[sidearm]

Now where to shoot? I just moved from So-Cal to Cornelius (Charlotte area) North Carolina and It's great! Loving the trees and the green grass! Wow the trees here are turning and it's stunning. Glad to be here, but a little lost on where to go to shoot a rifle or handgun. I guess I'm used to the open spaces of the California desert to shoot my rifles. Where is there a good range or open space?

Anyhow, I Can't wait till turkey season. Funny thing is I'm used to it being in the Fall. The guy at "Dick's Sporing Goods" says the season here in North Carolina is in the Spring!? HMMMM... oh well...So where to go? Any advice from you resident "Tar Heel's?" ( Not even sure what that means.. Remember I'm from Kali - haha.) oh well- My wife and I are having fun adjusting. Except for the drivers and freeways here. They're aweful! Everyone thinks they're a NASCAR driver! Oh and by the way Skunkabilly..... you would love the music here!


Thanks-
Sidearm-

[sidearm]

Ok fine.. so no one here is from North Carolina. Let me just say that the drivers here suck. Period. Today I was in the first accident in 10 years. I was going down a residential neiborhood while looking at houses to buy. This lady wasn't looking and was coming the other way. Well she in a nutshell hit my sideview mirrow (with her side view mirror- she was in the MIDDLE OF THE ROAD) and it exploded into my face and eye. Now I'm going to a opthamologist tomorrow because she was preoccupied and looking the other way (at houses) while driving. What a didly dumb Shi*. She appologized up and down but my eye is still full of glass and is watering. Had to go to emergency etc. Just needed to vent...

[Bullet Bob]

1. Welcome to North Carolina.

2. I don't know of specific ranges in the Charlotte area, but if you'll call the larger gunshops, they'll probably be glad to give you information.

3. Sorry about the accident. If it's any consolation, the lady who hit you probably wasn't an NC native - most likely a Yankee who moved here for a job!

[QuickDraw]

Well...I'm still stuck in California.
Congratulations on your escape!
Maybe the woman was from Cali....looking at houses :neener:
Good luck on the eye(and house hunting)
QuickDraw

[Guy L Johnson]

But I did just return from a vacation ther on Oak Island and I loved it the fishing crabbing and shrimping was fantastic and I am planning to return mther as soon as possible. If you dont find any activities to keep you busy it is because you wernt looking. If you are an amature radio operator get on echolink and find KG4QEK he is right there on the island and can give you some good tips on the best fishing I have seen in a very long time.
Guy

[mdsteele]

Welcome! I don't know about Charlotte, but there is a fine range in Greensboro.
I'll be glad to meet or take you there free. You pay for your ammo and targets, and we'll have a blast.
Wayne Hobgood the owner (or his wife Pat) may know of a place in Charlotte. You can contact him/her at 336-668-3232 on tuesday after 10 am.
Or you can meet me and talk to him/her in person.

[sidearm]

hahahahhahaha - you all are great... tooo funny. Your right Bulllet Bob! maybe she WAS from the North! Dammit! Too funny! - Ah well.... I have to say that I still LOVE it here. Guess I've been abused in Cali! Good to be here....

[Navy joe]

We usually have a fall and a spring turkey season out here.

[DMK]

Welcome to NC sidearm! :cool:

Don't forget to stop by your local sheriff's office and get the paperwork for your concealed carry permit. We are a shall issue state! ;) While you're there ask them about a range, I'm sure they'll know.

Around here, we shoot at a Forestry Service range, so you could check with them also.

Once you get yourself situated with a job, please help us and yourself out by contributing to some NC pro-2nd amendment orgs:

http://www.grnc.org/

http://www.ncrpa.org/


Also, here's the NC govt. website that contains anything you want to know including drivers licence, legislation, etc

http://www.ncgov.com/

[Waitone]

Sidearm,

Welcome to NC. Bummer about your accident. I'll echo the opinion that chances are the other party is an outtatowner. I drive all over the US. The one characteristic which should be remembered is the natives of NC, SC and parts of GA do not know how to operate an acceleration lane. You will then notice drivers pulling over into the left lane to clear the acceleration ramp. That ain't being polite. that's bein' smart. I've seen 'em run full tilt boogie to the end of the ramp, come to a full stop, and turn a car toward the left to affect a right turn from a dead stop on to the road. Un-effin' believable.

Where to shoot? Not too familar with ranges up north but there is a very active IDPA chapter in Stateville (exit 150 on I-77 north of Cornelius). Charlotte Rifle and Pistol Club is the daddy rabbit of private clubs but it is on the south side of Charlotte. While in Statesville go to Carolina Bar B Que west of I-77 on exit 1-49. Best grub in these parts.

If you smoke cigars buzz up to JR's at exit 150. JR's has a 10,000 sq foot humidor. That store is a freakin' natural resource if you smoke cigars.

