Free & Legal Shooting Areas in Los Angeles

[shoup dawg]

I have seen plenty of vides on YouTube showing folks shooting in foresty areas, deserts, etc. and shooting at bottles, etc. of their own bringing. So I would like to know if anyone knows any free (and legal) places to bring my shotgun, ammo, and targets to practice for free here in the L.A. area.

Thanks!

[Leadhead]

Not my stomping ground but when you find that spot, leave the bottles at home and bring some tin cans....way more fun and easier to clean up!

[Prince Yamato]

So I would like to know if anyone knows any free (and legal) places to bring my shotgun, ammo, and targets to practice for free here in the L.A. area.

Compton? :neener:

[Fatty122]

I usually shoot out in Jawbone Canyon (Near Mojave). Its a bit of a drive (around 2 1/2 hours from the valley), but it is all B.L.M. land where you can do whatever you please.

[Scorpiusdeus]

Used to be you could shoot up above Ojai CA, about 70 miles north of L.A. in a place called Cherry Creek. It's in Los Padres National forest so I don't know if that's still allowed.

[fastattack]

My understanding is that High Desert Marksmen is open to the public on weekends. You do need ID to get in.
http://www.dmrpc.org/

[scrat]

Lets easily answer this question


NOPE


there are a ton of thier used to be's

there used to a placed called lidel creek. i used to go there. Same time i used to go out to my aunts house in the high desert and shoot in her back yard.

However. those days are gone. In the late 90's they pretty much outlawed all open desert open mountain type shooting. Same time the govt closed down a lot of ranges here in CA. Now im not too sure why you just want to walk out there in the middle of no where to shoot a gun and smile and say yep i did it. Thats pretty much why its now against the law.

There are a few good ranges depending on what you want to do. You need to make up your mind. Problem is a lot of people go and get shotguns then figure out there isnt much you can do with them. You can go to a range and shoot it. smile with the heavy recoil and noise and say wow thats great. Now if you want to learn how to shoot that shotgun thats a different story. If you want to just shoot it and see the shot come out and hit the sand and do nothing. Or even have just the chance to shoot it or to shoot at some steel targets. Which will absoluetly do nothing then try out either of these two places.

http://www.angelesranges.com/

http://www.burrocanyon.com/contact.html

Now none of these two are free. there is an admission fee. Angeles ranges is a much better range. You can actually learn how to trap shoot at that range. Which will make that shot gun a little more worth while to shoot.

Now if you really want to learn how to shoot then you can check out triple B clays.

http://www.triplebclays.com/

[shoup dawg]

Thanks all.

Scrat, I've been to Lytle Creek as I used to live in Rancho Cucamonga, but I read on other posts that you can't shoot there any more either. And it was just to hike, not shoot.

Why do I wanna go somehwere free? (I've never been to a gun range, so maybe I'm wrong here but) I don't want to have to wait in line. I don't want to have to feel pressured that I have to shoot in a limited timeframe. I want to pattern my shotgun and different types of ammo I've purchased. I also want to just set up things likes cans and water jugs to shoot and what not. And I'd rather save the money...although it sounds like it's more if I pay for gas to go to Jawbone, etc.

I am taking an introductory tactical shotgun class in January. It includes classroom and field training and should teach me how to shoot it. It's actually at Burro Canyon.

I have an 18" HD shotgun. But yes, it would be fun to learn to trap/clay shoot.

[minerva1856]

Lytle Creek is still open and a great OLL friendly place to shoot.

http://www.lytlecreekrange.com/index.html

[scrat]

i usually go shooting about 3 times a month sometimes even more. IT is very very very rare that i ever have to go shooting and wait in a line. The ranges i mentioned to you have enough booths to accomidate a lot of shooters. Same time Angeles ranges is one of the most safetest ranges you can go to. If you are only concerned about going to a range and having to wait then. Im not too sure whats keeping you. I went to angeles ranges two weeks ago Last time. When we went there were 7 of us that went together. We went around sunday morning at 10am. parked walked in paid. Set up stuff (when it was safe) then started shooting. We were there until 4pm. So im not too sure whats keeping you from going. you have to make a decesion to go shooting then just go. look at the links that were provided to you. Give them a call find out how busy they are. Then make the decision and go. Now as far as shooting cans. There is not a range that will actually let you shoot cans and just whatever you want to shoot. Why because most people dont pick up what they shoot. These ranges are clean ranges to shoot at. People like me want them kept like that. Now burro canyon you can take biodegradable things out to shoot. Like watermelons all kinds of fruit. Now if you want to see how good you can shoot at cans. Then i would recomend shooting steel. you can go to angeles ranges and shoot at the steel targets. These are set out at 25 yards. OR you can purchase a do all target set. then set it up at burro canyon.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=853647&t=11082005

[scrat]

Oh as far as shooting in a limited time. DOES NOT HAPPEN. You see you dont wait in a line. Take angeles ranges. You go. Park, pay then put on eye and ear protection. Then you get your gun and ammo. Then go to the benches. You put your gun and ammo on the rear bench take it out. See where you want to shoot. IF everyone is shooting then you arproach the bench. If you go to shoot steel. You shoot steel. When the RO(range officer) calls sieze fire. You unload your gun and step behind the yellow line. Then they will check everyones gun to make sure they are safe. Then tell everyone it is safe to go down range to set up targets. BUT THE BENCH WITH THE GUNS IS OFF LIMITS. Then when everyone is back they will call RANGE HOT PROCEED TO THE FORWARD BENCH. then you can step forward and start shooting again. you can be at the same spot all day long if you want. Shooting is usually in 20 minute intervals. With a 5 minute rest stop to re set up targets. if you want to move you move. When shooting rifle 20 minutes seems like it takes forever. You see when i go for paper. i shoot about 5-10 rounds. Then i readjust the weapon, maybe change ammo. Then i have to wait about 15 minutes before i can go down range to change the target to do it again. bottom line you will have plenty of time.

