How good are the ranges where you live?

[coloradokevin]

I just stumbled onto a picture of a range I used to shoot at when I lived in Ohio (the public range in Delaware County, for any of you from that part of the country). I haven't been there in over a decade now, but sure spent quite a few years going there when I was an Ohioan. The picture I found got me thinking about how different the shooting facilities tend to be in various parts of the country.

What do you guys have near you?

When I was in Ohio I didn't have any nearby ranges that allowed for shooting past 100 yards. Ohio is more densely populated than Colorado, and there wasn't much room for longer shots. We used to go out to my buddy's property when we wanted to shoot longer distances, but even that topped off at about 300 yards. The pheasant hunting was good in the places I went on public land in Ohio, and deer season was a short and crowded experience that allowed for shotgun-only gun hunts. Also, public land was generally closed to non-hunting shooting activities (no target shooting). I did have two decent indoor ranges that were fairly close to me in Ohio, and one of these ranges was a very nice, top-notch facility.

Now I live in Colorado, and have been here for about a decade. We seem to have fewer nearby indoor ranges where I live, but the outdoor ranges are a lot nicer. I belong to a gun club near Brighton (WHAC), which features roughly a 600 yard rifle range, and a separate pistol range. There is another rifle club that is about an hour or so from my house with a 1,000 yard range, and the DOW apparently has a free public range near Buena Vista (a couple hours from here) that also provides for shooting out to 1k. Colorado is also fairly open to shooting on public lands, with the national forests generally being open to these activities in all but a few areas. So, a lot of my shooting out here has been done on the forests or grasslands (the grasslands are real popular with some of the guys who like to stretch their shooting to 1 mile +).

So, for me anyway, I've noticed that Colorado is a much nicer place to live for long range shooting. On the other hand, I had nicer/cheaper indoor ranges available when I was living in Ohio, and I felt that the gun stores back there had a better selection of products than the places here in the Denver area. In fairness, there are a couple of indoor ranges here in the Denver metro area, but none of them are close to me, or very cheap.

Anyway, just thought I'd open this topic for discussion, since I'd love to hear about the shooting scene in some of the other places around this country!

 

[MedWheeler]

I live in an incorporated municipality, largely surrounded by others, which limits opportunity for long-range or "free" shooting.
There are two outdoor ranges within a 90-minute drive of me that are non-member (open to the public) ranges. One of them, in Okeechobee, Florida, I have not yet been to. The other, in Indian River County, is okay. Rules in effect there, however, preclude most forms of self-defense practice, as holstered firearms and rapid-fire (including double-taps) are not allowed. I've never shot the rifle range, which I think goes out to 200 yards. The pistol side goes out to fifty yards, if I remember right. Targets are mounted on wood-framed holders, most of which are pretty shot up, but still hold together. They are placed during "line-cold" calls (during which, newly-arriving shooters can be posted on the line.) RSOs are on duty, and like to inspect all firearms to see if they are unloaded when each shooter arrives. The range fee is, as of the last time I went, about 11 bucks for the day. You do your paperwork and sign a waiver the first time and are issued a card to show each subsequent time. It's in an isolated area, back in the pines (which limit any breeze), and I don't shoot there as much during the summer because it can get pretty hot during the day. I've done it, and it's no fun with the sweat running all over, into your eyes and on your gun's grips, etc.

Much closer to me is an indoor range that maxes out at 25 yards, though they still let you fire most small-caliber rifles there, too. The fee for non-members is about $20, which I was under the impression was supposed to cover an hour, but no one checks and I've been there longer. Annual membership is $300, which would not be a value to me given that I make it there less than once per month. The business is primarily a gun shop, and there are no RSOs; however, you might see one of the staff poke in every now and then. There are no rules against holstered weapons, and I don't know of any against rapid-fire (I've done some and have never been called out on it.) The only prohibition some might have issue with is on non-brass-cased ammunition.

Another local indoor range, also attached to a gun shop (which is much older than the one described above) was getting nine bucks an hour. Otherwise, it was similar, but enacted a rule against the use of outside-sourced centerfire ammunition a few years ago. I popped on once or twice after that to look at inventory, and the once-busy shooting section had gone pretty quiet..

 

[drcook]

I live just outside Akron Ohio.

