Member Link Up St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

[45.308]

I know there is a Missouri thread but I want to be more specific. We have been trying to leave Alaska to the western states next year but due to some family issues now, its good bet that we will be moving about an hour south of St Louis next spring, highway 67. I will find out more when the wife gets home next month, so I am gathering as much INTEL as possible.

I was just there is Aug and there are a good amount of indoor pistol ranges around St Louis. I found a rifle range around Bush Recreation Area west of St Louis but it was locked up with no INTEL on who or how.

In the Missouri thread, there are posts about competitions but I want no part of them, I am a freebird not wanting to be bound by rules and scores. Plus, I do not want to shoot once or twice a year at them.

What I want to know is, how easy is it to find a place to shoot? I do not mind joining a club as long as I can shoot my moneys worth. I also do not mind driving, again as long as I get my efforts worth. I fear once there, my gun collection will become just this, collection of dust.

At this time, its hard to contemplate MO CCW!

Thanks

 

[762frmafr]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

i step out my front door and shoot everyday. sometimes more than once a day. my range is from muzzle to 425 yards.

 

[30 cal]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

One visit to any of the public ranges should be enough to convince you to avoid them. If you don't mind a membership fee, there is Bench Rest Rifle Club just West of St.Louis near Wright City. Targets out to 600 yards on one of the three rifle ranges.

 

[WRM]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 30 cal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One visit to any of the public ranges should be enough to convince you to avoid them.</div></div>

ROTFLMAO, and SOOOOOOOO True!... Only exceptions may be the "un-managed" ranges - I've heard they are alright, if no morons are present.

For Rifle, BRRC is one of the finest facilities in the midwest. Arnold only goes to 100. Big Piney is about an hour south of Rolla.

Most of us probably shoot on private property....

Bill

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

You're going to leave Alaska to go to St Louis?

That's crazy talk.

I have a cousin in St Louis that likes to shoot but nothing precision, mostly scattergun and some rifle...

 

[45.308]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

I roll Alaska more than anyone but its not what it use to be in the 70s and 80s, too many Kali and Mass libs in gov now. High property taxes and high living but the biggy is family issues mean we will leave. $500 here on food will barely fill up a shopping buggy, there $500 filled up a truck bed. Gas was a $1+ cheaper. I could not beleive it was $26 to fill up, got home and dropped $60 bucks. Rent a small condo for $600 that would be $1200-$1500 here. Wife over the phone says if this gets settled in MO then we may move out west but I have a feeling we are there to stay.

Its $750 per person to fly to see daughter and grandson from Alaska, from MO its $300 round trip driving for both of us. That alone will save us huge coin and momma will be happier to see grandson more often with longer stays, she is happy I am happy.

I saw plenty on whitetail while there but I fear all hunting is locked up on private farms but...Alaska is fast becoming this way too. Not that I hunt these days.

All the rivers in the area were green stagnant water with very little water. Fishing seemed to be pay to fish on ponds. Local gun/fish shops had no idea what about fly fishing with nothing on their racks.

MO state parks were all free unlike Alaska that charge a fee to park, fee to camp, fee to launch boat, fee to crap, fee to**** and then your rig gets broken into and they do not take responsibility when you pay them to use public land. We spent some time around Pilot Knob, quite beautiful really.

What I did see was lots of areas to go mud boggin so this could be an option for a hobby.

I guess there is hope with Benchrest Club of St Louis and Big Piney but I find little INTEL of their hours / days of the week and I hope they allow prone. Not sure how busy they are either, I am a loner and like to shoot alone, thats over I know. I will pay $250 but they must be open 7 days with good daily hours. I will drop them a note to gather INTEL.

Thanks, any and all INTEL is appreciated.

 

[WRM]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

BRRC and Big Piney give you a key, so you can shoot during daylight hours anytime you want, unless a particular range is closed for a match. BRRC put in a 300 yard range last year for days when the 600 yard range is closed for matches, so either the 300 or 600 is open 365 days/yr. Paper targets only, can't shoot objects on the ground, some steel (600 yd range leaves the HP Silhouettes up). Prone is fine, just make sure any other shooters know you're there for when they go downrange. "Daylight" at BRRC is determined by the dusk-to-dawn light at the clubhouse - if it's "ON", range is closed.

