Anybody in AZ. from....

[Tech23]

Anybody here in Arizona...from the San Tan Valley/Queen Creek, or Florence areas?

Tech23

 

[Bullzaye]

Well...I'm from the west side of Phoenix.

Tim

 

[jkc]

I'm not too far away, in Mesa, and have some knowledge of the area you mentioned --- questions???

 

[Tech23]

I'm new to the area and I am looking for someone to go to the range with, or go plinking with out in the desert. I hear there is a place off of 79 in Florence. I think it's near the railroad tracks but I'm not certain.

Tech23

 

[scoutsdad]

Hi Tech23, formerly a Gilbert resident.

How about Ben Avery

Ben Avery Arizona Shooting Range Facility

Far East Mesa, almost to AJ, Usery State Park close by is a great place to hike.

 

[jkc]

The nearest established range open to the public is the Rio Salado Sportsmens' Club Range, at Usery Pass in far east Mesa --- follow Ellsworth Rd. north from the US 60 interchange --- it's under the huge hillside "Phoenix" sign. There is a military range just north of Florence a few miles on Hwy 79, but it is not open to civilians (and, mind the "hot range" red flags flying when artillery practice is in session!) Much of the surrounding area is off-limits to "plinking" as it is in some city's limits even though it may still be apparently rural in character, is State Trust Land open to hunting but not casual recreational use, including plinking, Gila River Indian Reservation (don't get caught trespassing on any reservation --- the tribes have been known to impound guns, vehicles, etc. --- just not worth the potential risk...) If you take the road leading east off Hwy 79 just north of the Gila River bridge, it eventually enters the southern reaches of Tonto National Forest, where it is still legal to plink. Shooters who trashed the forest with shot up appliances and computers and other junk have led the Forest Service to close to shooting an ever-growing fairy ring of Forest Lands around metro Phoenix, and the State Land Department is cracking down on the same illegal and boorish behavior in northeast Pinal County as well. South of Florence you can find places where it's at least safe to shoot in areas where you're unlikely to be bothered, even if it's not technically legal to shoot --- try the Ninety Six Ranch road, for example.

The nearest indoor range is Caswells in Mesa.

 

[yaktamer]

Hi. I'm in San Tan Valley. Unfortunately, I'm pretty much booked up with work/family obligations for the next couple of months and probably won't get out shooting for awhile.

JKC's rundown is basically it. Not a lot of places to legally plink close. If you decide to go into the Tonto, check the website first, as it has a map of off-limits areas. Rio Salado at Usury Pass is pretty nice. About $8 for nonmembers to shoot. There is a brand new indoor range (I think it was supposed to open this week) called Cunningham's ( I think) near the Home Depot at Power and Rittenhouse in Queen Creek.

Welcome to the area.

 

[Tech23]

Hi. I'm in San Tan Valley. Unfortunately, I'm pretty much booked up with work/family obligations for the next couple of months and probably won't get out shooting for awhile.

JKC's rundown is basically it. Not a lot of places to legally plink close. If you decide to go into the Tonto, check the website first, as it has a map of off-limits areas. Rio Salado at Usury Pass is pretty nice. About $8 for nonmembers to shoot. There is a brand new indoor range (I think it was supposed to open this week) called Cunningham's ( I think) near the Home Depot at Power and Rittenhouse in Queen Creek.

Welcome to the area.

Thank's for the replies. I have been to Rio Salada before. It's a bit hot out now to go out to the desert. If anyone wants to meet at Rio Salada sometime feel free to send me a PM.

I have not heard about the new indoor range near the Home Depot, sounds interesting.

Tech23

 

[Sven]

As long as we're talking about the east valley. . .

I'm planning to snowbird in Mesa in a couple of years. I've been by Rio Salada many times, good to hear it's a nice place to shoot. They must have had a full auto shoot one time when we were hiking Usury Mountain -- I could hear several different types of weapons being fired!

My biggest question -- Are there any bullseye leagues running , say, January through April? I will greatly miss the indoor league I shoot in all winter.

 

[doublesharp]

Thread drift alert. One of my most favorite vacations was in Wilhoite Az, just down the mtn from Prescott. My favorite uncle has lived there for many years. He has 2 Polaris 600 quads. We got on them and rode all over that high desert, plinking with .22s whenever we saw something that needed shooting. I like living in the Louisville area but when obligations are completed I do believe I could be satisfied in the high desert of Az.

 

[19 Kilo]

It's a bit of a hike North, (less so than Ben Avery tho) but I like Scottsdale Gun Club. I've been shooting there since I moved here 'bout 4 years ago.

During the big ammo drought they always had bullets and typically only ran about a dollar more than the local Wally World (when it had anything).

Air conditioned, indoor, memberships and not bad prices, especially in the consignment case.

 

[jkc]

It's not uncommon to hear full-auto fire at the Rio Salado range, which doesn't prohibit full-auto fire. The range once had an arrangement for testing with McDonell-Douglas for prototype testing of the 30MM chaingun weapon system for the locally made Apache attack helicopter. Observers reported literally earthshaking recoil from the tripod-mounted guns!