Columbia, SC

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9thchild

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Yes I am new to the forum, but have been reading for a long time.

Anyone know of a cheap place to shoot in Cola? I usually go to Shooter's Choice on ladies night but that may not be an option for me in the future because of work. I absolutely detest that range anyway (hotter than sin, crowded, very small area, lights don't work, dirty). Is there something more reasonable around? $8 per half hour is rough, PSA's Harbison location is $10/half hour!

Any outdoor ranges or discreet "wild" areas? I would be willing to drive (and hike) a little ways if it meant longer shooting sessions.
 
Mid-Carolina is great, but I believe the wait list is still full / offline. You can shoot matches as a non-member though.

If you plan more than a few trips a year, I'd suggest looking at the Palmetto State Armory annual range pass.
 
As said, Mid Carolina doesn't seem to be taking new members right now (though I'd get on the wait list if possible - its an amazing club), but you can shoot all their competitions without membership (I typically go up there every 2nd Saturday for USPSA from Charleston).

It's a little outside of your area but another option might be Savannah River Rifle and Pistol Club http://www.srrpclub.com/index.php

Only competitive shooting I see listed is for NRA Smallbore Silhouette but from their website it seems like a good range at a good price.
 
Do you not have any national forest ranges in the Columbia area. Charleston has two, Twin Ponds about 40 min from downtown and Boggy head about an hour. Both free in clear air. Up state has a few or so I've been told. You've got a couple of military bases there. Have you checked into possibly asking permission to use their ranges?
 
I have thought about Fort Jackson but I didn't think they would allow civilians to enter the base with firearms. I will look into that as well as the national forest ranges.

I will also throw my name in the hat for Mid-Carolina. A yearly PSA pass sounds pretty enticing, depending on the price.

Thanks for all the great responses.
 
If you're up for the drive, Manchester State Park (near Sumter) has an outdoor 50 yard pistol and 100 yard rifle range. Fees are the cheapest I've ever seen anywhere: $5 per day, or $25 per year.

The only real downside: weekends only.

R
 
Palmetto Armory just opened a 25 used indoor range. I ave not been yet, but plan on trying it out tomorrow when visiting my brother.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
 
Have a look for the Indian Creek rifle range off exit 72. It's on the other side of the interstate from Newberry. It's the closest free, outdoor range to Columbia that I know of.

Shooter's could def. use more lights. I can shoot a .22 rifle with open sights fine at 15 yds. in there but by the time I get to 25 there isn't enough light.

PSA has a great location and is extremely well lit but is a bit pricey. Their guest policy isn't so good either. After checking out their prices I went and renewed my membership at Shooter's.
 
I 2nd the Manchester Forest suggestion but it is a bit of a drive. Although you can shoot all day for only $5. Shooting stations are outdoors but have a roof. Very safe, very controlled with Range Safety Officers on duty watching your back.

Hours are Saturday 8:30am until 4:30pm and Sunday 1:00pm until 5:00pm. I'm one of the volunteers out there. PM me if you have questions.

I was out at Shooter's Choice about 3:00pm today. A woman was coming off the range and one of the guys at the gun counter asked "did you enjoy your sauna?" I guess that says it all.

Given the success of Mid-Carolina Rifle Rifle Club, I'm surprised no one has opened a similar range elsewhere in the Greater Columbia area. It seems to me there is a bunch of unbuildable land in the Congaree flood plain that would be ideal for an outdoor range. You can't do anything else on that land except farm it. I suppose farming can be profitable but I've never heard of a range closing or losing money because of a drought, fungus or pest infestation. Anybody around here with connections inside the Green Diamond Group?
 
owen said:
I used to belong to Mid-Carolina Rifle Club. Good place. IIRC, its about $100/yr.
Click to expand...
Their member ship is now full ... you have to get on a waiting list to get in when someone drops their membership.

I believe there is also a public range in Newberry ... but I've never been.
 
Newberry range is a 40 minute drive from Lexington -- too far for me. I went there once and it is very rudimentary but adequate. Just too long a drive to be practical. I do wish there were a couple more nice outdoor ranges in the area.
 
Sumter and Newberry sound the most promising. The hour drive to Sumter would suck, but if I leave early on a Saturday and get to shoot as long as I want, it might be worth it.
 
Looks like everyone covered it well. I know a couple of guys who go to Newberry and it's been upgraded, according to them.

If you (or anybody) would like to go to Mid Carolina, holler. I'm a member.
 
Made the drive to Newberry today. Shot for several hours. Less than a 40 minute drive from downtown Columbia. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Six benches. The benches easily accommodate two shooters, so really there are 12 shooting spots. They had a small hill at 25 yards and I believe the dirt back stop is 100 yards. No bathroom except the woods and no garbage cans. Also, you better bring a way to stand up your targets, or you'll be stuck with sharp sticks and duct tape like I was.
 
Interesting, that's better than what was there last time I visited.

At MCRC we realized bathrooms were important and adjusted accordingly,
 
One comment on the USFS Newberry range- I've heard many stories of dangerous improper behavior there, so be careful. One even included a yahoo shooting while someone was downrange...
The Mid Carolina Rifle Club is now $175 a year and there is indeed a waiting list.
 
I can't attest to the improper behavior as I was the only one there on my one visit. But, I just didn't feel that comfortable being there. It is just yards off a state highway and I had the uneasy feeling that anyone could drive in there and be up to no good. At least in a gun club you do have some feeling of security being that most are gated, and access is limited. For the record, I'm not trying to sell anyone on any particular gun club as I belong to none.
 
There were many people there during my visit and I did not notice any improper behavior. In fact everyone was very polite and respectful.
 
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