Sadly, development encroaches on many shooting ranges with developers trying to close them down. Some ranges were grandfathered in with the laws so that people can not move next door and then complain about the shooting noise. But many ranges are not protected and are getting forced farther and farther from town. A range in Tucson (see shotgun threads) is currently feeling the pressure. I know of a couple in my area that are also undergoing this kind of pressure. So the question, how far would you be willing to drive to be able to shoot? Currently, I am 20 minutes from a range but a few years down the road I may have to go much further and then my shooting will be much less often. Which is just what some people want, the gradual disappearance of sport shooting.
How far are you willing to travel to shoot?
- Thread starter Oldnamvet
- Start date
- Status
PaulBk
Member
Less is more
I voted for "up to 30 min", but in truth that is the edge of how far I will drive. I choose ranges for proximity as much as anything else. Fortunately, I have many to choose from, both indoor and outdoor. I am willing to pay extra for a short drive.
-Paul
I voted for "up to 30 min", but in truth that is the edge of how far I will drive. I choose ranges for proximity as much as anything else. Fortunately, I have many to choose from, both indoor and outdoor. I am willing to pay extra for a short drive.
-Paul
iamkris
Member
The CLOSEST place to shoot is an indoor pistol-only range...25 minutes. The range I belong to is 45 minutes away. There are a couple of others about the same distance.
gbran
Member
Urbanization and landowner prohibitions do make it tougher to find places to shoot. I have a couple outdoor ranges within 25 miles and one local indoor range.
I also have a lot of gov't land within 30 miles where I can set up my own place to shoot. I don't like gun ranges, except for competition or events. I like to find a spot on my own, mainly because I don't have to be interrupted by so many other shooters calling for target breaks.
I also have a lot of gov't land within 30 miles where I can set up my own place to shoot. I don't like gun ranges, except for competition or events. I like to find a spot on my own, mainly because I don't have to be interrupted by so many other shooters calling for target breaks.
BADUNAME13
Member
As far as is necessary. I drove From New Orleans to Arazona to go to Gunsite.
I will move if I cannot shoot.
I will move if I cannot shoot.
Bruce333
Member
Closest handgun range is 25 minutes (more depending on time of day/traffic). Closest rifle range (that I'm willing to go to) is 45 minutes.
For special meets or classes distance doesn't matter.
On a regular basis, I would be willing to drive up to 1.5 hours.
For special meets or classes distance doesn't matter.
On a regular basis, I would be willing to drive up to 1.5 hours.
It Depends
It depends on how long I will remain there shooting. If I am going for 20 rounds of well-controlled trigger pulls, I'll do so on my way home from work. If I am taking in 200 rounds of assorted cartridges, I don't mind the 45 minutes drive each way.
Then, there is the family farm that lies 2.5 to 3 hours north. That is an over-night trip at minimum, and I prefer a two-day trip. On those trips, I pack in nearly all that I own in the way of firearms, along with literally a few thousand rounds of ammunition. I then spend 2 days firing literally thousands of rounds.
I set up the steel targets, sight-in (1-shot), then I do one day of varminting. The next day, I expend the remainder of my ammunition on some target shooting, some tactical exercises, and if any varmint is unwise enough to show its head, it looses its head. Doesn't happen often on day 2. But, with the cost of gasoline, it doesn't pay to make such trips every weekend. By the way, the family farm shoot is my favorite.
It depends on how long I will remain there shooting. If I am going for 20 rounds of well-controlled trigger pulls, I'll do so on my way home from work. If I am taking in 200 rounds of assorted cartridges, I don't mind the 45 minutes drive each way.
Then, there is the family farm that lies 2.5 to 3 hours north. That is an over-night trip at minimum, and I prefer a two-day trip. On those trips, I pack in nearly all that I own in the way of firearms, along with literally a few thousand rounds of ammunition. I then spend 2 days firing literally thousands of rounds.
I set up the steel targets, sight-in (1-shot), then I do one day of varminting. The next day, I expend the remainder of my ammunition on some target shooting, some tactical exercises, and if any varmint is unwise enough to show its head, it looses its head. Doesn't happen often on day 2. But, with the cost of gasoline, it doesn't pay to make such trips every weekend. By the way, the family farm shoot is my favorite.
