Shooting Ranges

[Bama61]

I never had a real shooting range to go to until I got married last Nov. My wife is from Fayetteville, GA and there is a place there called, Autrey's Armory. They have a very good selection of guns and shooting stuff, a very helpful staff, and a pistol and rifle range.

Up until now I have only been able to shoot on hunting land and a buddy's private land.

Some things I like about the range are it is inside and you can shoot reguardless of weather, you don't have to go to the target, but let it come to you, and clean up of spent cases and used targets is easier.

The main thing that I do not like is shooting alone. My wife is not into shooting and when we go there she wants to spend time with her family, so I go to the range alone. I haven't been going long enough to meet any of the regular shooters yet. Also, there is the fact that you do not know who is shooting beside you. You have no idea how safe they are. And, I guess most of all I miss the fellowship of sitting around with the ear protection off and talking guns and looking over each others guns while taking breaks from shooting.

Do any of you who go to ranges have any similar feelings/thoughts?


Bama61

 

[Stiletto Null]

Shooting's a bit of a Zen thing for me, so I don't mind shooting alone. Actually, every time I've gone to the FETC, I've wound up with at LEAST half an hour of being the only person in my bay.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

I like to socialize with other shooters at the range, pick up information. I met a couple of people that turned into great shooting buddies while I was in competition.

However, currently my shooting needs attention and range time has been short so I've been very focused and doing the Zen thing as well.

 

[Foxtrot427]

Im not a big fan of shooting ranges to tell you the truth. I shoot with my best friends on their land.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I shoot at indoor and outdoor ranges. The outdoor range is well controlled with several line safety individuals and they are busy. I prefer controlled ranges like that whenever at a public range. Never know who's shooting next to you and what bad habits they have. This range has a 10 minute break every 15 minutes to go down range and change targets and police brass.

The indoor range is a bit different. The range control officer is usually manning the desk and can see thru glass whats going on inside the range. There is no break to change targets or police brass so your pretty much on your own. It's the indoor range that I have to be more cognizant of what's going on around me.

 

[Mooseman]

I belong to an indoor range. It's cool but I really wish I had an outdoor range nearby. Nowhere to shoot rifles. The closest free range is well over an hour away and the other ranges aren't much closer plus I'd have to pay for a membership to the second range.

 

[Bobo]

I shoot at an outdoor range. I much prefer shooting alone and try to go when the range is most likely to be empty. I get more shooting done because there is no waiting for others to tend their targets, and I don't have to feel guilty for holding up other shooters. I can shoot at any speed and from many positions. I can practice quick draws, and reloads, and non-conventional shooting.

Of course the main reason I have a gun is for self-defense and that's what I practice for. The only time I shoot slow and for accuracy is to test out a gun and/or ammo.

 

[Chuck R.]

I belong to a private club and I have built a 30M-300M range on a 40 acre parcel I bought last year that’s 14 miles from my house.

To tell you the truth, there are times when I like both types.

Sometimes when I’m not in a hurry I occasionally like to BS with the guys at the club, see the latest toy etc. There are times though when I’m working on a load or practicing for a match and really don’t want to chat.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), the club I belong to is pretty busy with events and competitions, so I have to check the clubs schedule for access to the 200 & 300 yard ranges. They do maintain at least one pistol and the 100 yard range available at all times to the members though. The other thing is that my club is being encroached by urban sprawl and as a necessity has some pretty draconian rules. Other than that, it really is a great, well maintained facility. Also, the club is about 40 minutes from my house so the commute cuts into my range time.

At “my place”, I have a berm dug into 30’ hillside at the end of a 175M dam for a backstop. I put in a 30M x 30M graveled pistol range, a few steel swingers, a bunch of IDPA target stands, and some standard target frames. There are no nearby neighbors under a ¼ mile, so pretty much anything goes. I do make it a point not to shoot too early or too late, unless it's part of my beaver eradication program Some days 2-4 of the guys from work will get together and shoot IDPA type courses, or clang steel with our rifles. Other days I’ll head out by myself for serious load work, or practice with my silhouette rifles without distractions. So I guess I have the best of both worlds.

I’ve almost got my range to where I want it, so I may let my club membership expire this summer. I guess I won’t get to see as many new toys now though.

Chuck