Lexington, KY Gouge Please

[gaijin6423]

A job opportunity for me in Lexington, KY, and I would much appreciate any information that y'all could send my way about the area. I've done a decent bit of research already, but there's always room for more firsthand accounts. Specifically, I'm looking for information on:

1. CCW--Or CCDW in KY state terms. I understand the basic process (not that different from NC, really), restrictions, etc., but would appreciate any learning points on KY carrying that you have.

2. Ranges--I've gotten some basic information elsewhere on local ranges, but if anyone has specific good/bad details about them, please post.

3. Property Ownership--My wife and I are considering buying--if the job offer pans out--some nearby acreage, and if we do, I would like the option to set up a small range for personal use. Are there any specific KY restrictions above and beyond general good sense and typical 'do not shoot within X distance from structures' guidelines?

4. Competition--I shoot competitively here in NC, and would very much like to continue if I move to the Lexington area. Does anyone have experience in the area, competition-wise, with good/bad matches, etc?

This would be a pretty significant move for the wife and I, and even though I'm not worried about employment for either of us (wouldn't move unless I was offered the job, and she's a pharmacist), it can't hurt to be sure it's the right decision. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ford4x4]

Kentucky is about as free as it gets when it comes to guns.

We have pretty much universal open carry rights, with state law preempting any local ordinances. Just a few weeks ago a bill passed which appears to remove any criminal penalty from carrying concealed anywhere open carry is legal, which is everywhere.

Dunno much about ranges, as I mostly shoot on my own property. I've shot at GunWarehouse (budsgunshop) indoor pistol range, its nice. Knob Creek (1.5 hours away near Louisville) is great as well. Whittaker Guns is an amazing (2 hrs from Lexington in Owensboro) gun store.

I am not aware of any regulations on private shooting ranges, and don't know about competitions.

Born in Lexington, moved out in the country toward Richmond when I was 8, I've lived in the state my whole life, its a nice place. Lexington are has a fair amount of outdoor activities within an hour or two drive, which is nice if you are into that sort of thing. I'm in Bowling Green now and there's not as much. I love the west and thats where I'm headed when college is finally over, but I will miss my nice low restriction gun laws.

 

[Aaron Baker]

Lexington itself is in Fayette County. (There are about 120 counties in Kentucky--the most of any state, that I'm aware of.) The local government is a combined county/city "metro" government. I'm fairly certain that you cannot construct a private shooting range within the city/county. So just be aware of that if you really want to shoot on your own property.

Bud's (aka GunWarehouse) has a really nice indoor range right in downtown Lexington. It's also expensive to shoot there all the time.

If you don't mind a commute, there are plenty of communities surrounding Lexington in other counties where you could probably find a plot of land.

As for concealed carry, it's pretty standard stuff. Get a permit, carry almost anywhere (no bars, no schools, etc). You can also open carry anywhere in Kentucky. It's in our Constitution. You can also glovebox carry without a permit.

Aaron

 

[gaijin6423]

The job itself is actually in Winchester, a bit east from Lexington proper. I'm thinking that this may, depending on where my wife winds up working, make it a bit easier to find a piece of land outside of that no private range radius. Or would I be incorrect in that assumption?

This is the second or third time that I've heard of Whittaker Guns, so I'll have to check it out if the job pans out. As it stands now, I'll be headed to the area in the next couple of weeks for a site visit, and if I have time, I may check out a few places on my list. I was actually supposed to head there next week, but they wanted a two day trip, instead of one. The reason for the slide right? There wasn't enough time in a one day visit for them to take me to the Woodford Reserve distillery. I like them already.

 

[earlthegoat2]

It is one of the few states you can glovebox carry w/o a permit but since you should have one anyway it is really not that big of a deal.

Open carry flew like crazy in the Ashland area where I lived 2 yrs ago. Shooting ranges seemed to be plentiful.

 

[welldoya]

That's pretty country around Lexington. I lived in Berea (about 35 miles south) when I was younger. It's a great area.

 

[hawkass13]

Well I'm not real familiar with the area you are talking about moving to, but I am about twenty or thirty minutes from Whittakers. It is definitely worth the trip. They also have a range not terribly far from the store but I have never been there.
http://www.whittakerguns.com/

 

[Kentuckian]

Welcome to Lexington. Great place.

You will want to check out these two local gun related resources...

Awesome club. IDPA, USPSA, 1400 acres, most shooting sports supported on multiple outdoor ranges.
http://www.bgslinc.com/index.php

Super place to buy and indoor range...
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php

 

[gaijin6423]

That's about the 10th or 12th time I've had BGSL mentioned already. Time permitting during my site visit in the next couple of weeks, it and Bud's are the main two places I want to check out.

