Attn: gunnies in the Twin Cities - where to shoot?

[Control Group]

I'm going to be in the Twin Cities this weekend for my brother-in-law's graduation. We're heading up tomorrow night, and coming back Sunday. Since even he isn't going to be partying for that entire time, I'm thinking about taking some guns and some ammo, and offering to take him and my sister shooting (I don't think they've ever been).

What and where are the good public ranges in or near the Twin Cities?

Also, are there any laws I need to know about if I transport handguns across the state line?

 

[patent]

I can't recall what all of this is the legal requirement and what is just what I do, but IIRC, they have to be unloaded, inaccesable to the occupants while travelling, and fully cased.

I case mine, put them in the trunk, and usually put a trigger lock on.

As far as public ranges, are you looking for just a handgun range? Handgun/rifle?

What part of the cities will you be in?

patent

 

[phorvick]

Bill's Gun Shop and Range...Robbinsdale (Mpls suburb)

http://billsgs.com/

 

[Control Group]

Handgun/rifle would be fantastic, but I haven't set my sights quite that high. All I'm really looking for is a decent handgun range. By "decent," I mean someplace that is aesthetically pleasing enough to not immediately turn off my sister or brother-in-law. I realize this isn't normally a critical consideration, but I'd really like it to go well if I can make it happen.

Unfortunately, all I know about their location within the area is that they live in Minneapolis, not St. Paul. On the other hand, I'm willing to do a decent amount of driving to get to a range.

Unloaded, cased, and in the trunk I can do. Trigger locks I can't, since I don't own any, so I hope that's not a legal requirement...

 

[White Horseradish]

Bill's is about the most aesthetic place around and their service is friendly. Their website is www.billsgs.com. Robbinsdale is a stone's throw from Minneapolis.

They are an indoor 50 foot range. Only quirk is that they don't allow steel cased ammo, so no Wolf.

 

[wrench]

If you can live with pistols only, burnsville pistol range http://www.bvpistol.com/
is friendly, 25yards, pistols or rifles in pistol calibers only.
burnsville is a southern suburb of Mpls.

 

[dustind]

I would second Bill's or Burnsville Pistol Range, both are good places. BPR seems to be full pretty often though, they also usually can not handle groups due to the volume of customers.

For transporting firearms without a permit to carry they must be unloaded and properly cased in a place such as the vehicles trunk.

 

[moby clarke]

Bills

I live about 5 minutes from Bills in North MPLS. It is a very nice range and just recently under new ownership. They have done a nice job of remodeling the place and have a very good stock on hand. The range is nice and there are usually several open spots so not too many worries about having to wait to shoot. There prices on ammo are ok, but do not hesitate to bring your own if you have it. If your brother lives in the northern suburbs, then you could check out Bill's newest location in Circle Pines. The bought out the former Armored Fire. They are getting it up to speed, but the range was always the nice part of this location anyway. Good Luck and have fun.

 

[pete f]

a second on the old Armored fire range, Good place clean and neat.

a more homey type range is at the Metro gun Club in Blaine more a shotgun trap and skeet place but very low key, safe and decent place. Not glitzy but you can shoot a lot and there will be NO homey types there.

 

[patent]

Handgun/rifle would be fantastic, but I haven't set my sights quite that high. All I'm really looking for is a decent handgun range.​

Bills is probably your best bet. I preferred the old armored fire location up in circle pines, but I haven't been to either location recently so my information is dated. They are on the web here: http://www.billsgs.com/index.php

I can't recall if they take rifles or not, but I'm sure its on the website.

If I were available this weekend I'd take you out to Oakdale, which has both pistol and rifle ranges, but its not open to the public so you need a member. Unfortunately I'm pretty tied up. Both of the Bill's locations will probably fit you pretty well though.

Good luck.

patent

 

[MrKandiyohi]

I've been to Bill's and the Burnsville ranges. I'd recommend Bill's. It's located in a strip mall and not too far off of the highway. There are some places to eat nearby, and some places to shop.

 

[halvey]

Bills is closer to Mpls.

 

[nonquixote]

One correction: An earlier post stated that Bill's has a 50 foot range, actually it's 25 yards. Armored Fire/Bill's North has a 50 yard range.

Nonq

 

[PowderBurn]

If you want to make a day (or evening) of it, there is a nice range on the Mystic Lake Casino complex in Prior Lake, south of Minneapolis, on the edge of the metro area.

It is a small range - only 6 positions or so -and only 50 feet. But it is relatively new, very clean, and has an excellent ventilation system. They also have an automated target retrieval system - you just punch in the desired distance into the keypad and it runs the target out the prescribed distance.

Here's a link:

http://www.ccsmdc.org/Dakotah/range.html

Enjoy your stay!

 

[P0832177]

The Dakotah Range is a good clean option! Nice range staff! Range fee is reasonable as are the accessories ie ammo and targets.