Local Range has taken the fun out of shooting
- Thread starter Bandit01
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41magsnub
Member
Agreed, far too many ranges make it unnecessarily intimidating to go shooting, especially for the new folks. Not everyone has the luxury of private land or easy access to public land to go shooting. If shooting is not fun, new folks won't stick with it.
There is a range around here that is like being back in the Army and how not fun they managed to make shooting an M16.
Darthbauer
Member
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- Apr 1, 2007
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The range I shoot at was $10 for the day and we can shoot anything we want. Now im a member and it was only $25 for a year.
Phil DeGraves
Member
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- Aug 24, 2006
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Actually, the rules you speak of aren't all that outlandish. Try shooting somewhere else and you'll see that. Up here a normal range fee is $15 an hour. If your range has an annual membership, then the range fee is reduced. The lead shot/ steel shot thing might be the result of a rule that might have been outside the authority of the range owners. Big Brother decreed that (no lead shot in certain areas) up here.
"What is happening is a combined effort and a concerted one at that. Companies that insure ranges are demanding more and more constraints on shooter conduct. Most of them have little to do with safety and a lot to do with making the shooting experience unpleasant."
Maybe but not always. It often has to do with irresponsible shooters who will sue when they've ingested lead because no one told them they couldn't eat on the range. We've had some ranges close up here, not because the antis have raised a stink but because some of the patrons complained and/or sued over the most ridiculous stuff.
"What is happening is a combined effort and a concerted one at that. Companies that insure ranges are demanding more and more constraints on shooter conduct. Most of them have little to do with safety and a lot to do with making the shooting experience unpleasant."
Maybe but not always. It often has to do with irresponsible shooters who will sue when they've ingested lead because no one told them they couldn't eat on the range. We've had some ranges close up here, not because the antis have raised a stink but because some of the patrons complained and/or sued over the most ridiculous stuff.
CountGlockula
Member
There has to be more to this.
I bet anti's complained so much, that the rules had to be changed.
Sorry to hear that Bandit, if you lived near me I'd treat you the range I go to...since I get in for FREE. You can shoot anything you want, indoor or outdoor.
I'd also recommend writing a nice letter to the owner of the facility. You being a 3 year patron shows a lot of loyalty and $$$$ to the range. Start writing that letter now!
Good luck finding a new place.
I bet anti's complained so much, that the rules had to be changed.
Sorry to hear that Bandit, if you lived near me I'd treat you the range I go to...since I get in for FREE. You can shoot anything you want, indoor or outdoor.
I'd also recommend writing a nice letter to the owner of the facility. You being a 3 year patron shows a lot of loyalty and $$$$ to the range. Start writing that letter now!
Good luck finding a new place.
mike6161
Member
I say your luck to have a range that is only 8 dollars. I have to drive 1hour to the range thats 15 dollars and has a lot more rules.
You could just ask them why they changed the rules
You could just ask them why they changed the rules
At that rate I'd go play golf instead.
Possibly related to EPA compliance, and perhaps the reason they encouraged you to stock up to help them deplete their inventory.
Are you certain the purpose is to encourage people to buy larger targets? Seems like a larger target on a smaller holder is asking for the target to flop and fold. And if you can attach a larger paper target to the cardboard then how can the cardboard be too small to attach a paper plate to? 24"x36" larger target vs a 11" paper plate. I don't comprehend this point of your's, got a pic or can you draw me one????? And I've heard reports of some ranges requiring you to buy your targets from the range and not allowing you to bring in your own targets, so things could be worse.
Okay, why don't you want to be around a lot of cops, "Bandit"? Just asking
And there's your answer. Or take up golf.
Just perhaps they are trying to turn the range into a police officer only range and this is their way to wean off the public who are not in the range management's new intended customer base.
Things change, stuff happens, life goes on, adapt and persevere as best you can. If "they" can't outlaw guns then their next best option is to make it difficult for you to legally own, possess, and use one.
Hokkmike
Member
That's odd. I am surprised no one has asked you about this. Do any of the rest of you feel the same way?
41magsnub
Member
I don't know about cops, but at my main range the Securitas guys show up to shoot all the time and many of them based on the way they act I wouldn't trust to ride a bike much less handle a gun or drive a truck. There is a bit of a gang mentality going on. I'm sure it is the exception rather than the rule, but there are enough of them that are idiots to make it concerning. I stay far away from them at the range which luckily it is large enough to do so.
WinchesterAA
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- Mar 9, 2006
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Cops at ranges are fine til they start looking like they're about to arrest me for my AK. (envision popping rounds enjoying the time, looking over for another box of ammo and BAM, 9 cops are all looking at you with blank faces.. What seems to the problem officer instantly comes to mind.)
However, when I show up to the range with a lot of cops I suddenly feel like some kind of celebrity. Two sides to the story, been on both sides, seen where everyone's coming from, and I understand as best I can.
