Is joining an outdoor range a good idea?

[I6turbo]

We have a nice indoor range about 10 miles away, no hassle management, no particular problems with it as indoor ranges go, but shooting indoors just does NOT appeal to me. The only reason I'll ever go to an indoor range is to test a gun that I've bought or done some work to, or something like that, to be sure it's ready for when I can shoot outdoors. For actual shooting enjoyment, I'll wait until I can get outdoors, ideally on my property or the property of family or friends. The best shooting is out on your own land or friends/family land, hands down. On a scale of 1 to 100 for enjoyment, I enjoy indoor shooting at a range about 5, and outdoor shooting on private land about 100.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Join it ,if you don't like leave after the year is up.

 

[Axis II]

Here is my opinion... @bos19

I signed up for a local hunt club/outdoor range that sounds similar to yours. When I first signed up I was told I was in, send the first years check and come to the next meeting. I did all this and was told I was moved from #3 to #15. Come to find out the membership chair was putting his family, friends, etc. at the top of the list. The club treasure who was his wife cashed my $125 after 3 weeks making me overdraft with no sign of membership for months. I finally got in and word got around that I was the guy who threw a fit about my check being cashed and not being accepted. Guys would make comments like "hey, there is the guy who's gonna sue the club because he didn't get in when he wanted". I shut that down real quick! I found out that if you haven't been there for 20yrs your opinion doesn't mean anything. Old timers get run of the place, they shut the range down for their family birthday parties because its $50 for range, clubhouse, grill, etc. Old timers shut the club down whenever they wish for parties and pay later and tell you to go home even though its not on the calendar. People rent the club the first 2-3 weeks before hunting season and bring family and friends in and your not allowed to use it. I have sent emails, voiced concerns at meetings and been told screw off each time because its the same 20-30-40yr members on the committees and that attend monthly meetings. 150 members and they allow the same 30-40 to dictate stuff. I almost quit a few times but its close to home and cheap. I just tell them I pay my dues just like you. Its not been scheduled a month in advance so I am shooting. Also watch if your club has work hours because mine screws people on that too. The retired guys show up Monday-Friday in the morning or afternoon and do all the work and then the working guys are forced to pay $15hr for 12 work hours. I know at least 10 people who quit because they could never get work hours. Oh, we poured concrete on Wednesday at 10am and rebuilt the benches on Thursday at noon. You only find this out in the monthly news letter and are told come to the meetings if you want to know when work parties are. Most the time they schedule them and when you arrive tell you they have enough people to go home while the old timers get to pick and choose who works. We are only required 12 work hours per year but some guys have 80-90 work hours a year if not more.

I would try it for one year and see what kind of B.S. you have to deal with and go from there.

 

[Thibaut]

Only out door range in my area is not accepting new members until 2023. By that time I will be a pretty comfortable regular at an indoor range instead. It is a shame too, the outdoor club is maybe 2 miles from me. I could walk there if I wanted to.

That is too bad. You never know, though. Situations change. Good luck with that.

 

[herrwalther]

That is too bad. You never know, though. Situations change. Good luck with that.

I am not so concerned. This is one of those small towns where things happen better if you know the right people. And I am not one to brown nose just to have some privacy shooting. This is one of those ranges where you also have to help out improve the range on scheduled days. Can't make any of the days? Pay more in maintenance cost. I have applied to the range twice before, ignoring their "closed till" whenever. I'll give it one more time before I invest in a chainsaw and some fill dirt to make my own range in my backyard.

 

[doubleh]

I have already been accepted as a new member of a local outdoor range, but I’m having second thoughts about it. I live in an area where there are some great indoor ranges, but land is congested, so outdoor shooting space is limited and you pretty much need to join a local gun club to have an opportunity to shoot outside, or buy a good amount of open land away from everyone. The concern I have is with the stringent rules and politics at most of these places. The local club I’ve been accepted into has cameras all over the place and seems political, in terms of certain people receiving favoritism over others. It’s like they don’t trust you if you haven’t belonged there for 20 years. Also, it seems like it is run by fudds. This seems to be the norm at a lot of these places. Basically when I go to the range, I want to shoot and not deal with any BS.

I was thinking about passing up on the membership and waiting until I have my own land to shoot on, so I don’t have to deal with other people.

I believe you have answered your own question. Just save your money for your own land. Then you can make your own rules and not be annoyed by anyone.