Possible New Gun Store/Range May Open

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BinRat

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There was an article in my local community newspaper, saying that a new gun store and indoor range is being proposed for a location less than a mile from me. It would be a Shoot Point Blank store. The article goes on to say there are about 30 of them across seven (7) states, but this would be the first one in Wisconsin. Hopefully, it'll happen, although a new gun store in a metropolitan area with a range sure seems unlikely.

If anyone has any personal experience with this franchise, or any knowledge of it, I'd appreciate hearing what you think of them.
 
I am a member of Shoot Point Blank and I have one 5 minutes from me and several other Shoot Point Blanks near me in North Texas. In fact, I shot there today. Their gun prices are a little high (even before things got crazy) but they currently have one of the better gun selections around. Unfortunately they are as ammunition poor as everywhere else. They have 18 25yd lanes. They do the job. The only reason I’m not more enthusiastic is that I also belong to a real Gucci gun club that has 25 and 50 yd indoor lanes, always has ammo, and a killer selection of guns - although it is not the place to go if you’re looking for a $200 SCCY or even a SAR.
 
Should be an interesting development for your state. Many years ago, worked for two great guys that had a small store and wanted to expand and open a range. They got the money lined up, took an option on a building, got plans drawn up, everything in line.... That's when it all went south. Local guy decided he didn't want a "deadly business" near his apartments. So he started a campaign to shut my guys down. It went all the way to a local referendum -- on the ballot twice -- my guys won every time. Then the apartment guy bought the major and it was all over. Shoot Point Blank is an "interesting" company. The first one opened less than 10 miles from my house. Applied for a job and didn't even stay for the interview. A few years passed and I went into another one to inquire about the cost of membership/ range time. But before I asked, went to look over the ranges. Only two guys there, both in "blm" tee shirts blasting away with sawed off shotguns - they weren't even sawed off perpendicular to the barrel. Asked one of the people behind the counter; told it was none of their concern and certainly none of mine. Turned around and left. Haven't been back since. Please keep us posted about what happens in your case. Thanks again for sharing.
 
I just recently heard a new radio advertisement for Shoot Point Blank.
I thought it strange, as it was for a new one in Wixom, and I am four hours away...:)

I hope you get one! I could use a nice indoor range over here, too.


blasting away with sawed off shotguns - they weren't even sawed off perpendicular to the barrel.
Neither of these are necessarily illegal. For five dollars, the .Gov will let you dismember any of your shotguns as well.

Blasting away, not target practicing? Not getting to know a new weapon?
And rightly, it isn’t your concern.
Or would you prefer the range to check all your papers and background check you every time you went?

OMG, wait! They weren’t black too, were they?!:eek:
They were probably practicing for a riot! Luckily, you made it out alive!:thumbup:

And with that point of view, the range is lucky they didn’t have to turn you down, and tell you you’re not a good fit for customer service, of any type.:)
 
Demi-human, I am 66 years old and I live on the outskirts of St. Louis - lived almost all of those years here but for Army service at the end of Vietnam. I have lived much closer to the city core but the population has migrated to the suburbs and beyond over the years - as have I. After I got married in 1981, we bought our first home in Ferguson on a street named South Dellwood - a beautiful little brick single-family - great little house.,
I giggle at you perspective and you sarcasm; there is a lot of our country’s population that simply has not lived it. I guess you have to see it everyday on the local news - the murders and the shootings every single day - over and over and over and over! You have to drive the north highways and just try to get somewhere in one piece - you have too see it, it browbeats you every single solitary day. It is not a pretend world, or fantasy world, or cartoon world - it is not manufactured or imagined - it happens all around you every single day of your life and then by some magic or crossing some strange boundary, you are told that your reality is all manufactured in your head and shame, shame, shame and more shame on you. It is laughable - it is all part of our reprogramming - I guess counterintuitive is putting it on the very light side.,
 
There was an article in my local community newspaper, saying that a new gun store and indoor range is being proposed for a location less than a mile from me. It would be a Shoot Point Blank store. The article goes on to say there are about 30 of them across seven (7) states, but this would be the first one in Wisconsin. Hopefully, it'll happen, although a new gun store in a metropolitan area with a range sure seems unlikely.

If anyone has any personal experience with this franchise, or any knowledge of it, I'd appreciate hearing what you think of them.
I've been to the SPB in the Columbus Ohio area with a buddy of mine a couple of times. Very friendly staff and a nice indoor range.
 
There was an article in my local community newspaper, saying that a new gun store and indoor range is being proposed for a location less than a mile from me. It would be a Shoot Point Blank store. The article goes on to say there are about 30 of them across seven (7) states, but this would be the first one in Wisconsin. Hopefully, it'll happen, although a new gun store in a metropolitan area with a range sure seems unlikely.

