Shoot my .36 Revolver in the basement?

[PaulF70]

Crazy idea? I used to sight-in a rimfire rifle at 10m in the basement all the time. Hearing protection (of course), bullet trap, no problem.

I can get a 50' range in the basement now if I'd like. I mean I have the room.

A .36 with 10gr of powder is a fairly light weapon. However, I wouldn't dare use one with a rimfire bullet trap and can't find "stronger" traps.

What about a serious wood backstop built up from lumber? I'm talking at least 10" thick. Would take a lot of bullets.

Would like to hear ideas from anyone who's done this, or just has ideas.

 

[hrt4me]

do you have a clear firing lane without much flammable debris in its path?

 

[ord sgt]

Smoke will be a problem unless you have an exhaust fan, even with 10 grains of powder.

 

[PaulF70]

There's nothing flammable around. Bare unfinished basement, concrete walls and floor.

Ah, smoke, of course.

Dang.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Once upon a time I fired my .44 Remington at an indoor archery range at the owners urging. I suggest you have a good exhaust fan...

 

[leadhoarder]

The whole house would be smelling good in no time!

 

[PaulF70]

You guys have convinced me this is not a good idea.

I've owned the gun for six months or so and it hasn't been fired because I either can't find time to go to the range or the weather is bad.

 

[Ponderosaman]

I would suspect that you are not the only one that has read your thread that hasn’t considered building a shooting range in your own basement. Just take a gander at the interwebs and you will find a bunch of specs, plans and considerations for just that endeavor. Here’s a good one.

https://actiontarget.com/what-to-consider-when-building-a-home-shooting-range/

 

[Bnewberry]

I have some rubber .357 bullets designed to be fired with just a primer. I would try those with just a cap. I have also Used primers to shoot wax projectiles made by forcing cases into soft wax sheets. You could make some and use caps.

 

[hawkeye2]

I did try wax bullets in a Remington .44 years ago. With the factory nipples it just didn't work. It was kind of a nuisance to get a bullet half way out of the chamber and half way into the barrel. A pinch of 3f cured that issue but a large pinch of 3f would put the bullet through 1/8" Masonite and they didn't have any accuracy. Someday I'll try drilling out a set of nipples.

 

[Ponderosaman]

Check brewing beer in your basement for plans to exhaust. Brewing creates large amounts of steam and novel and elegant DYI exhaust systems.

https://spikebrewing.com/blogs/ask-a-pro/the-true-cost-of-proper-indoor-brewing-ventilation

 

[Whitworth]

Probably not a good idea if you have a woman around the house

 

[TNGhost]

There's nothing flammable around. Bare unfinished basement, concrete walls and floor.

Ah, smoke, of course.

Dang.

Quite easy to hook up an exhaust fan system, starting with something simple like a large bathroom fan. Some move quite a lot of air and placed over your shooting position would be quiet and efficient.

Many people have ranges in their basement and have for years. My mother talked about how, when growing up, they had a range in the basement that her father taught her and her brother how to shoot with .22s. This would have been in the 1920's and 30's

There is also the wax or rubber bullet route (one can make "rubber" bullets out of silicone caulking) You simply need an auxiliary set of drilled out nipples to accommodate this. I have actually used this system for BP and unmentionable pistols using the fireplace in the living room as a backstop..

I say get an exhaust fan set up and go for it

 

[SDSmlf]

By code around here you have to have a smoke detector on every floor, including the basement. Guess you could disconnect the one in the basement...... Our smoke alarms are monitored and would trigger a phone call from the monitoring service if disconnected or tampered with. No response from us when they call and the BRT is on the way. Now I installed our system and know how to bypass it, but not going to do that. And the one on the first floor is relatively a long way from the kitchen in an attempt to keep peace with the head cook.

 

[nkbj]

Really really good hearing protection. Just the caps alone will ring your chimes.

 

[11th corps]

Really really good hearing protection. Just the caps alone will ring your chimes.

Good hearing protection is always a fine idea.
I have popped caps in my basement before, testing new nipples.
So far no damage to report.

 

[B P Arn]

I have shot in my basement many times, with Black Powder... or other. My backstop is 6x6 timbers, covered by multiple layers of 3/4" plywood, held together with drywall screws. It is about a foot thick, or maybe a little more. Easy to replace wood as it gets chewed away.

No exhaust fan in my basement. I just shoot a cylinder (of 6 shots) and then head up stairs for a while and wait for the smoke to settle.

I have never had a ricochet, or have a bullet bounce back, even though I have missed a few times (I am forbidden to describe here what I was shooting at the time ).

I wear foam ear plugs AND ear muffs.

Do not try this at home. I am a professional.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I bought a “Detroit Bullet Trap” second hand a few years ago. It is designed to stop a 38 special and trap the lead. It was in a guy’s basement range. You might find one second hand online. I don’t think they are made anymore. I use mine outside.

 

[Pork Chop]

No one has given thought to the lead contamination in the air?

 

[RedRiverII]

Crazy idea? Yes!

If I could not find time to go to a range I would never fire a gun unless under duress.