I belong to a bench rest/single shot only type range (you can load 1 round at a time into repeaters, it is just their charter) that is 12 miles from the house. They have 50/100/200 and 300 yd targets, the 300 is back in the shadows and not the best. The entire line is covered and concreted. No pistols or shotguns are allowed to be fired there - the charter, basically it is a bench rest shooter's club. I use it for doing load development for my BPCR rifles. Being that close to my house, it is worth the price, especially with the cost of fuel.

Not a bad place, dues are 50.00 per year

I also belong to a club just outside New Philadelphia Ohio. It has all covered/concreted ranges. 22 / pistol / shotgun-skeet / utility out to a couple hundred where up to including 50 BMG can be shot, a 600 yd target range and the main range with 200 and 300 yd target backstops

Also an indoor 22 range.

Overall it is a pretty nice place. Dues are 100.00 per year

At both places the culture is of cooperation and safety. All you have to do is ask to have the range shut down and everyone complies with absolutely no problems. If the bench rest shooters are into a string they will ask to finish and if I need to finish out a group of test loads I can do the same.

At the further away range, it is the same. Everyone (so far) has been friendly and safety conscious

 

[postalnut25]

The best range I had was my old backyard in North Carolina. Nothing like sitting on your back porch while shooting.

Now that I live in Colorado, I have to drive or put up with too many rules. My favorite range is west of town. The Clear Creek County Sportsman's Club is a good place. I do my trap/skeet shooting at Tri-Service Sportsman's Club on Buckley AFB. Indoor pistol ranges around here are so-so.


To the OP- what club is outside of Brighton that you shoot at. My kids live with their mom near that area, so I'm interested if it's close to where they live.

 

[longknife12]

I've been a member at Clear Creek County for 15+ years. 2 rifle, trap and 7
pistol/auto bays.Only has about a 2 year waiting list.Only about 20 minutes from home.
Dan

 

[Milamber]

Our local Wildlife Management Area in Hawkensville Ga is great in a lot of respects. Its cheap $36 a year, rarely have to wait for a lane, its clean, the RO's are nice guys. Downsize is they have a one second between shots rule, difficult to shot prone and its addictive.

My house is on an old quarry and this winter I an going to hire a dozer and put in a pistol range at the house! Then I can practice to my hearts content.

 

[pockets]

How good are the ranges where you live?

You already know.....I mainly shoot at the Delaware State Park range where you used to shoot.

 

[joecil]

Well living in Lexington I've yet to find a place for long range shooting however I have three indoor ranges with in 15 minutes of me. Two are small 9 lane ranges on new the other old both shoot about 25 yards max. Now I shoot at Bud's (the same as on the internet). Total they have about 30 ranges in different configurations. They have 10 - 25 yard ranges for target shooting and a reactive range beside it separated by a wall. The rest are used for classes, police training etc. Bud's is the only one that allows you to take your brass the other 2 don't. Now out door both are private one for police only with a few exceptions during the year. The other from what I've heard is very restrictive as to what you can shoot as well as expensive to belong to it. Never been to either. Now my NCOWS posse one of the members owns a piece of land about 1 1/2 hrs from me that one can shoot out to 100 yards and you also keep your brass. However that is only once a month during our meets.

Oh and Bud's allows rifles and shotgun on the reactive range and others from 8 to 9 in the evenings only. Any rifle using a pistol caliber however is fine on their normal range anytime including black powder. The have the best ventilation system I've ever seen in a range as nothing blows back at you at all.

 

[BADUNAME30]

My range is perfect....my backyard surrounded by 'canyon' type hills

 

[mgmorden]

There are two indoor ranges that are a decent drive from home (45 minutes), but are only about 15 minutes from work so I can go afterwards. Both have 15 yard ranges - one has 25 yards. Not bad - $5 per session to shoot as much as you want, though indoor ranges do feel a bit "stuffy".

There are two public (free) ranges about 10 minutes from the house. They are oudoor ranges. Single bay about 25 yards wide. They both have covered shooting benches and the main berms are at 100 yards. The facilities are fine here, except that being free they are always incredibly crowded. I've showed up to one one day, waited an hour, STILL had 3 parties ahead of me waiting, and just ended up leaving. Also everything being in a single bay really limits things for pistol shooters. Patching targets or doing any action drills is not possible. You only can do anything when the range goes cold (which will be at least 20 minutes between).

