Tell me about shooting options in/near MSP.

[BB57]

I'm curious about the shooting opportunities in the Minneapolis St Paul area, or not more than an hour or two away, since I'll probably be moving there. I'm interested in short and long range rifle and handgun.

Yesterday, I was offered a state agency director position in Minnesota. I have not yet accepted, but I probably will, as my current Fed position has evolved into 4 days a week in DC. I really despise DC, the politicians who infest the place, and a fairly large percentage of the bureaucrats who work there.

Neither I nor my family have any desire to live in DC, NOVA, or Maryland so a new job is the only alternative, and the state director position is the only other job option on the table for at least the near future. I'm not thrilled about moving, however the job will get me back to being the big fish in charge in a medium size pond and the challenge the job provides will be welcome.

Any information folks can provide would be appreciated.

 

[Golddollar]

Don't forget to pack your long underwear.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Fire off a PM to member Marshwheeling.

 

[usm1rifle]

I live in Woodbury, a very nice suburb 10 miles East of St. Paul, the Capital. The Oakdale Gun Club (OGC) is 3 miles away in Lake Elmo, also a very highly thought of suburb.

The OGC has a 200M, 100Y, 50Y, 25Y totally covered pistol range and a (members only) 7Y pistol range. All firing lines are covered. We currently have member cap of 1500 members and now have about 40 openings.

Oakdale Gun Club – Minnesota – Ooakdale Gun Club – Minnesota

I am a member but not an officer. PM me for my phone if you are interested. Next time you're in town we can go shooting.

Welcome to MN. Fair warning, we are a blue state but have shall issue concealed carry and range protections.

There are other public ranges with up to 600Y in an hour or so drive from me.

Al

 

[BB57]

Don't forget to pack your long underwear.

I grew up and spent a fair portion of my adult life in South Dakota, so I'm familiar with harsh winters. My wife, not so much....

 

[Czechvar]

The cities of Minneapolis/St Paul themselves offer nothing, but the Suburbs have good indoor shooting ranges. Bills has 5 Ranges with Rentals and Sales. Burnsville in the South Metro has The Modern Sportsman with similar facilities, and The Burnsville Rifle and Pistol Range.

Home - Bill's Gun Shop & Range
https://www.themodernsportsmanonline.com
Burnsville Rifle & Pistol Range

Gun laws are good here, Concealed Carry is very good and shall issue. We do NOT have Constitutional Carry, and we do not have Stand Your Ground. We are about to go back into a struggle to keep our Rights since the last election cost us the House and we only have a one seat up in the Senate. Gov elect Waltz is not on our side.

I’m active with the Minnesota Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance and the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, as well as the NRA. We’ve been effective, but it is always a fight. We like to hold massive Rallys on the Capital Steps. If you have a Permit you are free to Carry on the Capital grounds, and in Legislative meetings...and we do.

 

[usm1rifle]

Gun laws are good here, Concealed Carry is very good and shall issue. We do NOT have Constitutional Carry, and we do not have Stand Your Ground. We are about to go back into a struggle to keep our Rights since the last election cost us the House and we only have a one seat up in the Senate. Gov elect Waltz is not on our side.

Thanks.

Al

 

[Czechvar]

BTW...You do not want to live in the cities, the ‘burbs are much better. Woodbury, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Maple Grove and several other nice towns on the outer ring...depends on where your office is.

 

[ACP230]

There used to be a range in Princeton, MN that had a lot of
stuff going on. Don't know if it is still a going concern or not.

 

[Abbynormal]

Remember, MN is a very liberal state. But what I've seen of it in 5 visits, the further you get from MSP the better life is.

 

[Marshwheeling]

If you are directing a state agency, your office will probably be in Saint Paul, and you will most likely want to live on the east side. I don’t like suburbs, but prefer exurbia or rural areas. My preferred areas on the east side would be Afton, Lake Elmo, Grant, Stillwater (not rural, but a nice, pictureaque river town), Marine, May Township, Hugo, and maybe Denmark Township.

