C.I.:
It's so much better to shoot on the farm, especially for tactical practice. I should post a pic this summer of my "range".
We have the hay rolls, bails and the old silo, etc. There are many obstacles that I can shoot around, over, under...and none of them will be damaged if I strike by error. I can practice near-real life tactical moves, and no body cares that I am blasting away with double and triple taps. Best of all, I can park my Ranger pickup there and practice shooting from it, around it, or over, etc. No body cares! Now, there is a benefit that you will not get at any city range. Try practicing for parking lot defense in the city...right?
There are advantages that are too many to list. I actually do this year-round. That is to say, I love to do winter camping. The coldest temps I have braved thus far were 0 degrees in the tent, with wind-chill I have no idea...it was, but it was fun, and it was cheap!
I detail the best, last. Back at the rear of the property (which measures 3/4 of a mile north-south by 5/8th mile east-west, there is an old "dump" where my grandfather, then uncles and now brother all have deposited their old farm implements, plows, disks, etc. It's pretty fun to take the blade from an old discarded plow, remove it and stake it at 300 yards to see what damage the handloads can create. The fun of putting a disk or a plow blade even at 500 yards is that you never, never have to walk out to "see" if you are hitting your target. You'll hear it if you hit it.
Great practice for deer hunting fellas!
Again, there are simply tactical exercises that we can do in the country that in the city would get us, let's say, in trouble, but which in reality are perfectly legal and prudent to practice (in the country). Make a new friend...take a city-guy to the country! Then, "Show 'im wha' shootin' 's all 'bout."
Doc2005