What do you look for in an indoor range?

[sicorican]

Hiya!

I'm doing some research, and wanted to post this here as well as over on the 1911forum.

What do you look for in an indoor range facility? What types of amenities would make your visit more comfortable and enjoyable? By the same token, what turns you off?

Thanx all!

 

[AirForceShooter]

good ventiliation and A/C.
I'm in Florida. It gets hot.

AFS

 

[atlctyslkr]

Second that on the ventilation. There are places I won't go back to for that reason. I look for cheap range time prices, short waits for a lane, and no brand/ammo restrictions.

 

[dev_null]

• Good Ventilation
• Good Lighting
• Air Conditioning in Summer, Heat in Winter
• Working Target Transports, with plenty of cardboard available
• Suitable Partitions between Stations
• Friendly, Knowledgeable RO's, neither oblivious nor "Range Nazis"
• Somewhere to Wash Up Afterwards

Added:

• Ability to draw-and-shoot, none of this "no drawing from holster" business (note that this also reinforces need for good partitions).

 

[deadin]

Add to Dev's list;

Rangemaster that will, if the range isn't crowded, to at least try to spread out the shooters.
There's nothing like being the only guy on the range, working on bullseye slow fire or Free Pistol, having a new shooter with a .44 Automag or such come in, want to practice rapid fire at 15 ft. and having the rangemaster assign him the nextdoor lane.
Even worse, I was on one indoor range that allowed rifles. Any idea just how loud a .308 is in an enclosed space?

Dean

 

[Texas Gun Runner]

Loud .308? How about a .50 BMG

 

[ricci316]

I'm going to have to second the ammo motion. I don't like restrictions on what I can and can't fire.

 

[Bill2k1]

1. cost.
2. air quality.
3. bring your own ammo.

 

[Zen21Tao]

LOCATION.... LOCATION.... LOCATION.

Where I live their is only one indoor range within at least a 45 mile radius.

 

[STAGE 2]

No walls, no doors, no roof, sunshine, rocks, trees, and at least 200yds of view. Yeah, that about covers it.


On a serious note. Has to have an excellent ventilation system, and all the equipment should be working. Sounds wierd, but more and more ranges that I go to just haven't been kept up at all.

Most importantly however, no stupid rules about caliber, rapid fire, renting guns. Some people are extremely safe when doing double taps or rapid fire, and others can't even begin to comprehend the basic 4 rules.

Find a place that has employees with common sense to understand the difference rather than issue blanket prohibitions in the name of "safety"

 

[lucky_fool]

I'd love to have an indoor range nearby that didn't require you to buy their ammo. 9mm at $12 for 50 rounds is a little steep.

 

[PvtPyle]

Things to keep in mind about ammo use. If you punch a hole in a steel trap with your ammo, the range owner is now out several thousand dollars to replace that panel. Are you going to pay for it? You will at our range. We will have an approved list of ammo that can be used on our range, and it is very extensive and growing. In a nut shell, no AP, API, Tracer, or APIT. FMJ and any blended ammo (except the LeMas stuff, and not because I worry about it punching thru the trap, I just dont like their ammo) are all good to go.

We will check your ammo to make sure there is nothing funny being shot there, and it must be in the original box (yes the ammo can surplus is shipped in is the original box) and we will walk the range with the customer at the begining and end of every hour to make sure you do not shoot on a damaged lane and that you did not damage the lane while you were shooting. That may take 10 minutes off the range time, but gives you and the facility piece of mind that everything is safe and fully functional.

On ventalation, it is VERY, VERY expensive. Our system for the ranges alone is costing us over $700,000. Granted it exceeds all OSHA, NIOSH and Dept of the Navy exposure limits by far, and it will leave the facility smelling like a regular building and not a range facility. But that is the first place people cut corners and it is the first place that will cost them big money in the long run.

 

[Zundfolge]

a clean bathroom.


If you ever take a woman shooting you'll realize that the state of the bathroom at the range may determine whether your woman becomes a shooter or just decides you can go to the range by yourself.

 

[aguyindallas]

1. Cost
2. Clean facilities
3. Ventilation/Climate Controlled
4. Selection of targets available
5. Rapid fire friendly
6. Drawing from holster friendly
7. Good attitude
8. Lounge area for after shooting b/s
9. Snacks/drinks available at below ammusement park rates (Not 1.25 for a can of coke)
10. Ammo at realistic prices. I dont mind profit, but $10.00 for 9mm WWB is out of line.

Those are basic needs for me.

 

[rbernie]

I bring my own ammo and I'm usually not looking for refreshments. What I have to have are:

• Good ventilation
• Adequate benches
• Good lighting
• Place to wash my hands

Anything more is gravy.

 

[DrAmazon]

Many of these desires are kind of mutually exclusive with low cost.

 

[Bix]

Primary concern for me is the ability to run drills. The range must allow for holster work, movement and varing target placement. Generally, this means that the range has a separate area or time when goups or individuals can make special use of the facilities. Also - deep, wide, and long gun friendly are big plusses

 

[choochboost]

For now, here's my list in no particular order:

1. Good ventilation
2. I prefer a shelf behind the line as opposed to a bench. Makes more room for range gear.
3. No minimum (21 ft) target distance
4. Drawing from holster permitted
5. Loading mags behind line permitted
6. Rapid fire permitted, at least with .22
7. Good lighting
8. 6-month and 12-month memberships with unlimited range time
9. Ability to pick a preferred lane within open bay
10. Multiple sinks so that more than one person can wash their hands at the same time. Even if its in an open area on the side vs. the bathroom.
11. Outside ammo allowed. Restrictions on tracer ammo are understandable.

 

[DragonRider]

18 posts with nothing about Full Auto! Allowed after range master has seen you shoot it and you know what you are doing.

 

[Standing Wolf]

If you ever take a woman shooting you'll realize that the state of the bathroom at the range may determine whether your woman becomes a shooter or just decides you can go to the range by yourself.

http://www.whistlingpinesgunclub.com

 

[KINGMAX]

INDOOR Range

1) Good ventilation w/ exhaust vents overhead in each booth.
2) Different style of booths - bench - standing - prone/kneeling - holster
3) good lighting on the targets
4) timed pop up targets at differing distances
5) rapid fire for .22's only
6) an area to field strip weapons for quick repairs and adjustments
7) the best people running the range = the most IMPORTANT thing

My home range = DAVI'S Indoor Range & Shooting Sports Raleigh, NC
has the BEST Staff.

 

[YellowLab]

The question should be:

What would you look for in a range that charges $X per hour

Not gonna get the Ritz Carlton service at Motel 6 prices.

 

[22-rimfire]

Ventilation and lighting are the two biggies for me. Membership cost is important also. I would like to be able to bring people to shoot with me as guests that don't have memberships, even if I have to pay some sort of hourly fee or range fee. I frequently have trouble seeing my front sights on handguns at indoor ranges. Hence, don't go back (even with a membership). I have an indoor range within 1/2 mile of my house and rarely go due mostly to the lighting. I prefer outdoor ranges and the closest one is about an hour drive. I will deal with the weather.