Good Action Ranges in Greenville, SC /Asheville, NC

[Evergreen]

I am wondering if anyone knows of any good rifle ranges in Greenville , SC or the Asheville, NC area that allow you to freely practice with action pistol and rifle shooting. Basically, I am looking for a range where I have some more freedom for close quarter training. Also, it would be nice if the range had a high powered rifle range that goes past 200 yards. I am just investigating different areas to live and trying to learn the shooting ranges available. I live in ORegon and I know there are lot of places to shoot here, but we are seriously lacking good action ranges in the urban areas, like Portland. Also, I prefer outdoor ranges and stay away from indoor ranges.

If anyone is from the area I'd be interested to hear what you have to say. By the way, is it possible to get a gun permit for the Carolinas before I move there? How long of a process is it to get a conceal carry permit that is recognizable in the Carolinas? I was told some people in Oregon take classes for permits, like a FL permit, that may be recognizable in other states. Sadly, my OR permit

Well the permit issue I am sure can be worked out, but I'd be interested to know about the ranges. Also, is there any areas outside of the city of Greenville/Asheville that are safe to shoot?

Heres another odd question. I'm not sure what the crime situation is like out there, but how safe do most people there feel leaving their guns at home in their safe? Are most neighborhoods in these cities relatively free from burglaries? I was thinking I may want to live in smaller, more Mayberrish town outside of G'ville or A'ville, because of this. I figure outside the city the crime must be better.

Thanks for people's advice.

 

[hardluk1]

Nothing around asheville or western nc i don't think. Probably gona have to find some private land for practice.
Crime , I guess the some meth head or some other person with out a job and no benifites can do about anything. I live in Burnsville . 30min north of asheville and we have our problems like most area's but nothing that all small communites have to deal with. No real major crime but a fair amount of small break in's and drug dealers get'n busted. Maybe someone sharper than I can comment on getting a permit with out living here for 6 months. Go to CAROLINASHOOTERSFORUM AND ASK THERE they will set you straight on what you can do and can't. OH It is a whole lot cooler in NC mountains than summers down in most all of SC.

 

[Magoo]

Check out the Greenville Gun Club: http://www.greenvillegunclub.com/
I'm not a member, but have been meaning to check it out. Also, look up Allen Arms in Greenville. It's a nice indoor range where I am a member that I can recommend. The closest state run, free rifle range is in Easley but is only 100 yards and shoot from the line only. There is a range in Spartanburg that goes to 300 yards that I haven't been to but I think it's shoot from the line only as well. There's an unmanned state range in Oconee county that so long as there are no other shooters, I'd guess you could do whatever you want.

Concealed carry permits ("CWP" here) take about six weeks to process. I assume you can apply as soon as you establish residency, but don't know. It'll cost you about $100-$120 all told. SC and NC share reciprocity.

Please don't everyone flame me, but I live just outside the city limits, don't own a safe (yet), and rarely lock my doors. My keys stay in my truck in the driveway.

Greenville is a great city. So is Asheville as long as you don't need employment .

 

[Cmdr. Gravez0r]

Carry permit is normally a 90-day wait. UNLESS, I am told, you are female, sometimes it will be expedited.

Greenville is a nice Southern town with a large carpetbagger population so you won't be too out of place. If you come to Greenville make sure you get a house on the East side of town. I have been in this town for almost 20 years and the only trouble I remember the family having is teenagers (probably white) screwing with our cars. (window breakage). All the really nasty stuff seems to stay on the West side.

Downtown Greenville is nice and pretty family friendly but also has a pretty broad selection of restaurants and bars if that is your thing. I never go downtown or to the west side without the pistol.


As far as ranges go. I believe they are about to open up a 200-yd lane in Pickens (near Easley) at the DNR range. Other than that you will have to go to the Greenville Gun Club, where there is a waiting list. I usually shoot in the woods near Lake Jocassee or at the other DNR range in Clinton (pronounced Clinnon) which is also only 100 yds.

If/when you make it down please look me up and I can help get you situated.

Oh while I'm thinking about it. Allen Arms, the indoor range does allow "action shooting" but from stationary position only. Frank Allen is a top notch guy and a definite beliver in The Cause.

 

[Evergreen]

I appreciate everyone's responses. Also, I appreciate that you would help me get situated in the area, Cmdr Gravez. I don't really know anyone in the area and it would be great to have someone help me out. I plan on maybe visiting and even searching for a rental before my lease runs out in April. There is a few different areas I am looking to live and Greenville has been on my radar for a while. I am self-employed and finding a job won't be an issue, I just need a high speed internet connection. I've been eager to leave Oregon for years, but just haven't had the opportunity. Hoping this time I can.

I don't mind paying for my club, as I already pay a lot to use the club I currently go to. Considering its Oregon, there is really only a few months of the year were you can do action range shooting everyday. We have long bout of drizzle and rain and outdoor shooting is not always easy most of the year. This is one thing that really bums me out. I live next to a great range, but the constant all-day rain means my gun's may get rusty sitting outside in the uncovered action range. Not to mention you get a bit wet, yourself.

I was looking into the Greenville Gun Club and it looks like it has a long waiting list. I don't like waiting lists.. LOL.. I am eager to get shooting right away and don't want to wait 3 years to start.

I am surprised at how few places it seems there are to shoot in an area I would think would populated heavily with gun owners and enthusiasts. How easy is it to find places to shoot in the forest around there? I'd rather join a range, but I will do whatever it takes to find a place to practice. As far as shooting on someone's property, I'd rather not. Considering I am new there and won't have any friends, it will take a long time before I can meet someone who will trust me to use his property as a target range.

