Best Bulk Ammo for Indoor Ranges: No Steel, No Bi-Metal

The magnet at the front desk

Indoor ranges have a quiet enforcement tool, and it costs about a dollar: a magnet. Touch it to a bullet, and if the bullet jumps, it contains steel. At many ranges, that is the end of the conversation.

The reason is engineering, not snobbery. When the Missouri Department of Conservation reminded shooters that steel-core and bi-metal-jacket ammunition were not allowed at its two staffed St. Louis-area ranges, it laid out the logic plainly. Steel is harder than lead and does not expand on impact, so it can pierce or deform steel plates and damage bullet traps, baffles and concrete. It is also more prone to sparking, which raises fire risk. The rule followed the recommendation of the company that made the ranges' traps and baffles.

That example is one agency's ranges, and every range writes its own rules. But the pattern is common, and it creates a very specific problem for bulk buyers. Buy a thousand rounds that fail your range's rules and you either drive farther to shoot it or sell it at a loss. This guide is about avoiding that.

The four rules you are likely to meet

Range rules usually come from some combination of these. Read your range's posted policy, or call, before you buy a case.

Notice that the first two rules are separate. MDC's St. Louis ranges allowed steel-cased ammunition as long as the bullet itself contained no steel. Other ranges ban steel cases entirely. Do not assume one rule implies the other.

How we picked

We have not tested any of these loads ourselves. The picks below are based on what each manufacturer and the retailer state on the product listing: case material, projectile construction and primer type. We favored loads that:

• Use brass cases, which almost every range accepts.
• Are sold in case quantities, because this is a bulk-buying site.
• Clearly state their construction, so you can match them to your range's rules.

Best all-around 9mm for most indoor ranges: CCI Blazer Brass

For ranges whose only concern is steel, plain brass-cased FMJ is the simplest answer. CCI's Blazer Brass 9mm 115-grain FMJ uses new brass cases and Boxer primers, is listed at 1,145 fps, and comes 50 rounds to a box, 20 boxes per 1,000-round case. The listing describes a protected-base FMJ bullet.

It is a mainstream practice load with no steel, which is exactly what most range rules are written around. It is not a lead-free load, so it is the wrong pick for a lead-free-only range.

The same thinking applies in .45 ACP. Blazer Brass .45 ACP 230-grain FMJ comes in new brass, Boxer primed, 50 to a box and 20 boxes per case, listed at 830 fps.

Best encapsulated 9mm: Speer Lawman TMJ

Some ranges, especially ones worried about airborne lead, prefer bullets with no exposed lead. Speer's Lawman line uses what the company calls Total Metal Jacket, which the listing says gives "complete lead encapsulation" for reduced exposure and cleaner shooting. The point of the design is that the jacket encloses the core rather than leaving lead exposed.

The 9mm 115-grain TMJ case listed at Ammunition Depot is new brass, non-corrosive Boxer primed, 1,200 fps listed, in 50-round boxes, 20 per 1,000-round case. It is also available as a 300-round ammo-can bundle.

Best polymer-coated 9mm: Federal American Eagle Syntech

Federal's Syntech line takes a different route: the bullet is wrapped in a polymer coating Federal calls a Total Synthetic Jacket rather than copper. The listing for the 9mm 124-grain TSJ case says the coating cuts metal-on-metal contact in the bore and claims reduced splash-back on steel targets. It also lists lead-free primers.

The case at Ammunition Depot is 50-round boxes, 10 per case, for 500 rounds, with brass cases and a listed 1,050 fps. That smaller case size is worth noting if you are comparing it against 1,000-round FMJ cases on cost per round.

Best fully lead-free option: American Eagle Indoor Range Training

If your range requires lead-free ammunition, look for a load marketed that way from the start. Federal's American Eagle Indoor Range Training line is built for exactly this. The .40 S&W 120-grain version at Ammunition Depot lists a lead-free projectile and a lead-free primer, new reloadable brass, 50 rounds per box and 10 boxes per 500-round case, at a listed 1,330 fps.

The catch is availability. Ammunition Depot's lead-free category, when reviewed for this article, showed this .40 S&W version on its first page but no 9mm case in the same line. Fully lead-free practice ammo is a smaller, more specialized market than brass FMJ, so caliber choices are narrower.

Browse the full lead-free category for other calibers, but read each listing carefully: much of that category is defensive or hunting ammunition, not bulk practice ammo.

Rifle calibers at indoor ranges

Plenty of indoor ranges do not allow centerfire rifles at all, and those that do usually have the strictest rules. If yours allows 5.56, steel-core green tip may be refused at ranges that ban steel in the bullet, since M855's penetrator is steel. A plain lead-core 55-grain FMJ is the safer bet. The Federal American Eagle 5.56 55-grain FMJ-BT listing, for example, describes its projectile as non-magnetic. Our green tip explainer covers why the two loads differ.

Things that will get you turned away even with "safe" ammo

• Exposed steel in "budget" loads. Some steel-cased loads also use bi-metal jackets. A magnet on the bullet catches this.
• Remanufactured ammo. Some ranges restrict reloads. Ask if you plan to bring them.
• Unlabeled loose rounds. If you decant a case into cans, keep a box or label so you can show staff what it is.

Doing the cost-per-round math across odd case sizes

Encapsulated and lead-free loads often come in 500-round cases, while plain FMJ comes in 1,000. Never compare case prices directly. Instead:

1. Put each option in a cart at your real shipping address.
2. Note the full delivered total, including shipping, fees and tax.
3. Divide by the rounds in that package.

Encapsulated and lead-free loads usually cost more per round than plain brass FMJ. Whether the premium is worth it depends on one question: will your range accept the cheaper load? If not, the cheaper load is not actually cheaper. Our range ammo grades guide covers what you give up at each tier.

Quick picks

The best bulk ammo for an indoor range is the one your range accepts. Get the rule in writing, test one box, then buy the case.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.