My oh my; didn't think my LV shooting question would spark a debate like this!
Anyway, I just got back from Las Vegas. Finished training my dad on some basic home defense strategies and shooting improvement techniques (I also showed him how to reimage Windows 10, repair sprinkles, and replace a toilet supply line). This actually concludes my gun adventures and the reason I re-joined THR:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...wered-elsewhere.233018/page-457#post-11834279
Ok, enough about toilets.
I feel I should post a range report to help the next person.
As it turns out, the Clark Shooting Complex is only 20 minutes from my parents' house. So that's where we went.
I'll give a quick summary: The Clark Shooting Complex pistol/rifle range is an excellent range; go and you will not be disappointed.
Pros: big and clean, friendly staff, good shooting benches, cheap prices, A/C building with clean bathrooms, moveable target frames.
Cons: windy, no partitions between shooters.
I've only used their pistol/rifle range; and, because I didn't think that I'm going to write this range report, I didn't pay too much attention to the range besides teaching my dad how to shoot. So, some of my numbers may be incorrect. Please call to confirm if specific details are important (BTW, the range office staff is very polite and responsive on the phone).
We visited the complex's pistol/rifle range 2 times: Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. On both days, the range is pretty busy but never full.
This range is large: there are 60 shooting slots, each with a cement bench, cement chair, and folding chair. I stress the cement bench/table and chair; they are excellent for sighting in guns because they are super stable. The range provides plastic shooting rests, but they are pretty useless (you really want to bring your own sandbags). The folding chair is good for waiting out the cease fire. Below is a picture of a shooter slot:
(Oh, no, that's not my dad. That's my son. This is also his first time shooting; so he was super excited. His favorite was the Beretta 96 pistol, .40S&W; here, he's shooting its counterpart the CX4 Storm carbine.)
This has to be one of the cleanest ranges I've ever been to (and I've been to a lot of ranges in many states). Look at that picture above; this was taken during the late afternoon. Notice anything? No brass. Absolutely none on the floor. This is because the RSOs are constantly sweeping. Oh, that reminds me, if you want to save your brass, best bring a brass catcher. There are trash cans (never full too, excellent) at every 4 or so tables.
You are able to shoot pistol, rifle, and shotgun (slug) at the shooter slots. 30 of the slots (I don't want to call them stalls or bays because this range isn't set up, or at least didn't appear to be, for partitions between shooters) go out to 50 yards; 30 go out to 100 yards (some of these go to 150 yards). Hey, these numbers are just what I'm not trying to estimate from my mental image (and I've not shot in years). You are able to shoot birdshot at paper at 2 or 3 slots next to the range master's housing (maybe slot #30-32). The birdshot targets looks to be 20/25 yards and appear to be movable (and you must fire from the firing line).
Sunday afternoon was a bit busier than Saturday morning, but we were able to get 2 adjacent slots within a few minutes (basically as soon as the guy next to us leave, I went and requested it). Because we were shooting a rifle (in addition to pistol), we had to use certain slots; otherwise, we could have gotten adjacent slots when we signed in.
The RSOs are very friendly and professional. Safety is always number 1 in my books; and the RSOs here definitely meet my expectations. On both days, there are many (seemingly) first-time shooters who'd hang around in the "danger zone" (i.e. the area between the shooting benches and the line you are supposed to be behind) during a cease fire. I observed the RSOs caught them quickly and firmly but politely informed those violators. It looks like this range is well staffed (maybe 1 RSO per 8 slots, plus the range master and maybe 1 more RSO).
For an outdoor range, this range has good moveable targets. You can place the target stands at various distances by inserting the target stands into steel holes in the ground. (There may even be mechanisms to turn the targets since there appear to be more holes then what the target needs, but I didn't pay much attention). Having the ability to move target distances means you don't have to change slots to shoot targets of different distances; a real convenience and major a safety improvement (because it avoid moving firearms between slots by inexperienced shooters). Speaking of safety, there may be a possibility of ricochet because the steel holes in the ground where the target stands go in appear have a cement block/base and at 3/5/7 yards (very close distance) I can image a perfectly struck bullet just bounce right back.
A simple improvement for this range would be to have the option of partitions between the shooters. Like drilling some holes in the floor to fit screens between the shooters when a partition is desired. This would make the slots more competition friendly (if there's going to be competitions here) and decrease getting hit by brass from your next-slot neighbor.
The "club house" has AC; and it has clean bathroom facilities. However, on the 2 days I was there, its water fountains where out of order. It has a training room where a range safety video is played (new range users are required to watch the 10 minute safety video). This club house is also where you pay your range fees and can buy some supplies. BTW, it's target prices are the cheapest I've seen; it's like me traveling back in time to 1995. So, if you don't have targets, you can probably buy them here cheaper than mail order. The staffers here are very friendly too.
Spartan Arms. Ok, I'll just add a quick review of this store here since it is located right near the range entrance. I needed snap caps to train my dad but nobody has any in stock (around LV). The range recommended that I check Spartan Arms. This store isn't big but it's got snap caps (and looks like ammo too). Although these are the most expensive snap caps I've ever bought (I think 5 for $18?, can't remember), they were available and was extremely helpful to my dad. The store was busy; but a clerk noticed me in line at another register and called me over. Quick, friendly service; not much more I can ask for. This is definitely a convenient store to pick up anything you forgot to bring to the range.
Next time I go to LV (I still need to train my dad at least 1 more time), I'll try the clay courses at this range and introduce my dad to the fun part of shooting.