Trap & Skeet on-base

[Old Corp]

A good hunting/shooting/fishing friend and I live about 30-35 minutes from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, which is in Havelock, NC.

A mutual friend of ours (civilian) shared that he'd been a member of the Trap & Skeet Club there for a few years and really enjoyed it.
My buddy and I are also civilians.

So, friend and I met him there on 'Old Guys Wednesday Morning" where a bunch of guys meet up to shoot trap.
We got 'sponsored' and began the paperwork (ALOT of paperwork) to get membership.
Thought the fees were great - $40/year and $3 for for a round (25 birds) of trap, skeet or wobble.
I've never shot 'wobble', so looking forward.
ALL the guys we met were very friendly and welcoming and it seems like a great group.

Seems a little excessive - the requirement to photograph EACH shotgun you plan to bring on base, and a close-up photo of the S/N, along with a form detailing every thing about the gun, date acquired, etc. I'll be using a total of six (6), since I plan to bring my wife occasionally.
Supposedly they'll issue a 'permit' for each shotgun.
Someone is doing our background check - we'll go this week and get our base photo ID's made.

Learned that all shotguns have to come in in a locked, rigid case.
And ammo - all ammo in a locked box. (That seems a little strange)

Anyway, not complaining at all, this'll just be my first time spending any real time on a military base and I'm fine with following their rules to be a guest. I've also been advised to be careful not to speed on base - getting stopped is not a good thing.

Supposedly some sort of process is going on to provide us with access to rifle and pistol ranges at some point in the future. I have my own range for all that, but would like to see it.

Just thought I'd share this and see who all here has had experience with similar.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

Yes, indeed. MCAS Cherry Point (Three Letter Identifier: NKT) was "My Old Stompin' Ground" for many years!

I can personally relate to your descriptions, and the sequences of events, registration requirements, etc. My guess is that the Base Commander is tightening up on the requirements and regulations related to all firearms aboard the base, and their use at the ranges.

I returned to MCDEC Quantico VA last May for a Basic School class reunion. I received similar guidance regarding the on-base control of our revolvers. I had to purchase a lockable case and lock, keeping the ammunition out of the revolvers, and all locked in our car. The Provost Marshal referred to it as being in the "Transport Mode". We stayed on base at the Crossroads Inn. Never had a problem, nor were we the subject of any vehicle searches. I'm not sure about the exact terms, but it must fall in to the areas of "voluntary compliance" and "honor system".

There are many exceptional civilians and Marines (Navy, too) at MCAS Cherry Point. Once all of these administrative tasks are completed, you should have many enjoyable future visits to the Marine Corps ranges. You'll also be working with some fine professionals, unlike some of the local ranges in this area. There will probably also be some armorers (gunsmiths) at the range from time to time. The Marines still take care of their own, LEOs too! No doubt there will be shooters from the Provost Marshal's office at the range.

Bill

 

[cherrypointmarine]

When I was there , we were not allowed to keep our personal weapons in the barracks , they had to be kept at the armory . It's understandable what you are going through when the Marines stationed there , and I am sure other bases , have to jump through hoops to enjoy the shooting sports .

 

[BigBoy99]

In my nearly 50 years of both military and civilian Gov't. service, I find the Fed. Gov't. is the largest "hater" of firearms. I seem like they make it their job to ensure that anyone having a personal firearm on a Gov't facility has to jump through all kinds of hoops and fill out many forms just to bring one the facility. It seems as if they make it process so hard, people won't want to bring personal firearms on the base.

 

[Rocket3]

Interesting, I've never shot on Base anywhere but I know for a fact $40.00 membership and $3.00 a round is excellent. Well worth the hassle in my opinion.

The poor mans gun club I shoot at just went up to $4.00 a round (still an great price), targets are going up.

Wobble is big time fun, enjoy!

 

[H Richard]

My trap and skeet club just went to $5.50 per round. Cost of birds and upkeep on grounds seems to be the reason. I'd still rather spend $15 - $20 for an afternoon of skeet or trap than many other more expensive activities, (golf).

 

[jkmo]

I would have told them to stuff it and found somewhere else to shoot even if it was further away. Total B S.

 

[Abbynormal]

Pre 9-11, I was a civilian member of the Ft. Benjamin Harrison Rod and Gun Club. We shot trap and skeet on Sundays and would retire to the club house to drink beer cheaply and enjoy a good meal.

I also shot trap and skeet at Ft. Hauchuca pre 9-11.

At both bases, I didn't have to have any registration of my guns. Ft. Huachuca required a visitors pass though.

 

[robvious]

I used to shoot combat pistol on base with my late father PRE 9/11... neither of us are military... we just drove up to the gate... say we are shooting... they ask if you know where you are going and away you went... also used to race SCCA on base as well... never an issue... then everything changed... and maybe not for the better

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

In the late 70s I was living in Colorado. My uncle had access to the trap and skeet field on Peterson Field AFB. Whenever I went to visit, he told me to bring my trap and skeet guns. We would pull up to the guard gate (most of the personnel knew my uncle) and the guard would ask us, with a smile, if we had any firearms in the car. My uncle would tell them that it was a bit hard to shoot trap if we didn't have guns. And we would be waived through the gate. He passed away just last year. I miss those days of shooting with him.

 

[rkittine]

When I lived in Nashville, I used to shoot Skeet at Fort Cambell. Not too tough in the 90s, nut I also used to shoot at CIA Headquarters on their Skeet Fields, there it was really paperwork intense.

 

[Old Corp]

Sort-of 'Update'.....

Went yesterday with friends for the weekly 'Wednesday Morning Ol' Guys Shoot', which on this particular day was trap only.

No issue at gate with our newly-minted 'DBIDS' (Defense Biometrics Identification System) card.
About a dozen old guys and an young active duty Lt. that brought our average age down a bit.
Windy, which made the game even more fun. I just shot one round, 19/25, as I loaned my Citori to a guest I brought along. He'd never shot trap and had a ball, and will also be joining.
Figured my 19/25 wasn't terrible, considering the last time I shot 'real' trap was in the 1970's.

Anyway - the club there is in process of a raffle opportunity where if drawn, you get the opportunity to purchase any Browning shotgun, rifle or pistol for 60% off MSRP through the base. So, got all that paperwork to enter said raffle.

Overall, a very good experience and a great bunch of guys.