Looking for place to plink in WA state

[David4516]

I've just recently moved to Rainier Washington (not to be confused with Rainier Oregon). I'd like to do some shooting, but I'm not sure where to go. Anyone have any suggestions?

Something on public land, with a good backstop, would be perfect. Even better if I could make longer shots there (may 100 to 200 yards?). But I'd be happy with 50 yards...

Not even sure if such a thing exists. Back when I lived in Oregon there was an old rock quarry where you could shoot for nearly 200 yards out in the Tillamook state forest. I learned about that spot on THR so I was hoping you guys could help me out again...

Thanks!

 

[riceboy72]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=342682

Look for the posts by 'mainsail' around #24 - #27. Information is in there on how to get to an area in the Capitol Forest to shoot. It's in the same county you are; just west by a bit and over off Highway 101.

Welcome to Washington. Bring your jacket because I'm not sure what the weather wants to do anymore. Snow anyone?

 

[dmazur]

Well, this isn't public land, but the membership fees are not that bad, the facilities are excellent, and the members are "professional". (By that I mean range safety is taken seriously.)

http://www.ccrpclub.org/

They have rimfire ranges, an action shooting range, and a highpower rifle range with 50, 100 and 200 yd targets, and others I can't remember well enough to describe. Everything but dedicated shotgun (no trap or skeet throwers provided, but shotgun use is tolerated at the "multipurpose ranges" if they aren't otherwise in use.)

 

[David4516]

Thanks guys. I'll have to check out that mailsail was talking about...

I think we have the formal range covered, thinking about checking into this one:

http://www.tacomarifle.org/index.htm

Really just looking for a place to plink. They normally frown up shooting at pop cans and other such reactive targets at formal ranges...

 

[David4516]

Went to the pit off of that Waddle Creek Road that Mainsail had mentioned. Didn't care for it. The place itself seemed like a good range, but there were an awful lot of shooters there, and it didn't seem very safe. They had set up their firing line so far back that you couldn't walk behind anyone. Also, the parking area was parallel to the firing line. That didn't feel safe either, I like parking behind the shooting, not next to it...

Sorry if I sound picky, but when it comes to any kind of shooting, I figure you can't be too safe.

I also noticed several folks bringing in trash to shoot at (mostly old computers). I doubt that they took any of it back home with them. It pisses me off when shooters litter like that, don't they realize that they're making the rest of us look bad? Down in Oregon I almost got a littering ticket while I was shooting. The funny thing is, it wasn't my trash. There was so much garbage laying around from previous shooters that I didn't even need to bring any "targets", just shot a other people's left over junk...

OK, rant over. Anyone know of anywhere else in the area?

 

[dmazur]

I've heard both good and bad about Capitol Forest -

The good thing is, it's close to Olympia.

The bad thing is, there was a report of someone spying on a guy shooting from his truck. When he went to change targets, they raced up on ATV's and grabbed his rifle!

I occasionally get to shoot at a gravel pit near work, but it's on the Olympic peninsula...

I kind of gave up and joined a club. (I miss shooting cans, too... )

 

[David4516]

I've heard stories like that myself. That's why I don't shoot alone. Then one of us can set up targets while the other keeps an eye on the guns...

 

[Dysfunctional Individual]

That's why I take the rifle with me when changing targets.

 

[UnknownSailor]

Over at Arfcom, they are very secretive about their spots, because when they get publicized, they get trashed, which as those who live in CoCal know, trashed shooting areas lead to shut-down shooting areas.
They do exist, but where, I really don't know, and I lived in the area for 7 years.