can't sweep up ammo at an indoor range

[Joe357]

I was at blue line yesterday with wife to do a little shooting (22lr,9mm and 45) and wanted to sweep up a little to keep from walking on spent ammo. We looked around and couldn't find a broom.My wife went to the front deck inquiring where the brooms,etc were. She was told that the EPA has a rule against sweeping by customers and would fine them if they continued letting customers sweep because of dust.Has anyone seen or heard of this and are other indoor ranges not allowing customers from cleaning up after themselves?

[Trekbike]

New one on me.   Sounds like an excuse for them to keep everyone's brass for themselves.  I would ask them what special procedures/equipment do they use to sweep up the brass?   Are they using a respirator, etc.?  Did they say anything about just picking it up with your hands?

[Joe357]

I don't reload so I don't pickup, but another guy a couple of lanes drown was picking up his brass.there was one of the workers sweeping when we were there just using a dust broom without any special equipment.

[gunwhatgun]

I think they are just wanting to make it too much trouble to take it, then it can be re-sold.

[Jesse]

I just clear them with my foot. My last visit i picked about 30 of them up and put them in my bag cause i make stuff using them. The smoke was already bad. I dont see how sweeping makes it much worse.

[BigK]

I'll this to my list of reasons I prefer to shoot at an outdoor range.

[mikegideon]

I'll this to my list of reasons I prefer to shoot at an outdoor range.

 

My mama used to beat my ass for shooting guns in the house. I never got over that :)

[Guest Razz]

I have heard some whoppers from the staff at Blue Line. This fits right in.

[gun sane]

Hogwash.  The EPA has no regulations concerning picking up brass at shooting ranges.  They are more concerned with the disposal of lead, and even then they only issue BMPs (Best Management Practices) to serve as a guide for the collecting and disposal of lead shot, etc.  OSHA, through the Department of Health and Human Services, does have laws concerning airborne lead and noise, but not the disposal of range brass.  If your range has hard and fast rules about customers sweeping up brass, it's them that are being anal, not the feds.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-136/pdfs/2009-136.pdf

 

There is a suggestion on Page 18 for range employees collecting brass, but by using the word, "should" instead of "must", you can assume it's only a recommendation.

 

Skin contact with spent cartridges should be avoided whenever possible. Disposable gloves should be worn when removing larger objects that cannot be removed with a HEPA vacuum cleaner.

Edited August 25, 2013 by gun sane

[Joe357]

It isn't about picking up brass with your hands it is about sweeping it with a broom and making dust. They didn't say anything about picking it up your brass by hand.I still find it hard to believe that you would create more dust by sweeping then one of the workers. He didn't ask us to leave the room, but if that is their rules I don't have a problem with it as long as I don't trip and fall because they aren't cleaning/sweeping to keep the area safe. I know I can always go to another range. I was just wondering if anyone else heard of this from other range owners with the EPA. Edited August 25, 2013 by joe45

[Wingshooter]

I think they just want to control where (or how often) the brass and/or dust is swept. They just made up the part about the EPA. I've never experienced this at any range before, and they all have brooms sitting around. Edited August 25, 2013 by Batman

[Garufa]

That's bullshit and I would have told them so.  If they want to keep your brass they need to put up a sign and make you understand that rule before even stepping onto the range rather than lying about it.

[glock55]

seems to me if the range has an adequate ventilation system the dust should be a non issue anyway. just sounds like they want to profit off your brass. I would find a new range

[Randall53]

this was the deal breaker for me buying a membership at Shooters Depot here in Chattanooga. their lanes are set up so your brass goes out onto the range. I had paperwork filled out to join. i asked how can i get my brass? Dude says you dont....i asked why cant i have my brass back to reload and was told because we sell it...thats why....I tore up the papers and waked out. Aint been back either.

[Joe357]

Forgot to mention, one of the guys told my wife it was a $6,000.00 fine per bloom. :)

[DaveTN]

I'm sure everythig is an EPA violation if you look hard enough. They are one of the main reasons American mfg's have a tough time competing on price with foriegn companies.

[Randall53]

I'm sure everythig is an EPA violation if you look hard enough. They are one of the main reasons American mfg's have a tough time competing on price with foriegn companies.

Yep...that, cheap labor and relaxed safety rules is what drives American manufacturers to become foreign manufacturers.

[Tncobra]

My local range has a wood block, shuffle board thingy that pushes the brass.

[Guest TankerHC]

Im still looking but this is not the first time I have heard about this in the not too distant past. Seems there is a problem with EPA rules on "sweeping" brass. It can be picked up by hand, with a brass catcher (roller) or left. Cant "legally" sweep it. EPA is also cracking down on air filtration systems (Not having proper ventilation) and I cant remember where I read it, but EPA is going to (Wants to) have indoor ranges allow frangible ammo only (Eventually). Some other crap about no lead ammo in indoor ranges. But, the EPA has been trying to jump on the anti ammo bandwagon for years.

[tnhawk]

I've noticed a local range had put a sign up stating not to pick up brass from ammo purchased from them.  The sign has now been removed as well their brooms, so shooters can't easily pick up brass. As I reload my brass, I now use a different range. 

[gun sane]

I've noticed a local range had put a sign up stating not to pick up brass from ammo purchased from them.  The sign has now been removed as well their brooms, so shooters can't easily pick up brass.

 

Didn't make much sense to start with.  Are you going to stand there all day reading headstamps?  What if the range brass is the same brand as the ones you reload?  I'm sure the range buys new and tries to make a little off the back end of the business.  But it's been my experience that most shooters don't reload anyway so I'm sure they gather enough to make it worthwhile.

[gunwhatgun]

I think it suck that these ranges are resorting to this kind fo stuff to turn a little extra proffit. It is however their range so their rules apply and if they want to keep what is on the floor that is their perogative> of course it is my choice to shoot steel case as well.

[Guest TankerHC]

I think most indoor ranges call anything forward of the firing line range brass but have seen people step in front of the firing line to pick up brass.

[daddyo]

My mama used to beat my ass for shooting guns in the house. I never got over that :)

 

Something tells me you got your ass beat for a lot more than that!  :rofl:

[mikegideon]

Something tells me you got your ass beat for a lot more than that!  :rofl:

 

Yep. My mama is mean :)