If you need to be closer in, there is no reason to shy away from the cities, you just have to pick your neighborhoods. There is a lot to do there, beautiful parks, lakes and riverfronts. Both St. Paul and Minneapolis are surprisingly good restaurant towns. There is also a lot of good small theater.

For outdoor ranges on the east side of town, there is Oakdale Gun Club and the Hudson club. There is a Bill’s in Hudson, WI, very close to me, and that is where I usually shoot.

 

[Czechvar]

Another interesting fact...At the end of 2017 there were 275,614 active CCW Permits in Minnesota, and the States Population is 5.5M (4.2M Adults), 6.6% and growing steadily. The 2018 report isn’t out yet, but 55,000 Permits were issued in 2017...although some were renewals.
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bc...ive/Documents/2017-Permit-to-Carry-Report.pdf

 

[BB57]

It looks like we'll be going. They are meeting my Fed salary, leave, etc plus covering moving expenses - and they really seem to want me as their director.

I'll be the advance party in the sense that I'll probably look for a small apartment or perhaps even a room to rent for 6-8 months until the spousal unit follows next summer after we identify where we want to live based on neighborhood, school district, etc. I've maintained a room for my days in DC for the last several years that I found through militarybyowner.com and I'll give that a try again as well.

My office will be in the Big Red One, the First National Bank building and obviously we're leaning toward St Paul more so than Minneapolis. Short term, something on the Green Line (University Avenue) might make sense to avoid downtown parking expense and commuting hassles.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I wish you and your family all the best on your move.

If you see a 'welcome wagon' guy on a motorcycle smoking a cigar and bringing you a porketta that will be Marsh.

 

[usm1rifle]

Congratulations, looking forward to another Smith collector in the area!

 

[Czechvar]

Congratulations...Best wishes for you and your Family on this move. I’ve been downtown to that area, it’s very close to the Capital building. Too many tall buildings for me, so I only go if I have a reason. Our Gun Owners group will be meeting at the Capital for Lobby Day Jan 24, then our big 2A Rally on the Capital steps Feb 23...So I’ll have a reason.

Apparently, there is (or was) a Gun Range in the Basement of the First National Bank Building, as mentioned in this Case from 2016... https://mn.gov/law-library-stat/archive/ctappub/2017/OPa161538-042417.pdf

Just after midnight on December 19, 2015, appellant Bryan Lee Larson and two friends were given a ride in a motor vehicle to the First National Bank Building in downtown St. Paul. Larson, who had a valid Minnesota permit to carry a pistol, held a fully closed gun case, which contained an unloaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol. Larson approached the building on a public sidewalk with the gun case in his hand, entered the building with the assistance of building security, and proceeded to a basement room, where there was a gun range. In the basement room, police located Larson, who at that time had the pistol in a holster on his belt. Larson was under the influence of alcohol.

There are a lot of excellent schools and colleges here. You might not expect it, but Minnesota has tremendous outdoor activities. Our favorite thing to do is stay up on the North Shore at Lutsen and hike the State Park trails...I’d rate the North Shore right up there with Southern Utah for scenery. One word of warning though, Lake Superior’s surface Water temp’s peak at about 40 degrees in August...It is really cold and incredibly clear.

 

[Abbynormal]

Moving to a liberal state due to getting a political patronage job doesn't sound like a smooth move to me.

If it was a Civil Service gig, OK.

Make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing, including GUARANTEES
in writing with a signature!

 

[Marshwheeling]

There are a lot of excellent schools and colleges here. You might not expect it, but Minnesota has tremendous outdoor activities. Our favorite thing to do is stay up on the North Shore at Lutsen and hike the State Park trails...I’d rate the North Shore right up there with Southern Utah for scenery. One word of warning though, Lake Superior’s surface Water temp’s peak at about 40 degrees in August...It is really cold and incredibly clear.

A few years ago, I was at the Temperance River State Park, on the North Shore of Lake Superior. We were able to spend several hours in the lake, thanks to a heat wave that had warmed the river water enough to warm the lake water maybe a hundred yards out from the mouth of the river. Get outside that warm plume, though, and things shriveled up fast.