Absolutely NO gun ranges in my town...

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WarMachine

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And the hits just keep on comin.' Seems like whenever I get interested in something, negatives things always seem to be close behind. I currently live in Mobile, Alabama and the only gun range in my town (that I know of) has closed down :cuss:

This place was very laid back and you could do pretty much anything you wanted as long as you were safe. But alas, this is no more. I had planned on getting a new GLOCK 17, XD, PX4, etc. this Christmas, but my joy has been overshadowed by my lack of places to SHOOT!!! :banghead:

Unfortuantely, I live in city limits so it's not like I can just shoot off the back porch (I have dreamed many a night of being able to do so). So here I am searching the web for gun ranges in other cities. The absolute lunacy of my predicament makes me sick.

Anyone else out there in a similar situation? I am not a fan of formal ranges, and I would like to be able to just drive out somewhere and shoot outside the city somewhere, but I don't even know where to start looking. I would ask some friends, but they are not exactly what I would call "gun enthusiasts" and most only have a single pistol for home defense (one they have probably only shot a few times).
 
Yea, I have been to that site, and about a half-dozen similar ones. The closest seems to be one in Saraland. My preference however would be to find a big spot of public land where I could legally shoot. I guess I need to keep looking, and unfortunately most sights won't show such an area.
 
There used to be a reasonably large outdoor range off of I-10, between Mobile and Pensacola, but I don't remember what the name was. That'd be a bit of a drive, though.

Did you check the yellow pages in the Mobile phone book? Check under Shooting Ranges, Rifle and Pistol Ranges, or Target Ranges (different books list them differently).

If no luck there, call a large local gun store and ask them where the nearest pistol range is. Odds are the staff will be shooters and will be able to point you in the right direction.
 
Escambia River Muzzle Loaders

Well, I don't know about Mobile, but if you can't find one closer, the Escambia River Muzzle Loaders range is just north of Pensacola, 65 miles from Mobile.
It is not just for muzzle loaders. You have to be an NRA member, and the dues are $50/year, but there are no restrictive rules.
You can draw from a holster, shoot on the move, shoot targets anywhere from arm's length to 100 yards away, shoot multiple targets, etc.
You need to bring your own targets, a target stand at least 12 inches high, and your own ammo.
They also host IDPA matches twice a month, as well as cowboy shooting, rifle matches, etc.
The rules are listed on the website in the newsletter. If you have specific questions, let me know.
Good luck. :)

On edit: Have you checked with the Styx River Shooting Center?
If they still exist, they are only 26 miles from Mobile.
 
Check with the AL version of the Fish and Game or Dept. of Natural Resources about public land! Check with the NRA about clubs.
 
Mobile Shooting center didn't close down, they just moved to the Wilcox Exit on I-10 in Baldwin county. It's a bit of a drive, but you have to do what you can to shoot.

We should get together sometime and do some shooting. I'm on a bit of a skeet/trap kick here lately though, so I haven't been shooting my Glock much.
 
Styx River is the one I was thinking of.

Sarhog, I was an ERML member until we moved to NC. Did you compete in the benefit shoot a couple years ago? That was neat.

I miss that range; everything around here is too crowded and formal.
 
Yeah, Mobile shooting center closed its range and opened a new shop on Airport Blvd about a mile past the Airport. They also bought the Styx River range and now they call it Styx River Shooting Center and they should be opening a big new shop there in a couple of weeks. Depends on where you are at in Mobile but it's about an hour away. As mentioned, it's off of Wilcox Rd. Very good people.

In the other direction, there is a 1000 yd range in Pascagoula, Ms. off of Franklin Rd.(?) I think. I have never been there and I don't know much about it.
 
benEzra said:
Sarhog, I was an ERML member until we moved to NC. Did you compete in the benefit shoot a couple years ago? That was neat.
Click to expand...

No, I did not. I just moved back here 10 months ago following a 6 year absence.
I really like the club and the range though. Only about 5 miles from my house.:)
 
Wow, I am happy to see these many great reponses. Anyone have addresses for some of these new locations and ranges? I didn't see them in the phonebook.

