www.foprange.com
www.wheretoshoot.org
That’s Lew Loyd. He sold Big Daddy’s a while back. I know he used to shoot on that range with some of the local guys he built rifles for. I don’t know if he is still building rifles or not, as he was getting pretty old. He also owned all of the fireworks businesses around that area.
I can’t believe there isn’t a 500+ yard range anywhere in this area. There are huge fields and hills everywhere. We have some family land that we shoot on. If we could get a few guys together we could clear out some areas to shoot out to around 800. The only issue is it’s really steep terrain that’s thick woods. We already have it cleared to 300 but that’s where the rough stuff starts. We have a tractor but it’s too steep. We would have to hike steel targets in and hang them up and leave them. Then we would have to hike in to paint them. I have a utv I just need a dozer for a weekend to clear a trail to the target area. If we had a trail cut in then it would be a cake walk.
Brocks Gap is about the only option, but they only go to 500yds which is meh. It’s a nice range tho. Unfortunately, they are on their way to being shut down. The surrounding city has been after them to shut down for years, along with people that live around there trying their best to shut them down. Which doesn’t make a ton of sense since several police precincts do their training there. You’d think they’d want them to have a place to train. Anyways word is, coming from their secretary, that it’s sold and set to close, it just doesn’t have a definitive timeline. I also know a large developer has wanted that land for a long time and supposedly a developer is the one that has bought it and worked some stuff out with the city. Again, it just isn’t on a timeline yet. Supposedly, the range it looking for other property close by but I’m not sure how much weight I put in that. Sadly, they shut down the 720yd range a couple years ago. It was really the only range that had that kind of distance around. There is some private areas around the state, if you are in the know but they are private individual owned and as such you can’t just go whenever you want. Would be nice if there were more options for when I come to visit lol. Most guys I know are now looking at going to either TN or south AL. That’s a haul tho just to go shooting. There is also CMP, super nice but is expensive and only goes out to 600yds, there is Alabama Precision but it’s only open for comps, there is Rockford which is nice and actually has some distance but it’s a bit of a haul from Jasper Id imagine.
I'm a member at brocks gap , it is a nice place. Not sure about the whole "will be shut down" thing , though it's true that many around would like it to be.
Yea I feel the same way! I would love to get a few people together and pitch in on building a place. No one wants to invest the money right now though with how crazy everything is. I don’t blame them one bit! It looks like my best bet is to just invest in my own private range on our family land.
Yeah that's what I'm looking towards but it's kind of dumb to be spending money right now . If Trump was still there I'd have already done it. If we could get 10 guys together to do it, that would work
I have been interested in the bgtc dmr matches as well. I tried to find info on it. What are the equipment rules and requirements? What do you need for a match? I would love to run my 308 gasser.
I’m not familiar with them. Will have to check it out. And I’m not sure about my contacts with BGTC. I just know one was the President and one the treasury sec and they thought it important enough to tell me about it for 45 minutes one night lol. But who knows?
Yeah it is very nice, but it's pretty pricey to go shoot there and I don't like the computer targets. They miss a lot and I've never been there and had a bullseye to shoot at. You have to pick a number and shoot at that or you are shooting as a hole. It's also a pain to haul your stuff down to shoot from where you have to park because you have to take the cart back before you can start shooting. Also talladega is a pretty good ride for me to go there.
Well, it would be good if you know them to just pick their brain a little. Like for example, insurance like an umbrella and what that might cost through nra for say.... "if we are sued by an non member for nuisance or noise disturbance" like what happened to him. I think it's pretty safe to write up a hold harmless for all members to sign and that liability is pretty well covered with insurance. I have several policies for my company so I am a little familiar but not with particulars for a range.
Im sure we know enough people here with tractors and access to things. I’m not worried about the work as much as I would be getting the land. It’s getting more expensive by the day.
That will change soon enough , also, if it's land that isn't where people want to live, its a lot cheaper. There's some land options out toward Pinson that's reasonable and I'm sure elsewhere too.
I think think this is a tactic to get rid of ranges around the country as I here similar stories about ranges basically everywhere I got across the country. What’s messed up is when the ranges have been there way before there were cities and towns, then people move in and start this nonsense. Well you shouldn’t have moved there. It’s like going to a movie knowing full well what it’s about and then complaining about it when you get out. I’m pretty sure this is just a strategy. I’ve seen all kinds of shit. BGTC has had crazed people drive out onto the E range while we were shooting. Happened to me twice because they have a gate but they leave the damn thing open all the time. Apparently the the guy I stopped has tried it several times so he can sue the range and get it shut down. Now they at least have a guard. But yeah it’s a problem and it’s not one solely for ranges in Bama.
I will have to do some research as there are rules of course. I’m surprised there isn’t a lot of land out there towards Jasper. Alabama Precision is out towards Carbon Hill. One would think there would be a lot of land out that way. That’s a haul tho for anyone in central AL.
Yeah I have built a few houses in dora and there's land out there but it's a little bit of a haul. Better than Jasper though, right off 22
There's been a few times BGTC has been accused of a stray bullet when one was found somewhat near by, but it was literally impossible for it to have come from there. A 9mm bullet this latest time. It would have had to travel several miles, uphill and been shot in the opposite direction from any range there. If anyone knows anything about BGTC, they know how strict the directional and elevation of target rules are enforced.
I have been wanting to do this for years. I have a tractor with front end loader, pallet forks and several rear attachments. A 3500 truck with big trailer. We also have a Kawasaki mule utv, chainsaws, power tools. I have access to free scrap 2x4’s. I have worked and lived in the cullman / jasper area my entire life. I have everything needed other than the land.
Yeah, I have a good bit of stuff myself since I'm a builder. I sold my bobcat a few years ago but if I find a good deal on one I might get another. A tractor could do it most likely but I can always borrow one as well as a mini ex from one of my guys or rent one. I have a good trailer with ramps and rescue saw, several chain saws and all construction tools we could possibly need. Of course I have plenty of access to scrap wood too.
Yea there is plenty of land in the Dora area and I-22 makes it convenient for the entire central part of the state. There are a lot of old coal mines in that area that lease their land. I looked into leasing land for a small group private hunting club a few years back. It was very reasonable to lease then.
The do not do memberships and only do matches. Jim will rent it out for weekend or during the week but it’s pricey.
I’m in Boaz and my private range only goes to 300y. I have a neighbor with 800 acres who doesn’t mind me shooting on his property (he got outta cows a few year back), but haven’t had time to figure out a layout for a long range track. I did the Google Earth distance calc and it seems like we could mark off a 1500-yard stretch. We’d have to setup and breakdown targets and rests for each session.My family are the Blockers and McQuarreys in Cullman
Horta help em out
Just buy his place and build us a badass clubhouse on it.
Some come to find out, I know a couple of these guys at Steel City. Havent talked to them in years tho. Will inquire about seeing if people can shoot there or not. Obviously it doesn’t seem like they are open to anything but training people and product dev but, I know 3 of these guys. Maybe I can work some magic.
