Johnson Creek Gun Club Range Report

[Cougfan2]

My son and I were invited to Johnson Creek Gun Club in the Portland area by donttellthewife yesterday. Got to blow a few more rounds through my recently purchased Springfield loaded and found that the "low shooting" problem was pilot error. Fired from a solid rest this time and figured out that because of the excessively heavy triger pull on this particular pistol out of the box, I was pulling the barrel down. Time for a trigger job, but better to figure it out now than sending it back to Springfield.

DTTW had one of the Kel Tec carbines that you can use to convert a Sig, Glock 19, or S&W 59 into a handy little rifle. I've never been a huge fan of Kel Tec's, but this carbine conversion impressed me. DTTW was shooting offhand making ragged holes about 2 - 2 1/2" dia. at 50 ft.

Thanks to DTTW for hosting a great morning at the range.

 

[Keaner]

Was that a good range? I've been going to "the place to shoot", but the rates are outrageous, and my car doesn't do well on logging roads. I saw Johnson creek last week in a thread, but only as an alternative, not as a glowing review.

 

[Cougfan2]

It has it's advantages and disadvantages like most ranges. Nice bunch of folks and the yearly membership fee is really reasonable. On the down side, you can't use magnum calibers and you can only shoot at 50 ft. I doubt I will apply for membership. One of my main issues is I CCW and want to be able to practice at legitimate self defense ranges. If someone is 50 ft. from me I'm looking to run or find cover unless they are already shooting at me.

 

[Keaner]

Ah, geesh. Do you know of anywhere that works at good distances that is indoor? I know it is pushing it, but I wouldn't mind a place where I could take my M1 out at decent distances without freezing myself to death.

 

[Cougfan2]

Keaner, I don't know of any indoor ranges in the Portland area that let you shoot centerfire rifle unless it is chambered for pistol calibers. I would acutally be interested in trying Johnson Ridge (as opposed to Johnson Creek) rifle range. I've been trying to get my boss to take me out there sometime, but he typically goes during the week and about the only time I have to shoot is on the weekends.

 

[oldfart]

I belonged to Johnson Creek for a year and it was ok but the limitations mentioned above are a problem. I have since "graduated" to the Estacada Rod and Gun Club. It has covered pistol/smallbore facilities out to 50 yards and a centerfire range of 100 yards. The yearly dues is reasonable but because of the relatively limited facilities the membership has been temporarily capped at 300 and there is a waiting list.

Down the road is the Douglas Ridge Rifle Club with all facilities, including shotgun, and the ability to hold long-range matches out to 1000 yards. Near Sherwood is the Tri-Counties Gun Club, a fairly classy facility with a maximum range of 600 yards.

Those last two have websites that can be searched for membership requirements and dues amounts.

Clark Rifles is in Vancouver and they too have a website. I really don't know much about them but they seem to keep busy.

 

[Cougfan2]

Actually when I said Johnson Ridge in my last post, I meant Douglas Ridge. I'd like to check it out if I could find someone to host me for a day one of these weekends. I went out and looked one day and it looks like a nice place.

 

[Keaner]

Thanks oldfart- The Tri-County club seems to be just about what I was looking for.