On somewhat of a whim a coworker and I decided to take today off work and get out to the range. Packed everything up before I went to bed. Got up early, made a cup of coffee and hit the road. After about a 2 hour drive we reached the range in Okeechobee and to my surprise it looked like we were the first ones there! Did we have the whole range to ourselves today?!

Absolutely not. They were closed. Doh! What a dummy. To make it worse every outdoor range around us we called were also closed on Wednesdays. Apparently they are all open Thursday-Sunday only and for some reason, even though I’ve been dozens of times, I guess I’ve never realized this. Double doh!

Of course we weren’t ready to give up. We had the day off and we wanted to go shooting. So we decided to turn around and go back an hour and a half back the way we came to a nice indoor range in Melbourne. They were open and not too busy so we paid for two lanes and went on in. We unpacked our bags attached our targets and ... they shut the range down! I kid you not. They told Us they had to perform some maintenance that was scheduled for later that day but due to some reason I am not sure of they had to do it right then. Triple doh!

Im standing there with my ears and eyes on and my fresh target is down range so when the range master looked at me I held up 5 fingers and made prayer hands. He gave me a slight nod so I stuffed 5 165gr 44 Specials into my 296 and let her rip! Then I had to leave. That was a lot of driving for 5 shots. At least it was a decent group!

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Sorry you had to go through all that. Don't know if I'd be willing to drive a 4-hour round trip just to go shooting.

I hope the indoor range refunded your range fee (if you had to pay) for shutting down right after letting you in.

Well, if it makes you feel any better, my wife and I drove about an hour to Perdenales State Park yesterday (Tuesday) to find it closed with a sign saying open Wed-Sun. Who woulda thunk it?

It is a long drive but they have a really nice steel gallery for rim fire and one for center fire. I can also shoot shotgun and rifle there and it’s all outdoors. The drive is a lot better when it’s broken up by a day of shooting in the middle haha.

Yes they gave us cards for 3 free hours each we can use next time. I’m sure they had good reason for doing the maintenance then. Just that kinda day I guess.

Doh! How did the wife take it? I felt bad for my coworker because I drug him to range 2 hours away that was closed. I told him I’d make it up to him on Sunday by taking him to Chick-fil-A

That's a shame. Sometimes it's better to just stay in bed I guess.

Lucky me. I'm 10 minutes from my rifle/pistol range and 20 minutes from my shotgun range. Both open now for a week or so.

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Keep your powder dry.

I fell your pain! I have a 1996 colt Gold cup in .45 acp that I just acquired at a gun show on march 3, this year. I really want to shoot it but I dont know how I will do wearing a face mask and shooting. I am wary of going anywhere without a face mask. Oh well, I guess I will wait

I see folks at the range wearing face masks. Just not on Wednesdays! But better safe than sorry that’s for sure. Any pics of that new Colt you’d like to share?

I went to a range yesterday early afternoon. There was one car in the parking lot. I went in and the other guy was there buying a gun. So I had one of three bays to myself. I had a 625-8JM and a box of ammo. Very relaxing.

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SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

I drive by my 600 member shooting range every day since 1984. Does that make make my house worth more? I hope so. NRA members only.

When this has happened to me it's usually an outdoor shooting ban I hadn't heard of or a range that's closed for a competition or members-only shoot.

Now I just shoot in my backyard unless I want to stretch to 100m or more.

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Psalm 27:2

I'm lucky to have three nice outdoor ranges near where I live. Round trip is 25 mi to the closest and 45 mi. to the farthest.

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John

I'm planning on visiting a nearby recently re-opened range near me, hopefully today or tomorrow, and I'm hoping I have a similar situation.

Edit: No such luck. The place was packed. I managed to get the last open lane, but was limited to 30 minutes. Oh, well. I guess it could've been worse.

I wanted to get a hair cut , my barbershop never takes appointments , for the last 40 years it has always been first come , first served ....
Except...yesterday I called the shop... I had to make an appointment if I wanted a cut...made a 4:30 and got trimmed up.

I don't even have a cell phone and I thought to call them ...
don't go anywhere and just assume a place will be open ... chances are , it's closed or you need to make an appointment to get in .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Our local Rod and Gun club is right around the corner from my home. Yesterday afternoon I went out and was the only one there as is often the case. Love having a range right around the corner. I am on the board of directors and teach there. Doing my retired LE shoot there today.

While I still have to visit a commercial rifle range for my 100-200yd practice, I was able to develop my own private home handgun range. It reaches up to ~14yd, which I do not mind since all of my handgun practice is for self defense and home protection. Half of the range is within my garage/shop and half in the driveway with a 15in concrete wall backup.

BTW, I always give the local PD a courtesy call prior to going hot, since I live in a very rural subdivision in Texas. That saves the PD from making unneeded 911 runs to the far end of the county...

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The fam and I have been bit by the Chick-fil-A closed on Sunday numerous times!!!!!!!!!!!

Went yesterday, local indoor is only a mile from me. First time since February, I had two winter purchases I’d never fired plus my first 9mm reloads to try out. Fun time.

FTE score: S&W 2, Glock 0

Thankfully my indoor range open to both members and non on Monday. Plan on going next Tuesday which is Lady's Day so my wife will shoot for free and as an Army Veteran it only cost me $10 for unlimited range time.

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Veteran/NRA Member/S&W 327

Being able to shoot on my own property is a dream of mine. Maybe someday I could achieve such a thing.

Just pay very close attention to your "neighbor's" intentions. Mine keep trying to change "country" into "city" with carpet grass and wholesale shooting of rattlesnakes "cuz theaz scarez us...". IMO, just stay in the city already...

Well the private range I belong to is 7 miles from my house available to membes every day. Just unlock the gate upon arrival. Close and lock up behind you.