Im in El Paso for a week looking

PMCfighter

The Reaper
Minuteman
May 15, 2019
32
9
Texas
I ended up in El Paso Tx for a week i will be here until at lest Monday 22 July 2019

I have already scouted out a couple of ranges but honestly was wondering if there is any place just out in the desert i could drive out to and shoot a couple long guns. Both in .308. i have seen several people warn against red sands because of all the dirt bikers etc out there. Also I am staying on Jo Battle ( loop 305) and Montana so id like to stay in that general area. From the map view there is a ton of open desert out in the Hueco Tanks area but i dont want to do anything to break the law. Trespass etc. Im really just needing to sight in so 100 yards would do but i also know me and if i can find place to reach out long after i sight in id like to.

I could use the Rod and Gun Club but that is really no where close to me and last time i was here the people there were so incredibly rude id rather not go back.

Anyway if anyone has a spot or knows where one might be that is safe and honestly has few or no other shooters around i would appreciate the intel.
 
When I've stopped at the check point I've been told multiple times "don't stop". There are supposedly too many dangerous illegal aliens. Once when I was stopped at the side of the highway checking my trailer (I was towing personal property during a house move) a trooper stopped and after checking me he advised me, "if you're going to stop, keep your weapon readily available and your eyes out on the sand. Day or night it's very dangerous out here nowadays". That was 16 years ago. I'd stay with a public range, but then again, I don't know anymore than I was told.
 
This is old info, but we used to go shooting in the desert north of Horizon City. Drive past the trailer parks towards the mountains. Should have a decent backstop. And yes, keep your head on a swivel for illegals and rattlesnakes.
 
When I've stopped at the check point I've been told multiple times "don't stop". There are supposedly too many dangerous illegal aliens. Once when I was stopped at the side of the highway checking my trailer (I was towing personal property during a house move) a trooper stopped and after checking me he advised me, "if you're going to stop, keep your weapon readily available and your eyes out on the sand. Day or night it's very dangerous out here nowadays". That was 16 years ago. I'd stay with a public range, but then again, I don't know anymore than I was told.

Thats interesting. If a Trooper told me Id pay attention.

I traveled that route many times, had friends in El Paso and just south in Nuevas Casa Grandes Mexico. Never heard that, but like you say, that was years back.
 
Not sure when the last time you were in EP but it might be worth trying the MWR range again. I used to live there (out in the Far East, 375/Zaragoza) and spent time shooting in the desert and at the MWR. The most reliable place to shoot in the desert was on the west side of town near the border where the mountain/hillside wall is. ...I think most called it “The Wall” but I might be mistaken. Out to the Far East there are a few random spots that people use to shoot but it’s so flat that good berms are hard to come by and there’s a lot of runners, bikers, other shooters, and homeless tents scattered about.

I never had any issues at the MWR range but I also only went during the weekdays. ...because fuck public ranges on weekends. I used to spend all day out there on the 1000m range and 200yd range, no issues.

I was never a big fan of shooting in the desert there because of other shooters and how flat it is. While off-roading there is always come across piles of random brass yet there wouldn’t be a single berm in sight. ...those projectiles are going somewhere...

Being that you’re only there for a week it might be worth it to give the MWR another try based on convenience alone. You might of just had a bad RSO in a shitty mood that day.
 
Also, for those that haven’t been there in the past few years, EP and the area has changed for the better. Hell, I felt a lot safer there then in NC or FL lol.

In my opinion, the only bad thing about EP is the damn traffic/horrible drivers.
 
Las Cruces has a good public range off of I-10 west of the City. May be a bit of a drive but far better that going into an unfamiliar desert area. If you have any questions PM me.