Sounds like the carry permit is a long wait. It will be weird going three months without a carry gun. I'm wondering if I can get a Utah or Idaho permit and if it could be recognized in S.C. instead. HOwever, I have less worries over getting the permit than finding a great place to shoot.

 

[SmokeyVol]

I have membership at the Greenville Gun Club. The wait was not that long. The club has about 25 rifle bays up to 300 yards, about 25 pistol bays up to 50 yards, skeet, trap, and 5 stand. Cost is $150 /year after application and initiation fee. The ranges are rarely crowded.

 

[ny32182]

I'm also a member at GGC. The wait for me was about a quarter till they contacted me, and a few weeks after that to run through the application process. I don't know what the wait time is today.

However, depending on your definition of "action shooting", you may or may not be able to do it there.

They do have two practice bays, but you have to be a regular competetive venue SO there to have access, or know someone who is who can shoot with you. I can count the number of people I know have access on one hand. All the "regular ranges" must essentially be shot in a straight line. GGC does have by far the best rifle range I have seen in the area; 100/200/300 yards with lots of lanes and nice concrete benches.

There are private ranges in Anderson and Spartanburg that consist almost entirely of bays; I'm not a member at either so I don't know what the exact rules are, but these ranges would be virtually useless if the rank and file member doesn't have access to the bays, so I'm assuming they do. I would guess based on the layout that you'd have a much higher chance of doing what you want to do at either of those than at Greenville.

The best "action shooting" in the area is IDPA. Greenville, Anderson, and Spartanburg clubs all have monthly club matches on different weekends that are open to everyone. There is some IPSC too.

So, to recap what I know about each range:

Greenville Gun Club - the good:
-Has benches for pistol at several ranges from about 15 to 50 yards
-Best rifle range in the area; 100/200/300 yards
-Trap/skeet/5-stand shotgun - only one in the area I'm aware of
-Most central location to Greenville
Greenville Gun Club - the bad:
-Practice bay access virtually non-existant
-I think it has the highest initiation cost up front; not sure of exact costs at the other clubs though

Anderson club (Skip J range) - the good:
-8 (I think) practice bays; as far as I know open to every member
-Has a single 100 yard benched rifle lane
Anderson: the bad:
-Significant drive from Greenville
-only one rifle lane

Spartanburg: the good:
-5 practice bays, as far as I know, open to all members
-Not far from Greenville
Spartanburg: the bad:
-No benched rifle line

Personally I would join Anderson or Spartanburg for the practice bay access but I'm situated just right so both about 45 minute drive from my place and well out of my way during the week. I might join one of them anyway since I think both are relatively cheap. I too am hurting for practice bay access.

As far as "crime" around Greenville, the only sketchy-looking part of town I ever drive through is the west side on the way into downtown... Anyone from a big city would likely laugh at what we call "crime" though. Downtown area is quite nice as far as I'm concerned; never even heard of anyone having a "crime problem" there. Like usual, if you can rent a place for the first year to get a feel for the area, that is something I would recommend.

 

[sappyg]

hey evergreen,
+1 on everything NY said. i grew up in Greer SC and have lived in Easley SC for the past 16 years now. if you want Mayberry RFD take a look at Easley. it's like a bedroom community of Greenville because you can be in Gville, Clemson or Anderson in 15-20 minutes plus or minus. Skip J is a LONG way away. GGC maybe 20 minutes. plus, there are 2 indoor ranges. Dewey's Pawn just off 25 and another on Poinsette. sorry, can't think of the name off the top of my head.
the DNR range in Easley has 10 rifle bays (i think) and about 12 pistol bays. it does not have a 200 yard range at this time.
comparing Ashville to Greenville is like comparing REM to Patt Boone. Ashville tends to be more suited to alternate lifestyles and Greenville tends to be much more family oriented. there is little crime to speak of though you read about it more now than you would have 10 years ago.
i hope this helps.

 

[ny32182]

The public range mentioned above is actually in Pickens I think... yes it is (or could be) very nice by public standards. It has a nice 100 yard rifle range especially.

It used to have a pistol range, but they took it down; last I heard are awaiting some funding to rebuild it.

They also have a longer rifle range that they could open just by cutting the grass and cleaning up the bench area... no idea why they don't do that.

They also have a field where you can shoot shotguns; you are pretty much on your own as far as target throwing though.

I think they also have one bow target.

Overall though, easily the nicest public range I've seen and could be a lot better with just a little work that they will hopefully do one day. It will NOT, however, be a place where you can do "action shooting".

 

[sappyg]

the DNR (in Pickens county) has the pistol range up and running. the shed and bays are a huge improvement. i shot there about a month ago. it gets a LOT of traffic now as apposed to 10 years ago. what bothers me is that it still only has one range officer and one guy just can't be everywhere.
i use to shoot cowboy action with the Piedmont Regulators at the Skip J. probably the best bet for runing and guning but it's been 8 years since i've been there.

 

[ny32182]

Ah, good to hear they have it open again.. I will have to go check it out.

 

[Zach S]

In NC, you have to be a resident for 30 days before you can apply, then wait up to 90 days after you apply to get it. NC does not offer non-res permits (even if you live in TN and work in NC, and therefore pay NC taxes ), however, non-res permits (except NH) are recognized here. NC permit is good in 34 other states.

Greenville is a great city. So is Asheville as long as you don't need employment

Funny you say that. I live in Erwin TN and work in Asheville. I know folks from Unicio (right up the road from me), Johnson City, Jonesborough, Greeneville, and I've seen a car with Knox County plate on dayshift...

The job market isn't that bad, you can have a job that doesn't suck, or one that sucks, but pays well with benefits. The biggest problem in this area is you have guys that used to make $20+ an hour that are "too good" to work for a temp agency.