Joining a new range, good idea or bad idea?

[TurdFerguson]

At the current range, I have been a member for about 4 years, father was a member from the 80's until he passed. I learned to shoot service rifle there (Servcice rifle range/comps are now defunct). Its a nice range, skeet, pistol, has 3 gun comps. Its built in an old strip mine, locals have built trails to get around gates and what not, you can run into some idiots but not bad otherwise. Its 150 a year and about an hour from home. Has a 1k range.

I'm batting about a 20% (2 out of 10) over the past few months getting on the range. Its getting to be over an hour wait to get on it. Issue isn't to many people (glad people are starting to enjoy long range shooting again), issue is there are 4 benches for the 1k range, 2 are falling a part. They have room to expand but will not. There is steel from 100-500 but no berms, then nothing all the way to 1k. No long range competitions currently, maybe in the future but I doubt it. Local guy is giving classes once a month with a 100 dollar discount to members (600 vs 700) and is open to the public on those days so the 1k range is closed to everyone but the class.

When I went back to get my Masters, I joined Harry Jones outside of Fairmont and loved that range. They have various competitions, 15 or 20 benches to use and all have access out to 1k. Berms/target stands every 100 yards. 100.00 a year to join. Only issue is its a 6 hour round trip. With that said, I do have a few fraternity brothers I visit in the area. Would make visits a little more enticing.

New job will put me within 30 minutes of current range and about 2:30 minutes to Harry Jones. One of the thoughts I am having is joining Harry Jones for long range, either using the family farm or joining a local 100 yd range to sight in and practice. Is my thinking retarded?

 

[Gemsbok]

If there's no maintenance/upgrades to the "current range" there's an institutionalized management problem.
A membership at both is still cheaper than my club so that might be a workaround. I've never had access issues, but it's 1:15 away.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

Seems we are not getting all the story. What does your wife think ? Do you have small children ?
No wife or children = Join both and build a range at the family farm.

 

[lash]

Without more information and the prices of those ranges being so cheap (in comparison to what we have to pay in Florida) I’d join both and use than as I see fit.

Also, a question or two: at the range with two crappy benches, can you bring a mat and go prone? Can you bring your own steel to put up past 500 where there are no targets?

P.S. It sounds like the current range is a Fudd range like so many others that will not adapt and will ultimately go the way of the Dodo.

 

[acudaowner]

while the final derision is up to you , I love the idea of getting to shoot at more than one range sadly I do not get to the 1k range as much as I would wish for , but it is what it is I can still enjoy the 600 yards closer to us . supporting multiple ranges sounds great unless they are all the same , I also have to admit I am not all that sure I would support only ranges with 100 yards to shoot from but 100 yards is way better than zero ranges that's just sad .one of them is enough and since it takes as long to get to it as it does to travel to the 600 yard range we choose the longer range . best of luck with what ever you do or where ever you go . I'll keep Ohio and Kansas trips in my dreams till I can make them happen .

 

[TurdFerguson]

Seems we are not getting all the story. What does your wife think ? Do you have small children ?
No wife or children = Join both and build a range at the family farm.

Divorced no children.

 

[TurdFerguson]

Looking to join/renew 1 leaning towards harry jones. One must die.

Current range 150 per year.
-separate skeet, pistol, 100 yard range and a separate 1k range.
- 1000 yard range 2 benches small range house room for prone, cannot hit 1k prone due topography of range. 1k range is basically a furnished 500 yd range + gong at 1k.
-the separate 100 yd range has 10 benches lol.
-100-500 have steel but no target holders. Putting targets past 500 to 1k is verboten due to “safety”
-1k range is 3 years old no improvements constant discussion of removing gong at 1k due fears of accidents.
-as far as I know portable benches are verboten due to “safety”.
-3 gun comps/pistol comps every now and then. No prs, bench rest, tactical, ect comps.
-50 cal/full auto/tracer ammo is verboten (not that they enforce it.) No RO on any range except skeet.
-built in a popular area that locals ride, have run into shady riff raff while at the range.
- only mowing and road maintenance.

Harry Jones 100 per year
-1k range with steel at 500-1000. 100-500yds have target backing.
-15 or 20 benches
-can shoot prone but cannot get past 700 due to topography.
-targets can be posted at any distance.
-comps in all forms of long range shooting.
-50 cal/full auto/tracer ammo is verboten (not that they enforce it.) No RO except comp days.
-No skeet range.
-no true post area. Has a 25 and 50 yard berm for pistols.
-constant maintenance and upgrades.

I kind of broke it up. For prone, its possible, both ranges are on an uphill slope, the gongs at 1k are way above the range house (current range its 100 yards up a hillside) but do have a solid backstop and are safe.

The short comings of Harry Jones I can make up for by shooting at my farm or joining a really nice pistol/22 club 30 minutes from home, its 30 bucks a year. I may tryba combo of harry jones and the farm/smaller club.

 

[Modoc]

I’m in a similar situation with the “home” range being an hour and a half away while the other is less than half an hour from the house. The”home” range goes to 750m while the “local” is only 100y.

I have the unenviable position of being on the board of both as a match director. I belong to both and utilize them both as needs and time allow. For the price, go for it! A year’s membership at either range is less than. Nicotine or coffee habit for the year (or month).
Options are good.

As to the conditions of the ranges, I take my own target stands and Targets beca of club rules. No mono metal bullets on their steel. A minor inconvenienced , but I don’t have to replace their targets.

 

[spife7980]

, either using the family farm

Expand on this. It’s the way to go. Public is gross.

 

[clefairy]

Shoot prone or bring a foldable bench.

 

[lash]

Shoot prone or bring a foldable bench.

I agree with this, but believe it or not, many Fudd ranges do not allow either of those things. Especially public ranges. It sucks, but when you have seen and consider all of the crazy dangerous things that the public do at those ranges, it’s easy to understand why.

 

[TurdFerguson]

I sent a check to harry jones. I will put in a burn at 200 on the farm (furthest I can go out until hitting a hillside.) bench would work but depending in the day and whose out there.

 

[Sblzrd65]

I'd second the one farther away with better accommodations. Sure the other one is closer, but if you have to wait an hour anyways for a turn then the timing is closer. Plus, if more people get into longer range near you then the wait time will increase.