Creeping Incrementalism
Member
Doc 2005: me too! My friend tells me I'm weird because I'll spend six hours plinking out in the mountains or desert and he doesn't know anyone else who does that (he gets bored after 2 hours at most), and now I can tell him, you don't know enough people. Take this Doc2005 guy, for instance...
I will drive more than two hours for off-range shooting with an overnight stay. As far as formal ranges go, it really doesn't matter... they are all a lot closer than good off-range spots. I just arrange my schedule so that the more of a pain it is to get there, the more shooting I will do.
I will drive more than two hours for off-range shooting with an overnight stay. As far as formal ranges go, it really doesn't matter... they are all a lot closer than good off-range spots. I just arrange my schedule so that the more of a pain it is to get there, the more shooting I will do.
steveno
Member
when I lived in Colorado it was 70 miles round trip from Windsor to the Owl canyon range north of Ft. Collins
thexrayboy
Member
BLM land that is legal for me to shoot on is a 10 minute walk/2 minute drive by Jeep. The county range is all of 5 miles away. Love them wide open spaces.
3 gun
Member
I have to drive a hour or more to do any USPSA/IDPA match shooting. Many of the matches are more than two hours from home. I try to do at least one match every weekend. It's about a 20 minute drive to the closest indoor range, 45 minutes to the closest public outdoor range.
ACP230
Member
I chose "More than two hours," because I will drive that far to shoot matches.
The ranges I use most for practice are 12 and 15 miles from my house.
The ranges I use most for practice are 12 and 15 miles from my house.
C.I.:
It's so much better to shoot on the farm, especially for tactical practice. I should post a pic this summer of my "range".
We have the hay rolls, bails and the old silo, etc. There are many obstacles that I can shoot around, over, under...and none of them will be damaged if I strike by error. I can practice near-real life tactical moves, and no body cares that I am blasting away with double and triple taps. Best of all, I can park my Ranger pickup there and practice shooting from it, around it, or over, etc. No body cares! Now, there is a benefit that you will not get at any city range. Try practicing for parking lot defense in the city...right?
There are advantages that are too many to list. I actually do this year-round. That is to say, I love to do winter camping. The coldest temps I have braved thus far were 0 degrees in the tent, with wind-chill I have no idea...it was, but it was fun, and it was cheap!
I detail the best, last. Back at the rear of the property (which measures 3/4 of a mile north-south by 5/8th mile east-west, there is an old "dump" where my grandfather, then uncles and now brother all have deposited their old farm implements, plows, disks, etc. It's pretty fun to take the blade from an old discarded plow, remove it and stake it at 300 yards to see what damage the handloads can create. The fun of putting a disk or a plow blade even at 500 yards is that you never, never have to walk out to "see" if you are hitting your target. You'll hear it if you hit it.
Great practice for deer hunting fellas!
Again, there are simply tactical exercises that we can do in the country that in the city would get us, let's say, in trouble, but which in reality are perfectly legal and prudent to practice (in the country). Make a new friend...take a city-guy to the country! Then, "Show 'im wha' shootin' 's all 'bout."
Doc2005
It's so much better to shoot on the farm, especially for tactical practice. I should post a pic this summer of my "range".
We have the hay rolls, bails and the old silo, etc. There are many obstacles that I can shoot around, over, under...and none of them will be damaged if I strike by error. I can practice near-real life tactical moves, and no body cares that I am blasting away with double and triple taps. Best of all, I can park my Ranger pickup there and practice shooting from it, around it, or over, etc. No body cares! Now, there is a benefit that you will not get at any city range. Try practicing for parking lot defense in the city...right?
There are advantages that are too many to list. I actually do this year-round. That is to say, I love to do winter camping. The coldest temps I have braved thus far were 0 degrees in the tent, with wind-chill I have no idea...it was, but it was fun, and it was cheap!
I detail the best, last. Back at the rear of the property (which measures 3/4 of a mile north-south by 5/8th mile east-west, there is an old "dump" where my grandfather, then uncles and now brother all have deposited their old farm implements, plows, disks, etc. It's pretty fun to take the blade from an old discarded plow, remove it and stake it at 300 yards to see what damage the handloads can create. The fun of putting a disk or a plow blade even at 500 yards is that you never, never have to walk out to "see" if you are hitting your target. You'll hear it if you hit it.
