1st Indoor Range Day in 6 years OMG

[pharmer]

A buddy of mine works nights for a major airline. I knew he was a shooter but times never lined up. He had today off and invited me to Shooter's World in Orlando. Never experienced anything like it, I thought I was in Heaven for a moment the place has EVERYTHING. "Hands on" handling of just about every modern handgun cabled of course in the entry area. Large, multiple sales areas on 2 floors. Multiple friendly and helpful staff, pricing "competitive retail" and ammo on pallets should you need quantity. Multiple handgun ranges with "recycled tire" backstops, so much better than Caswell type metal backstops that ring every shot. RSO was friendly, helpful and gave free instruction to the couple 2 lanes over buying/ shooting their 1 st gun. 100 yd rifle range on the 2nd floor, open but unused this morning. I only brought a couple .22's and my Sig 228, shooting indoors at this time of year is usually hot due to required airflow. I never got a whiff of smoke nor did the temperature ever become uncomfortable.

I didn't want this to sound like a commercial endorsement but if'n you are in the Orlando area it is worth a visit. You do have to sign an "endorsement" after an interactive tablet presentation and you can't rent guns alone. But if you bring a friend you can rent just about anything, including Class 3. My friend has a membership and I think he said it's like $10/mo. I was glad to touch off a couple hundred rounds in comfort. When done there are industrial type handwashing stations with "de-leading" soap. They even have a snack bar should that be necessary. I'll probably go back before the "outdoor shooting season" starts Oct 1 around here.

PS: We asked 3 employees how they liked working there, every one said in effect; "I love my job." Joe

 

[oldman10mm]

I looked at their website, the site pics look incredible.

 

[pharmer]

The website covers it. I did err on "membership cost." The "shooter's card" is $10/yr, actual memberships are quite spendy but have perks. Joe

 

[walkin jack]

I never cared much for indoor shooting ranges. No perks, noisy, smoky, usually no RO present, and in some of them, The killer for me, you pay to shoot by the hour. I don't shoot by the hour...I shoot till I'm out of ammo.

But the OP sounds like shooting there would be a great experience. I'd give it a "shot".

 

[pharmer]

I never cared much for indoor shooting ranges. No perks, noisy, smoky, usually no RO present, and in some of them, The killer for me, you pay to shoot by the hour. I don't shoot by the hour...I shoot till I'm out of ammo..

I agree. But I wouldn't fire a shot until it gets cool otherwise. No mistake; it's spendy. But where can you rent a belt-fed mg and shoot it using their very pricey ammo? Think of it as the "Disney World" with guns. Joe

 

[Doug M.]

My indoor range has at least one RO on the line at all times; the ventilation is pretty good, and they have a decent selection of rental and for sale firearms. Given the severe current restrictions on outdoor shooting around here due to the extreme fire risk, it is a great option. Beats being out in 100 heat and watching for buzztails.

 

[walkin jack]

I agree. But I wouldn't fire a shot until it gets cool otherwise. No mistake; it's spendy. But where can you rent a belt-fed mg and shoot it using their very pricey ammo? Think of it as the "Disney World" with guns. Joe

You have a good point there.

In my area there are no good indoor ranges in my opinion. On the other hand we have an excellent out door range. it features a 30 lane 25yd pistol range, a 30 lane 100yd rifle range and a professional style trap/skeet range w/25 firing positions. RO runs your session and releases the "birds.

The firing stations are all custom built spacious with convenient featuers. Spotting scopes are provided and on the rifle range they have "brass catchers" available.

officr is air conditioned w/tables and chairs and soft drink and snack machines. $25.00 per year and that includes 1 silhouette or 2 bullseye targets per visit.

There is always a RO on duty on the pistol and on the rifle ranges.

It is a relatively safe and extremely nice place to spend a day.

 

[zeke]

For just a single shooting membership at such a nice place, the cost looks very reasonable considering the location. While it is understandable, the prohibition on reloads would keep me away unless there were limited alternatives.

 

[Harrison]

Nardis has three indoor ranges here in San Antonio. The one I go to is really nice. Large store and sell/buy guns. Full selection of rentals. Probably 25+ shooting stations in 3 pressurized and air conditioned shooting bays. Yearly membership is reasonable and you can shoot until you run out of ammo. Their only ammo restrictions are no steel or aluminum cased ammo and no steel or armor piercing bullets.

 

[glenwolde]

Some ranges are nicer than others. The trend these days seems to be moving towards a "club" vibe. I went to one in Fort Worth for a while that had sofas, TVs, and a pool table. Two RSO's on every range all the time.

Not sure they were all that fond of S&W's though, because in the men's room....

 

[Rustyt1953]

^^^^^^^^


Aim & pee.

 

[pharmer]

You have a good point there. In my area there are no good indoor ranges in my opinio.....

We do too. At the moment it is 95*/99% humidity in this spot. And yes, I can hit the target 100yds with my 10-22. Joe