Mt Shooter
Member
Not to brag but 67.00 a year for gun club membership and all the reloads i care to put down range
Range Practice is getting outrageous.
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TexasSkyhawk
Internet SEAL
I've only run across ONE (indoor) range that wouldn't allow me to use my reloads or bring my own ammunition. This was while we were living in North Carolina, of all places.
Raised short but bloody hell with the owner. Promised him that we (wife and I) would tell anyone and everyone who would listen to stay away from his place. We did. And apparently, so did a lot of other people. We happened by the place about a month before we were moving to KC and it was under new ownership/managment--and you were more than welcome to bring in your own ammunition.
Parking lot was crowded too.
Jeff
scrat
Member
RELOAD
Then do what we do. When we go to the range we go usually on sundays. Get there at least an hour before the range opens. then after we unload the car, my boys automaticly start to get the brooms. they sweep the range usually not a lot. about 10-20 minutes. Then just pick some trash. Then they go inside and see if they need any help. Well that usually gets us 3 free pass cards. So if i go twice a month i only pay once. Then the stocking up on ammo and reloading helps. I have a laser printer. We take a stapler and print out our own targets. Then i go to office depot and buy a package of round 1 inch dots. Used to use for labeling. usually in some bright color. When we shoot up the target during sieze fire we take the stickers to cover up the holes. Take your own food and drinks. When you make your own ammo and stock up on ammo when you can. i can go shooting with my boys for just the cost of gas. The ammo i have is paid mostly reloads, passes help. there are guys that make there own target holders. When they get to the range they quickly bolt them together and take them out. All this can help you keep your cost down. Trick is to go to an outdoor range. Most indoor ranges really get you on price and using there own ammo. Then some rent stalls by the hour. i like going outdoors where i pay a small fee and can stay alllll dayyyy lonnnnggg
Then do what we do. When we go to the range we go usually on sundays. Get there at least an hour before the range opens. then after we unload the car, my boys automaticly start to get the brooms. they sweep the range usually not a lot. about 10-20 minutes. Then just pick some trash. Then they go inside and see if they need any help. Well that usually gets us 3 free pass cards. So if i go twice a month i only pay once. Then the stocking up on ammo and reloading helps. I have a laser printer. We take a stapler and print out our own targets. Then i go to office depot and buy a package of round 1 inch dots. Used to use for labeling. usually in some bright color. When we shoot up the target during sieze fire we take the stickers to cover up the holes. Take your own food and drinks. When you make your own ammo and stock up on ammo when you can. i can go shooting with my boys for just the cost of gas. The ammo i have is paid mostly reloads, passes help. there are guys that make there own target holders. When they get to the range they quickly bolt them together and take them out. All this can help you keep your cost down. Trick is to go to an outdoor range. Most indoor ranges really get you on price and using there own ammo. Then some rent stalls by the hour. i like going outdoors where i pay a small fee and can stay alllll dayyyy lonnnnggg
XD-40 Shooter
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I agree, RELOADING is the ticket.
My most recent batch of 3000 40 S&W rounds cost me $5.50/50 rounds and my most recent batch of 2000 125 grain 357's cost me $6/50 rounds. I'm fortunate enough to have a neighbor with 80 acres of property and an open invitation to shoot anytime I want. I buy bulk packs of targets from Midway, $16/250 and I get to recover all of my brass. I'd say this is a damn good deal.
My most recent batch of 3000 40 S&W rounds cost me $5.50/50 rounds and my most recent batch of 2000 125 grain 357's cost me $6/50 rounds. I'm fortunate enough to have a neighbor with 80 acres of property and an open invitation to shoot anytime I want. I buy bulk packs of targets from Midway, $16/250 and I get to recover all of my brass. I'd say this is a damn good deal.mad hungarian
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- 56
I prefer outdoor ranges. One of the ranges near me closed and the other outdoor one is about 25 miles away. When staying in the Bryan/College Station area I go to the outdoor range a few miles outside of town, bring your own ammo and shoot as much as you like on the pistol and rifle ranges, the fee is very cheap.
The gunshop in CS has an indoor range that I use sometimes, price is better then the indoor ranges where I live and you can stay as long as you like.
