Range Charges!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Range about an hour from me...only outdoor range around here, will not let you bring in your own ammo if your not a member. Says its because of an issue from someone bringing in their own hot loads a few years ago which resulted in an accident.
 
A charge per box of ammo is not unlike an uncorking fee in a restaurant where you can bring your own bottle of wine. If the other charges are very reasonable, $2 per box might be ok. Just make sure you bring big boxes.
 
I think it's a matter of the range owner wanting to maximize their profits. When ranges having high attendance (like they do now) they can do and charge whatever they want. If it the opposite of low attendance was the case, they would do what to do to get customers in the door.

Right now, I am lucky enough to have a reasonably priced range not too far from me here in VA. I can bring my own new or reloaded ammo with me and not get charged for it. Another range that I went to a couple of times in PA where my parents live was in it just for the dollars. 1 HR time slot for $14.00 HR. IF two people go, then two lanes are needed. All ammo must be purchased there new and at above market price. A few years back I got sticker shock after I took my brother, who is a beginner, shooting. Went there with two persons and had to pay for an extra lane, but we were shooting from one lane. We brought a 9mm and 38 special. After two boxes of 9mm and one box of 38 special ammo and about 40 minutes of shooting to use it all up, it was about $70.00. There was one last thing. When loading magazines at this range, it must be done in the lane. It cannot be done on the tables along the back wall. They alerted me to this “policy” in front of all the other shooters. No signs saying so. :fire: ... So, I went to may “unused” lane to load magazines while my brother continued to shoot. Never been back.

chuck
 
The range I belong to charges me $50 a year and gives me the combination to the gate. No range officer ever, no other fees, just clean up after yourself. I always bring home more brass than I arrived there with.
 
No more indoor ranges for me!

I used to belong to an indoor range but it was miserable to shoot there. They had a $12.00/YR membership fee and a $14.00 all day fee. Their ammo was over priced but they did allow you to bring your own. You were limited to non magnum loads, no steel core and NO LONG GUNS (including 22 rimfire and shotguns)!

I now belong to a range that has a $50.00/yr membership fee. You pay $5.00 to shoot all day and you can shoot what you bring. I've even seen guys developing loads on site. They are set up for 12yd pistol, out to 1000 yd for rifle, 3-Gun range, Cowboy action range, shotgun (trap/skeet/sporting clay), and a NFA range (Area 51) for the cool toys. I have to drive 20 miles to my range in the country but it is well worth the price to have the extra freedom!
 
Hmm... Their range, their rules. If shooters don't like it, they can stop using the facility. Then they either change or go out of business. Seems folks forget that the consumer is what keeps a business in business.
 
Good golly, a charge per 1/2 hour, hyper priced in house ammo and a surcharge for BYOB? Looks like an opportunity ripe for a competitor to get fired up in that portion of South Cakolakeee. I bet there's plenty of ill will on the part of other shooters to help a new competitor give it a go.
 
My range has $100/year for NRA member and spouse, card lock gate, 700 yard rifle, 100 yard rifle, skeet and trap, 8 pistol 50 yard ranges, and security cameras with 24/7 recording on all areas. I guess I am lucky, oh btw it's only 25 miles away.
 
The range I belong to charges me $50 a year and gives me the combination to the gate. No range officer ever, no other fees, just clean up after yourself. I always bring home more brass than I arrived there with.
Click to expand...

My range has $100/year for NRA member and spouse, card lock gate, 700 yard rifle, 100 yard rifle, skeet and trap, 8 pistol 50 yard ranges, and security cameras with 24/7 recording on all areas. I guess I am lucky, oh btw it's only 25 miles away.
Click to expand...

I'm also lucky to be a member at an outdoor range for $90 a year. They have flood lights over the firing line and stay open from 07:00 - 22:00 7 days a week. They run meets & competitions that involve closing the range while they're going on, but I think that's a small price to pay to keep the fee at $90 a year. I'm sure their property tax and insurance isn't cheap. They post a calendar on their website so you know when the range will be closed for a competition and can plan accordingly.

They prohibit tracers and firing more than 1 round a second (do wish they'd make an exception for 22LR). They also prohibit "silhouettes with facial features", plain black silhouettes are fine though.

There was an indoor range in Augusta GA that I patronized for the 3 months I spent there back in early 2010. They charged a $10 flat fee for a lane, didn't care much what ammo you brought, didn't care if you used your own targets, and had guns for rent (although you did have to use their ammo if you used their guns). I think it was $5 extra for two people to use the same lane, so for $15 two people could use a lane till the place closed for the night.
 
