All About Range Safe Ammo

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over range safe ammo today. Ammo’s status as range safe is important as some ranges will bar the use of specific loadings and types of ammunition. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of range safe ammunition while delving into various considerations, traits, and more. Without further ado, let’s talk all about range safe ammo.

What Makes Ammo Not Range Safe?

Before we get into range safe ammo, we should go over some of the factors which prevent ammo from being deemed range safe. Typically, ammunition featuring steel cores and projectiles does not qualify as range safe ammunition. Ammo of this type will typically be of the M855 Green Tip 5.56x45mm NATO ammo variety or various Soviet calibers such as 7.62x39 and 5.45x39. Often times, steel cased ammo will also feature steel core projectiles, leading to some ranges outright barring the use of all steel cased ammo as a whole. While the presence of the word “safe” may connote that anything besides range safe ammo is dangerous, this is simply not the case. In fact, many “range unsafe” loadings are perfectly safe to shoot as far as the shooter is concerned. The shooter is at no greater risk of bodily harm with ammo of this type, nor are their guns risking accelerated damage when this ammo is used. The term in this case simply refers to ammunition which is good to go at most if not all ranges.

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Why Are there Ammo Restrictions?

Restrictions on ammunition typically stem from concerns felt by range owners and operators. Valid concerns are present in the case of indoor and outdoor ranges. Indoor ranges will restrict ammunition they feel will potentially damage the backstop of their shooting range. Steel projectiles have the potential to inflict more damage and wear on the backstops found in indoor ranges. Additionally, some indoor ranges may restrict the actual calibers shooters can use at their ranges. Some ranges will only allow up to .308 Winchester/7.62 NATO as they wish to extend the life of their backstop. Outdoor ranges will often restrict steel ammo and other “range unsafe” ammo for a number of reasons. A prominent and valid concern has to do with the potential fire hazard present when “range unsafe” ammunition is used. Steel core ammunition can potentially lead to sparks when impacting things such as rocks and targets, meaning that a fire can potentially occur. This risk increases in dry and arid environments and when a lot of vegetation is present. Additionally, steel targets commonly found at outdoor ranges can be damaged when ammunition of this type is used. The harder projectiles in these loadings will inflict more damage on steel targets than standard range safe ammo. Additionally, there is a greater chance of ricochets when using ammo of this type.

What is Range Safe Ammo?

Simply put, range safe ammo will generally refer to ammunition which lacks any kind of steel core or type of projectile which can potentially damage or lead to unsafe conditions such as fires. These loadings will often be in the form of standard, everyday loadings which are common for a variety of calibers. This holds true because most standard loadings will feature lead core projectiles, often with copper jackets. For example, standard M1913/XM193 5.56 ammo and standard .223 Remington ammo is classified as range safe ammunition. Some calibers tend to have a reputation for being of the steel, “range unsafe” variety such as 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 ammo. With these calibers, range safe loadings tend to be in the minority, meaning that great effort is generally made to distinguish these loadings as range safe. Typically, ammunition boxes of these loadings will feature distinct nomenclature denoting lead core projectiles. Maxxtech in particular produces a clearly marked “NFR,” or “Not From Russia” 7.62x39 ammo offering and boldly advertises its lead core.

Is Lead-Free Ammo Range Safe?

Lead-free ammo is another important type of ammunition on the market. Loadings of this category are particularly important for hunters and other users who may need to comply with lead ammo restrictions. Lead-free ammunition is distinct from standard ammo offerings due to the fact that lead projectiles are omitted from loadings. These types of loadings will typically use materials besides lead such as copper, zinc, tungsten, steel, and other amalgamations of alloys and other materials. Some lead-free loadings utilize steel, specifically shotgun loadings. These loadings are typically used in the field or designated shotgun ranges. This is to say they are not typically used at ranges where these restrictions are present in the first place. Simply put, if you are using a lead-free ammo offering which does not include steel projectiles you comply with range regulations.

Who Makes Range Safe Ammo?

At this point in time, a wide range of ammunition manufacturers currently produce range safe ammunition. These companies hail from all across the world and produce ammunition for commercial and professional use. Manufacturers of range safe ammo include PMC, Aguila, Blazer/CCI, Sellier & Bellot, and Magtech to name a few. Additionally, there are many providers of range safe ammo that produce specialty and exotic loadings. These types of loadings are typically found in the form of match, defensive, and hunting loads. Manufacturers such as Speer, Federal, Hornady, Underwood, and Corbon are just a few of the companies who produce specialty loadings which classify as range safe.

Do You Have to Go Out of Your Way for Range Safe Ammo?

One will not need to go out of their way to find range safe ammo. As mentioned above, these loadings are produced by a number of companies and actually make up a majority of what one will encounter on the market. There may be some increased difficulty with certain calibers such as 7.62x39, but finding ammo of this type is far from impossible.

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Is Range Safe Ammo Expensive?

As most range safe ammo offerings are found the form of common loadings, it is fair to say that ammunition of this type is not excessively expensive. Of course, pricing varies across calibers and specific loadings. For example, 9mm Luger loadings will always be cheaper than .308 Winchester loadings. Simply put, with most range safe loadings, one will not be paying a premium for their ammo, especially if they are buying standard loadings.

Conclusion

All in all, range safe ammo is an important and prevalent category of ammo which is employed by shooters of all types. Pistol and rifle shooters alike benefit from the use of ammunition of this type for a variety of purposes such as training, hunting, competing, and general recreation. Whether you are looking for range safe pistol ammo like 9mm Luger ammo or rifle ammo like 5.56 ammunition, we here at True Shot Ammo have got you covered. We offer a wide range of ammo for sale, meaning you can purchase ammo of the range safe variety in the form of many popular calibers. As always, happy shooting. Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options. View more posts about ammunition:

All About Range Safe Ammo