I always bring my own ammo and collect the brass as much as possible. Having dropped over a hundred dollars on different style targets I won't run out for awhile. The ranges I mentioned also give out one target on the house.
The gunshop in CS has an indoor range that I use sometimes, price is better then the indoor ranges where I live and you can stay as long as you like.
I always bring my own ammo and collect the brass as much as possible. Having dropped over a hundred dollars on different style targets I won't run out for awhile. The ranges I mentioned also give out one target on the house.
The fact of the matter is, that the indoor range your shooting at is a business. He is there to make a profit. He has a lot of overhead to overcome before he can feed his family, put a roof over their heads, and enjoy the comforts of life. His insurance will be a whole lot more expensive than a gun clubs- largely because insurance companies know that many less experienced (more dangerous) folks shoot at public ranges than clubs- the members of which are much more apt to be skilled enthusiests. In my area, the big money for ranges comes from ammo sales and accessory sales (as well as CCW and guard classes). It's a lot for you, but he's trying to get by to. It's very hard to make a living in his industry.
If you don't like his terms, shoot somewhere else.
If you don't like his terms, shoot somewhere else.
MrChicken
Member
The other side of the coin:
An indoor range is a huge expense, there's all of that retail space that gets shot up. Think about the amount square feet that makes up the range that does not have product for sale on it. Next consider that if it does it's job perfectly, it will still get damaged over time. You have to ventilate it and filter the air. You want heat and air conditioning on the range? It's not cheap to heat/cool all of that air.
I marvel at any indoor range that can actually make money. It usually takes both a school and a store to offset the loss and keep the range going.
The places here will let use any reloads except black powder and exposed lead ammunition. You'd think that would be obvious, but I been there several times when somebody wanted to shoot a BP gun. The lead reload guys show up all of the time and have to be told why lead is not good indoors, even in a ventilated range.
An indoor range is a huge expense, there's all of that retail space that gets shot up. Think about the amount square feet that makes up the range that does not have product for sale on it. Next consider that if it does it's job perfectly, it will still get damaged over time. You have to ventilate it and filter the air. You want heat and air conditioning on the range? It's not cheap to heat/cool all of that air.
I marvel at any indoor range that can actually make money. It usually takes both a school and a store to offset the loss and keep the range going.
The places here will let use any reloads except black powder and exposed lead ammunition. You'd think that would be obvious, but I been there several times when somebody wanted to shoot a BP gun. The lead reload guys show up all of the time and have to be told why lead is not good indoors, even in a ventilated range.
Has to be someplace close you can go I would think. When I lived in Astoria for a while the guys had places in the woods cleared enough to shoot.
I know Portland is a rather large metro area but it has a lot of area's not to far that are just forest or it is a 5 minute ride into Washington. Seems to be plenty of open areas between Vancouver and Longview. Ask at your local long time smaller gun shops.
For the price of a few trips to that range you can buy a portable bench rest setup and what else you need and not have to put up it. No time limits no noise or idiots no BS etc.
I know Portland is a rather large metro area but it has a lot of area's not to far that are just forest or it is a 5 minute ride into Washington. Seems to be plenty of open areas between Vancouver and Longview. Ask at your local long time smaller gun shops.
For the price of a few trips to that range you can buy a portable bench rest setup and what else you need and not have to put up it. No time limits no noise or idiots no BS etc.
$15 per hour at the indoor range I use as well. A year family membership is $275, which works out to $23 per month; I and my boys can spend 5 to 6 hours a month at the indoor range easily so a year’s membership is the way to go. Fortunately they allow one to bring targets and ammo.
kingpin008
Member
I agree, memberships are the way to go. I pay $175/year at my range, which allows me to take my own guns, shoot whatever ammo I want, shoot for as long as I want, whenever they're open.
I don't go as much as I should, but if I were paying per-trip, it'd be even more costly.
I don't go as much as I should, but if I were paying per-trip, it'd be even more costly.
Glockamania®
Member
Yup, that sounds about right.
Next time, just bring your own ammo, paper plates with a red Sharpie and pay membership. Cost at the range: $0.
Lucky Strike
Member
That's about the same as where I go (clackamas training center indoor range) except i've only had a 9mm till recently so the ammo wasn't as bad.
