Denver area ranges and legal CCW areas

[Ryme]

Mods - Please feel free to move this. It didn't quite fit in the lounge and I couldn't find a better spot.

Whats up guys/gals? I wanted to post a thread and get some feed back on ranges and legal areas to shoot at in the Denver area. I also want to talk a bit about CCW and where you can and can't carry.

There is a really nice indoor range right down from my house called the Centennial Gun Club, but indoors isn't really my thing. Does anyone know of any low key outdoor ranges in the general Denver area. The wife and I take trips up into the Mts all the time on weekends so if it's a bit of a trip don't worry. If possible we want to go somewhere we aren't restricted to just paper targets. You know, soda cans and what not.

I have heard but not confirmed that you can shoot on National Forest land. Is this true? I know that you can't shoot in the National Parks unless hunting with a permit but that's not really the point of this thread. Anywhere else?

When it comes to CCW I have a few questions. I did take the CCW class required here in CO, but I haven't yet had time to trudge down to the county building and jump through the rings of fire.

#1. We were told that here in CO your car is not considered an extension of your home. I was very unclear on this even asking the instructor for more details. What does this mean in terms of carrying a gun in your car legally with and without a CCW permit. Please make the differences clear.

#2. National parks. From what we were told you are allowed to carry in National parks in your home state. What about National Parks in other states? This summer we plan on being out and about lots and know that we will end up in parks in other states surrounding CO and want to sure we don't get caught not knowing something we should have.

I'm sure there are more, but for the moment those are the two big ones. Any and all input is greatly appreciated as always.

 

[Rastoff]

Your CCW answers are here: http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/colorado.pdf

Remember, if it is not specifically prohibited by law, it's legal. Laws don't tell us what we can do, they tell us what we cannot do.

 

[Dashriprock]

CGC strikes me as an indoor country club of sorts. Certainly fine for some, but I prefer an outdoor area.

National Forest is fine, perfectly legal so long as you have a good backstop and you're not shooting from a road. There are numerous NF "ranges" close to town that have been there for years. The Pit, a spot south of Buffalo Creek, is as busy on a Sunday as an in-town indoor range. There's a pretty good one above Blackhawk in Pickle Gulch that doesn't get as much traffic.

Used to shoot in such places, but I don't today. Too many accidents (how Rampart near Colo Spgs got shut down last year) and too many unsafe clownhats waving muzzles around, executing old TVs and whatnot. When I see beer coming out of a truck bed with all the ammo, I'm gone.

So I joined a private club. I can ring gongs out to 500 yards on one range, plink cans on another, enjoy a round of skeet if the notion strikes. No .50 BMG, no exploding targets the only restrictions. Everything else is fine, just pick up after yourself. Peace of mind, great people, safe, and inexpensive.

From your location, there are three excellent outdoor clubs that are closer to you than the foothills. If you do go NF, find a place you like unencumbered by crowds and enjoy.

 

[H Richard]

The Cherry Creek state park had a range in the park with about 12 yd firing points for handgun, and 50 and 100 yd rifle distances. I shot there a couple years ago, and it wasn't too bad, awful short on distance for handgun's, and I wasn't aware of any competition. I believe they also had an informal trap range. Targets were available and several range officers were on site to keep thing O.K. There is also the Aurora Gun Club, which is pretty big and has a fair sized facility outdoors, off Gun Club Road. It is a membership club I believe, but guests are welcome.

 

[S&W Fan]

Ryme, first off your instructor is woefully uninformed if he/she couldn't answer your question. Colorado Revised Statutes 18-12-105 (2 b) has the pertinent language:

ARTICLE 12. OFFENSES RELATING TO FIREARMS AND WEAPONS
PART 1. FIREARMS AND WEAPONS - GENERAL

C.R.S. 18-12-105 (2012)

18-12-105. Unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon - unlawful possession of weapons



(1) A person commits a class 2 misdemeanor if such person knowingly and unlawfully:

(a) Carries a knife concealed on or about his or her person; or

(b) Carries a firearm concealed on or about his or her person; or

(c) Without legal authority, carries, brings, or has in such person's possession a firearm or any explosive, incendiary, or other dangerous device on the property of or within any building in which the chambers, galleries, or offices of the general assembly, or either house thereof, are located, or in which a legislative hearing or meeting is being or is to be conducted, or in which the official office of any member, officer, or employee of the general assembly is located.

(d) (Deleted by amendment, L. 93, p. 964, § 1, effective July 1, 1993.)

(2) It shall not be an offense if the defendant was:

(a) A person in his or her own dwelling or place of business or on property owned or under his or her control at the time of the act of carrying; or

(b) A person in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance who carries a weapon for lawful protection of such person's or another's person or property while traveling; or

(c) A person who, at the time of carrying a concealed weapon, held a valid written permit to carry a concealed weapon issued pursuant to section 18-12-105.1, as it existed prior to its repeal, or, if the weapon involved was a handgun, held a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun or a temporary emergency permit issued pursuant to part 2 of this article; except that it shall be an offense under this section if the person was carrying a concealed handgun in violation of the provisions of section 18-12-214; or

(d) A peace officer, as described in section 16-2.5-101, C.R.S., when carrying a weapon in conformance with the policy of the employing agency as provided in section 16-2.5-101 (2), C.R.S.; or

(e) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2003, p. 1624, § 46, effective August 6, 2003.)

(f) A United States probation officer or a United States pretrial services officer while on duty and serving in the state of Colorado under the authority of rules and regulations promulgated by the judicial conference of the United States.

