SPECIAL REPORT: SHOOTING RANGE AND MILITARY TRAINING FACILITY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Modular Shooting Ranges Advanced Interactive Systems, Inc.
Introducing QuickRange: Modular, expandable, self-contained and completely adaptable: QuickRange is the answer to the increasing number of problems facing today’s military and civilian shooting range owners, operators and users.
In the world of shooting range technology, the market is fluid and fast paced. This means that existing shooting ranges can rapidly become outdated as training requirements change or new techniques or equipment become available.
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S POPULATION centers continue to expand closer and closer to both urban and suburban areas, the land space required to meet strict environmental and safety range design parameters is becoming more and more limited. This encroachment affects the military, law enforcement agencies and civilians alike. Existing shooting ranges are unable to expand into surrounding areas due to the size and magnitude of a standard outdoor shooting range template. Settlements continually encroach upon existing outdoor range safety zones. This problem does not just affect existing shooting ranges. When funding (government or otherwise) becomes available to build a new shooting range, the stakeholders’ options are often restricted in where and how they can build the range. This in turn has a significant impact on the quality, quantity, and types of training that can be offered. As a result, fewer numbers of students can be trained at the same time in what may be cramped conditions, which can prevent training to competent levels. Urban growth also increases safety concerns. As ranges are less likely to be in remote areas, the possibility of stray rounds escaping into non-restricted areas has become increasingly relevant.
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A Multitude of Problems Face Shooting Ranges Health and environmental impacts are other issues that shooting ranges contend with today. Air quality and the impact of air and soil-borne lead and lead particulate as well as noise pollution also contribute to the many restrictions now placed on range owners/operators. As an example - lead leaching into the soil and water supply creates a hazardous material site, introducing a number of issues including how to physically clean up and sanitize the environment, as well as the financial implications and responsibilities of resolving the matter. This difficulty is not unique to military ranges. Civilian ranges suffer the same consequences. There are countless instances where gun clubs have been closed due to the lead shot used at skeet ranges falling into water or wetlands. Noise pollution is another difficulty faced by range operators as more and more ranges are compelled to locate on the periphery of populated areas. This in turn can also introduce potential problems regarding protected wildlife. Another common concern is air quality. Studies have found that operators and instructors who, within ranges all day, are exposed to toxic levels of heavy metals and unburnt ammunition propellants, which can have