Are your shooting ranges suddenly crowded?

[glypnir]

A couple of weekends ago, I went to try shooting at my friendly neighborhood indoor range. It was so packed that they had the back gate open and were encouraging people to park in the alley.

Only place I've been where the parking attendants are armed.

There were lots of CHL classes going on, so I figured, OK, I'll go when they don't have one.

This Sunday, I called and asked how it was. No CHL classes, but no range space either. All full, thank you.

Is this another symptom of the political climate? Is it happening to you? Or is it just East Fort Worth and the Mid Cities?

 

[glypnir]

A couple of weekends ago, I went to try shooting at my friendly neighborhood indoor range. It was so packed that they had the back gate open and were encouraging people to park in the alley.

Only place I've been where the parking attendants are armed.

There were lots of CHL classes going on, so I figured, OK, I'll go when they don't have one.

This Sunday, I called and asked how it was. No CHL classes, but no range space either. All full, thank you.

Is this another symptom of the political climate? Is it happening to you? Or is it just East Fort Worth and the Mid Cities?

 

[460v LAC du FLAMBEAU]

Same busy condition at my only indoor range in the area...outdoor ranges still have 2 feet of snow!

My gunshop ordered an M&P15T for me (normally he does not stock AR's) which I have been waiting delivery for 10 weeks. He has 4 guys on the waiting list at the gunshop in case I don't take delivery!!

 

[Wayne02]

Yes, much more activity. Particularly during members only hours or on the members only range. Mostly due to unemployment and the need to get out of the house. Their membership is paid for this year, might as well use it.

 

[rewster]

Nope ! A lot of new members qualifying but what they do afterwards is a mystery to me. I try to get up every Sat and Sun AM and there are the 2 to 3 requlars and that's it.

 

[K.38]

The range here seems to be busy. From what the target holders look like there are many thousands of rounds going downrange.

 

[jjones33]

If someone parks on my land, er range, I have them towed.

I also belong to an organized very nice outdoor range that is deserted during the week but on the weekend I stay away mainly because of all the matches.

 

[cptdco]

I belong to an outdoor member-owned gun club and trafic there seems normal or slightly increased. I also maintain a membership at a commercial indoor pistol range and business there is much greater now then the past several years. I used to be able to show up anytime on a Saturday or Sunday and find a lane available. Now I make it a point to be there when they open in the morning and by the time I leave an hour or so later, there is a line of people waiting to get on a lane. In fact, I used to stop and have a cup of coffee and then shoot a little longer, but I feel guilty doing that now.

 

[jkc]

Weekend before last, there was a brief wait in late afternoon for a bench at Rio Salado range. Last weekend, hiking nearby, there seemed to be somewhat less gunfire echoing off the Goldfield Mountain cliffs, although there was the sporatic erruption of fire from some sort of GP machine gun --- a comforting sound --- MGs in civilian hands!

 

[pred]

NOPE, I belong to a private range and was there the other day,,, And like always I was the only one there on the 25 and 25 yard ranges,
Nice to belong to a private range.
Peter.

 

[trover]

Yes, we're seeing more people at the range every time we go, but the range is adding capacity, and a new one is going up nearby. It's great living in Arizona.

 

[Tom M]

They're crowded around me, but it's not suddenly. Except in the middle of summer, it's always crowded, and some weekends, you can't get any time at all. Been like that for the last 3 or 4 years.

 

[Spotteddog]

Suddenly?
They've been taking numbers 0 to 100, in three colors, for the last 6 months! Only two place's busier are the DMV and unemployment office's.

 

[Sgt Preston]

Sgt Preston here. Yes! I was surprised last Tuesday night. It was 8 degrees here & there was still snow everywhere from a snow storm the day before. Ours is a small 7 lane 25 yard indoor range. When I arrived at 6:45 PM, there were 25 shooters on the 7 lanes & another 45 people in the lobby waiting to get a lane. Thank you Nancy Pelosi & Barack Obama for renewing the interest in our sport & in gun ownership in general. Our ranges & gun shops are financially healthy again. There is no recession in the gun shops. Thanks again! Sgt Preston USMC LLA

 

[cincinnatijim]

Our Target World has been pretty busy. The last time we were there about 15 people were waiting to sign up to use the range, which is the most I've seen. We usually go on a weekday when I have a day off.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

Yes, the shops are also very crowded.

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, the local indoor ranges are crowded, but I wouldn't call it sudden. It's been going on for a while, even before the election. There was a major uptick after the election, then another in late December (private security guards had to requal before year-end). In between, it's been steadily busy. It does vary by the range, though. The one down the street is almost always very crowded; another across town is less so.

I'm sure the political climate has a lot to do with it. This seems to happen every time the Democrats come into power or there's a foreign "situation." In some ways, such things are actually good for pro-gun organizations--membership numbers and donations swell. Checks and balances and all that.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[tyusclan]

Mine isn't.

I just walk out the back door and fire into that big ol' pile o' dirt pushed up out there.

That's just one (of many) reasons I love living in the country.

 

[JamesArthur60]

I wouldn't say the ranges are "suddenly" crowded, but the gun counter sure has rows of potential buyers looking.

 

[bubbatime]

My local range in PACKED. I cant stand going there anymore. Lots of idiots too...