Road Trip: Shooting ranges around NY that rent handguns

[nyrifleman]

The frustrating thing about having a pistol permit in NY is that it is technically illegal to even touch a handgun that doesn't belong to you (isn't listed in your permit). While this rule is widely ignored by private individuals, it does make it impossible for a shooting range to let you rent handguns, the way they do in other states. This makes it frustrating if I am interested in purchasing a gun. "Try shooting both before you buy" is pretty much the conclusion of any thread on THR when anyone asks about Gun X vs. Gun Y

So the wife, a couple of buddies and I have decided to take a trip to some friendlier state where it would be possible to rent handguns, and we're looking for a good range, which is where I'm turning to the wisdom of THR.
The range should:
a) Have a large selection of guns for rent (this exercise is kinda pointless otherwise)
b) Be close to New York. Though heck, we wouldn't mind driving as far south as Virginia or as far over as Kentucky, if we had to.
c) Preferably have an indoor range, since it's a little cool right now. Though if that's not an option, we can always set the trip back until spring/summer.

Any suggestions?

 

[archigos]

The S&W range in Springfield, MA rents S&W and Walther handguns. The trick is that you need to buy the ammo from them too due to MA law forbidding possession of ammo without a permit.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

You could come to the Pocono Mountains. There are a lot of little Cabins and other nice rental places if you were gonna stay the weekend. You can ski, snowmobile, horseback ride if you don't mind the cold.

There are two ranges to go to by me.

1) http://www.poconopistol.com/

which will cost you ten dollars a person to take their one time training class (you watch a fifteen minute movie) then rental range cost which is like fifteen per person per hour. You can then rent their handguns as long as you buy their ammo. It's ten dollars a handgun and they have a large selection. The ammo while not as cheap as Walmart is reasonable. What is good about this is you are given a quick overview of the handgun and then allowed to shoot. A range officer stays in with you but when me and my wife ranted a bunch of handguns after demonstrating proficiency we were left alone and forgot he was their.

2) http://sunsethill.slvrcreek.com/home.htm


Just noticed they are closed till February but here is a quick review anyway in case you go in a few weeks (there an outdoor range anyway).

This range allows you to rent almost anything including shooting skeet and rifles but I'm not sure if they are automatics. The problem is this place is mainly visited by people form NY/NJ who have absolutely no firearm experience. Because of this the range officers are many and they control almost all of the motions up to handing you the loaded firearm and saying "now pull the trigger". It is also expensive and you pay 8-12 dollars for a magazines loaded from 8-12 rounds. They are not bad if you join because while they have a range officer or two on that section (your separated from the rental area) you are left alone. They have pulley bays to twenty yards, paper targets and reactive targets at a thirty yard line. It's also five bucks for 25 thrown skeet if you have your own ammo.


A third option is to meet at a free State shooting range. It's just a 10,25,50,100 yard range with backstops and shooting line. No range officers or fees. I have a few handguns and it's about a quarter of the cost.