Free gun ranges?

C

callmemoose

Inactive
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?!!!
 
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.
 
$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.
 
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.
 
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$100 initially, and $85 a year. How do they even get members?!!!
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
You might try to make friends with a member who might be able to take you as a guest.

callmemoose said:
...I can't beleive there aren't free, or even cheap ranges around...
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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.
 
I'm soon to be a college student, running on borrowed money, so there is no way I could afford the $185 membership.
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Even the poorest college students I've seen blow way more than $15/month. It's just a matter of setting your priorities.
 
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.
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
The only free range around here is "the desert." There's probably something like that in MN. Maybe "the forest" instead?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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