There are many good ccw instructors in the Denver metro area...and a few really bad ones. Centennial Gun Club is nice, though the current range with only 6 lanes is woefully inadequate. There are a few private clubs within 30-40 minutes of the metro area with outdoor facilities, some have long waiting lists to join.

The last time I was at the Aurora Gun Club was in '03 for a 3 day class and I was amazed it was still open due to the amount of residential building that was going on very close to it. I don't even know if it's still open. Cherry Creek is still open, you have to pay the parks fee + the fees at the range.

Feel free to pm for more info. I can refer you to some good places & perhaps help with more info.

 

[trakskip]

For your consideration: There is an effort afoot to ban shooting in a large area of NF on the west slope. I believe it's n and ne of Grand Junction or se. I forget the particulars.
You can never shoot in a National Park unless for a special hunt such as bison maybe in West Yellowstone or Madison. or i could be wrong, stay tuned to find out.

 

[Ryme]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm glad to know there are several options available.

S&W Fan, she knew what she was talking about. She just went a little to fast for me to understand when speaking about car+gun. I asked her to repeat herself but didn't get the information I was looking for. I have a few links I can go read and hopefully find out what I need to know. The wife and I were talking on the way to the range a few days ago (pistol in case inside laptop bag with loaded clip, but not chambered, on the back seat) and neither of us could figure out if we were in the right if we got stopped for some odd reason and the subject happened to come up. Not that it would have, but we like to play the scenario game. She also has a high level security clearance she must maintain for her job so she is extra touchy when it comes to getting in any sort of little trouble. Myself on the other hand is a little more rebellious.

Dashriprock, I completely agree. That place is a little to pretentious for me. I bought my gun there and really felt like they could care less and that they were doing me a favor by answering even the simple questions. They didn't try to show or teach me anything without having to pry it out of them. They gave me three 1hr range coupons to use, so I will use them but that is probably all I will do there. The wife asked if they could order something (she wants an LC9) and their answer was "No, when the truck comes it's like Christmas, we never know what we are going to get." Which is absolute BS. Anyway, enough bashing. Pickle Gulch? Any chance you could give me some directions? Doesn't sound like a place the GPS will find easily haha.

Rastoff, Helpful as always. I shall do my fair share of reading today but keep in mind what you said.

trakskip, We've been out to Grand Junction on our way to Moab before it got cold. Man is it beautiful out there. The whole experience being out here is so different from where I grew up. I can't wait to get lost on some dirt bike trails this summer. Please post an update if you get any other information on NF land.

 

[H Richard]

The clerk may have answered truthfully when he said "When the truck comes in it's like Christmas, we never know what we are going to get". Many stores belong to a Buying Group, and they take what is sent them. There is supposed to be some kind of inventory control that whatever they sell is replaced, but from what I hear it doesn't work very well. The Buying Group buys large quantities of items and in turn supplies them to their stores in the group. Usually they do get an advance notice of what to expect, but they don't order in like most independent business's do.

 

[glenncal1]

Google Harris Park it is a NF shooting area that is up 285 past Pine Junction, best to go during the week, but generally ok to shoot there. Now I haven't been in a while as it was closed for a time while there was some logging activity taking place near by.

I am a member of the Golden Gun Club (actual range is south of DIA) and I think this is the club Dash is referring to. There is a web site with info. Not sure if there is a waiting list now or not. Be very careful where you shoot in the NF. Lots of places have been closed mostly due to people trashing the spots. There is also a lot of private land mixed in with the NF land. Welcome to Colorado. If you and your wife would like to shoot at Golden Gun club you can come as my guests.

 

[Dashriprock]

Ryme, I'll bet you really dig those hundreds of dirtbike trails that run along the Bookcliffs north of Grand Junction, right? The ones that run to the Utah line? Great riding.

Next time you're in GJ, pull off 70 at Horizon, go north to the airport. Roundabout to westbound H Road. then go north on 27-1/4 Road. Keep driving, pavement ends soon, but it's regularly graded gravel. (DO NOT try it if wet. Greasiest, nastiest, stickiest bentonite soil you've ever seen.)

About four miles up, near the base of the Bookcliffs, is the only completely free 1,000+ yards rifle range I know of in the state. Around 15 concrete benches on a concrete pad, roof (sorta ventilated) and a whole desert full of steel plates. Has a good two-track to drive out targets.

Another half mile on there is a pistol range, no roof but some benches and plenty of fun. All on BLM land, maintained by a great group of volunteers.

I'll PM you ...

 

[Dashriprock]

I am a member of the Golden Gun Club (actual range is south of DIA) and I think this is the club Dash is referring to. There is a web site with info. Not sure if there is a waiting list now or not. Be very careful where you shoot in the NF. Lots of places have been closed mostly due to people trashing the spots. There is also a lot of private land mixed in with the NF land. Welcome to Colorado. If you and your wife would like to shoot at Golden Gun club you can come as my guests.

glenncal1 is exactly the kind of great people to whom I refer -- (hello, fellow GGC member!)

Our guest fee is $5. A fine facility and organization, of which I am proud to be a member.

 

[JD 500]

Unfortunately there are only a few outdoor ranges in Denver metro area.
Only public one is Cherry Creek, on the grounds of the cherry creek reservoir. Have to pay park fee to get in, then range fee. Range is 100 yds.

2 or 3 membership clubs have outdoor ranges.

I am a member at Golden Gun Club, which is actually east of town 30 mintues on I-70, then 5 miles south of Watkins exit.
Rifle range to 500 yds.

Also is Bailey Gun Club and I think Aurora Gun club, both membership based as well.

Good luck !