Thinking about going to jail for someone else not knowing what something is is something I don't want to think about at the range where I'm supposed to be relaxing. I suspect if the general consensus of cops said "guns, yay!" then it'd be a moot point, but from my experience there's a lot of em out there that say, "I have kids, you know, it scares me that you have this. Wait here in cuffs in the backseat while I search your vehicle and wait for my lieutenant to show up to explain what I'm actually doing."
"He's new, you're free to go" is what the lt. said essentially, but I wasn't pleased that some newbie did that, you know.. Pissed me off more than the medschool newbies at the ER that can't seem to get a needlestick right on the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth time..
Weird how that works, but hey.. There aint much I wanna do less than get arrested and my guns lost in endless .gov BS over some scared rook with no idea.
I don't like wasting time. OTOH, if popo showed up in plainclothes and no LEO markings, I'm sure no one would care.
However, when I show up to the range with a lot of cops I suddenly feel like some kind of celebrity. Two sides to the story, been on both sides, seen where everyone's coming from, and I understand as best I can.
Thinking about going to jail for someone else not knowing what something is is something I don't want to think about at the range where I'm supposed to be relaxing. I suspect if the general consensus of cops said "guns, yay!" then it'd be a moot point, but from my experience there's a lot of em out there that say, "I have kids, you know, it scares me that you have this. Wait here in cuffs in the backseat while I search your vehicle and wait for my lieutenant to show up to explain what I'm actually doing."
"He's new, you're free to go" is what the lt. said essentially, but I wasn't pleased that some newbie did that, you know.. Pissed me off more than the medschool newbies at the ER that can't seem to get a needlestick right on the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth time..
Weird how that works, but hey.. There aint much I wanna do less than get arrested and my guns lost in endless .gov BS over some scared rook with no idea.
I don't like wasting time. OTOH, if popo showed up in plainclothes and no LEO markings, I'm sure no one would care.
The first time I went to a range, looking to buy my first handgun. There were a lot of cops there, I was extremely intimated and nervous. They had the left side of range blocked off, reserved for them. Which was fine, so I settled in on the right side as instructed and did my own thing.
One of their instructors was watching me for whatever reason at one point, and gave some very helpful advise.
vk704
Member
Bandit01,
I know the range you're talking about. I used to shoot there too, until they raised their prices. Now I just drive an extra hour to go a range in the national forest that's free and no crazy rules.
I know the range you're talking about. I used to shoot there too, until they raised their prices. Now I just drive an extra hour to go a range in the national forest that's free and no crazy rules.
230RN
2A was "political" when it was first adopted.
Price = f (Demand / Supply )
And Supply is shrinking. After "they" get done declaring everything as Wildlife Refuge Areas, Primitive Areas, National Monuments, "restricted" Areas of National Forests, etc, etc, Supply will approach zero.
As Supply approaches zero, Price will approach infinity.
And Supply is shrinking. After "they" get done declaring everything as Wildlife Refuge Areas, Primitive Areas, National Monuments, "restricted" Areas of National Forests, etc, etc, Supply will approach zero.
As Supply approaches zero, Price will approach infinity.
mpmarty
Member
Our range is closed to members during police department, sheriffs office or state police practice and qualifications. We don't want our good members shot by these cowboys. $72 a year for the whole family and the club members own the land. We have trap, high power, outdoor pistol butts and indoor pistol on a hundred acres of riverfront property with salmon fishing and duck / goose hunting ponds and blinds. The MEMBERS make the rules.
I'd probably prefer an officer over a random stranger. I assume most of them are at least safe with their guns and the ones out at the range are probably the ones that enjoy shooting or take it seriously and not just the ones that shoot when forced. With a stranger I never know if I'm going to be needing to watch them for behavior that endagers me or not. Neither is an absolute rule but just my observations from range visit.
ADKWOODSMAN
Member
My range $20/year. Shoot from dawn to dusk 7 by 52 no charge. On the first Thursday of the month the range is shut down--that's for homeland security qualification!!!
The reason why I don't like being around cops at a range is (and this is based solely on my experience) they become arrogant bullies. I'm familiar with all the local folks that go to this range. I also have a CCW. At times, I'll walk into the range with a revolver on my hip. Management has never had a problem. All of a sudden, these cops started hanging around and they use their position to try and intimidate you. Loudly questioning you in front of other people.
Also, I have a wide variety of pistols. I love shooting 10mm; and .44. I even own a Desert Eagle. Management has never had a problem with my choice of guns (hell they sold me a lot of them). Now all of a sudden, if I take a huge pistol out the bag, I get a bully cop watching me or they'll start that damn whispering to each other. One even came up to me and asked why I had a Desert Eagle. I told him that it was none of his business, showed him my CCW permit as well as my business card (I'm a lawyer).
I shoot because I find it relaxing. But I don't like feeling as if I'm a criminal or that I have to explain my actions to a bully. I've been going to this range on almost a weekly basis for over three years. Now all of a sudden, now that the cops are hanging out there--things start being questioned.
