Southwestern/Central PA clubs/ranges?

[NineseveN]

Hey all, here's my dilemma.

I recently took a job in Johnstown, PA and moved from Pittsburgh. The sportsmen's club I am a member of is north of Pittsburgh and currently a 2.5-3 hour drive...not very conducive to frequent range visits. The guy I normally shoot with lives about 1/2 hour east of Pittsburgh, so he's about 1-1.5 hours away from me. Were looking for a range/club that isn't too expensive in between the Monroeville and Johnstown areas (the more central between the two the better to equalize travel time for the both of us).



Requirements:

Must not be prohibitively expensive
Must be allowed to use your own ammunition
Must have a rifle range (min 100 yards, longer is better)
Must have pistol lanes (preferably somewhere to shoot anywhere from 7-10 yards out to say, 25 or more).
Must not be afraid of Evil Black Rifles or semi-auto handguns
Must be either open on a weekend or both weekend days and/or evenings after 5:30-6:00.

We'd prefer one that was kinda not too busy on the evenings or weekends if possible. My old club rarely had more than a few people on it.


So, those of you in PA around those areas, care to help a couple of shooters out?

Thanks in advance.

 

[anapex]

For close to half-way between Monroeville and Johnstown look in to the Indiana County Bow and Gun club. Last I knew the membership price was $30 for the year. Here's some contact info for it:

Indiana County Rod & Gun Club
P.O. Box 217
Shelocta, PA 15774
(724) 726-1111

You should also look in to the Hollidaysburg Sportsmens Club, while not as close to being in between both places it is a good place to shoot.

R.D.#3 Box 310
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania 16648
(814) 695-8138

I'm also expecting some other still-in-PA board members to fill in the gaps.

 

[NineseveN]

Oh wow, good info man, I appreciate it. Are you/were you a member at either of those? Would be nice to see some THR folks once in a while.

 

[anapex]

Was never a member of any of them, by the time I had really gotten in to shooting I was in MD already. I have done a .22 pin shoot at Hollidaysburg and have an uncle who is a member at Indiana. If you watch the Rallying Point we usually have a SW PA shoot 2 times a year or so (we should do it more then that *hint hint*).

 

[NineseveN]

Awesome, good info, will call them and get some details. Thanks again!

 

[NineseveN]

Update:

After some less than stellar discoveries, I still need a range. Slight update that the closer to the Johnstown area, the better.

The sentiments in the initial post still apply, though the other shooter is less of a consideration, he'll travel all the way out here if need be.

The orignal two suggestions are still viable, just wanted some other input. After 3 months of trying to grin and bear the commute to Ambridge, PA, enough is enough for me. I need something closer to Johnstown.

I can search NRA ranges and such, but I won't have a clue what any of them are truly like, so I'm looking for some first or even second-hand advice here to help me out. Thanks again in advance.

 

[Kurush]

Did you check wheretoshoot.org? Also call the game commission and ask if there's a state range out there, there are a bunch of state parks right around Lingonier.

 

[NineseveN]

I did check Wheretoshoot.org, gave me three listings, 2 of them already suggested to me. But even if I have the range names, the best I can hope for is that when I call they give me an accurate depiction of the scene there...which is why I'd hoped to get some intel from people of like-minded interests that have some knowledge of the areas.

FYI: I have belonged to a number of clubs, most of them were just tailored for folks who hit the range to sight-in their hunting rifles and people that shoot trap and skeet. If those were my interests, I'd be fine anywhere. It just seems that the ranges that are a good fit for someone like me (doesn't hunt, shoots evil black rifles and doesn't want to bother anyone or be bothered himself) are a rare breed these days. Having conversations all day long with a fellow shooter, even one of disimilar interests is cool, perhaps you both learn something. Having folks approach you every 5 minutes and asking to see your membership ID (even though you've been a regular member there for years) and asking what you need a FAL for or if you have a permit for those 'assault rifles' is just more than I can bear.

Wheretoshoot.org is a reat resource, perhaps someone will be introduced to it by reading this thread, so good add! Thanks.

 

[Kurush]

Wish I could help you, but I don't head out that way very often. Have you tried asking around on HuntingPA.com?

 

[NineseveN]

Oooh, HuntingPA.com? Never been there, good idea! Thanks.

 

[Subby]

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=480&q=161297

That's a listing of PA Game Commission Ranges. Only allowed 3 rds. in a magazine or 6 in a revolver tho, if memory serves. This might be a real bad time of year to try one out, with opening day only 4 weeks off.

Sub