My son wants to go shooting......

[BB57]

… And, usually, you can count on stupid rules like, “if the brass hits the floor, it’s ours”, or “you have to shoot our targets and/or ammo”, or the classic “no lead bullets”….

It’s all connected. They want to make money off selling you their ammo and it prevents shooters from using handloads. Combine that with an “if it hits the floor it’s ours policy” they can sell the brass and sell it for more money as “certified once fired brass”.

It’s all about using the shooter to produce as many revenue streams as possible.

 

[BB57]

6string and others are right about outdoor ranges and you can't beat the ventilation.The club i belong to has strict safety rules but no range officers unless its a competition so it's very enjoyable.There is a lot of generous guys that help and share their knowledge.I have never bought a gun that i haven't shot someones already at the club.

I’ve shot at an outdoor range for years. It used to be public and private/membership based but a few years ago went to a members only model. Since then the range officers have not been necessary and the number of stupid people shooting on the range has fallen to near zero as any members who fell in that category were not renewed.

Membership has also been closed since so it’s not usually crowded.

 

[SWFan27]

My outdoor members only range charges $30 per guest if I bring a guest or two. They charge $2 for the large targets and also sell reloaded ammo for some calibers when they have it in stock. I have never bought any ammo there, but it is reasonably priced. It is in Southern California and about a 15 minute drive from home. It is my "happy place."

 

[Venom6]

Years ago I moved from the city to a small property in the West. Had to take a 50% pay cut but it was worth it, and this is why. I can shoot on my property rain-or-shine, and I heavily insulated the shack to muffle the gunshots so as not to disturb my nearest neighbors 100+ yards away. I shoot pistols and carbines at steel plates from the swing-open doors at 15-50 yards, and rifles through the open window from a bench out to 200.

 

[Frailer]

I am exceptionally fortunate in that my “range” doubles as my yard. I feel for those who must seek out other options.

I also have some (not a lot, but some) sympathy for those who run a range as a business. In my limited experience each of those “stupid rules” they enforce can be traced back to at least one stupid customer.

For example, one range operator told me they put the “if the brass hits the floor, it’s ours” rule as the result of shooters crawling under the shooting table—forward of the firing line—to retrieve brass.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

$50 an hour? I don't think so.
Even $20 an hour..... no

Unheard of around here. And we have plenty of ranges to choose from, indoors and out.

 

[LVSteve]

My dad belongs to the gun club/range in Boulder City, NV. That is most awesome range I have ever been to, but I hear they do have a waiting list to join. And there are a couple months a year where the heat can beat some of the fun out of our trips there. We usually go early before it gets really hot. I have never been to an indoor range myself.

...and there's a problem right away. I am not an early person.

 

[Kevin G]

I belong to two rod and gun clubs with ranges.
The first one I joined is pretty much a working man’s club. Volunteer labor gets nearly everything done and work parties are well attended. The members took this newbie under their wings and were generous with their time and advice. I learned to shoot and reload under their mentorship. Good people.
The other club is 45 minutes away, after one year of membership unsupervised indoor range privileges are available. $40 additional yearly fee, screening and some training is required. This club is heavy on classes, taken quite a few and an NRA instructor in several disciplines. good people at this club too.
Highly recommend these types of clubs.
Kevin G


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cherrypointmarine]

There's a chain of gun stores here in Fl that I won't name . He also owns the gun shows , more than a few through out the state . Now at his gun shows he has vendors that sell factory reloaded ammo , one vendor I've been shooting his for at least 25 years . The last time I went to one of his stores/ranges I was told I couldn't shoot remanufactured ammo , which was the last time I went . I have a hard time understanding his philosophy . It's ok for vendors to sell it at his shows , but you can't shoot it at his range ?

 

[SWFan27]

...and there's a problem right away. I am not an early person.

I am right there with you. I just pretend to be a morning person during the work week or when I visit my dad.

 

[rwsmith]

Yo.....

Here are my highly biased and opinionated thoughts:
For the most part, I can’t stand those gun store ranges. They’re all about gouging their customers. Usually, too, they’re poorly lit and ventilated. And, usually, you can count on stupid rules like, “if the brass hits the floor, it’s ours”, or “you have to shoot our targets and/or ammo”, or the classic “no lead bullets”.