There is also a gun club that is about an hour away. I'm not a member there but do shot competitions there. Its setup REALLY nice. 10 separated pistol bays and a 1000 yard rifle range. Cost on that is a $500 induction fee and then $150 per year afterwards. You can split the induction fee over 5 years and knock a little off your yearly dues by participating in work days. I probably would go ahead and join here except that at an hour away its just a bit of a hike for anything except occasional competitions. I'm looking at moving soon though and with the area I'm looking at I'll likely be more like 30 minutes away from this range, so I may re-evaluate then.

 

[HoosierQ]

Indoor ranges in Indianapolis are terrible AFIK.

 

[coloradokevin]

The best range I had was my old backyard in North Carolina. Nothing like sitting on your back porch while shooting.

Now that I live in Colorado, I have to drive or put up with too many rules. My favorite range is west of town. The Clear Creek County Sportsman's Club is a good place. I do my trap/skeet shooting at Tri-Service Sportsman's Club on Buckley AFB. Indoor pistol ranges around here are so-so.


To the OP- what club is outside of Brighton that you shoot at. My kids live with their mom near that area, so I'm interested if it's close to where they live.

I belong to the Wildlife Hunters Association of Colorado (WHAC). I joined this club about two years ago, after I grew tired of seeing a lot of places shut down on public land (you probably know the drill: a public land area becomes popular, irresponsible shooters trash it, then the land managers close it).

The WHAC range is located about 7-10 miles east of the intersection of I-76 and Bromely Lane. So, it is an easy commute for Brighton-area shooters. I live in Arvada, and can still make it there in about 35 minutes.

As of last year they began having a waitlist to join, since the club owners wanted to cap membership before the place got too crowded. The last I checked though, the waitlist was only a few months long. You might want to check out their website, and get in touch with Cy Soto or Juan to see about membership information:

http://wildlifehunters.com/join.html

The club has a pretty relaxed atmosphere, and as long as you aren't doing something unsafe or stupid, it is pretty much allowed. There aren't any caliber restrictions, and you can bring guests for free. I like it there.


I guess that answering your questions reminded me of one other problem we are facing here in Colorado: we don't have enough facilities to accommodate all of the local shooters. Many of the informal ranges on public land have been closed due to a combination of reckless activity and/or trash issues, and this same problem has led to the closure of some of the developed public ranges (ex: Rampart Range). It sometimes seems that shooters are their own worst enemies. I used to shoot at Rampart (a free and unsupervised public range that used to exist near CO Spgs), which could have been a very nice facility. It was in a nice area, and was setup decently. But, people trashed this place something awful, and it was eventually shut down after someone shot their friend in the head there while acting stupid.

On the other side of the coin, there are a lot of nice shooting clubs out here, but many of them have long waiting lists to join.

You already know.....I mainly shoot at the Delaware State Park range where you used to shoot.

Ahhh, the memories I'll tell you what, I feel sorry for you Ohio shooters this time of year! I was back in Columbus two weeks ago for a family event, and I just can't deal with the humidity the way I used to. Nevertheless, over the years I'm sure I sent tens of thousands of rounds downrange at Delaware.

I've been a member at Clear Creek County for 15+ years. 2 rifle, trap and 7
pistol/auto bays.Only has about a 2 year waiting list.Only about 20 minutes from home.
Dan

That club is pretty nice, and makes for a great break from the heat down here in the summer. I've only shot there maybe three times now: twice for IPSC matches, and once while practicing with a friend who was a member. I like the setup for action pistol practice, and it is in a nice enough location (when I-70 traffic isn't terrible).

Unfortunately the club wasn't taking new members when I tried to join.

 

[Reloadron]

Living in the Cleveland, Ohio suburbs I have a few ranges I use. My choice for rifle is a real nice range favored by bench rest shooters and host the annual Super Shoot in the bench rest community. Nice range out to 200 yards with a $100 annual membership fee. Nice cement tables and covered. There is also a 50 yard (and less) small bore and pistol area. You do not empty a 30 round AK magazine in a few seconds at this range or you are gone! The place is about a 50-60 mile drive. Worth the drive and time.

I also have a pretty nice indoor range much closer, about 30 min away from me. Well maintained and they do allow high power rifle. The downside for rifle is obviously the maximum 75 foot distance. Nice in the winter when NE Ohio can get a little brutal. Again, I have membership rather than do an hourly rate. Myself and my wife run $350 a year. Actually that is a full family but with the kids all grown we are the entire family.

They also offer full service as to gun smith and a very, very large selection of used guns and of course rentals.