I considered getting a membership (like $125 i think) so I wouldn't have to pay anymore range fees but i've recently gotten into revolvers (bought a .357 and will get a .44 next) and the costs for shooting those regularly would be pretty expensive without reloading. Unfortunately that range requires that you buy their ammo.
I've since been looking into various outdoor ranges and have narrowed it down to a couple but they both have pretty stiff "new member" fees totaling around $300 for the initial payment. Seems like a lot (almost the price of another gun!) but probably worth it since i'll be able to shoot whatever ammo i want.
I considered getting a membership (like $125 i think) so I wouldn't have to pay anymore range fees but i've recently gotten into revolvers (bought a .357 and will get a .44 next) and the costs for shooting those regularly would be pretty expensive without reloading. Unfortunately that range requires that you buy their ammo.
I've since been looking into various outdoor ranges and have narrowed it down to a couple but they both have pretty stiff "new member" fees totaling around $300 for the initial payment. Seems like a lot (almost the price of another gun!) but probably worth it since i'll be able to shoot whatever ammo i want.
sailortoo
Member
range cost
Let's see - $20.00/100 WWB .38 Spl, $19.50 (some time ago)/4000 sheets paper, $1.10 for a magic marker, and I own the range; and so do you -BLM! About 2 miles in any of three directions, a safe backstop hill, lots of fresh air and blue sky - what more could I ask for! I sympathize with all that have a local situation where that isn't possible. One reason I left Washington state, very limited and restricted private ranges.
sailortoo
Semper Paratus (also)
Let's see - $20.00/100 WWB .38 Spl, $19.50 (some time ago)/4000 sheets paper, $1.10 for a magic marker, and I own the range; and so do you -BLM! About 2 miles in any of three directions, a safe backstop hill, lots of fresh air and blue sky - what more could I ask for! I sympathize with all that have a local situation where that isn't possible. One reason I left Washington state, very limited and restricted private ranges.
sailortoo
Semper Paratus (also)
Grrrrrrrrrrr. I am admittedly sulking, I'll fess up up front on that. But our up-until-now favorite range has quit selling memberships. Last year they quit selling new ones; you could only get one if you'd had one before, and my understanding was they were going to carry that on. But this week I got the bad news.
I go down to the I-10/Beltway 8 area of Houston often enough that we're thinking seriously about a membership at American Shooting Centers as a result. A long drive if we're not already headed down there, for sure, but I'm really, REALLY annoyed at the loss of the membership benefit at CC.
/sulk. Sort of.
Springmom
Flyboy
Member
They must be using a definition of "your" with which I was heretofore unfamiliar. Guess I'll have to go dig out my dictionary.
Average Joe
Member
.22, back to basics.
TEDDY
Member
Shooting Ranges
I come from MASS and I am amazed at the range problems.I still belong to a pistol club in Mass.$35 a yr and spouse 1/2.24 hr unsupervised shooting bring your own ammo.you can join the reloading group for small fee.club has targets,price used to come to $5 per 100.club has 5 reloading machines plus moulds and 20 lb pot 2 star lubers.I ordered some equipment 20ys ago.they removed 13 tons of lead from backstop and any one could have it.why in a restrictive state is there so much freedom.me I have 90 acres and can shoot any time but I did look ahead to the future.most dont.and you better look to future and get a loading setup with moulds.
I come from MASS and I am amazed at the range problems.I still belong to a pistol club in Mass.$35 a yr and spouse 1/2.24 hr unsupervised shooting bring your own ammo.you can join the reloading group for small fee.club has targets,price used to come to $5 per 100.club has 5 reloading machines plus moulds and 20 lb pot 2 star lubers.I ordered some equipment 20ys ago.they removed 13 tons of lead from backstop and any one could have it.why in a restrictive state is there so much freedom.me I have 90 acres and can shoot any time but I did look ahead to the future.most dont.and you better look to future and get a loading setup with moulds.
