Places to shoot near Tampa

[turtlehead]

Does anyone know of any public land to plink near Tampa? I'm looking for a quiet spot to shoot some 22s at cans, spinner targets, etc.

 

[frankge]

I'd like to know if there is some public land too. Other than that I shoot at the Wyoming Antelope Club - public line and action bays.

 

[Uhrmacher]

Unlike out west, there is no public land that you can legally plink on in Florida besides the few FWC ranges (as far as I know).

http://myfwc.com/safety/Safety_hunt_safety_ranges.htm

 

[Kwanger]

Yep....what Uhrmacher says. But....living in the Tampa area is not all bad. I find that if you can't really free-plink, next best thing is attending the practical type shooting matches - fun and always a challenge. Depending on where you live, there are some great ranges around. For instance, up to the North you have the Hernando Sports club - they do action rifle and pistol shoots, 3 gun etc. The Wyoming Antelope Club in Pinellas park also hosts the USPSA matches, as does Guncraft in Ruskin - Guncraft is a decent relaxed range, and probably as close to backyard plinking as you can get round here if you buy a full $200 membership, as you can use the north range which is usually quiet and occupied by like minded individuals and you have a lot of freedom of movement and target setup. If you drive a bit further South you also have the Manatee Gun club - as well as the astounding 1000 yard range (and plenty of spots on the line for shooting 100 out to at least 500), they also have a 75 yard range and a 25 yard pistol range where they put out clays and you can plink away at them to your hearts content - again, close to plinking. If you Google all of those places, you should find directions and websites.

There are also a host of indoor gun shop type ranges.....but for what you want I'd stay away from them, they get crowded with yahoos and are boring, IMO.

 

[Guns and more]

I'd like to know if there is some public land too. Other than that I shoot at the Wyoming Antelope Club - public line and action bays.

Frankge:
How did you like the Wyoming Antelope club? I drove by and it seemed, well, seedy.
Everyone stared at me like I had driven into the Michigan militia by mistake. Maybe I should give them a second chance.
I have gone to the Hernando club and liked it a lot. But a long drive.
For indoor, I use Knight (ok, usually crowded) or Bill Jackson (pistols only, not air conditioned, quiet but hot)

 

[turtlehead]

I went to the indoor Knight's in Clearwater a long time ago to rent some pistols. From what I remember it was nice but a bit expensive.

I've been to the outdoor Hernando Sportsman Club near Brooksville one time during a July 4 machine gun shootout and it was neat to watch but insanely hot.

Shooting Sports on North Dale Mabry is nice but the AC isn't the best and is sometimes crowded. They do have a good deal there where you pay $20 and get to use any rental gun in the store you just have to buy their ammo.

My favorite so far is Shoot Straight on 301 in Tampa. You can buy a monthly membership and shoot all month in the pistol and 100yd indoor rifle range for $35. Mondays are ladies night and they get in free. The AC and ventilation isn't the greatest but I've only been to a few indoor ranges.

What I'm really looking for is a place where I can sit down and bench rest a .22 rifle and pistol for a few hours and shoot spinners, clays, etc without dying from heat stroke, being around unsafe people, or breathing in a lethal dose of lead. I guess my only options so far are to find someone generous with private land, keep looking for a good range, move, or change hobbies. I've yet to try some of the Lakeland ranges such as Tenoroc and Saddle Creek. Anyone been to either of those?

 

[nevermas]

if you don't mind a little bit of a drive, i recommend cecil b webb park in port charlotte. it is located within a wildlife preserve, 2 dollar donation will shoot all day

if you want something closer, manatee gun and archery club has a pretty nice setting, plus a 1000 yard rifle range. first year membership plus 1 time fee is 150, cheaper than many of the range memberships in Tampa

 

[xsquidgator]

Gunsnmore said

Quote:
I'd like to know if there is some public land too. Other than that I shoot at the Wyoming Antelope Club - public line and action bays.
Frankge:
How did you like the Wyoming Antelope club? I drove by and it seemed, well, seedy.
Everyone stared at me like I had driven into the Michigan militia by mistake. Maybe I should give them a second chance.
I have gone to the Hernando club and liked it a lot. But a long drive.
For indoor, I use Knight (ok, usually crowded) or Bill Jackson (pistols only, not air conditioned, quiet but hot)

I spent a weekend at the WAC a few months ago for the state IDPA match there. I can see where you might get that impression, but I would say give it another chance. It looked to me like the WAC offers two options to shoot there, join the club membership, or just pay a daily fee to come in and shoot.

We used one of the club's 50 yard ranges for the IDPA match's chrono and equipment check stage, so I got a little bit closer look at it. Well worn, but kept up decently enough. It looked to me as if there is an RO on duty who controls the hot/cold status of the range and makes PA system announcements appropriately. I don't know if club members can use ranges that are self-controlled or not.

The WAC does have an AWESOME setup for action ranges, and it looked to me like a good variety of other shooting ranges too. They have a clubhouse that serves adult beverages too, which I think is really nice. I would go back and give it a try, if I were you. My dad lives up in New Port Richey and has had trouble finding a good place to shoot; the WAC is a bit far for him but it might not be that far for you. I think you can do a lot worse for a place to shoot than the WAC.

 

[frankge]

Well yes, the WAC is undergoing some renovations and expansion right now. I'm a member and shoot the action sports in the back bays and the shotgun range. The members (myself included) are actually very friendly and promote shooting. They are gratious and I have learned a lot. Go to any major match in the USA and there will be a WAC shooter there. My whole familiy goes. There are a lot of "RO's" that IMHO are not really ROs, look for the guys with the red dicipline hats. Public line is not bad - run really safe. Fees are reasonable. Search for Wyoming Antelope Club and WACActionShooting.com to see the events. Best bet is to turn out for a Friday night fun shoot to get aquainted. Yeah, the place looks a little rough but I love it there. I've been to al the indoor ranges and they are OK. I will never go to Shooting Sports again, IMO unless you are a LEO they treat you like a dick, really just one guy did and thats after buying a couple guns from them.

I have friends in central Florida with thier own land in the middle of nowhere and thats where we plink and shoot up washing machines

 

[TedP]

I have been shooting at Saddle Creek (about 5 minutes away) and I have visited Teneroc. Neither allow anything but paper targets.

From reading about the Lakeland Rifle and Pistol Club (members only), they also do not allow anything but paper, but they sometimes have bowling pin and silhouette shoots.

 

[samtron]

Ocala National Forrest.

 

[Fish Miner]

Not Ocala! Anywhere but there. Worst Range Ever

Unless you are there and have shot and are leaving by 9 am. The morons like to sleep in. No R.O. = very sketchy and lots of bad saftey violations.