An indoor range lets people train close to where they work, day or night and in any weather. Getting one right depends on four systems working together. Plan them from the start; they are expensive to change later.
1. Ballistic containment
Every round fired must end in the bullet trap. Design for the most powerful weapon and ammunition you will ever fire on the range, not just today's.
- Bullet trap at the target end, typically steel with a deceleration chamber that stops rounds and collects fragments and dust.
- Ceiling baffles angled to catch any round fired high, so nothing reaches the roof.
- Deflectors and wall protection along the sides and at the firing line.
- Firing booths with bullet-resistant partitions between lanes.
2. Ventilation
Firing releases lead particles and combustion gases. A range needs a dedicated air system that moves clean air from behind the shooters, across the firing line and down the range, then filters and exhausts it. Air should never blow back towards the shooters, and range air should not be recirculated into the building.
3. Acoustics
Gunfire indoors is loud and reverberant. Acoustic panels on walls and ceiling, ballistic rubber and absorptive surfaces cut reflections, and an isolated control room and observation gallery keep instructors and visitors protected. Hearing protection is still mandatory on the firing line.
4. Range control and targets
Automated targets and a control room turn a tunnel into a training system. Pop-up and moving targets run exercises, hit sensing scores them, and CCTV lets instructors watch every lane. See Range Control & Scoring.
Planning the space
- Range length to suit your longest distance, plus room behind the firing line
- Number of lanes for your batch size
- Control room, observation gallery, armoury, ammunition store and briefing room
- Power, a backup generator, smart lighting and emergency stops
- Access for maintenance of the bullet trap and filters
A modular range built from prefabricated steel and composite sections goes up faster than a conventional building. A containerized range goes further: it ships, installs and relocates in days. Use our Range Configurator for an indicative footprint.
