Shooty Goodness in Tucson, AZ?

[heypete]

Anyone in the Tucson area want to head out to the range for some shooty goodness?

I recently moved out here from California (I assure you, I'm one of the "good Californians" fleeing the state) and want to check out some of the nearby ranges/desert shooting areas, but am not familiar with any of them except the Tucson Rifle Club way out on the Ajo Highway.

Generally weekdays after 3pm work best for me, or weekends all day.

It'd be fun to meet some THR folks from around here too.

Cheers!

 

[shooting4fun]

G'day Pete,

Welcome to the neighborhood. The weather is getting nice. We just have to let the bugs know that it is tough to see the front sight when they're buzzing about. Just FYI, you've got a number of ranges in the TUS area. Not sure just what type of shooting sports you're into but you can check out the various ranges and their schedules.

Pimapistol.org ==> Pima Pistol Range, IDPA, USPSA / IPSC, also some three gun matches too.

Good info @ Tucsonshooting.org

Also if you're in a traveling mood, Sierra Vista, Douglas, and Gila Bend all host various type of shooting and shooting events. The SV club hosts a casual steel shoot on the third Sunday of every month. So if you'd like to get some handgun bang / clang action that is a fun time.

See you at the range! Good Shooting!

Cheers!

 

[Kor]

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to shoot free..."

...or at least, for a reasonable range fee.

First off, there will be a middlin' large gun show at the Tucson Convention Center downtown this weekend. Maybe get some quality gun-fondling time in there.

Next, you're welcome to come out to the Pima Pistol Club(www.pimapistol.org) for shooting or match spectating - I'm planning to be at the IDPA match, Sunday after next(9-24-06). Of course, if you just gotta run-'n-gun, there'll be an IPSC match this coming Sunday.

Also, you can go to the Southeast Regional Park Shooting Range(everybody seems to just call it "the County range"), out by the Pima County Fairgrounds - www.tucsonshooting.org or www.pima.gov/nrpr

Finally, if you want to take the plunge into the wonderful world of licensed concealed carry, sign up at Diamondback Police Supply, 886-8338 - you've got a 50% chance of drawing me as your instructor.

Welcome to Free Arizona, hope to see you sometime!

Phil

 

[Lennyjoe]

Another place to shoot indoors is at the Marksman on 29th.

I'm smack dab in the middle of an exercise this weekend but may be able to get with you the following weekend for some range time.

Welcome to the hood.

 

[heypete]

Another place to shoot indoors is at the Marksman on 29th.

I was just there this afternoon shooting, and I was mightily impressed. Clean, wide booths, inexpensive prices (in & out priviliges all day, too!), and good prices on guns. I test-fired an XD-40 there today, and ended up buying an XD-45. Best price on it of all the places I called over the last week.

The fact that they're Class III friendly is nice, too, as I'm looking at getting a Cobray M10 subgun in the near future and it'd be nice to have an indoor, nearby place to shoot it.

Finally, if you want to take the plunge into the wonderful world of licensed concealed carry, sign up at Diamondback Police Supply, 886-8338 - you've got a 50% chance of drawing me as your instructor.

I've been open-carrying since I've gotten here, and I'm pleased at the respond (or lack thereof) from the general populace. Nobody bats an eye.

How much does Diamondback charge for the CCW course? When's your next one? Can they do all the fingerprinting and other fun stuff on the spot? Could I request you as an instructor?

Cheers!

 

[Kor]

The CCW class should be $50(honestly, I just teach the classes on weekends, I don't do any selling or work behind the counter at all). We will fingerprint you on the day of class. You will have to send a cashier's check or money order for $65 payable to AZ Department of Public Safety(what we call our State Police/Highway Patrol) with your application. I teach on the first Sunday and fourth Saturday of each month generally, but sometimes classes are held on weekends other than the 1st and 4th of the month. Call ahead to make sure, but I think we're all booked up for next weekend's class; if so, there's always October, but I have to be out of town the first weekend of the month. Even if you don't draw me as your instructor, our chief instructress, Allison Bivins, is great.

As a heads up, if you live/work/frequent the NW side of town, the owners of Marksman have bought and are refurbishing The Indoor Range Formerly Known As Jensen's West, at Prince & Flowing Wells. Not sure when the grand re-opening is, but it should be pretty nice...

 

[heypete]

$50 isn't bad. Marksman wants $60. Can't hurt to shop around.

I'll look into taking the class soon. For now, open carry suits my needs just fine and I don't have to worry about printing. Still, having the flexibility of carrying concealed legally might be useful. Does having a CCW mean that one can bypass the NICS check for gun purchases? It's not a problem, as here it's truly "instant", but it might be handy at times.

I'll definitely keep you in mind when I do decide to take the class.