BTW, NC DMV is a source of profound shame. Its bad and we know it.

[Waitone]

One more thought. You hit the area at the right time to take in the leaf season. Color will develop from now to middle of October. Its easy to take a day trip to the mountains from Cornelius. People come from all over the US (particularly bikers) to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Send me a PM and I can suggest some day trips of you want to do the leaf thingy.

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

Welcome to NC sidearm ! :)

Yeah, you probably had a run-in with a half-back, moved to Florida from like NY, NJ, but only made it half the back back lol

There are a couple places I shoot at when I'm up in Charlotte:

1. Firepower Inc. in Matthews, they have a 25 yard pistol range, and rental pistols, but no rapid-fire. Nice staff, and good prices also.

2. Shooter's Express in Belmont, have a 25 yard pistol and rifle range. Rapid fire is allowed, rental pistols and also rental full-auto Uzi and H&K MP5. They also have a gunshop, but I didn't get to check it out too good.

[mparris71]

Welcome to the Right Coast!

[sidearm]

Thanks "y'all", I'll check out those ranges. And yep! She was most likely a yankee. SIDE NOTE: Went to the 'Waffle House" for the first time today and tried grits for the 1st time. REALLY GOOD! My family was originally from the South...Guess it's coming back in spades! Feel's like I'm home...Thanks for the responses guys!

Sidearm-

[Fed168]

Sidearm, you'll find Tarheels in the city known as Chapel Hill- which on the map is to the left of everything (ya get homesick, take a visit). Enjoy your time here- lots of good area for hog and deer out in the mountains.

[Dorian]

SIDE NOTE: Went to the 'Waffle House" for the first time today and tried grits for the 1st time

Oh man! Being born and raised in Atlanta, GA, and living in Greenville, NC for the last five years, I couldn't imagine not ever having eaten at the Waffle House!

It's like that episode of "Double Dare" on Nickeloedian I saw as a kid where the Californites were asked what IHOP stands for. I was jumping up and down in front of the tv and screaming "INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES!!!!!"... But none of them knew it.

Anywho, welcome to North Carolina, and sorry I can't help you with a range, I live in the eastern part of the state and there are no decent ranges around here :(

[prisoner6]

I'm in Charlotte, and would be happy to help out. Most places have been mentioned by others though. I shhot most at Firepower, in Matthews, which is south of Cornelius. They have a 50 foot range and only allow rifles if they shoot handgun calibers. All handguns and shotguns are ok. Shooters Express in Belmont, west of Charlotte off of I-85, has a rifle range and a handgun range. I've shot there, but is out of the way for me. Also you can head up I-85 past Salisbury and there is a range in the Uwharry(sp?) National Forest. But go with someone who's been there, its definitely out of the way. Let me know if you have any questions.

[Futo Inu]

I'll say congrats. But if not AK or VT, I'm glad it's not me, cuz like the Siren's song, that accent of the womyn there (from TN to points east and south) makes me weak in the knees - I'd never get any work done.

[stealthgoat]

Sidearm,
That is a great move! An army bud of mine just moved from the PRK to the Arden/Asheville area and he loves it.
If I could find work there, we would move too.

[David Roberson]

As already mentioned, Shooters' Express is a fine indoor range. The gun shops has decent prices, too. Tell Dean the manager that I sent you. He won't give you any better discounts, but maybe he'll give me one the next time I'm in there.

If you're interested in some informal shooting at a private range, send me an e-mail or a PM. There's a United Way benefit shoot coming up near Concord on the last Saturday of the month. It would be a good chance for you to meet up with some local shooters who would congratulate you on your escape from PRK.

Cheers,
DR

[mdsteele]

Waffle house is anti-gun. Look at the outside wall of their buildings.

[kentucky bucky]

We were at kitty Hawk When some "ho" named Isabel blew in from the south. Needless to say we were evacuated. We went to the mountains and kicked around for the rest of the week. I love the state, but you are right, too many Nascar wannabees!!! A good friend of mine moved down there ten years ago and says the same thing. Three weeks earlier NC and KY agreed to honor each others CDW permits...........made me feel even better about spending my money there. South Carolina won't get my money until they honor our permits!!!!!! :fire:

[Bowlcut]

congrats on the escape from living hel..... errr cali :D

[twoblink]

sidearm, so how does freedom smell? :cool:

[Rusher]

Sidearm

Welcome to NC...I live and work in Gastonia I moved here from LA well actually Riverside. I used to go shooting all the time out near Lake Perris.......Jeeze I miss those days...long range...short range shooting all the safe fun you wanted with out the range master yelling for shooting to fast or quick drawing. To be honest that about the only thing I miss about the PRK that I miss.......well some good Mexican food as well.


If your ever down here in gastonia drop buy the sporting goods dept in the back of Wal-mart and ask for robert..."the gun nut"



Rusher