[JiminCA]

Hi guys,

THR and TFL'ers all been a constant source of useful information and advice in the past. I'm planning a move to Colorado Springs. In particular I'd like to know:

1) What are the local gun politics, if any? I presume carry permits are not a big deal.
2) Where does one go to shoot IDPA?
3) What is the local range situation? I like to shoot outside. I belong to a club now where all members have the gate combination and we can go shoot whenever we like. I want to be able to shoot 200 yd rifle, trap and skeet also, but mostly pistol.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Jim

[R.H. Lee]

Larry Ashcraft will be along soon. He lives in Pueblo, which I think is near Colorado Springs. I lived in Denver awhile back, so I'm no help.

I also lived in Santa Barbara for awhile, and I know the range you're talking about. It's at the end of the ridge road that runs on top of the mountain up from 154, but I can't remember any names. I bought some guns from the gunshop on State St.-"Far West" or something like that?

[Justin]

I live in The Springs, so hopefully I can give you some useful info.

1) What are the local gun politics, if any? I presume carry permits are not a big deal. Generally speaking, local gun politics are neutral, with a tendency to be pro. Though there was a big hubbub about a guy who kept open carrying his shotgun into City Council meetings last year. They wrote a law just for him.

2) Where does one go to shoot IDPA? Around here, it's not too active, though there is a group of informal IPSC shooters. They're a good bunch. If you really want to get into ISPC/3 Gun/CAS, there is a lot more activity in Pueblo.

3) What is the local range situation? I like to shoot outside. I belong to a club now where all members have the gate combination and we can go shoot whenever we like. I want to be able to shoot 200 yd rifle, trap and skeet also, but mostly pistol. Locally your choices are kind of limited. Rampart Range is open to the public, and is near Garden of the Gods, but I've heard some bad things about the place. (Never been, myself.) The only indoor range that I know of is at the Olympic Training Center. If you're into smallbore competition/practice, this place is a dream come true. I shoot with a Bullseye club there on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. They also have facilities for smallbore rifle, running target, and air rifle/air pistol. This range is very centrally located and easy to get to from practically anywhere in town. The biggest downside is that they do not allow centerfire of any kind. :(

As for outdoor ranges, the nearest one is a private range near Falcon; Frontier Sportsman's Club. I'm also a member there. It's a nice outdoor range, with pistol ranges at 10, 25, and 50 yards, as well as rifle ranges with berms at 100, 200, and 300 yards. There is a spot for shooting clay birds, but you'll have to bring your own thrower. They hold rifle matches there about once a month. Steve Smith was heavily involved with these before he went overseas. Biggest downside to Frontier is encroaching urban development. It's pretty likely that the club will move within the next 10-15 years.

For shotgun stuff, if you join the club at the OTC they allow you to shoot at Ft. Carson's trap/skeet facility which is very nice. I was lucky enough to get to hang out there during the Olympic trials earlier this year. This range is top notch. Other than that, you're best bet for shotgun sports is probably the Ben Lomond club which is up near Monument, IIRC. I've never been there, so I don't know what their facilities are like.

The only other public range is Dragon Man's, which is also out near Falcon. Be warned, Dragon Man is something of a...um...colorful character* :uhoh:, and his range facilities reflect that. I would not take a newbie or fence sitter to this range. It's not the best range, but if you do end up out there, ask Dragon Man to give you a tour of his museum. The man is a meticulous collector of military weapons and vehicles.


*And that's putting it really, really lightly!

[rtr]

Most of your questions have been covered. For IDPA there is a match every month in Pueblo which is about 30 minutes south of town, there is also a match every month at Clear Creek which is about 1.5 hours from town. There are 6 IPSC matches a month within a few hours driving distance as well. For shotgun sports you want to join the Isaac Walton league club which is just east of town (near the aforementioned Dragon Mans). They have a sporting clays course along with skeet, etc. The best all around shooting facility nearby IMHO is Pueblo West Sportsmans Assocation, they have 6 pistol bays and several rifle ranges out to 400 yards. They hold monthly IPSC, IDPA, Highpower, Silhouette, and Cowboy shoots. PM me if you want any other info.

[Larry Ashcraft]

You might consider the Pueblo West Sportsmans Club. Very nice range, 6 pistol bays, shotgun, archery and several rifle ranges out to 500 yards, very well maintained and clean. The good news is that it is north of Pueblo about 7 miles, so it is only about 30 miles from Colorado Springs. The bad news is that they have a waiting list to join. I believe it is $54 per year.

I think they are still holding monthly IDPA matches. I couldn't find the website, but if you PM "Hoser" (Tom Freeman) on this board, he is the match director.

I think I'm going to let my PWSA membership lapse this year and keep my Whittington Center membership. It's $35 a year, no waiting list, and it is a multi million dollar facility about two hours from Pueblo.

[Kamicosmos]

Mmmmm Colorado!


