Good range in SoCal?

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ethan5.3

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I just moved to Lancaster, CA back in Aug 2011. I am from the sticks in Louisiana so I am used to being able to shoot anywhere I want. Now that I am here in SoCal, I have been looking for a good range(s) to go to. I found a very extensive list of nearby ranges on wheretoshoot.org but I am having trouble choosing one and was wondering if anybody on the forum had any suggestions. I also have a .270 and a 12 ga so I would like to find a place where I can shoot those as well as the 15-22.

I would normally like to go to a range <1hr from Lancaster. However, this Sat. night I have to go to LAX to pick up my fiance' so it would be a good day to go to any ranges further south of me (in the direction of LAX).

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
 
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Ah, Lancaster. Had to look up where that is again haha I'm not from that area. Check out "Angeles Shooting Range". I have yet to go to it cause it's an hour away from me but it looks like a really nice range, really diverse:
Rifle, Pistol, & Shotgun Ranges

range_layout.jpg


I've heard of a place named "A place to shoot" (nice name, haha) which could be a little closer to you.

A Place to Shoot - Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun Shooting Range | A Place to Shoot

aerial-view-ranges.png


Here is a map of Southern California's BLM land showing where you can legally shoot on public land:

http://www.specialdistricts.org/2/FishandGame/docs/2010_cnty_shooting_areas_final.pdf
 
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Thanks Jav, I have been thinking about both of those. I guess I will just have to try 'em out. I was just hoping someone had been to one of them. A co-worker told me about some land ~15 mins. away so I might go try that this weekend if I don't go to "A Place to Shoot"
 
ethan5.3 said:
Thanks Jav, I have been thinking about both of those. I guess I will just have to try 'em out. I was just hoping someone had been to one of them. A co-worker told me about some land ~15 mins. away so I might go try that this weekend if I don't go to "A Place to Shoot"
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I heard about those two through a California based forum I post on and Angeles gets mostly positive reviews. I had just recently heard of 'a place to shoot' and a person wrote a review on it with some other posters chiming in with positive reviews. I think it's safe to say you'll have fun :)
 
gboling said:
Welcome to the forum and the area.
This one is freeway close Desert Marksmen | Rifle and Pistol Club
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Thanks. I like how close that one is and have been thinking about it too but I don't like that you can't go shoot for a day before you buy a year's membership.

I know the range is open to the public during matches but I would like to try it out on a non-match day to get a feel of shooting there.

Have you ever shot there?
 
Well it looks like I will be going to "A Place to Shoot" tomorrow. Will have to go check out Desert Marksmen one weekend when the range is open to the public.
 
ethan5.3 said:
Well it looks like I will be going to "A Place to Shoot" tomorrow. Will have to go check out Desert Marksmen one weekend when the range is open to the public.
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Nice! Write a review on the thread sometime afterwards.
 
Angeles

Of the ones mentioned so far, I have only been to Angeles Shooting Ranges. It is a really nice facility with a nice reloading store stocked with supplies. The thing I like best about it is they have permanent steel targets set up for the pistol and rifle ranges. That way you don't need to set up any targets if you don't want to. I like shooting steel for the immediate feedback and the sound of lead on steel just makes me smile.

One thing to mention is that many of the ranges in southern California do not allow the use of steel core or steel jacketed ammo. It can present a fire hazard. This is not usually a problem with pistol ammo but, with rifle ammo it is a good idea to check the bullet (projectile) with a magnet and call the range about it before going to avoid any problems.

Welcome to California. Once home to Jeff Cooper, Jack Weaver and many other famous shooters.
 
ballistic said:
One thing to mention is that many of the ranges in southern California do not allow the use of steel core or steel jacketed ammo. It can present a fire hazard. This is not usually a problem with pistol ammo but, with rifle ammo it is a good idea to check the bullet (projectile) with a magnet and call the range about it before going to avoid any problems.
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Pretty much why I was forced to change my mind on owning an AK-74 =/ What a bummer.
 
Hey I actually live pretty close to lancaster (way down on ave D) I live in a pretty rural area so I just go drive to an abandoned farm place I found and set up targets there. There are tons of places just like it. + if you use steel cored ammo (military surplus 7.62x54 for me) you can use it and not get in trouble.
 
.50AE said:
Hey I actually live pretty close to lancaster (way down on ave D) I live in a pretty rural area so I just go drive to an abandoned farm place I found and set up targets there. There are tons of places just like it. + if you use steel cored ammo (military surplus 7.62x54 for me) you can use it and not get in trouble.
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I would love to find a place like that! I would just be nervous about finding a legal place to go, mostly because i read somewhere that it is illegal to shoot on public lands in LA county.
 
Range Report: A Place to Shoot

So I went to "A Place to Shoot" yesterday. I have never been to a rifle and pistol range (only sporting clay ranges and private land) so I don't have much to compare it too. However, I will try to give a review of the ranges that I used there.

Range 4 has steel plates at 3 distances that are supposed to be swingers but are in need of some maintenance and very rarely move when you hit them.

Range 5 is a shotgun trap range with manual clay throwing machines that can throw 1 or 2 clays at a time. This range was as expected an everything went good for us.

Range 7 is the high power rifle range which was also as expected. We only had 15 mins. to shoot there but we were still able to go set out a paper target and also take some shots at the steel plates they have set out at longer distances. The plates were a little too large for my taste. 150 yards is a pretty easy shot with a .270. Smaller plates would've helped me know if I made a good shot or not.

Range 6 has another small group of swingers that seemed to move more but we only spent about 10 mins there.

All in all, I was satisfied with "A Place to Shoot" for $12.50. Most of the reactive steel targets could use some maintenance but it is still fun to hear bullets hitting steel. :)
 
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