I am also looking for a good local club to join.

Ron

 

[Chevelle SS]

I shoot at the best range in the world.............. my own

 

[coloradokevin]

I shoot at the best range in the world.............. my own

And, I am quite envious of you for that fact! Believe me, buying some land where I can shoot is definitely on my to-do list down the road!

 

[Cluster Bomb]

I shoot at the best range in the world.............. my own

Same here. I have 4 lane pistol. One lane 100yrd rifle and one lane 22lr only gallery.

still needs some work. But has gotten better.

There arnt many locl ranges in Maine. Just a few. There is one indoor range so far, and another one being built. Id like to have an indoor one but too expensive, just ill have to suck it up in the winter time.

I have never been to another range. Went shootign a buddies place....made me feal unsafe compared to mine...but my old range was like his so, i cant complain...i just go off my duff and made one cool range.

pictures are at about 18-25yrds depending on where one stands, all marked out.

 

[siglite]

There are some good ranges in central WV. Putnam County Gun Club in Eleanor is darned good. Outstanding range facilities. 2 action bays, 150yd general purpose range, 50yd rimfire range, 400yd rifle range. Very safe without oppressive rules. If you want to burn some ammo up, just do it safely and you're fine. Want to run draw/fire/move drills in the bays? Not a problem. Just do so safely. If you do something in an UNSAFE manner, you can bet you'll be getting a call from a club board member, and will likely be ejected from the club.

Beckley Gun Club. HUGE facility. 500yd rifle range with butts. 125 yard multi-purpose range. multiple pistol ranges with steel. Shotgun/skeet/trap stuff. It's a haul to get there, as it's pretty far out in the boonies. And the beauty of it, is not once have I gone to the 500yd range and had another person there already shooting.

 

[bamajoey]

I shoot on the property where I grew up. The field where I do most of my shooting is 100 acres surrounded by woods with International Paper property stretching for 2 miles with no houses for 5 miles. The good thing is there is no rules. If I need some I make them up.

 

[armoredman]

Cluster, that's some beautiful country, sir.

This is the one I go to, about 15 minutes from home, city maintained, free public range.



Shooting bench to the 300 yard line - elevated portion is 200-300 yards.


80 yard range,


One of the 25 yard bays.


Very nice place, and the people at the Parks/Rec who maintain it are very dedicated to it.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Drcook: Reloadron belongs to Kelblys Range in Lawrenceville outside Marshallville. It is a good range and more functional than what you belong to.

I live between Medina and Fairlawn and belong to two ranges west of Medina:

*South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Assn. (big into archery and shotgun, less into IDPA, muzzleloading, and National Match Rifle; large membership, very well organized and run, 100 and 200 yard rifle)

*West Branch Gun Club (big into pistol, less into National Match Rifle, muzzle loading, Cowboy shooting, 100yard rifle)

They have widely differing facilities and shooting emphasis.

 

[eastbank]

this range is 4.5 miles from my home and is super, rifle out to 1000yds, pistol,shotgun and bow. cost is 50.00 a year and is gated. eastbank.

 

[GCMkc]

this range is 4.5 miles from my home and is super, rifle out to 1000yds, pistol,shotgun and bow. cost is 50.00 a year and is gated. eastbank.

WOW! That range looks amazing!

I have to drive 35 miles to get to a range. It's the Lake City Shooting range and it's maintained by the Missouri Department of Conservation. It's brand spanking new and has 20-22 booths with benches and gun racks.

$3 an hour for each range.
Rifle range - 25, 50, 75, 100 yards.
Pistol range - 7, 15, 25 yards.
Shotgun (trap/skeet).

Found a pic:

 

[musicman10_1]

Cluster, that's some beautiful country, sir.

This is the one I go to, about 15 minutes from home, city maintained, free public range.



Shooting bench to the 300 yard line - elevated portion is 200-300 yards.


80 yard range,


One of the 25 yard bays.


Very nice place, and the people at the Parks/Rec who maintain it are very dedicated to it.

Hey armoredman - that is my range too! I live in Chandler and work down in CG and go to the Elsy Pearson range as often as I can. I love the satellite view of the facility. Maybe I'll see you there sometime.

 

[armoredman]

musicman, PM me when you go down.

 

[paintballdude902]

they suck..... theres only 2:

the base club which is kinda pain in the rear

and a private one that i dont feel really safe at