter.. If the range has target holders, maybe they will be worried about damage to them..
WIldcat does not restrict Steel core, if used properly. But you have to be a member to shoot there..

I'm confused. A lead cored copper jacketed bullet will do as much damage to a target holder as anything else, wont' it?

 

[singlestacksig]

I'm confused. A lead cored copper jacketed bullet will do as much damage to a target holder as anything else, wont' it?

no, a steel core will punch a hole in the steel frame faster than a lead core.. It is one of the reasons the militaries uses steel core ammo.
lead will deform and flatten out when it hits steel..

 

[TheOperator]

no, a steel core will punch a hole in the steel frame faster than a lead core.. It is one of the reasons the militaries uses steel core ammo.
lead will deform and flatten out when it hits steel..

While it is true it penetrates more than lead, its only SLIGHTLY more.

7.62x54r 147 gr Steel Core, Silver Tip, Bulgarian | The Ammo Channel

The reason they use steel core in eastern bloc surplus is mostly because it was cheaper. Same reason they used corrosive primers for nearly everything (not to mention they lasted longer in the cold temperatures)

 

[cobber]

Sometimes the firing stations at LCC appear to be paved in rust. Lazy bum shooters!!

 

[Work]

Most people hear "steel core" and think armor peircing. 7.65x54R steel core are not, the steel is soft and they do not penetrate much further than lead. as long as you're punching paper or soft targets (which you will be at LCC, they do not allow steel targets) you'll be fine. there's no way you're breaking through their burms, and they wont check them. That being said, you can get lead ammo, and it's typically pretty cheap when you find it. A friend and I split a case I found online for $130 shipped. that was pre-panic, but it's almost back down now.

 

[TheOperator]

I just bought myself 500 rounds of non-corrosive lead core for around 250 bucks including shipping costs.

I guarantee its the best public deal you can find online for the price.
I posted a link to it on the ammo section sticky.

 

[Mosin-Me-Nagant]

Linden Conservation Club is a great place to shoot. They have 2 25 yard pistol ranges, 1 50 yard range, and 1 100 yard range. They also have a sporting clay range with something around 26 trap houses. $75/year is their membership fee. I love it. There are not target holders here. You will have to buy/bring your own.

Applied Ballistics is a 25 yard indoor range in town that will let you shoot your new lead core ammo. They do not allow steel core because it tears up the stops.

If you feel like driving a bit, then you can check out Jasper/Pulaski and Winimac DNR Ranges. They are free to go to and have target holders. Steel core is ok. It is around a 90 minute drive. Both ranges are beautiful and in a nice part of the state scenery-wise.

Wildcat Valley club in Brookston has an amazing range including a 300 yard one. It is kind of expensive and there are a few hoops to jump through to get a membership. I plan on eventually getting on out there.

Lots of options Bub.

 

[Beowulf]

That's an interesting question about Linden. Their main rules don't say anything about it. But if you look at the specific range rules, among the special ammo types they ban is "armor piercing ammunition".

http://lindencc.org/pdfs/rangesatclub.pdf

The thing is that the steel core ammo, unless specifically designated by the Federal Government as such, is not classified as armor piercing (and if it was, you couldn't buy it). So, I can't tell if they really do mean armor piercing, or if they are incorrectly identifying steel core as such. But beyond that, it doesn't really make much sense. Several years ago, they got rid of the club provided target posts (they were getting chewed up at prodigious rates), so it's just a dirt backstop now. I don't quite see why they would think a 7.62 NATO armor piercing round (or a XM855 penetrator for that matter) would cause more damage than a 690gr 50 BMG to a dirt backstop.

I love Linden and there are a ton of fantastic people that shoot there (not to mention the great people who volunteer their time to keep the club running), but I think their rules sometimes get a bit outdated. Of course, the real answer to that criticism is that if I think that, I should get off my lazy butt and get actively involved in running the club and make the proposed rule changes. Sadly, it's an hour away from me at best and I can't justify the cost it would take to get that heavily involved. Maybe if I lived closer, I would.

Also, you can't use recoilless rifles, which makes me wish I was there the day the incident happened to make them think that rule was necessary... cause that must have been awesome.

 

[timsdl72]

Linden Conservation Club is a great place to shoot. They have 2 25 yard pistol ranges, 1 50 yard range, and 1 100 yard range. They also have a sporting clay range with something around 26 trap houses. $75/year is their membership fee. I love it. There are not target holders here. You will have to buy/bring your own.

Applied Ballistics is a 25 yard indoor range in town that will let you shoot your new lead core ammo. They do not allow steel core because it tears up the stops.

If you feel like driving a bit, then you can check out Jasper/Pulaski and Winimac DNR Ranges. They are free to go to and have target holders. Steel core is ok. It is around a 90 minute drive. Both ranges are beautiful and in a nice part of the state scenery-wise.

Wildcat Valley club in Brookston has an amazing range including a 300 yard one. It is kind of expensive and there are a few hoops to jump through to get a membership. I plan on eventually getting on out there.

Lots of options Bub.

Regarding Applied Ballistics: I'm not sure about your experience there but mine was not that way. They wanted me to buy my .223 there. If they wouldn't trust LC stamped brass case I cannot imagine they would take surplus 7.62. The guy actually told me that any high-powered military round would have to be purchased there. I offered to let him see my ammo but that wouldn't fly.

For the rest of the discussion, Linden asks that all spent cases be picked up. People tend to be better at picking up brass than their steel case. They don't care about bullet metal content.