 

[Kor]

Yes, the AZ CCW permit allows you to skip the NICS check completely when you buy a gun from an FFL dealer.

Also, the AZ CCW permit allows you to legally posess a firearm while walking/driving past a school within 1000 feet, as per the "Federal Gun-Free School Zones Act."

 

[heypete]

It was my impression that the 1000-foot-thing was exempted for people on their own property, in their own vehicles, or otherwise engaged in lawful activity (i.e. lawfully transporting their firearms, putting guns in the trunk, etc.).

I would hope it wouldn't apply to just walking about minding your own business while openly carrying -- I've been doing that for a few weeks, and I've no doubt inadvertently walked within a thousand feet of a school and not known about it (there's a lot of small schools around here). Eep.

 

[WayneConrad]

heypete, Open carry isn't exempted. However, I'm not aware that the law has been enforced since it was struck down by SCOTUS and subsequently reenacted by congress.

Someday, someone may get to be a test case. In the mean time, we go about our business and try not to think about it.

 

[armoredman]

Marksman II should open sometime fairly soon, this week or next. They're incorporating some ideas they got from this board, according to the owner.
Looking forward to that day - Glenn killed Jensen's.
Don't forget the neatest quiet range in Tucson, Tucson Mountain Park 100 yard outdoor. Quiet, rarely crowded, pit toilet, bring your own water. Love it.

 

[Lennyjoe]

The range out by the fairgrounds is offering CCW classes too. I think they are around $40.

BTW, the gunshow is this weekend and I'm going on Sunday morning.

 

[Kor]

There is an exemption for firearms possession on private property that happens to be within 1000 feet of a school.

However, sidewalks and thoroughfares are not private property.

 

[RobT2K]

Too bad I missed the fun show, but I'll be in Tucson on 29th and 30th of Sept. It looks like the Desert trails gun club will be the closest to where I'll be staying, so I'll have to check it out.

It looks like there is public access for non members unless I'm mistaken?

Any good sources of surplus .308 at any Tucson gunshops? Most likely available would be south african in the 140 rnd battle packs. I'd like to pick up some extra if prices are better than here behind the curtain.

 

[Kor]

Rob, bad news - Desert Trails was sold, the new owners are going to build on the property and it is no longer open to shooting of any kind.

Closest range to DT will be the county range.

I believe that Murphy's Guns & Gunsmithing, at Ft. Lowell & Country Club, and Diamondback Police Supply, at Broadway & Kolb, have SA 7.62 NATO. If they haven't closed the doors by the end of the month, there MAY still be Pakistani 7.62 NATO at Jensen's on Pima, last I knew they were trying to close it out @ $149.00/1K.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Hey Kor, I think I'll drive out to the shoot on Sunday to see whats up. Been thinking about getting into IDPA shooting.

What time do you guys usually get started?

 

[RobT2K]

Well that is bad news, where is the county range?

I'll be staying off of Pantano between 22nd and Broadway, if that helps. How far is the range that is near old tucson from there? How long would it take to get to either range?

Thanks, I'm trying to find a nice range to bring my nuetered FAL to so I can undo the horrible fixed mag for awhile

 

[Kor]

Lennyjoe, match registration starts at 8:30, and the match briefing starts at 9:00. Shooting begins as soon as the match briefing ends. If'n you want to compete, bring sidearm, strong-side holster, at least 2 spare mags/speedloaders w/pouches, and 100-150 rds. Match fee is $15 for non-PPC members. Shooting usually wraps up at around 11:00, but if you want to find out how well you did, you usually have to wait until about noon for all the scores to get tabulated.

Rob, the Southeast Regional Park Shooting Range is out by the Pima County Fairgrounds, from 22nd & Pantano you want head east to Houghton and south from there past I-10. You could also take Kolb to I-10 and exit on Rita or Houghton - slightly less traffic that way. Check the links for more info and maps, once you get past I-10 on Houghton you will see signs directing you to the range.

For the Tucson Mountain Park range(by Old Tucson), take Kolb to Golf Links and follow that road around Davis-Monthan AFB till you come to Ajo Way. Take Ajo Way west to Kinney Road, turn right, and look for the signs.

Not sure of distances(look it up in MapQuest), but both ranges should be approximately the same distance and time(about 30 mins.) from 22nd & Pantano. More highway driving to get to the Fairgrounds range, more city driving to get to the TMP range.

BTW, make sure to eat at Kenny D's while you're in the neighborhood - they're just east of the Skate Country roller-rink at 22nd & Pantano, they make an outstanding, reasonably-priced 1/2-lb burger, and their fries are the best in town, PERIOD.

 

[RobT2K]

Thanks for the help, and the info on the burger joint, I'll have to check it out!