If anyone has any personal experience with this franchise, or any knowledge of it, I'd appreciate hearing what you think of them.

That's great. Anytime a gun store and range opens that present the sport in a good light is a great thing.
 
Blasting away, not target practicing? Not getting to know a new weapon?
And rightly, it isn’t your concern.
Or would you prefer the range to check all your papers and background check you every time you went?

OMG, wait! They weren’t black too, were they?!:eek:
They were probably practicing for a riot! Luckily, you made it out alive!:thumbup:

And with that point of view, the range is lucky they didn’t have to turn you down, and tell you you’re not a good fit for customer service, of any type.:)

I think if someone is being unsafe with a potentially illegal weapon at a shooting range, it most certainly is everyone's concern. Doesn't matter what color they, what their political affiliations are, or which organizations they choose to support. And if the sawed off portion is done incorrectly, can't that be a danger to everyone on the firing line?

I'm not sure why people have to resort to this sort of backhanded sarcasm with the smiley emojis and such. Most people can see right through that BS.
 
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I'm not sure why people have to resort to this sort of backhanded sarcasm with the smiley emojis and such. Most people can see right through that BS.

The “Beers and Sunshine” part is denigrating a human based upon their choice of weapon.
Short, long, quiet, loud, factory or boutique or home modified, Fudd, or not.o_O

I think if someone is being unsafe with a potentially illegal weapon at a shooting range, it most certainly is everyone's concern.
Your safety is your concern. And leaving a dangerous situation is probably the best course of action. Unless embarrassing public arguments with grown men about proper shotgun barrel length is something you usually do...:oops:
Nobody wants to be a Karen, do they?:p

But, if you’d like to check everyone’s papers based upon how nice their firearms are, or whether or not they were “homemade” you have a problem.:scrutiny:
How many times must they be checked? The range staff not good enough?
I probably wouldn’t want someone hassling my paying customers either.:thumbdown:

Doesn't matter what color they, what their political affiliations are, or which organizations they choose to support.
Then why was it interjected in the story?:confused:
Dramatic flair?:p

And if the sawed off portion is done incorrectly, can't that be a danger to everyone on the firing line?
They are as dangerous as you and I. No more or less. Does physics change if one uses a hacksaw opposed to a lathe?:rofl:
Or, because of their shirt, are they are mechanically challenged and thus a danger to everyone?:barf:
I’m about the opposite of the offending shirt logo, but should I also be denied rangetime while wearing a StarWars shirt?
How about some StarTrek nerd?:alien:

Because one can see from the sales floor, behind a shooter, how well their super-duper cop-killing shorty-shotty barrel is cut, and whether or not it was homemade or a Shockwave that has become increasingly popular recently.:scrutiny:

Listen, if you’re a fudd or need to defend every judgmental curmudgeon out there, have at it.
But,...
Most people can see right through that BS.
;)

(Glad you like the smileys.:neener:)


I giggle at you perspective
Ditto.
Placing all of the weight of your external societal experiences on a fellow man, a fellow shooter, whom you don’t even know. Based upon sight alone.
You’re a knowledgeable man. I’d like to think you would not treat another that way.
If you would, perhaps that north highway goes by a church...

It is sad to think I am the broken one...:(
 
There's one that came in last year about 15 minutes from me. They've been popping up steadily in the Chicago area. Nice ranges. A few months ago they had a decent supply of ammo at reasonable prices reserved for members and those who had just purchased a firearm from them, but the last couple of times I've gone they've had literally 6 boxes of ammo. They do have a "defender" membership rate for first responders, LEO's, and military which is nice. My only complaint is that sometimes they'll try to keep people on one range instead of using both. When it first opened they would keep the long guns on one range and the handguns on the other. The last time I went they had me next to a guy shooting an AK 47. I use double hearing protection but it was still annoying shooting next to it. The range officer noticed I'm a reloader and was sweeping my casings back to me lane, so that was cool.

I haven't priced any of their guns since I haven't been in the market, but from the emails I get from them they do seem a bit high, but they do have stock.
 
The exact thing happened to me last week. I could feel a blast of heat in my stall every time he fired. I wear double hearing protection and it was still amazingly loud. I wanted to ask the guy if I could fire it because I was getting most of the experience anyway!
 
When it first opened they would keep the long guns on one range and the handguns on the other. The last time I went they had me next to a guy shooting an AK 47. I use double hearing protection but it was still annoying shooting next to it. The range officer noticed I'm a reloader and was sweeping my casings back to me lane, so that was cool.