Gaucho Gringo
Member
I too live in Portland and know of the range the OP is referring too. The ammo cost is not a debate of whether to reload or not , The range WILL NOT ALLOW ANY AMMO BUT THEIRS TO BE USED, no ifs, ands or buts. This is true of the other public indoor ranges in the area, one which is run by the Clackamas County Sheriffs Dept, The Public Safety Training Center. It is not only a range but they also have CHL classes. If you want to shoot there you have to use their ammo too, here is a quote from their web page "All Ammunition must be purchased from the PSTC Armory. PSTC's "clean fire" ammunition virtually eliminates lead vapors and contains no toxic elements". The Portland area is overly eco friendly and thus all of the air quality rules for gun ranges. I have heard some others outlaw lead projectiles too. I go shooting on Forest Service lands towards Mt. Hood but it is 2 1\2 hr round trip and now about $12.00 in gas. In the winter it can be too snow packed, too wet or too cold to go. When I decide to go shooting it is almost an all day event(packing, driving there and back, shooting, unpacking and gun cleaning). Not exactly a spur of the moment thing for me. But I enjoy it.
EmGeeGeorge
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shoot for free at the local indoor... get 100 round a month from work for practice, over that, my expense...
KiltedClaymore
Member
why do you think people in Phoenix stick through the 115 degree heat of summer? Because we dont have to worry about the weather! blue sky almost every day! ahhhh.....
earplug
Member
150 rounds at two targets? Splurge and get some fresh targets, you can see your hits and learn what your doing right or wrong.
When your shooting expensive bullets, the targets the only thing that shows you whats happening.
Or are you using a IDPA type target?
When your shooting expensive bullets, the targets the only thing that shows you whats happening.
Or are you using a IDPA type target?
The range fee is about right to me for your area considering my area, I live on Long Island, east of NYC, and everything here is expensive. As for the ammo prices, I never buyy ammo at the range at which I shoot. if they start telling me I have to use their ammo only, I would find a new range. Whatever excuse they use, if they use commercially available ammo, then you can always buy the same exact ammo and probably much less expensive than at range prices.
As for giving the brass to the range, sorry but if I purchased the ammunition, the brass belongs to me and to me alone. If I was in your shoes, and they wanted the brass from me, I would gladly sell it to them at the same over inflated percentage that they used to bilk me when I bought ammo from them. Anyone who tells you that you have to give the brass back to them aftyer you just purchased it is, in my estimation, likely a scoundrel trying to proifit off of the customers' gullibility.
As for the cost of targets, paper products are always expensive. I try to get them at least in some bulk, and a less expensive price. I would hope that your range's personnel are not telling you that you have too use their targets too.
All the best,
Glenn B
For all those that live in Portland: The Place to Shoot is about the worst range around. Period. Their prices and ammo restrictions are terrible.
Look into Johnson Creek Gun Club.
ANNUAL fee of $120. (A whopping $2.30 per weekend).
Shoot your own ammo.
Bring your own targets if you want (2c or so from a laser printer, probably less)
No Hourly or Lane fee.
No Range Nazi, just act like an adult.
As for ammo, buy a case at the gunshow, it'll last you a while -- then if you're so inclined, reload it.
-T
Look into Johnson Creek Gun Club.
ANNUAL fee of $120. (A whopping $2.30 per weekend).
Shoot your own ammo.
Bring your own targets if you want (2c or so from a laser printer, probably less)
No Hourly or Lane fee.
No Range Nazi, just act like an adult.
As for ammo, buy a case at the gunshow, it'll last you a while -- then if you're so inclined, reload it.
-T
shooter429
Member
Reload! It took more than two posts though. The fee seems a bit high, but you can save money in the long run by making your own targets, reloading and perhaps finding a willing landowner. I use my own outdoor range in the summer, reload, make my own targets etc. and shooting my .40 costs about $20 for an afternoon. Of course, buying a good .22 will pay for itself within a few range sessions. For $50 bucks you can shoot at least 2,500 rounds with the .22.
Hope this helps
Shooter429
It took more than two posts though. The fee seems a bit high, but you can save money in the long run by making your own targets, reloading and perhaps finding a willing landowner. I use my own outdoor range in the summer, reload, make my own targets etc. and shooting my .40 costs about $20 for an afternoon. Of course, buying a good .22 will pay for itself within a few range sessions. For $50 bucks you can shoot at least 2,500 rounds with the .22.Hope this helps
Shooter429
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