[BTR]

It looks like I will be moving to Fayetteville, AR soon. Are there any good (that is, cheap) ranges in the immediate area, or other shooting opportunities? Good gun stores? Also, does anyone know if the University of Arkansas prohibits concealed carry? Thanks!

[Harold Mayo]

Only been to Fayetteville a couple of times but I recall a gun store and range run by a guy named Steve Sturm that seemed OK. I never met him...just visited the store...but Sturm apparently is a shooter with some good training (LFI, Gunsite, etc. from my somewhat spotty memory) from the certificates and pictures on the wall.

Remember, too, that NW Arkansas is where Wilson Combat is and I believe that there are some decent "combat" type competitions around there. Berryville isn't all that far from Fayetteville.

I don't know for sure, but I would imagine that the University of Arkansas frowns on firearms on campus.

If you go up into SW Missouri, the Association of Professional Trainers (www.aptacademy.com) is an excellent school and range located near Branson.

On a further note, I think that there are some decent custom knifemakers in the area, too. AG Russell's store is in Fayetteville or Springdale.

[Bravo11]

I'm more in the cent Ark area but check out this site for more info.
http://www.arpa-online.org/
There is also a Yahoo group called ArkansasShooters and the folks there might be able to help.
As far as conceal/carry at UofA goes, I don't know.
Packing.org has all the regs and one says no CCW in university bldgs. Parking lot or grounds might be OK. No way on any property of a K-12 schools.

[MAURICE]

Hi all, have been lurking until now,but figured I may as well post on this subject.

Sturms is a good place to shoot. It is in Springdale. Great for handgun shooting, and he is building a rifle range from what I hear (haven't been by in a few months,myself). Has a good selection of guns and knives.

Another good range is out in Tontitown, called Ozark Sportsman Supply. They have a pretty fair selection of long guns and pistols, but seems to kind of revolve around hunting. Pistol range, and a range for rifles -however both are short range. 30 yds,IIRC.

Then there is my favorite range, it is an outdoor range,free to use, sponsored by Tyson,Boyscouts,etc... 100 yds, can shoot anything up to 50bmg. Very good shooting benches. Always a good group of people out there.

And the best gunshop I have found is also in Springdale, Ozark Armory. All the big name guns,and some little known ones,too.
Bunch of good old boys who between them know everything there is to know about guns. All the old surplus stuff, newer mil type weapons, traditional single shots and lever actions,etc etc. They also have the books, knives,etc that you will find in typical gunshops.

Oh and by the way- Do NOT carry on campus. The only firearms allowed on campus are those carried by U of A PD.

Wilson combat is about a 45 minute to an hour drive.

Harold is right about the knife scene,too. If you find yourself up here swing by AG Russell and say hi.

[Kilgor]

Maurice,

Where is that 100 yard outdoor range?

Kilgor

[Bacchus]

I've haven't been in the area in quite a while, but here are my thoughts. Take them for what they're worth...

IMO, the indoor ranges are overpriced.

Definitely check out Sturm's. It's in Springdale by the AQ. If you get into reloading and order some Dillon equipment from them, they'll put the press together and give you a short tutorial on it.

Ozark Armory is OK. Not too much experience with them.

I highly recommend Ozark Sportsman's Supply in Tontitown. Brand new indoor range that allows rifles.

DO NOT go to the outdoor range near Wedington. It's been closed for a while now. Some people ignore the signs and shoot there anyway, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Try to get in touch with the Rogers Gun Club. They have a nice range and the membership is only about $35/year. Yes, that's per year.

[Moparmike]

Ok, as a College Student here at the University of Arkansas located in the People's Republic of Fayetteville, I will tell you the following:

Carrying anything remotely like a firearm is STRICTLY VERBOTEN on school grounds. If you drive thru campus and dont stop at a building, its kosher, but that is it. You can carry as many concealed 3.5" inch folders as you like though. I carry a folder, a swiss-army type knife, and a Gerber-like multi-tool. I also work on campus, so you might see me in one of the computer labs.

Bacchus and Maurice have hit it on the head. I havent done much shooting yet, as I cant own a handgun for another year and havent shot my rifle yet, so any shooting info from me is not worth a flip.

ARPA is a very good source of info for lots of things. I can say this because I am the Webmaster:D (brag brag...). The new design will be going up any day now.

Fayetteville is socialist. Odd thing because Washington County and Benton County (largest population of millionares in the US per capita) is the Republican bastian of Arkansas. We are the only district (District 3) that routinely has a non-Democrap senator. You cant smoke in Fayetteville's restaruants. City Council just passed it. We are doing our best to remove that ordinance and the idiotic *********s who did it.

People around here are more receptive to rifles and shotguns (as long as they look politically correct, God only knows what would happen if you started visibly putting an AK or an AR in your vehicle.) If someone sees you CCW-ing, you have a 50/50 chance of finding someone who doesnt care/happy that you are CCW, or one who will scream "gun"/freak out.

That isnt to say that this is a bad place. IT IS VERY GREEN (color and politically) and quite hilly. It can have nice weather, except for August. Humidity and temp are in the 90's all month. The saying is that "If you dont like the weather, wait 15 minutes for it to change."

It really is quite nice, you just have to get used to the blissninnys and the politics of inner-Fayettenam.

Wow, that was long winded.

[BTR]

Where can I find documentation that it is okay to carry a gun through campus in my car if I don't stop? It would be pretty awful to be wrong...

[Moparmike]

That I dont know. The thing is that campus contains city and state roads just like any other sq.mile of Fayettenam. If you cant carry on the roads there, then you cant carry anywhere else.

[MAURICE]

The outdoor range is at Hobbs WMA on Hwy 12 east of Rogers, you can also get there by heading east on 412, then going through War Eagle Mill.
Just got back a half an hour ago...good times :D

[bobs1066]

Oh, Fayette-Nam! I spent some time there (76/77 & 81/82). Haven't been back for many moons. Is that little dive right next to the RR tracks on the main drag still there? It was called George's Majestic Lounge or something like that.
If you look closely, you will find my name in the UA sidewalks in a couple of places. :D

[MAURICE]

Never been there, and dont care to go, but as far as I know, yeah, its still there.

[Moparmike]

Still there. Havent been though, not 21 yet.

Also known as "The People's Republic of Fayetteville."

[jarhead]

Sturm's Indoor Range = great guy & great range... http://www.sturmsrange.com/

Overall - Arkansas is quite gun friendly... for the most part, if you are where you are supposed to be and doing what you are supposed to be doing, with a gun or not, you're fine...

[Monte Harrison]

<---- Ducking in to plug my Yahoo group, Arkansas Shooters. Follow the URL in my sig.
Howdy, Mike!

[Moparmike]

ArkansasShooters is a good list, but I havent participated on much of the traffic lately as it has been mostly about Little Rock. But there is good info there as well. Lots of political info.

[Bravo11]

Kudos to your Yahoo group Monte, I visit there often.
Lots of good local(Ark) info.