Indoor range in central IL

[JasonPT145]

I am not sure if this is the proper place to put this post, but mods move it if you wish
First off, I am finally free from Uncle Sam, and back in IL.
My brother in law, and some other "family" members are wanting to open a new sportsman's store in our small town, and want to put a pisol, and maybe rifle range in it. I used to have some sites saved on my work computer for range set-ups, but now that I am not in the Navy, I lost all of my saved sites. Does anyone know a site that either sells indoor range plans, or has a link to a site that has them? We are meeting this week with the town hall members to hopefully get the final OK in this, and anyone who is near the East Peoria area is welcome to show up, just reply and let me know and I will get you the specifics.

Jason

 

[J Miller]

Jason,

Sorry I can't help you with the links or plans. But I live in Springfield and find the two available indoor ranges lacking. Each has it's good points, and each has bad points.
One of the bad points is no rifle range at either of them. One says he is building one, but he's been saying that for the past four years.

What part of Central IL are you in? I'm looking for a new place to shoot, and maybe some shooting buddies too.

Email me if you want, addy is in the profiles.

Joe

 

[JasonPT145]

J Miller
First off, did you see that Bull ****!!! about the guy in Chicago? I am working a very flexible job right now, just doing service work with a friend, so I will probably end up taking a day off and going to his trail to be there for him.

Now, to the point... I live in Spring Bay, and that is where the gun range will be. If you come up on 155 north, just past Morton you get on 74 West like you were going to Peoria, and take the Rt116 exit. It is better known as the Pair-A-Dice exit. Go north on 116 about 6 miles or so (very vague) and take Rt 26. It will be a left turn, and you will follow that road past a big gas station (Thornton's) and continue on the road. Go a few miles up and you will see Peoria Skeet and Trap Club on the right hand side, and my house is pretty much across the road from it, and the range will be about a mile up from there. I am not moved into my house yet, but when I get moved in, I will email my number to you so we can get together and shoot sometime.

Jason

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Darnell's has an indoor pistol range, a skeet, and an outdoor rifle range as well.

It is a bit west of Bloomington IL. and so you should be able to get there from where you are no problem.

http://www.bloomington-shooters.com/Local_ranges/Darnalls.htm

 

[J Miller]

JasonPT145'

Which deal in Chicago area guy are you refering too? I guess I sometimes miss things.

Thanks for keeping me in mind. I'll bookmark this thread and keep the directions in file.

I tried to go to Siddens indoor gun range today, first time is over a month I felt good enough to go, and the range was closed. No sign or explanation at all. Since I have'nt been there in a while, I probably missed something.


bad_dad_brad,
I had this link before, but lost it and all the information to the range in a computer crash. I'll check it out again.


Thanks a bunch guys.

Joe

 

[Don Gwinn]

He was probably out doing some kind of Independence day thing, but it would have been nice to leave notice. Mr. Siddens is a nice guy, but it's a true one-man operation.

The main thing about any indoor range is ventilation and safety. Forget anything flashy and overengineer the ventilation and backstop. The reason my wife won't shoot at Bullet Express in Springfield (the place that's supposed to be adding a rifle backstop) is that she hates the powder and smoke. Also, cultivate competition shooters. They're reliable users of the range who will visit regularly and thus buy accessories from the shop. You'll starve to death trying to make a living on range fees and guns, but if you sell a lot of ammo, holsters, jackets, etc. you'll do fine.

Hey, J, I haven't forgotten that we were supposed to go shooting. I now have two jobs keeping me busy, but I'm trying to join the Abe Lincoln gun club out west of Springfield. If I'm accepted this go-round, we should go out there and bust caps. They've got 25, 50, 100, and 200-yard backstops plus shotgun stations, all outdoors. Last time we talked, I was unemployed and wishing for a job. Now I sometimes wish I had only one, but whaddya gonna do?
Even if they don't take me (there are 27 applicants for 25 spots, and I was the last to apply) there's a public CMP match on Sunday the 27th. Let me know if you want to know more, or pick up a "Freedom Watch" and call the number in the ad. I'm going to go embarass myself with one of their loaner Garands. Never fired at anything farther away than 100 yards before, so it should be fun to watch.

 

[J Miller]

Don,

I kinda wondered what happened to you. Since we last talked my email addy has changed. It's now [email protected].
I've never heard of the Abe Lincoln gun club. Hope you get accepted. Maybe you could take me as a guest.

Still no job for me yet, and on top of that health problems are taking their toll. But I'm still kicking.

It's been many a year since I've fired a 30 battle rifle and even more years since I've fired a Garand. But if'n I had the chance I'd gladly make a fool of myself shooting.
The range sound good. Maybe things will turn around for me too.

J