[Ed Ames]

If you don't mind driving a bit there are PLENTY of great places to shoot in the LA area. The trick is that you must leave LA county for San Bernardino County. At that point there are thousands of square miles of public land where it's legal, safe, and easy to shoot at any sort of target you bring.

I did that just about every weekend. Load up family members, sometimes friends, and head out for a morning or day of fun, safe, and free shooting without the narrow lanes and rigid controls needed when 100+ people are sharing the space that 5 shooters would normally share. We'd go out with hand target throwers and trade the thrower and shotgun back and forth, or set up targets for rifle and pistol. We could've brought fancier throwers if we wanted.

There used to be some dedicated "public shooting areas" in the national forest but most of them have been shut down or converted to controlled ranges. Lytle creek is an example. It's a shame but it certainly isn't the end of the road.

You want a lousy shock? Move from the Los Angeles area to Dallas, TX. Suddenly all the free and open shooting areas are GONE. There is nowhere to shoot in Dallas that isn't a formal range. The LA area isn't as gun friendly as Dallas but it's a lot more "informal recreational shooting" friendly.

[Average Guy]

Anyone remember the big four-page color pictorial in the LA Times that got Kentucky Flats shut down? Boy, I sure do. That still burns me.

I've been to Burro a few times, the last time being last weekend. If you have a group of people and call ahead, you can reserve one of the "Tac" ranges. Then you can back your pickup in, set up your pop-up canopy, and make a day of it. The range is yours; you can do or shoot pretty much what you want--as long as you clean it up (unless it's biodegradable, as in fruit). They even sell BBQ beef sandwiches and hot dogs sometimes.

If you want even less structure, you can drive out past Barstow. Check the BLM website for restrictions (there are some areas south of I-40 where you can't shoot shotguns, for example).

Just do it. :)

[Average Guy]

Baleeted!

[ArmedBear]

LOL

Why would you want to shoot somewhere besides a range?

How about meaningful practice?

When you go rifle hunting, your quarry doesn't tend to stand exactly 100 yards away on level ground. Want to get to know exactly how your rifle shoots at various ranges? Don't do it at a rifle range. A rifle range is good for two things IMO: load testing and sighting in.

Everyone who shoots shotguns well talks about patterning every load and really getting to know your patterns. They're right. Now, I don't know of a range where one can just blast away at the patterning board at various distances for an hour unmolested. Maybe a couple shots, but then the trap/skeet RSO will end your patterning session so the range can get back to its primary mission of clay shooting -- most guys don't bother patterning their guns, so ranges don't set aside space for it.

Finally, reactive targets are a lot more fun to shoot and better practice, once your rifle is sighted in. Putting gongs or clay pigeons at various ranges on hills and in draws gives instant feedback and is far better hunting practice than shooting paper (100s of times as fun, also).

That said, a lot of jerk-offs ruined it for us all by leaving piles of junk on public land. We (collectively) deserved what we got. Not each of us, but the group of us, unfortunately. Let's not ruin the spots we still have. PLEASE!

Clay shooting at a range is great, and it's meaningful practice. Fun, too. But other types of range shooting are VERY limited in their usefulness for those who want to get past basic gun handling.

[scrat]

you can still shoot at clays and other targets at different yards and conditions. Angeles ranges has steel targets out to 400 yards. Every 100 yards the targets are higher in the air. They have a lot of steel targets out at different places. Also at burro canyon you can set up your own reactionary targets. Then if you have enough people you can rent your own spot to shoot like what ever you want. Then getting back to the crowded ranges. Its not like that. Normally if you go you go with someone else. Then you set up next to each other. Then your not waiting in a line. 20 minutes is enough to shoot and get what you want. Then you rest for 5 minutes reset up targets. Range is hot again and start shooting. You too can stay out at the range all day. ITs a lot different then just going out to the middle of the desert though. At the local range i can go to a regular restroom. Shoot i forgot the stickers for the targets. NO problem. i go inside and buy them. Oh i guess i will get a candy bar too. ask the lady "what time does the hot dog vender come in"
Go back outside then back to the range. Ok done shooting. Pack it all up. Drive to the right of the parking lot. We get out and go in the reloading store. look around check prices on powder. Get some supplies then head back home. Yep home 20 minutes later im un packing the car and im done.

[ArmedBear]

At the local range i can go to a regular restroom.

Not good hunting prep, either.:D

Sounds like the range in question is a good place to shoot, though. Much better than most!:)