Someday I'll make the leap and move out there. I've always loved The Springs. Lately though, I've been daydreaming about Montrose, Gunnison, and other places west of the Divide....

For me, I think it will be about perfect. Lots of trails to drive my Jeep on, lots of BLM land and big ranges to shoot my guns on, Big Beautiful Mountains where ever you look, nice temperatures, and snow that actually stays on the ground for more than a few hours.

:D

[Obiwan]

Ben Lomond is near Ramah

[Standing Wolf]

Justin has pretty well covered it. I'll add that the El Paso county sheriff is respectful of our Second Amendment civil rights and easy to deal with.

An indoor public range is said to be in the works.

The Dragon Man's range is usually pretty safe most of the time, although I have seen an individual or two walk forward on the pistol range when the rifle range is hot. I generally go there during the week, when it's less crowded.

The most extensively stocked gun shop is Specialty Sports at Drennan and Powers.

I'd hate like @#$%^&! to try to make a living as a burglar in Colorado Springs: even the sweet little old blue-haired half-blind grandmas are armed to the teeth.

[george_co]

There are three private/club ranges around Canon City. It is about an hour away from the springs, depending on where you live.

www.royalgorgegunclub.com is where I shoot mostly. They have monthly 1000 yd. bench rest shoots, 75 yd pistol & small bore shooting bay, 200 yd rifle range, DCM shoots & others.

The nice thing about Canon is the weather is usually nicer and you can shoot about 350 days a year.

[JiminCA]

To all who have replied so far:

Thanks for your offers of information, generosity and time. I have received multiple PM's from here and 1911 forum offering additional contacts and help. I'm struck by two things - 1) People's generosity helping someone out that they don't even know and 2) you've verified that CS is indeed the right choice for me.

I've been in SB for about 7 years now, and could continue to live here. But I need to make some changes for the sake of my family. I have 5 kids and want them to at least have the option of staying in the area when they grow up - where their family and community connections are. In SB that is not an option. SB is built on wealth, not jobs. And my kids will work, like I do. As such, they won't have any option to stay here. And I don't have a vision of a scattered family. My kids may choose to travel or go elsewhere, but I want that to be a choice, not something they're forced into.

So for me this is driven by long term strategy. And CS obviously has the right combination of outdoor recreation, reasonably conservative politics, and an economy that creates jobs and opportunity for people. I see it as a growing area for at least the next decade, if not longer.

Thanks again for the support, and keep the comments coming! As I get closer to making the actual move, I'll be contacting some of you to get hooked up.

Jim

[Standing Wolf]

People's generosity helping someone out that they don't even know...

That's Colorado through and through. Lots of things don't change here.

[Larry Ashcraft]

Also, Jim. Once you are living here, you are obligated to come to the Colorado Get Together.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=91907

[dadman]

I don't live in Colorado or Colorado Springs. But I went there for the first time this past June for a work related trip. Very nice area.
There's a real good gun shop at the South East corner of town near the airport. I forget it's name, but it was in a strip mall off of Academy, maybe towards Academy & Hancock?

[Larry Ashcraft]

Specialty Sports.

[R.H. Lee]

Another employed gunowner leaving California :(

One thing about Colorado that's different is the weather. You can (or used to, in the late 70's) expect up to 6 months of snow. It begins maybe late October and continues on and off until spring when you get heavy wet snows-the kind that break tree branches. And ICE on the roads. I learned the hard way pulling out of a parking lot in Denver-did a 180 and stopped facing the oncoming traffic on a one way street. :what:

The Rockies are incredibly beautiful any time of year. There are historic old towns and crystal clear lakes in the mountains. In the fall, the quaking aspens turn bright shades of red, orange and yellow. I remember driving through the mountains in the summer, exploring, and seeing mileage signs to Kremmling. Everywhere I went, there was a sign telling me how far to Kremmling. All roads lead to Kremmling, but I don't know why.

I got married in Colorado, and my son was born there. I have fond memories of the state. :)

[Justin]

Riley-

The Springs is actually very temperate. We'll get some heavy snow in the winter, but not nearly so bad as Denver. My rear wheel, front heavy Thunderbird does alright so long as I keep a pair of snow tires on it in the winter months. I've heard it said that The Springs has over 200 days of sunshine a year, though I don't know where I heard that.

As for the local economy, it's doing ok. The Springs were hit harder than most places when the tech bubble burst in the late nineties, but things do seem to be picking up again.

[Larry Ashcraft]

This is from the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce website. Note that Colorado Springs will average a little cooler because of the higher altitude and proximity to the mountains.
Pueblo has a very mild climate with moderate temperatures throughout its four seasons. The average daily high is 68 degrees with an average daily low of 37. Although Pueblo receives an annual average snowfall of 31 inches, its moderate temperatures won't allow snow to stay on the ground for long.

