Walk up to the counter at a rental range and the first thing you will learn is that the gun and the ammunition are a package deal. At Riverside Magnum Range, every rented firearm is fed with range-supplied ammunition only, and a short list of ammo types is off the table entirely. Here is what that means in practice, and why rules like these exist.
The Core Rule: Range Ammo for Rental Guns
If you are renting a firearm, the ammunition you shoot through it must be ammunition bought from the range. You cannot bring a box from home, pick up a bargain at a gun show on the way over, or borrow a friend's leftovers. This applies to every rental, whether it is a compact pistol, a revolver, or a rifle.
The reasoning is simple. Rental guns are shared equipment that cycle through many shooters in a single day. The range needs to know exactly what has gone through each one, because the wrong cartridge can foul a barrel, damage a mechanism, or create a safety hazard for the next person who picks that gun up. Controlling the supply is the most reliable way to keep rentals running cleanly.
What Is Not Allowed
Several categories of ammunition are prohibited at the range. They are prohibited for practical reasons that have more to do with equipment and facility protection than with the quality of the ammunition itself.
- Russian-made ammunition, such as Wolf and Tulammo, is not permitted.
- Steel case or steel core ammunition is not permitted.
- Green-tip ammunition for .223/5.56 caliber is not permitted.
- Black powder is not permitted.
Anyone who has spent time around ranges will recognize this list. It is close to standard across the industry.
Why Steel and Green-Tip Rounds Cause Trouble
Most indoor and outdoor ranges rely on backstops, baffles, traps and target hardware made of steel. A steel-cored bullet is hard enough to defeat or gouge these surfaces, and it can strike steel and throw sparks. Sparks are a genuine fire concern, particularly around the dust and residue that collect in a shooting lane. Steel-core projectiles can also wear down the barrels of rented guns faster than ordinary copper-jacketed lead does.
Steel cases are a separate issue. They are often lacquer coated and tend to be less forgiving than brass in the chamber. Brass expands slightly on firing and seals the chamber, then relaxes so it extracts easily. Steel does this less gracefully, which can lead to sticky extraction and more fouling. Green-tip .223/5.56 rounds carry a hardened steel penetrator in the bullet, which is why they are singled out on their own line.
The rules are not about brand snobbery. They protect the guns, the building and the person standing in the next lane.
Black powder is excluded because it produces heavy smoke and corrosive, sticky residue, and it is handled very differently from modern smokeless powder. A busy shared range is simply not set up for it.
What You Can Shoot: Full Metal Jacket and Hollow-Points
The allowed list is short but covers what most shooters want. Full metal jacket (FMJ) ammunition, which has a lead core wrapped in a copper or similar jacket, is the everyday choice for practice. It is economical, feeds reliably and is gentle on range equipment. Hollow-point ammunition is also allowed, which is useful if you want to try the kind of load commonly carried for self-defense and see how your chosen firearm handles it.
If you are unsure which type suits your session, staff can point you to what is on the shelf. Beginners are usually best served by plain FMJ practice rounds, while experienced shooters comparing carry options may want to try hollow-points.
Limited Availability and Range-Use Purchases
The range has noted that, because of current conditions, its ammunition stock is limited. As a result, ammunition purchases are for use at the range only. In other words, you buy it to shoot it on site, not to take home. This keeps enough supply on the shelves for everyone who comes in to shoot that day. It is also a sensible way to manage a supply that has been unpredictable across the whole industry in recent years.
It helps to plan ahead. Think about how many rounds you realistically want to fire in your session, and remember that you will be paying attention to technique as much as volume. A smaller number of well-aimed shots is usually a better use of an hour than emptying boxes quickly.
Factory, Bulk and Reloaded Ammunition
The range's ammunition page is organized around three broad kinds of product: factory ammo, bulk ammo and reloaded ammo. Understanding the difference helps you choose well.
Factory Ammo
Factory ammunition is new, commercially manufactured cartridges sold in boxes. Quality control is tight and performance is consistent from one round to the next, which is why it is the standard choice for most shooters.
Bulk Ammo
Bulk ammunition is sold in larger quantities, usually at a lower cost per round. It suits frequent shooters and long practice sessions, where cost adds up. Its limited availability under the current situation means it is worth asking what is on hand.
Reloaded Ammo
Reloaded ammunition is built from previously fired brass that has been cleaned, resized, primed, charged and fitted with a new bullet. It is a popular, budget-friendly option for high-volume practice. Because it is assembled rather than made on a factory line, it is typically reserved for range practice, which fits neatly with the range-use-only policy.
Practical Tips Before You Visit
- Leave your own ammunition in the car or at home if you plan to use a rental gun.
- Do not bring any of the prohibited types, including steel case, Russian-made brands, green-tip rounds or black powder.
- Ask staff about current ammunition availability before settling on a plan for your session.
- Pick FMJ for general practice and hollow-points if you want to test a defensive load.
- Remember that ammunition bought at the range stays at the range.
Follow these few guidelines and your visit will go smoothly. The rules are short, the reasoning behind them is sound, and keeping to them means the equipment you shoot today will be in good condition for the next person tomorrow.