Any specifics you need, let me know. I've been a BRRC member since probably '95, but rarely "visit" except to shoot matches.

Bill

 

[45.308]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

Thanks WRM, sent them email for info but you answered just about all.

Any contact for Big Piney, none of their links work to contact them with same questions; hours, days and prone.

Got a guess how crowded on the weekdays?

 

[WRM]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

Send a PM to "Gunrunner" - he's one of Big Piney's Officers (he started that linked thread in previous post). "Viper225" is BP's President, but not sure how often he's on here.

Lots of factors on how busy BRRC will be (mainly weather), but there's always "room". You have to watch that schedule - the 60 bench range (600 yard) is closed most weekends, and can be closed for a week at a time when we're hosting a National Championship. The few non-match/weekdays I have been there, there are generally no more than two other shooters/groups on a particular range. Cold, windy weekday after deer season sight-in (Dec-Feb), you'd probably have it to yourself....

When are you going to be here?...

Bill

 

[45.308]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

Thanks, gives me hope. Now I shoot or did 2 times a month on Tues AM getting there at sun up. Not sure how that will translate to MO but I will do my best to stick to a similar schedule.

Wife says April but until she gets home next month and we can sit down and she can tell me what we are doing, I mean discuss it, not 100% exactly sure.

Thanks for all you help

 

[WRM]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

Sounds good.

First thing Tuesday morning, I'd think you'd have your choice of ranges and firing points.

Send me a PM when you're ready and I'll see if I can get a day off to show you around and sling some lead.

Bill

 

[30 cal]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

WRM, the unmanned Conservation Dept. ranges are the reason I joined Benchrest about 9 years ago. In fact I will be out there late tomorrow morning, took a half day vacation.

 

[WRM]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

I guess those should be scratched off the list, too... My buddies were telling me that Reifschneider WA was decent when they shot there, but that was some years ago, and they had the range to themselves....

It's a beautiful day - enjoy!

Bill

 

[34vld]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

If you are about an hour south of St Louis and don't like crowds I would stay away from Arnold Rifle and Pistol club. They have every ammenety and is a nice set up but lots of people. You would be very near 67 Gun Club. They have a web-site and 300 yard range, pistol range, a decent amount of matches and almost no-one there unless it is deer site in season. Not to mention only $40 a year. I usually shoot there and have the range to myself or only two other people there.

 

[45.308]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: houser</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you are about an hour south of St Louis and don't like crowds I would stay away from Arnold Rifle and Pistol club. They have every ammenety and is a nice set up but lots of people. You would be very near 67 Gun Club. They have a web-site and 300 yard range, pistol range, a decent amount of matches and almost no-one there unless it is deer site in season. Not to mention only $40 a year. I usually shoot there and have the range to myself or only two other people there. </div></div>


That is a couple miles down the road. Just like here in Alaska, 67 Gun Club will allow me to shoot almost everyday. Never saw it or hear anything about when there in Aug.

But, went to the water park in Farmington, should have took a picture, cows grazing next to the fence, welcome to MO!

Thanks

 

[34vld]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

A couple things you may want to know about when you get here.
1. Apply for your membership early. It takes forever for them to mail you a key.
2. Don't shoot the gongs with 50BMG. 3 shots and they break.
3. Eat at the Cowgirl Cafe in Bismarck.

 

[45.308]

Re: St Louis MO Area, Places to Shoot, Things to Do?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: houser</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A couple things you may want to know about when you get here.
1. Apply for your membership early. It takes forever for them to mail you a key.
2. Don't shoot the gongs with 50BMG. 3 shots and they break.
3. Eat at the Cowgirl Cafe in Bismarck. </div></div>

1. Good to know, I am sure it will take awhile to settle in.
2. Can not afford one.
3. Slider fan myself, I must have have slid down 100 while I was there. Got 2 crave case on the way down from the airport, 2 more later that week and 3 the next week.