Your thoughts about big and glitzty indoor ranges

[bushmaster1313]

About a month ago, I visited a certain indoor range in suburban Philadelphia for the first time. It was very large and very glitzy.

The line to sign up for range time was about 25 people deep and it felt very impersonal.

I was not going to wait to get on the range and do not plan on going back.

I am afraid that large and glitzy is the future of suburban shooting ranges.

 

[5point5sixGUY]

I prefer outdoor ranges myself for the longer distances, but I do like not having to wait for cease fires and not having to walk to change targets in indoor ranges. Public ranges make me nervous though cause people do stupid things all the time.

 

[JohnRippert]

I have always preferred a outdoor range. I know that in many locations a indoor range is all that is available. They just do not do it for me.

 

[TANKLEGACY]

Most dont let me shoot my S&W 500...or let me shoot faster than 1 round a second with my G22C..
...that is why I only shoot outdoors.

 

[Mainsail]

There was an indoor range in Tacoma that was cold, dirty, and dark, and seemed to attract the yahoos.

We have acres and acres of National Forest land on which we can shoot, so it's been many years since I've been to a formal range. The one pit I shoot at has about a 170 degree arc available for multiple targets. Nonetheless, I wish we had a warm, clean, and dry indoor range we could go to from time to time to do function checks.

 

[Mistered]

I kind of prefer my outdoor range - never too crowded and the rules are pretty lax...

 

[vytoland]

as long as the range is well ventilated and controlled....i like it.....

two new indoor ranges just opened in my area of suburban chicago..............times they are a changin....for the better.....

 

[AJ]

When I went to the FBI Rangemaster's Course, the instructor cautioned against indoor ranges. His caution was for those working indoor ranges to get a blood test for lead poisoning every three months. I took that to heart and use only outdoor ranges.

 

[Rpg]

I won't use an indoor range.

My club is a spacious outdoor range.

The wait list for membership is several years.

 

[pawngal]

I love my small indoor range. Its been open for 2 years, 12 lanes. Members have electronic access from 6 am to 11 pm. After 8 pm I often have the place to myself. Nothing fancy. All calibers of handguns allowed, no restrictions on rapid fire. Rifles, rimfire only. Its clean, good ventilation even when busy. Nice owners and nice other help. The only local outdoor range is always full of tactical wanna-bees.

 

[hardcase60]

Ironic this thread would post today. Here is some beginning excerpts from an article in today's Austin American Statesman newspaper:

Massive indoor shooting range opens Feb. 1 in South Austin

"A massive indoor shooting range is set to open Feb. 1, nearly a year and a half after it was first announced.

The Range at Austin is a 52,000-square-foot facility at 8503 S. Interstate 35, near East William Cannon Drive.

It will feature 37 rifle-rated lanes, firearm rentals, a store stocked with firearms and accessories, training classes and a second-floor private event space."

Wasn't sure if posting the link to the article would violate forum rules, so I didn't. But talk about "glitzy" the picture which accompanies the article doesn't depict anything like I've personally seen in an indoor range. Darn thing looks more like a upscale gym. Google "The Range at Austin".
hardcase60

 

[bigwheelzip]

If I could, I'd prefer a range on my own property of course, but I love my indoor shooting range. I've got access to an outdoor DNR range also, but the indoor one that I'm a member at, makes enjoying the hobby easy.

It's managed by a neighbor whose a friend, owned by a family of the sweetest people, and staffed by responsible and affable LEO's.

16 lanes in two bays and I've never had to wait since as a member I get priority over walk-ins. Free use of all the rental guns and equipment. In-house gunsmith. Very competitive prices on any guns I ask them to find for me. Numerous classes. Organized competitions.

Best is there's always knowledgeable and friendly people to discuss my hobby with, bounce ideas off of, and learn from.

 

[rwsmith]

I wouldn't know....

My budget is ATP, where for 7 bucks, I can shoot all day. Of course you get what you pay for. Dark, bad A/C and ventilation..

I think one thing we didn't anticipate in promoting shooting sports is that it would become a bastion of the young 'upwardly mobile' crowd from Gen X with plenty of 'disposable income' that only want the best and only the best will do. Yuk.

 

[emptypockets]

We have a local indoor range although I've never used it. I've shot outdoors all my life and it just seems natural to do so. Reading your story makes me more appreciative of our outdoor range.

It's funded through the Wildlife & Fisheries Dept. it's free to all and everything except guns and ammo are provided. Range officers are always present and keep the nonsense under control.

Sunshine and six shooters guaranteed to cure what ails you.

 

[Wise_A]

Nonetheless, I wish we had a warm, clean, and dry indoor range we could go to from time to time to do function checks.

When you find one, MS, lemme know. I have seen warm indoor ranges. And I have seen clean indoor ranges. I have not seen both at the same time!

My dress for winter indoor matches used to be: a SS t-shirt, a LS t-shirt, a cotton pullover, a fleece vest, a down vest, and a down winter jacket. The jacket came off when it was actually time to shoot, but I wore it the entire time I was waiting to shoot (usually in some frigid "clubhouse"). I believe I won several matches simply because I wasn't shivering.

When I went to the FBI Rangemaster's Course, the instructor cautioned against indoor ranges. His caution was for those working indoor ranges to get a blood test for lead poisoning every three months. I took that to heart and use only outdoor ranges.

Dose makes poison. If you're working as a rangemaster in one 8 hours a day, five days a week, for years, then you're gonna run into problems eventually.

If you just shoot in one, you'll be fine. Wash your hands with cold water after shooting, and don't eat/drink/smoke until you do.

 

[moralem]

There is a place for them since that is the only option for many of us who don't have the land or have had outdoor ranges sold off for development. Of course outdoor is better but you live with is available. I don't like being part of a club that would have me as a member but where else would I shoot.

 

[kpap]

I love where I live in AZ, load up the truck drive 15 minutes and set up in any direction. The desert is beautiful and perfect for shooting........We have a fancy indoor range, Scottsdale gun club for a small fee of a kidney and a arm, you can enter through the biometric eye reader and shoot, no thanks I like the free and open desert

 

[AJ]

Dose makes poison. If you're working as a rangemaster in one 8 hours a day, five days a week, for years, then you're gonna run into problems eventually.

If you just shoot in one, you'll be fine. Wash your hands with cold water after shooting, and don't eat/drink/smoke until you do.

How about breathing?

 

[whitestang]

I belong to two clubs,one is an indoor the other outdoor. The indoor is for pistols up to a 44 magnum and 22 rifle with 6 firing points. The outdoor has a 25 yard pistol and a 100 yard rifle. I use the indoor when it is raining and in the winter. Both have very reasonable membership fees

 

[Muss Muggins]

I would go to one on a Saturday afternoon if they had an observation deck behind bullet resistant glass overlooking the firing line. And a sports bar. Wouldn't shoot, would just watch. . . .