The ROs are usually a bunch of…well, you know….
And, there’s too many fools with guns.

If you can join a local club, that’s always the best bet.

Failing that, since you’re in the Charleston area, why not try the Twin Ponds Rifle & Pistol Range? Decent outdoor covered range. It’s part of the Francis Marion National Forest. Open daylight hours, Tues-Sat. I think it’s still free.
Go during the mid-week and you’ll have no trouble finding shooting space. (Weekends can be very busy!)

My personal PSA: when using these public ranges, be sure to clean up and pack out all your garbage, so they don’t get shut down.

ATP started out ok for a cheap indoor range but they got more stupid rules as the years went by, now, as Bullseye Bill's they are awful.

The club I was asked to join, The Palmetto Gun club is great, but I had to retire on disability, therefore, on a tight budget.

And when I shoot outdoors I either go to Twin Ponds or Boggy Head. Twin Ponds is nice, Boggy Head is a trash dump. But in this case my son didn't have a lot of time for the 45 minutes both ways to either range.

I was one of those that suggested and participated in the big range cleanup at Boggy Head because all they know how to do is threaten to close the place down. They got my names/contact info of all the participants. Whenever they raise hell about closing down I call them and tell them I'm ready to do another clean up, but they won't return my calls.

Thanks, one thing I'd like to do is find a club I can afford to be in.

 

[rwsmith]

Sounds like my kind of club...

I belong to two rod and gun clubs with ranges.
The first one I joined is pretty much a working man’s club. Volunteer labor gets nearly everything done and work parties are well attended. The members took this newbie under their wings and were generous with their time and advice. I learned to shoot and reload under their mentorship. Good people.
The other club is 45 minutes away, after one year of membership unsupervised indoor range privileges are available. $40 additional yearly fee, screening and some training is required. This club is heavy on classes, taken quite a few and an NRA instructor in several disciplines. good people at this club too.
Highly recommend these types of clubs.
Kevin G


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That sounds great. I hope I can somebody like that around here. If not, it's only about a three day drive for me.

 

[rwsmith]

I wear double..

I always felt like my time was wasted at an indoor range . Hate being near a magnum revolver , brass pick up rules and the occasional hot brass that makes it over a lane divider , then there's the cost of range ammo many require .

Do to indoor ranges rules and compromises we have built our homes on a few acers in a rural county and have had a handgun practice range at home for the last 27 years and only visit outdoor ranges with a rifle or certain handguns .

My wife and I are both musicians. Unforunately she has had to get hearing aids. But we always wear silicone plugs and muffs indoors and outdoors.

We tried out our new Walker electronic muffs today and they are GREAT!

Oh, you think magnum revolvers are bad. Get next to a Desert Eagle or a 7.62 Nato going off. I'm sure people have shot so even bigger stuff at my former indoor range, but I'm not sure what it was. That's a REALLY good reason to wear double protection.

 

[rwsmith]

OK, Palmetto State Armory range report:

Clean, well ventilated, lighting was ok The booths are dark, but it has a switch for extra lighting. Have a nifty electronic switch that sends your target where you want it and calls it home. The guys running the show were friendly and helpful. They have chairs! They have acoustical treatment!
The rules are normal and nothing draconian. You can sweep up your own brass. Price was decent. You can shoot up to 30-06 (with no magnum rifles)
Very good experience.

 

[6string]

It’s all connected. They want to make money off selling you their ammo and it prevents shooters from using handloads. Combine that with an “if it hits the floor it’s ours policy” they can sell the brass and sell it for more money as “certified once fired brass”.

It’s all about using the shooter to produce as many revenue streams as possible.

Yes. They treat their customers not only like cash cows, but also like idiots. All the while, most of the time you must deal with trained monkeys barely possessing a double digit IQ.

This is becoming a pervasive part of our society whenever you are engaged with any entity or institution providing a service.
They no longer work for us. Rather, the attitude is, “You want what we got. So, we are going to gouge you and demean you in the process.”

