The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Conference Center > General Discussion Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old April 19, 2013, 01:56 PM   #1
callmemoose
Junior Member
 
Join Date: June 29, 2012
Posts: 6
Free gun ranges?

With all this snow we're getting in Minnesota, I have not been able to get to the family farm, where I usually try the loads I make over the winter. Turkey hunting is coming up, and I would really like to sight in my red dot, and try some loads. I cant justify buying a membership to a range, I'll be leaving to college in a few months. I don't see why it is so much to ask to simply shoot my shotgun a few times at a range! Every range I know of requires a membership (except for the trap range usually), and the DNR says I cant shoot on WMA state land, only in state forests? I can't beleive there aren't free, or even cheap ranges around. The closest one to me requires $100 initially, and $85 a year. How do they even get members?!!!
callmemoose is offline  
Old April 19, 2013, 02:24 PM   #2
FinalJenemba
Member
 
Join Date: April 18, 2013
Location: Port Richey, FL
Posts: 25
Really? Thats odd. All of the ranges around me have membership ranges and public ranges, the public ranges are usually around $10-$20 for the day. I can't think of any that are member only.
FinalJenemba is offline  
Old April 19, 2013, 02:45 PM   #3
UncleEd
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 13, 2013
Location: N. Georgia
Posts: 1,150
$100 initiation fee and $85 a year thereafter for a gun club membership?

Now that's what I call dirt dirt dirt dirt cheap for these days. Seems like maybe that club's living in the way way way way past.
UncleEd is offline  
Old April 19, 2013, 05:10 PM   #4
dyl
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 31, 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,310
That's a good deal

Good deal depending on what they have. The range I'm a member of it's about $225 a year for access to the rifle and pistol range. (this includes the necessary general membership and NRA membership). But the other alternative is $12 an hour at an indoor range where you must use their targets. With it I have access to a 25 yard (max) outdoor pistol range and 300 (max) Yard rifle range. I don't really use the trap/skeet or archery range.
dyl is offline  
Old April 19, 2013, 05:58 PM   #5
9mm
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 9, 2011
Location: Land of the Free
Posts: 2,834
a
Quote:
$100 initially, and $85 a year. How do they even get members?!!!
LMAO ARE YOU KIDDING ME? thats cheap, is that outdoors with 300+ meter shooting because here that type of range cost $20 hourly/$250+ a year.

Most indoor ranges are $200 here.
9mm is offline  
Old April 19, 2013, 06:46 PM   #6
Joe_Pike
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 30, 2010
Posts: 1,581
There are some free unmanned shooting ranges not far from where I live, but I don't want to deal with the dirtbags that frequent these places. One fellow had a handgun stolen from him at one here locally. It's also not unheard of for people to be drinking and shooting at these ranges. No thanks.
__________________
Stay Groovy
Joe_Pike is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 05:34 AM   #7
callmemoose
Junior Member
 
Join Date: June 29, 2012
Posts: 6
I'm soon to be a college student, running on borrowed money, so there is no way I could afford the $185 membership. I guess I'll just have to try and pattern the day before my turkey season starts on the hunting land.
callmemoose is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 06:12 AM   #8
Frank Ettin
Staff
 
Join Date: November 23, 2005
Location: California - San Francisco
Posts: 9,471
You might try to make friends with a member who might be able to take you as a guest.

Quote:
Originally Posted by callmemoose
...I can't beleive there aren't free, or even cheap ranges around...
But providing folks with a place to shoot is going to cost someone money. Except for public land upon which shooting may be permitted, any range or club is going to be on private property, whether owned or leased by a club or whoever is operating the range. And there has to be some maintenance expense.
__________________
"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper
Frank Ettin is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 07:27 AM   #9
45_auto
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 21, 2011
Location: Southern Louisiana
Posts: 1,399
Quote:
I'm soon to be a college student, running on borrowed money, so there is no way I could afford the $185 membership.
Even the poorest college students I've seen blow way more than $15/month. It's just a matter of setting your priorities.
45_auto is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 09:50 AM   #10
sigcurious
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 25, 2011
Posts: 1,755
This may have an obvious but unstated answer. Why not go a state forest range? A good place to start.
sigcurious is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 12:30 PM   #11
dyl
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 31, 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,310
Different situation

Part of the issue here is the frequency you have in mind. If I go to my range 15 times a year I'll feel like I made my money back, even better if I bring a couple guests and introduce some newcomers to shooting.

You on the other hand are looking for a one time necessity to sight in so those prices seem unreasonable for your intended use.

I've met those that are distinctly "hunters" and "shooters" and less frequently those that fall into both categories. Since I currently fall more into the "shooter" category I have wondered how hunters can stand to only shot a few rounds to sight in before seasons starts - and miss the real fun the rest of the year

This may not be applicable to sighting in but you may not want to throw out the idea of such a membership. When I was in college the nearest range without membership requirement was 2 hours away or else I would have frequented it more. The greater issue in my opinion is time management and priority. You could raise the money if you really wanted to (several friends chip in, part time job, save for several months) so it could happen if you think that's for the best. My friends asked me to eat out about at least once every weekend.
dyl is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 02:01 PM   #12
MEATSAW
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 1, 2009
Location: Burnet, TX
Posts: 727
The local range I go that I try to go to 3-4 times a month charges $30 for an annual membership. It only goes out to 140 yds, but its great for working up loads, .22 plinking, and handgunning!
__________________
Veteran OEF (2002) and OIF1 (2003) - US Army
Member of the Burnet Gun Fighters, Inc. and of course the NRA
Oregon State University alum -- Go Beavs!
MEATSAW is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 02:56 PM   #13
MLeake
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: Outside KC, MO
Posts: 10,128
Others have pointed out that private land must be owned or leased for the range, and that maintenance costs are also involved.