As much as it hurts my manhood, I will admit that I have an awful sense of direction, and mapblast has become a good friend :eek:
 
I'm not sure of Styx River's address but it's real easy to find. Head east on I-10 until you cross the Mobile Bay bridge and get off at the Wilcox Rd exit, it will be the fourth exit after the bridge. Make a left and go over the overpass and take the first right, be carefull not to turn on to the west-bound entrance ramp your turn is right after it. The name of the road is like Styx Rd of something like that, there's signs for the range. It's like a mile or two down the road with a big red steel building in front of it and a trailer in back. The red building is going to be the new shop.

I'm probably going to rejoin EMRL in a couple of weeks.
 
One last question, and I will leave you people be :neener:

So the facilities at the Styx range are pretty nice? Any limitations on how long you can shoot (Lord know how fast an hour can go buy during a shooting session)? Membership fees? I'll definitely look into shooting here, and I appreciate all the assistance.
 
No ranges anywhere near here...in fact, I've never been to a range.
We've got plenty of woods though. ^.^
 
Tuscaloosa isn't any better. I have to drive 45 mins to an hour to Birmingham when I wanna shoot.

This is rather shocking- When I was in Kali, I had my choice of more than 5 ranges within half an hour of me. Now, it's almost an hour's drive. I pictured Alabama with ranges everywhere and gunshops instead of Starbucks on every block. This obviously isn't the case.
 
Check with your local gun stores to see if they can help you. They might know about several "Rod & Gun Clubs" in your area. Secondly, you might check with your local police/sheriff's station for info.
Sometimes, the police ranges are also open to the public during certain days/hours.

I don't know about your state, but the Federal Bureau of Land Management controls "BAZILLIONS" of acres of land within the USA, and they usually list shooting/hunting areas on their web sites. Of course, if you have to drive any considerable amount to shoot, you might want to combine the shooting with some camping. Do a simple search for "BLM - Alabama".
 
del4 said:
Yeah, Mobile shooting center closed its range and opened a new shop on Airport Blvd about a mile past the Airport.
Click to expand...

You're talking about Airport Blvd in Pensacola, right? By the way, my younger brother is a freshman at Pensacola Christian College on Brent Ln, and an avid shooter, and he's going into withdrawls. If anybody in the area could take him shooting one Saturday, I could send a couple of bucks for ammo. He's a good kid.
 
Red_SC said:
You're talking about Airport Blvd in Pensacola, right? By the way, my younger brother is a freshman at Pensacola Christian College on Brent Ln, and an avid shooter, and he's going into withdrawls. If anybody in the area could take him shooting one Saturday, I could send a couple of bucks for ammo. He's a good kid.
Click to expand...

No, Airport Blvd in Mobile.

If you want to send him over to Mobile though, I'll give him guns to shoot for the day.
 
Sorry, I should have been more clear. Evil5liter is right, it's Airport in Mobile.

My daughter goes to Pensacola Christian Academy next door as will my youngest daughter next year. I would be glad to take him shooting. I will likely be going in about two weeks. Maybe all of us in the Pensacola-Mobile area can do a shoot at Styx River?

Styx River is as good as most ranges. Its forte' is shotgunning but it has a 200 yd rifle range and a pistol range. It will be really nice when the new shop is done. I think the time limit is an hour but I don't think they care as long as there isn't a line. I've never seen a line.
 
When I'm looking for places to shoot in a new area, I ask around the gun shops. They want you to go shooting, so you'll buy more ammo. ;-)

I always ask specifically about "unofficial" ranges, aka the places people shoot and don't pick up their trash.
 
have you asked around at your local gun shops? I figure thatd be a good place to ask.

EDIT: I guess I shouldve read the post directly above mine :)
 
del4 said:
Sorry, I should have been more clear. Evil5liter is right, it's Airport in Mobile.

My daughter goes to Pensacola Christian Academy next door as will my youngest daughter next year. I would be glad to take him shooting. I will likely be going in about two weeks. Maybe all of us in the Pensacola-Mobile area can do a shoot at Styx River?

Styx River is as good as most ranges. Its forte' is shotgunning but it has a 200 yd rifle range and a pistol range. It will be really nice when the new shop is done. I think the time limit is an hour but I don't think they care as long as there isn't a line. I've never seen a line.
Click to expand...

That's cool. If you don't mind, how old is your daughter? My wife did after-school care at PCA for a while a couple of years ago, it would be interesting if she kept her. (We met at PCC, even though we lived 1/2 mile apart in SC- long story!). Also, I did Beka video school my last 4 years of high school.

I'll get his phone number and PM it to you. I know he'd appreciate it if you took him with you.

Thanks!
 
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