Does this seem fair? I'm kind of ticked at my local range.

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The Swede

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Ok, so the pistol range price is $19.00 for all day as long as you spend $10.00 on ammo. That is not half bad. The rifle range on the other hand is $28.00 per hour no matter what. Same price if you buy ammo from them or not, and there is no all-day deal. So I call them and ask if I have to pay the rifle rate if I am shooting a .22 rifle, they say yes. It is a rifle, it is the same price. This seems a little unfair to me and an extremely steep price to pay to shoot a .22 rifle. I do not there here often, it is just that the outdoor range is closed for the season. So my question is does their policy seem rational to you? On a side note, the rifle range and pistol range are the same range, not separate. You use the same lanes for both. If that matters.
 
That's awful, Swede. Two hours costs you what I spend for annual dues at my range, which has no range officers and few limits on guns or ammunition brought and used.

Last I saw of Naperville, by the way, it was underwater in the great 1996 flood.
 
It is really bad, I only go when the outdoor range is closed. It is the only place I can shoot a rifle around here in the winter time. I just don't see much of a difference between shooting a .22 rifle vs. shooting a .22 pistol. I know their logic is that rifle has more wear and tear on the range. It doesn't make sense, you can tell me that a .22 rifle causes more damage than a .45 handgun for example.
 
I hate to play devil's advocate in this, but, fair or not, it's their business and they can charge whatever they wish to charge for providing their customers a place to shoot. You have the choice of not shooting there and waiting til the outdoor range opens back up.

We have a somewhat similar situation here in Wichita, but fortunately they WILL let you shoot a .22 rifle on the 25 yard indoor pistol range for the pistol range rates. If you chose to use the rifle range to shoot your .22 rifle, you have to pay the higher rifle range rate.

An indoor rifle range takes considerably more maintenance than the pistol range, especially since the heavier calibers are allowed. Then you get the people with their AK-47's and SKS's shooting the steel core surplus ammo even when the range says don't bring it. Because a few idiots wouldn't follow the rules, all AK's and SKS's are now banned completely from the indoor range here, even if you use your own handloads with non-magnetic bullets.

Perhaps you can now see why there's a difference and why the range owner has the policy he/she has.
 
Geez, thats awfully expensive. They have every right to charge whatever they want, but I find it surprising that they get much business at those rates.

The range I go to, its $9 for the whole day. And they couldnt care less if you buy their ammo or bring your own.
 
It doesn't seem "fair", but that's how business works in a free market, capitalist society. I guess if you want "fair" you should go to Mr. Obamas range in DC. LOL, I don't mean to be or seem rude, but that's just how it is.
 
Perhaps you can now see why there's a difference and why the range owner has the policy he/she has.
Click to expand...

I totally understand that. That is why I mentioned the ranges are one in the same. So that part to me doesn't make sense. There is no dedicated rifle range.
 
I think they have to be losing a lot of business because of this. Just seems like a poor business decision. I sure won't be returning, and I am sure there are many others who will not be returning as well due to this.
 
ThrottleJockey: "It doesn't seem "fair", but that's how business works in a free market, capitalist society."

Illinois is not a free market capitalist society, at least as guns go. Neither was Maryland, and I've lived in each. Very few if any ranges are allowed to open or remain open, and so competitiion is throttled. A friend who still lives in Illinois has to travel to Wisconsin to shoot.
 
Their range...they make the rules. Wonder if it's because rifle shooters tend to take longer to expend ammo and they want to discourage tying up the range? Just like a restaurant that tries to cycle it's tables/booths over as quickly as possible.
 
Our range is not so bad.
$4 outside per day
$12 inside per hour if not a member.
 
As terrible as it is to take advantage of a customer, they really are just being good business men. Fortunately for me, I go to a state owned range that is open year round and is free to shoot all day. The only problem, and its a serious one, is that on any given day, there can be several individuals who refuse to exercise proper firearm safety. On those days, I bite the bullet (pardon the figure of speech) and go pay to use a private indoor range.
 
supply and demand....

hate to say it but if ya dont like it, dont go.

You yourself said its the only place around to shoot a rifle - and they obviously know this.
 
That is interesting, about going from IL to WI to shoot! Both are pretty silly states to be in with guns! LOL Unless it's deer season of course. I understand about Chicago, but always thought once you got to other parts of the state that things were a bit more relaxed.
 
Most of the area north and northwest of Chicago has been suburbanized. That means local zoning and permitting, and local zoning and permitting in northern Illinois means no gun ranges. Or so I understand. I left the Land of Stinkin and Avoided the FOID long ago.
 
Fair or unfair, it's the way things is. Their range their rules, I would strongly advise you seek out one of their competitors and try for more reasonable fees. Good luck, As I've always heard - pity Indiana, it's a long way from heaven and too damn close to Chicago. You are even closer.
 
The Swede

Don't go to JR Shooting. I know that this the range you're going to by the description. They have terrible service and the prices are horribly over-rated.

YMMV but I would say to look at Midwest Guns, GAT Guns, Naperville Sportmans Club, or Aurora Sportmans club.
 
Sheesh, shoot in your basement at those prices.

Do they still sell those small .22 backstops that are a 45 degree steel plate with rolled up bottom to collect the lead? The only problem is lead dust, which for some strange reason we never had back in the 60's and 70's, even though we were shooting the exact same ammo.

Go figure.:confused:

The range I go to is $36 a year (Jan 1 to Jan 1), although it's an outdoor range and this time of year, you would need a helicopter to get in.
 
DCortez: "My usual range, $7 per gun, all day, every day."

PER GUN?! That's retarded. One gun shot all day consumes the same amount of resources and space as twenty guns shot by the same guy; you can't fire more than two at the same time without some pretty good foot contortions.
 
The price paid for not having your own range (I love mine).
 
The gun ranges of today are all about profit. My range is $10.00 but you have to use their ammo. They overcharge for the cheap garbage, $20 for 50 rnds of 40 cal. I don't stay but one hour when I go and my bill is always around $90.00. Darn costly.
 
spyder1911, bingo.

I think some people may be missing my point. I agree, they can charge what they want. I am not complaining so much about the cost, which is outrageous, as much as the rationale behind it. Does it make sense that it cost more to shoot .22lr out of a rifle opposed to shooting .22lr from a pistol? Is the damage to the range that much more excessive? You can shoot 357 magnum all day for $19.
 
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