Great practice for deer hunting fellas!Again, there are simply tactical exercises that we can do in the country that in the city would get us, let's say, in trouble, but which in reality are perfectly legal and prudent to practice (in the country). Make a new friend...take a city-guy to the country! Then, "Show 'im wha' shootin' 's all 'bout."
Doc2005
SoCalShooter
Member
2+ hours to go shooting. Done it and the club range I belong to is about 30 minutes from my house.
4D5
Member
Don't have to travel unless...
I don't really have to travel far to range, 30 minutes north or 30 minutes south. However... my "backyard" range, out on BLM, is just 5 minutes by ATV to range 1, or 15 minutes by truck to range 2. Wide open spaces and you have the "range" to yourself and/or friends.
But just a few years ago, before escaping from PSRK, I use to drive almost an hour to the range, mostly shotgun. It was fun because you got to meet/shoot with friends, but then you had to put up with the jerks too. At the time I had a GF that was into shooting and we use to use the members only pistol/rifle range which was fun.
I don't really have to travel far to range, 30 minutes north or 30 minutes south. However... my "backyard" range, out on BLM, is just 5 minutes by ATV to range 1, or 15 minutes by truck to range 2. Wide open spaces and you have the "range" to yourself and/or friends.
But just a few years ago, before escaping from PSRK, I use to drive almost an hour to the range, mostly shotgun. It was fun because you got to meet/shoot with friends, but then you had to put up with the jerks too. At the time I had a GF that was into shooting and we use to use the members only pistol/rifle range which was fun.
Greysand
Member
Living in So-Cal sucks from a rifle shooting standpoint. If I want to shoot any mil-surps its more than a 2 hour drive. Each way. The last time I went out my trip odomemeter(sp?) clocked 160 miles even. One way.
So lets say, 320 miles / 18 mph = 17.8 gallons * $3.19 per Gal = $56.71 in fuel alone.
But hey, at least the weathers nice year round.
So lets say, 320 miles / 18 mph = 17.8 gallons * $3.19 per Gal = $56.71 in fuel alone.
But hey, at least the weathers nice year round.
glockman19
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,700
I travel about an hour from LA to Santa Barbara to hunt. My outdoor range with targets from 25 yards to 1,000 yards is 20 min away. My indoor range is 5-10 min up the road depending on traffic.
Smokin Gator
Member
The closest range is about 45 minutes away. But I travel a little over 2 hours one way when I go to cowboy matches. It's a great bunch of people so it's worth it to me.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
I have several nice ranges in my area within a 30 minute span of driving time.
MRIman
Member
Once a year I drive @11 hours to go to WV to shoot!!!!!
The other 51 weeks of the year,I shoot off my deck.
MRI
The other 51 weeks of the year,I shoot off my deck.
MRI
Smoke
Member
I'm not willing to drive much just to plink. my family ranch is 15 minutes from my house. I can do most anything there.
I routinely drive 300 miles to shoot dove, quail or pheasant.
I drive 800 miles once or twice a year to train.
I drive 7 miles to the local trap -skeet range.
I drive 30 to the higher end skeet and trap range in the local metroplex.
I won't walk out the door to shoot a deer.
I guess it varies....
Smoke
I routinely drive 300 miles to shoot dove, quail or pheasant.
I drive 800 miles once or twice a year to train.
I drive 7 miles to the local trap -skeet range.
I drive 30 to the higher end skeet and trap range in the local metroplex.
I won't walk out the door to shoot a deer.
I guess it varies....
Smoke
Fella's;
I don't know how to respond to the poll. I was thinking more in terms of, ten feet, quarter mile, that kinda thing. Far, to me being the old school phart that I am, means distance not time.
However, the NEA and it's educative policies seem to have struck again.
900F
I don't know how to respond to the poll. I was thinking more in terms of, ten feet, quarter mile, that kinda thing. Far, to me being the old school phart that I am, means distance not time.
However, the NEA and it's educative policies seem to have struck again.
900F- Status