[Zundfolge]

Heres the low down on carry permits http://shr.elpasoco.com/Cw.asp

Pretty easy deal, only takes two weeks to get your permit from the time you fill out the form and pay the fees (which you have to submit in person).


The Springs is actually very temperate. We'll get some heavy snow in the winter, but not nearly so bad as Denver.

Colorado Springs is funny ... it can be blizzard conditions in the north end of town and sunny and nice out in the south end.

Figure as much as 10 degrees difference between north and south.


The only other public range is Dragon Man's, which is also out near Falcon. Be warned, Dragon Man is something of a...um...colorful character* , and his range facilities reflect that. I would not take a newbie or fence sitter to this range.
God I HATE Dragon Man's range ... He has a bunch of shot up cars with mannequins lying around them all painted like they are bloody with signs like "A guy who bothered Dragon Man" and "Dragon Man's Ex Wife's Lawyer" etc on the road into his place.
Here's his site (no pics of the road in) http://www.dragonmans.com/

Here's a pic of the range

http://ppyr.org/clubpics/IMG_0232.jpg


I prefer Rampart Range even though you'll get plenty of people who post here who hate it (its a free public range so you can get some "questionable" people and there is no range master and a lot of people shoot junk there and don't clean up ... however, I've never had any problems).

Frontier is a real nice range (sounds like the range you shoot at) and I just need to get off my butt and get a membership :p

... reasonably conservative politics...
Oh you'll LOVE the newspaper here. The Gazette (http://www.gazette.com/) is a pretty conservative/libertarian paper (you'll read Jacob Sullum and Thomas Sowells' columns in the editorial page for example, and the cartoonist is a guy named Chuck Asay (http://www.gazette.com/group.php?gid=2) who I think you'll like).


The most extensively stocked gun shop is Specialty Sports at Drennan and Powers.
Actually its at Drennan and Academy (a little west of Drennan and Powers) ... its a fun place to walk around (but bring some tissue as the clerks hate to wipe up your drool :p )

I'll add that the El Paso county sheriff is respectful of our Second Amendment civil rights and easy to deal with.
I'll add to that by saying that up until recently Colorado was a may issue state (but now its a shall issue) but El Paso county has been a shall issue county for all intents and purposes for a long time (with the current sheriff and the previous one).

[rtr]

I noticed the other day that Dragonman seems to have removed the shotup cars, wonder why.

[Zundfolge]

Maybe he's realized they keep people away.


about half the time I go shooting anymore I'm bringing some non-shooters along so I don't go there.

On a side note, I hear nothing but raves about his paintball field.

[Standing Wolf]

The Gazette is a pretty conservative/libertarian paper (you'll read Jacob Sullum and Thomas Sowells' columns in the editorial page for example, and the cartoonist is a guy named Chuck Asay who I think you'll like).

I'll stand corrected on Specialty Sports' location; the Gazette's so-called "news," however, consists almost entirely of recycled drivel from the New York Times. The editorial page tends to be more sensible than the "news."

[Zundfolge]

I don't read the newspaper for national news (which I agree is somewhat lacking in the Gazette). I read for local news (which is so so), editorials, comics, TV guide and gun classifieds ;)

Also I moved here from Wichita Kansas and the Wichita Eagle is basically Pravda of the Planes.

[JiminCA]

Well guys, this thread has turned into a venerable guide to shooting resources in CS. Thanks much.

I have one more question - what drives the local economy in CS? I know there's been a tech presence, and that a couple of thousand tech jobs have left in the past few years (according to my realtor). I also know there are at least 7 major ministries headquartered there (Focus on the Family, Navigators, and others). But what about most regular folks? Where do they work?

[Zundfolge]

Here's a couple of good places to get info on the local economy
http://www.coloradosprings.org/
http://www.coloradospringschamber.org/


Aside from several major Christian Ministries, there is quite a bit of publishing here, the US Olympic Committee is here, there are TONS of defense related jobs here (we have 3 Air force Bases; Peterson, Schriever and Ent, There's NORAD and Ft. Carson and theres the USAF Academy).

There is also some mining in the area (along with the School of Mines).

The tech sector took a big hit here when the dot-coms collapsed, but is rebounding.


What do you do for a living?

[JiminCA]

Thanks for the info,

I'm the CFO of a medical product company. Have a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA, so I tend toward work where engineering and finance meet. I've had regular jobs, spent several years on my own as a consultant, and am generally drawn to entrepreneurial ventures where things get done.

I don't tend to last long in bureaucracies. Bore me out of my skull.

[motorep]

Regarding El Paso County CCW- a friend of mine moved there, applied for a permit, got it within 2 weeks. He told me about the nice red-haired lady at the Sheriff's dept. who gave it to him, she also asked if he was married and did his wife need one, too. She's the undersheriff, also a committed IPSC shooter, her husband is a former USPSA section champion, and the former firearms instructor for Springs PD. Yep, I'd say they're firearms friendly.