All the while, you must interact with people who are not only empowered with too much authority, they are too stupid to understand the absurdity of what they are forcing upon you.

I get enough of that when I go to the bank, go to the airport, or go to the DMV, etc.
I don’t need that when I go to the range.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I use the PA State Game Lands ranges; particularly one that 20-30 minutes away. All one needs is a range permit, available online, or a hunting/trapping license. Weekdays are best. My only issue is when I take my daughter, any one of them, is these old guys acting like they never saw a young woman before. They always find some stupid reason to add their two cents worth of advice...then Sarah or Natasha blow the heck out of the head on the target! (Their hands are far less shaky than mine.) Natasha decided one day to shoot the bottom portion of the silhouette. Nice grouping!

 

[SF VET]

I live about 15 minutes from the indoor range at the main PSA store, and have had a membership for two years now. I shoot there several or more times a week, the range chaps are all friendly, no rules on brass or my reloads, and I take new shooters there, one just bought his first pistol this week, after renting a variety of handguns: my friends can shoot and rent guns free as my guest. Plus, in the summer heat in SC, shooting is just so much more enjoyable in good AC. I am also a member of our private club, with 15 different ranges, and shoot there too, and take my grandkids and shooter friends there all the time. On weekdays, usually just us. As for targets at PSA, I usually just pull one out of the trash or get a target for a buck. At my outdoor club, you can blow up anything but glass on the berms. My grandkids love that part.

At the PSA indoor range, they have one of the SO's watching the camera's, so if a shooter is doing something unsafe, they are on it immediately. Plus, after showing them I can safely draw and shoot, I am allowed to do so.

Memberships are I think $220 or so, which for me is a real bargain for as often as I shoot at either one. I will be shooting by myself with a rifle outdoors, or indoors later with a pistol depending on the weather today.

When I take my grandkids to shoot at PSA, they give us one of the unoccupied ranges for us to shoot, better for the lads to hear and enjoy, without the muzzle blast of a next lane AR shooter.

SF VET

 

[DHernandez]

I haven’t used an indoor range in 30 years. Outdoors is the way to go if you can find it. You need the freedom of movement, ambient lighting, wind, weather etc to truly learn and master shooting. Static sterile shooting isn’t very productive, even for novice shooters. My guys don’t love the Dec night fire sessions in the snow or 100 degree July days or rainy windy spring days, but you have to deal with the elements in life so master them on the range. It also forces you to learn what works and doesn’t work with holsters/mag carriers, jackets, gloves etc.

 

[rwsmith]

Yes indeedy....

I haven’t used an indoor range in 30 years. Outdoors is the way to go if you can find it. You need the freedom of movement, ambient lighting, wind, weather etc to truly learn and master shooting. Static sterile shooting isn’t very productive, even for novice shooters. My guys don’t love the Dec night fire sessions in the snow or 100 degree July days or rainy windy spring days, but you have to deal with the elements in life so master them on the range. It also forces you to learn what works and doesn’t work with holsters/mag carriers, jackets, gloves etc.

I prefer shooting outdoors. I can do my chrono, my spotting scope, multiple targets and do some plinking. I also like to experiment (nothing stupid or dangerous) and even though Boggy Head is a trash dump, I have all the freedom I need there to do what I what I need to do.

I have some friends with some pretty terrific health problems. (Not that I'm a picture of health myself) and we try to have regular shooting dates. They prefer the indoor range. I'd LOVE to do the outdoor range with them but the past few years it's been impossible. Right now Jimmy's wife has been in and out of the hospital for months and he can't get away. But when we get back together we'll do Palmetto. I just sent them the paperwork to look over and sign.

Also, my wife doesn't always want to go outdoors and it's not convenient to make the 45 minute trip. Like I said, this time my son wanted to go shooting, but couldn't get away for a long range trip. So it's a good but more expensive alternative. My former range though not my favorite place had great prices on the range in favor of overcharging for everything else. Now that it has changed hands,FORGET IT!

BTW: I have checked out the local indoor ranges and some are acceptably priced, most are high priced and really restricted.
One that I went to the RO (a kid) told me not to shoot at the part of my target I was shooting at. (lower left target)