My wife, while generally supportive, is anxious about the potential move, but is also, I think, becoming less so as she does more research on the area. Specifically, she's concerned about our daughter having opportunities to experience things beyond what this area (eastern NC) can provide from a 'culture' standpoint. I say culture in the context of things like museums, historical sites, etc, vice culture in the sense of local environment, if that makes sense.

As I mentioned, she's been doing some research herself, but there's only so much to be gleaned from internet searches. It may be slightly off-topic, firearm/shooting wise*, but does anyone have some good firsthand experience with local museums, etc?

*--Then again, maybe it really IS firearm/shooting related, because if the wife's happy, then I get to buy more guns and shoot more often...

 

[towboat_er]

http://www.censusfinder.com/kentucky-historical-museums.htm

 

[Aaron Baker]

Around Lexington, there are going to be plenty of opportunities available for cultural experiences for young people. I have a friend that works at the Lexington Children's Theatre, which is always putting on shows geared towards younger audiences. There's also an opera house in Lexington, although they actually show more musicals than operas. There are also a number of museums here and in Louisville.

In other words, don't worry. It's not hickville.

 

[gaijin6423]

^LOL That's my assessment, actually. It's my wife who's taking some convincing. It helps some that her father is a huge fan of all things horse (more so the racing kind, vice equestrian events), and owns a small racing stable in Puerto Rico. He described it like this: "More Kentucky Derby, Mint Juleps, and extended pinkies than Hatfield and McCoy feud."

She was pretty excited when she saw the Children's Theater, so if we move, I'm having visions of many days spent surfing gunbroker.com from my iphone during kiddie plays...

I've had a flood of offers and interviews in the last week or so, which, while a whole heck of a lot better than many people are doing, has posed some interesting questions on just what I'm going to do. I.e.: Staying local and taking a military contracting job v. moving and going completely into the private sector. The KY job is still the frontrunner right now, though, so keep the pointers coming!

 

[drmarc]

There is plenty of farm land around the Winchester side of Lexington where you could potentially live and shoot on your own land. Property is still sluggish and there are bargains out there. I live in Eastern Ky but lived almost half my life in Lexington and my father lives in Winchester at this time.

 

[gaijin6423]

That's exactly what we're starting to see as we look into property in the area. There are definitely some deals to be had, and if we wind up moving in the next few months, our house here will hit the market right around the 'summer mover' surge the Marine Corps likes for personnel transfers.

A phone interview tomorrow, and a site visit in a couple of weeks will likely tell, but the way things are going, I may need that THR group buy of steel to open back up again...

 

[Jed Carter]

Welcome to the Bluegrass! there are 2 indoor ranges close by, one in Lexington, the Gun Warehouse and the old Bud's location, Smokin Guns in Paris 11 miles north of Lexington. The Bluegrass Sportsman league is 18 miles south of Lexington's New Circle rd it has 1400+ acres and Clubs that cover all types of shooting sports I belong to the Pistol Club and shoot in IDPA and USPSA matches. To find some land near here is what my wife specializes in, she owns her own Real Estate Brokerage, and has helped several families relocate to this piece of Heaven. Fayette, Bourbon, and Woodford counties are some of the most sought after farm land on the Planet. Jessamine, Clark and Madison counties are nice too but do not carry the premium. Send me an Private Message and I will give you my "agent's" contact information, you will not be dissapointed with anything here in Kentucky.

 

[gaijin6423]

Well, here's a quick update for those that may have been interested...

I visited Lexington last week for another round of interviews with the company, and the site management was apparently quite impressed, because they gave me an offer that same night at dinner. With my boss' (read: wife's) approval, it looks like I will be headed to the area in the next month or two.

While there, I had the chance to drive around for a few hours, just scanning the area a bit. I liked what I saw.

Jed, I appreciate the offer, but I'm locked into a local relocation agent in the area already. Not only does he come as part of my relocation package, but is also the one 'assigned' to me by USAA as part of their relocation programs. He's also a former head of the BGSL, although he doesn't belong anymore.

 

[Jed Carter]

Sorry for the late reply, But that is great news! Again Welcome to Lexington. The Gun Warehouse has pistol matches now: Monday Bullseye, Tuesday Ladies nite, Wednesday IDPA , Thursday USPSA and Friday Steel Challenge. I am going to try out the Thursday match this week. Due to the popularity of the Lexington range the Range in Paris KY often waives their fees or offers free range time, it is a very nice drive.

 

[gaijin6423]

I'm going to be working second shift for the first six to eight months, so my chances for weeknight matches are going to be slim. I'm likely going to have to stick to a few afternoon sojourns and weekend matches, at least for the time being. Oh, and dry firing. Lots and lots of dry firing. I've gotten into the habit of doing about an hour every night, but with a phased 'deployment' to Lexington (my wife has to get her KY pharmacist license before she can get a job there), I'll probably have a bit of free time to do more.

 

[Jed Carter]

I know you will like it here, check out the Bluegrass sportsmans league. http://www.bgslinc.com/