The county has a range for the police department. The local range started catering to the police to raise more revenue. So the ultimate issue is more money over your regular clients. In an abstract way, it's the same debate over mom and pop shops over conglomorates like Walmart. Think about it!
Also, I have a wide variety of pistols. I love shooting 10mm; and .44. I even own a Desert Eagle. Management has never had a problem with my choice of guns (hell they sold me a lot of them). Now all of a sudden, if I take a huge pistol out the bag, I get a bully cop watching me or they'll start that damn whispering to each other. One even came up to me and asked why I had a Desert Eagle. I told him that it was none of his business, showed him my CCW permit as well as my business card (I'm a lawyer).
I shoot because I find it relaxing. But I don't like feeling as if I'm a criminal or that I have to explain my actions to a bully. I've been going to this range on almost a weekly basis for over three years. Now all of a sudden, now that the cops are hanging out there--things start being questioned.
The county has a range for the police department. The local range started catering to the police to raise more revenue. So the ultimate issue is more money over your regular clients. In an abstract way, it's the same debate over mom and pop shops over conglomorates like Walmart. Think about it!
There is a fairly local range to me, pistol/rifle outdoors with a bermed backstop, field trap/skeet range down the driveway, some sort of big building which I have no idea what is inside of it. No contact info or membership info except a few signs stating that it is for members only. Went there once and found about 30 people there, not one of them could give me what it costs to shoot there, who to contact about membership, nor where I could find out about membership. A couple of them thought it would be one person, another thought membership was under another person now. Several of them suggested I come back in a few weeks when they had a trap shoot scheduled, one said it was in three weeks on a Saturday, another thought it was in two weeks on a Sunday, other answers varied as well. I guess once you're in then you're in, but somehow quickly forget how you got in and how much it costs you to stay in each year.
I just walked away. I still drive down their driveway every few weeks, end of a residential street, thinking I might happenchance one day come across anyone who does know something. There's another indoor/outdoor shooting club a few miles down the road, no telephone number, no contact info, everybody knows about it, but nobody knows how to contact someone or get to be able to use it. Very perplexing. There's another outdoor range about 2 hours away that I've used in the past a few years ago. And in indoor range about an hour away that I don't use due to cost and other personnel issues and the heavy smell of lead and smoke in the air.
Be thankfull for what you do have, it could be worse.
WinchesterAA
Member
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- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 870
Cyclist, are you sure a membership exists?
Heck, reading about some of these ranges and fees, it is nice that we have a county park range with reasonable fees. The last time I was there is was $7 for up to 3 hours
http://www.aaof.com/tgr.htm
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http://www.aaof.com/tgr.htm
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NetJunkie
Member
Which range in Charlotte is this?
Have you considered joining the Charlotte Rifle & Pistol Club?
http://www.cr-pc.org/
We have a private 24-hour indoor pistol range and a very nice outdoor range up to 300 yards with pistol and combat bays. I was at the indoor range last night and had the whole place to myself for 2 hours and it's nicer than any commercial range I've been to in the area.
Let me know if you're interested. I'd be happy to take you as a Guest sometime.
cops at a range can be interesting... I had the nerve to demand to see the paperwork for a class three m14 an "officer" was shooting - after all I have my paperwork and the officer basically told me he did not need any etc... I said thats funny I need mine and you better get some because your village counsel may not agree with you. We let the local LE use the range and this idiot was not a member but a guest at best. The whole bully mentality and then having a legit question for some of them makes for an interesting exchange. The whole stare thing and what do ya need that for anoys me also although its fun to let a burst of silenced 9mm go and watch them go into overdrive- "you CAN"T...." ... I love tellin them that they better just call in and talk to their superiors before they get into trouble... and do it now...
jackstinson
Member
I have a lot of ranges in my area. Most of the private ones are charging $12-$15 per hour, plus some have odd rules.
I pay the $24 annual fee to use State Park Range 10 minutes from where I work. 100 yard rifle range and separate a 50 foot pistol range; you supply your own targets and stand. The only bummer is they shut down during January and February. well that and they don't permit more than 3 fast shots at a time. But that keeps the machine guns and shoot-em-ups out which used to make it impossible to relax there. During Jan and Feb I use my hunting license to plink in the woods 3 miles down the road from the range. And of course, I shoot daily in my basement range with .22 Colibri and Super Colibri.
Jack
I pay the $24 annual fee to use State Park Range 10 minutes from where I work. 100 yard rifle range and separate a 50 foot pistol range; you supply your own targets and stand. The only bummer is they shut down during January and February. well that and they don't permit more than 3 fast shots at a time. But that keeps the machine guns and shoot-em-ups out which used to make it impossible to relax there. During Jan and Feb I use my hunting license to plink in the woods 3 miles down the road from the range. And of course, I shoot daily in my basement range with .22 Colibri and Super Colibri.
Jack
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