Range Fees

[CMichael]

I live in SE Michigan.

I originally became a member of my gun club. It was about $320/year. $15 more for shooting at the ranges (except for shotgun) as much as you want.

I mainly do trap and skeet. I thought that once I pay that fee I would be able to shoot for free trap and skeet. I was wrong. Instead of paying $4/game, I paid $3/game.

I then decided that it's not worth the money to me. I didn't renew my membership. However, I can not use any of the other ranges which are only for members.

So anyhow I am dissapointed in this gun club.

Does anyone have had a similar experience.

[Ledbetter]

because the guys who just shoot rifles and handguns at their own targets don't want to pay for your clays or the maintenance of the throwing equipment they don't use.

At my club, a round of skeet or trap for a member is $3.50. The earplugs are free and the soft drinks are fifty cents. Seems like a fair deal to me. How much is a box of biodegradable clay pigeons, anyway?

[CMichael]

Then why should I spend so much money on membership?

[Ledbetter]

Take up golf. Oh, that wouldn't work either. Green fees. Hmmm.

[Rupestris]

CMichael,
I live in SE Mich too. Keep paying $4.00/round at the club and use the State run range at Island Lake for 25, 50, and 100 yard target shooting and sighting in. Its $4.00 /day and they supply the targets. If you need more info just let me know.
You will need an anual sticker on your vehicle but thats only $20.
Chris

[CMichael]

thank you Rupetris.

Where is Island Park??

I live in Northville.

[CMichael]

Do they have handgun?

[CMichael]

Actually this may be a good possibility for handgun.

http://www.firinglineguns.com/range.htm

[Rupestris]

CMichael,

You are right there, not 20 minutes from it.
Take 275 north to 96 west (tward Lansing), Get off at the Kensington exit and go left, back over the freeway to the light at Grand River. Turn left at the light and its maybe 1/2 mile down on your right. you can't miss it.

you can shoot muzzle loaders, handgun, rifles, and shotgun with slugs. No shot. Load 6 rounds max, 2 seconds between shots. the range is all new as are the skeet/trap/sporting clays stations. I think its $5/round there.

I'll send a PM with more.

Chris

[CMichael]

Thank you Rupestris :)

[Mike Irwin]

"Then why should I spend so much money on membership?"

Oh, little things like property taxes, upkeep and maintenance on the entire facility, a capital projects budget to make improvements to the range, etc.

That money likely also in part goes to buy the equipment that's used on the trap & skeet ranges, and also to repair. That's not cheap.

No offense, but I think that the real problem is that didn't take the time to understand what you were signing up for.

[CMichael]

Actually Mike you are right. I couldn't imagine that I would pay all that money and only save $1/game for trap or skeet.

I think the club would be good for retirees who have the time to go whenever they want and shoot all kinds of things.

But for me who mainly goes on weekends and is more focused on shotguns it's not worth it.

You are correct. I should have checked more for what I signed up for.

[Mike Irwin]

Hopefully you can find a facility that meets your particular needs.

In that sense we're lucky as anything there in Northern Virginia. We've got a number of indoor ranges for handgun, and a fantastic clay sports facility run by the County as part of the parks system (go figure, in liberal haven hell).

The thing we're short on here is 100 yard plus rifle ranges. There's the Isaac Walton league, but that's a less-than-perfect solution at times. Then there's the Fairfax Rod & Gun Club, but who has $2,000 to $5,000 or so for the membership for the first year?

[CMichael]

Ruspetin had some really good suggestions.

There is a handgun range nearby to me in the city of Westland.

I'll go the club for trap and skeet.

However, I won't be a club member.

[ShaiVong]

All the gun clubs around here are like $20-50 a year, bring your own targets, ammo, skeet, and throwers. :D

Its like renting a field and a backstop, the rest is up to you :P

Only problem is for most of them, you have to be an NRA member to be a club member... Because they get their insurance through the NRA:(

[CMichael]

That is another thing that ticked me off regarding the club. You must be an NAR member.

I like the NRA and all but I don't like to be mandated to join on top of sizable membership fee for the club.

[Ledbetter]

I wonder why support for the shooting sports is on the decline?

[Ringer]

I shoot handguns at The Firing Line in Westland about once a week. It's a nice facility, owned and operated by mostly LEOs I believe. My membership ran out, currently doing the $8.00 per (short lunch hour) visit thing. The membership is $285 a year for unlimited usage. I have never had to wait for a lane there. The rental guns are $5, plus ammo.

The Island Park DNR range is indeed very nice. Be prepared if you decide to go there, the ROs are very strict and can get on your nerves but they do keep it safe.

It's a little further for you but the DNR range in Wateford, by Pontiac Lake is where I go for Shotguns and Rifles. Same distances, not as busy and much more casual. They also have a couple shotgun patterning boards at the rifle range so you can work on HD ammo, turkey hunting - whatever. They also have hand trap.

[CMichael]

Thank you Ringer. The Club that I went to was the WWCCA in Plymouth.

[TIMC]

The range I belong to is $35.00 per year and 3.70 per round of skeet or trap. They charge the same to use the pistol or rifle range. non members are a couple dollars more for each. nice place and good people.