I have not seen insurance mentioned, yet, but that is another cost.

The only ranges I have been to, where membership was not required, fell into two categories: those run by government, and those ranges which sell ammo, accessories, or even firearms.

Private range owners are usually in it to make money, and even the hobbyist types are not in it to lose money.
MLeake is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 03:39 PM   #14
deepcreek
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 30, 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 320
All of our free ranges close to Denver got too crazy and have been shut down. They would get full of yahoos, meth heads and other losers with no respect and gun safety. They would shoot as other were placing targets, shoot from all over and behind other shooters, bring trash to shoot up and leave, it was a nightmare.

The one by Colorado springs a guy was shot and killed while changing his target so it was closed down, the one in lefthand canyon was just sketchy a ranger claims he had a bullet wiz by his head and it was shut down.

I don't mind paying a small fee for a range master and maintenance. We have a big shortage of ranges here and most are expensive.
deepcreek is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 08:42 PM   #15
CurlyQ.Howard
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 1, 2012
Posts: 280
With the EPA and state equivalents, I have to believe that some of the cost of a shooting range must fall on individual users regardless of the taxes that residents pay.
CurlyQ.Howard is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 09:10 PM   #16
kraigwy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 16, 2008
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 11,061
We have a rifle range up to 300 yards, pistol to 50 (you can shoot on the rifle range if you want to shoot your pistol farther) plus an indoor range.

We charge $25 a year for membership ($35 for family) which gives you unlimited access to the range.
__________________
Kraig Stuart
CPT USAR Ret
USAMU Sniper School
Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071
kraigwy is offline  
Old April 20, 2013, 10:25 PM   #17
Dave R
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 7, 2000
Location: Idaho
Posts: 6,073
The only free range around here is "the desert." There's probably something like that in MN. Maybe "the forest" instead?
__________________
I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).
Dave R is offline  
Old April 21, 2013, 09:16 PM   #18
leprechaun50
Member
 
Join Date: December 11, 2011
Location: SW Minnesota
Posts: 32
callmemoose, If you are in the SW Mn area send me a PM and you can shoot at my farm. (Luverne)
__________________
"We've already run the misfits out of our country." Matthew Quigley
leprechaun50 is offline  
Old April 21, 2013, 09:41 PM   #19
Aaron1100us
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 19, 2011
Posts: 235
Re: Free gun ranges?

That would suck having to pay to go to a range. The two ranges here are both free to the public and thats the way they all should be.
Aaron1100us is offline  
Old April 22, 2013, 08:59 AM   #20
Dashunde
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 22, 2004
Posts: 2,018
Guess we're lucky here in MO, we have a vast number of Conservation Area unmanned outdoor ranges.
They're sort of free-for-all areas, shoot what you want at whatever you want. Your supposed to shoot paper only, but its generally not frowned upon to shoot the usual cans, wood, and whatever so long as its not dangerous or glass and you clean up your mess.
I hear the rangers were writing tickets in Warrenton, but that might have been due to complaints after a vacuum, TV, and other unsuitable bits of junk were shot up and left behind. It was starting to look like a dump there for awhile.

Yep, there are a few odd folks there now and then, but no problems as far as I know.
Mostly just ordinary locals.

I'm a little surprised that rural areas of MN dont have the same kind of free shooting ranges attached to public hunting grounds.
Dashunde is offline  
Old April 22, 2013, 10:01 AM   #21
MLeake
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: Outside KC, MO
Posts: 10,128
My only experience at the local DOC range was a mixed bag, Dashunde.

For one thing, it only had one shooting area, with a 50 yard range. For another, the guy next to me departed, and left some targets up when he did, so I slid over one to use the leftovers.

This caused a couple guys who apparently had the same thought to become belligerent. I shrugged it off and told them they were welcome to them, but they continued to act like jerks, and then they left.

The other shooters were confused. None of us could see what the big deal was.

Shortly after that, I closed on a horse property. I have a 100 yard range in my west pasture. Friends are welcome to shoot at my place; we do not go to the DOC. My place is nicer, and jerks are not allowed.
MLeake is offline  
Old April 22, 2013, 10:45 AM   #22
SPEMack618
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 21, 2010
Location: Central Georgia
Posts: 1,863
Growing up, I could shoot small bore rifles and trap in the backyard. Also, walking down to the bottom part of our land, there was a place where you could shoot pistols, though that was quite a hike to get to.

For big bore rifles, Pops and I would go to the local DNR Wildlife Managment Area, where a 100 yard range was available. It had a covered shooting area, benches, and target stands.

Until recently, it was free. Now, it is required that you buy a day pass for three dollars. However, if you have a valid GA hunting or fishing license, you can use it all you like, and can even bring one guest for free to.
__________________
NRA Life Member
Read my blog!
"The answer to any caliber debate is going to be .38 Super, 10mm, .357 Sig or .41 Magnum!"
SPEMack618 is offline  
Old April 22, 2013, 07:24 PM   #23
BigD_in_FL
Junior member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2012
Location: The "Gunshine State"
Posts: 1,981
Most trap skeet clubs have a pattern board - why not just go there?
BigD_in_FL is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06575 seconds with 9 queries