Last edited:
ApacheCoTodd said:
Good golly, a charge per 1/2 hour, hyper priced in house ammo and a surcharge for BYOB? Looks like an opportunity ripe for a competitor to get fired up in that portion of South Cakolakeee. I bet there's plenty of ill will on the part of other shooters to help a new competitor give it a go.
Click to expand...

^^^...this. I sure if the range Tomcat47 is referring to wasn't making a profit, they wouldn't still be in business. The whole principle behind capitalism here in America is profit. If they can gouge the public with range fees by the 1/2 hour and other utter nonsense and still be in business, there must be plenty of folks out there willin' to pay. The range where I shoot is a local sportsman's club. They get by for a $10 a year range membership because they use volunteers, have fund raisers and have a non-profit status. It is also pretty basic. I'm sure if it had nicer amenities and paid staff, it would be much more expensive. It may be easy for many of us to say "go somewhere else", but realistically there may not be "somewhere" else that is close or has the amenities that the majority of those that patronize it want. Threads like this show me just how good I have it.
 
That sounds like an awful place to shoot. Less a "range", than a place to convert money into noise and smoke for someone else's benefit.

There has to be a good outdoor club somewhere nearby. You'll like that a lot better.

Alternately, you could make friends with someone who has some property out somewhere near you. Lots of people have a back 40 who might enjoy going out and shooting with you. You can make an afternoon of it!
 
Tomcat47 said:
Does your range charge you to bring in commercially boxed ammunition?

My local range charges a fee of $2 per box of commercially loaded ammo if you bring it with you to the range.

No Hand loads allowed...

And last but not least, my small peev also is the range ammo they sell is out of line pricing. I would do more business with them, because I really do not like shopping at wally world....but I can buy 2 boxes of 9mm and pay the $4 and be at same price of ONE box of there range ammo...which is American Eagle.
Click to expand...
The one in Greenville? I used to go to an indoor range that charged to bring your own ammo (not a lot of range choices close by), ended up joining a private gun club.
 
Those prices and policies are WAY out of line. How the heck do they get any business? Even California's San Francisco Bay Area's many public ranges charge no more than that for ALL DAY!

I reload my own ammunition and there is no way I'd pay those high hourly prices to buy their @)U$% ammo.

Here in Oregon I just joined a club that charges $135 per year, but range time is unlimited at no additional fee. Then there is competitive pricing in the pro shop, free entry to gun shows, etc.
 
I pay $5 per hr or $10 for a day long pass, come and go as I please. I can bring my own ammo, or buy reasonably priced ammo there. Even if you rent their guns you can use your own ammo, and the fee to rent a handgun is $10



I'm honestly surprised that you ever go back there, Tomcat....I say to heck with 'em.....let them con their way to bankruptcy
 
Last edited:
Charging for ammo brought in is dumb. I would not given them any of my money. Increase range fees if needed, but that nickle and dime stuff gets annoying. Where I'm a member I can shoot what I bring and what I want for one annual fee.
 
Does your range charge you to bring in commercially boxed ammunition?

My local range charges a fee of $2 per box of commercially loaded ammo if you bring it with you to the range.

No Hand loads allowed...

And last but not least, my small peev also is the range ammo they sell is out of line pricing. I would do more business with them, because I really do not like shopping at wally world....but I can buy 2 boxes of 9mm and pay the $4 and be at same price of ONE box of there range ammo...which is American Eagle.
Click to expand...

When I was just starting out shooting, my local range would not let you bring in your own ammo to shoot in your own guns. They forced you to buy their own ammo at a healthy markup, which was, you guessed it, good ol' American brand. It seems to be be the crappy ammo brand of choice at cheapskate gun ranges because I've never seen it sold anywhere else.

Luckily I soon wised up and realized that this was not normal range practice as the manager at that place had told me.
 
It's funny...

I pay $100 a year for a private covered range outdoors both rifle and pistol and skeet. If it's really nasty I pay $10 flat fee for indoor pistol range down the street for all day long.

"Sent while drunk, on the toilet and nursing a rum and coke"
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
range rip off
Replies
24
Views
1K
Brad Johnson
B
N
  • Locked
Stupid? Shooting Range Ammo Restrictions in S. Florida
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
TheFallGuy
T
StrikeFire83
  • Locked
San Antonio has an indoor range...and it sucks!
2 3
Replies
58
Views
4K
MrMex
M
D
  • Locked
Musings on local ranges and gun shops
Replies
10
Views
577
KC&97TA
K
S
  • Locked
How far would you drive to go to the range?
2 3
Replies
53
Views
2K
Fatelvis
Fatelvis
Back
Top