My experience mirrors yours.

I don't goto indoor ranges often because of their typical poor ventilation. But Shoot Point Blank have one of the best ventilation and cleanliness for indoor ranges from my limited experience. My most recent trip there a couple of weeks back they have install a video screen with times remaining per lane. Very helpful in knowing how much time you have left.

The range officer sweeping the brass that have crossed the firing line back for me is definate plus also. All the staff that I interacted with was friendly.

Luckily, I have not came across any unsafe activities for the few times that I visited that range.
 
Pictures and literature look pretty conventional for the modern indoor range, similar to the independent outfit here. I think the people are the key, whether you get a good staff. Folks at the one here are fair to excellent.

I understand indoor rifle rated ranges are a profit center, but boy they are loud.
RO kindly moved a guy with a .223 pistifle to the 50 yard side when I grumbled about the blast on the 25.
 
I wonder if there was a way to entice them to the western side of Michigan?:)

We just lost our LGS. There plenty of farm stores, but none wish to compete with Dunham’s, which has nothing for firearms even without pandemonium.:(

Oh, but to have a heated pistol range for the winter!
This, I would frequent.:thumbup:
 
Oh, but to have a heated pistol range for the winter!

S'wunnerful. When a nice indoor range opened up in the next metro area, one frosty February afternoon, I called and said:
"It is 28 degrees here, what is the temperature on your range?"
"Uh... 68."
"I'll be right over."

They are now running regulation USPSA matches on Wednesday evenings. A fine thing in the heat of summer and the cold of winter.
 
Sure, rub it in. (Just kidding.;))
Where I go is pretty, and I’m the only one there. The ventilation is good, but the heater is broken six months of the year.
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The other six months, the AC is fritzed, unless it snows. Which it does occasionally...:D

I would love a winter Bullseye league. I’d even consider running it. Maybe. I may be delusional here.:oops:
Maybe get my kids to keep score!:cool:
 
I'm going to take the liberty of tagging on to this deviation from the original topic . Here is my version of a heated range:

At my club there is a 200 yard rifle range, Right now it is very cold and blanketed in snow. At the far end of the range there is an array of steel pistol targets hanging from chains. During the warm months the rifle range is closed periodically for organized handgun events. On any given day , if the rifle range is not being used for it's normal purpose , a member may close it and drive down to the far end and set up shop for shooting steel. (Rifle shooters have range priority.) On a cold winter weekday the rifle range is almost always idle. I really enjoy 4 wheeling 175 yards through the snow and setting up for steel target pistol shooting , truck heater maxed out , door open , magazines and pistol grips preheating on the defrost vents. Fire off a magazine or two , switch to another preheated gun , music playing ...

Not quite the same as shooting on your own private property , but close.
 
I really enjoy 4 wheeling 175 yards through the snow and setting up for steel target pistol shooting , truck heater maxed out , door open , magazines and pistol grips preheating on the defrost vents. Fire off a magazine or two , switch to another preheated gun , music playing ...

I do value a running truck on some days...:)


To assuage my curiosity, I gave a call to ShootPointBlank in Wixom just minutes ago.

I talked with a very friendly woman that informed me they have broken ground for a new shop in Grand Rapids, Mi. :cool:
A bit far south for me, but good news nonetheless.
Over the course of the next year they have five more ground breakings scheduled.:thumbup:

Ann Arbor, Lansing, and a few others she couldn’t recall right on the spot. Extraordinarily knowledgeable for a clerk. Bodes well for the rest of the crew, in my opinion.

I hope the best for them this year!
 
I do value a running truck on some days...:)


To assuage my curiosity, I gave a call to ShootPointBlank in Wixom just minutes ago.

I talked with a very friendly woman that informed me they have broken ground for a new shop in Grand Rapids, Mi. :cool:
A bit far south for me, but good news nonetheless.
Over the course of the next year they have five more ground breakings scheduled.:thumbup:

Ann Arbor, Lansing, and a few others she couldn’t recall right on the spot. Extraordinarily knowledgeable for a clerk. Bodes well for the rest of the crew, in my opinion.

I hope the best for them this year!

I think it bodes well for gun rights support that we're seeing more and more indoor ranges pop up. They wouldn't build them if there wasn't a market for them.
 
Thanks to everyone that gave information/opinions based on personal knowledge. That's what I was hoping for. I had also checked out the website before posting....and that made it seem like a decent place, but sites can be deceiving. Really glad to hear about a friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable staff; and that they're friendly toward reloaders. If there are 30 stores already, and they're breaking ground on 5 more, they must be doing things right. I sure hope this one makes it through all the hoops and becomes reality.
 
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