The Perfect Indoor Range

[USMC 1975]

I am curious to know what experienced shooters look for in an indoor range.

Cost's ? Ammo supply ? Attached Gun Shop ? Gunsmith Services ? Lounge Area for sitting down, relaxing, drinking coffee and shooting the breeze ?

What about the range itself ? What characteristics make for a good indoor
range ? Sound proofing ? Good lighting ? Remote / Movable targets, Etc.

I would appreciate any of your comments and would value your input. I was recently notified that a gun range in the Tri Cities area of TN burnt down and isn't going to be rebuilt. This will leave the area without an indoor range.

Thanks everyone for your help and input.

Chris

 

[btg3]

This range will fill a void when it opens in a few weeks. They may have been down the road you describe. Contact info is on their website.
http://www.allenarms.net/

 

[bluto]

What I like about my indoor range:

- Charges a flat rate per person.
- Allows you to use your own ammo.
- Allows you to use your own targets.
- Clean
- 14 lanes separated into two rooms
- Good assortment of rental guns. Must buy range ammo for rentals (very fair).
- Good pulley system.
- Ability to shoot everything up to 30-06 (for certain) or bigger? including shotguns.
- Decent ventilation.
- Adequate lighting.
- Attached gun shop with decent selection and good (for Kali) prices.
- Nice people.
- Good assortment of supplies (mags, etc.)

What I would like to see to make it a DREAM range:

- Better lighting. Bright. Very bright.
- Settings on the pulley system so it would stop exactly at 7, 10, 15, 20, and 25 yards.
- Dual anchor point pulleys so the targets don't rock after stopping downrange.
- A recessed, shielded camera attached above every pulley that moves with the target and transmits a picture of your target to a small TV screen installed in the shooting booth so you can see where your shots are landing at 15 to 25 yards.
- A double wash ventilation system.
- Two or three 50 yard lanes.
- One lane (extra charge) with a ransom rest for accuracy testing.
- Quality gunsmith available.

 

[PPGMD]

I found the perfect range, outdoors, where I can get my own bay so I can practice USPSA style shooting.

 

[btg3]

FWIW, I'd like to see a range that operates more like a sports club than a gun hangout. If you can attract a wider market and have well-attended events for youth and ladies ... as well as the sterotypical gun nuts (me!) then you have a business as opposed to a club.

Also ever enter a range for the first time and folks look at you like you are an alien -- "you ain't one of us". Sure they loosen up if you ask a few questions, but a new shooter should be welcomed -- as opposed to having to make himself welcome.

Fundamental question to the OP: "Do you want a gun club, or a business?"

 

[Desk Jockey]

This one's close enough for me. About two miles from the house.

https://www.whistlingpinesgunclub.com/index.asp

 

[IME]

You, sir, are one lucky duck. What I wouldn't give to have something like that near me. Wow.

 

[USMC 1975]

That looks like a country club.

Awesome building and a great setup. Someone spared no expense in setting that range up. Your a lucky shooter.

You should see the crap hole I currently shoot in.

Chris

 

[Jenrick]

Wow! That's pretty close to everything I could want, with maybe the exception of a shoot house

-Jenrick

 

[fireflyfather]

Bluto, ASC is good, but I hear you on every one of those "upgrades". Particularly, the ventilation system needs work. Also, I'd like the option to shoot from seated position or prone without the "tray" table wobbling from the dude in the next lane shooting or bumping the lane divider. I'd also like it if ASC carried reloading supplies.

 

[shdwfx]

If you can attract a wider market and have well-attended events for youth and ladies ... as well as the sterotypical gun nuts (me!) then you have a business as opposed to a club.

That would be neat to see - a place where average folks could say "Let's go to the range Friday night" just like they would use a bowling alley (sans alcohol of course).

Hobby shooters (myself included) may prefer a no-nonsense 'club' atmosphere for regular range trips, but it would be nice to have a place to take the family and friends. A nice lounge, bistro/coffee shop, mini-library and magazine rack would go a long way towards that.

 

[bluto]

Desk Jockey - That is one nice range.

Fireflyfather - I'm with ya'. ASC isn't bad, but it sure would be nice if it looked a bit more like the Whistling Pines Gun Club link. Oh, and I wish ASC were open later than 7 pm. Makes it almost impossible to shoot during the week after work.

 

[IllHunter]

If built in ill-inois it would make a million....

of course the liability insurance premium would be two million. I'm so jealous, I've never shot inside in anything so clean and well lit. The few ranges here in Cook county are so overused and dingy and small by comparison. Please e-mail this link to the city council in Woodale, Il. I read that they're considering a range. Forget it, I'll do it!

 

[fedlaw]

I've never shot inside in anything so clean and well lit.

ILLHUNTER, we go out to Megasports in Plainfield a couple of times a month. Very nice facility.

http://www.megasportsfirearms.com/

 

[Feud]

I've been spoiled:

http://www.caswells.com/

Electronic target trolleys, gunsmith, gun store, etc, and only a few miles from my house.

 

[USMC 1975]

As I continue to research building a public shooting range, just thought I would throw this out to all of you.

My local gun range pays $ 15,000 a year just for liability insurance. Now add in all the utility costs ( keep in mind those ventilation fan motors eat alot of electricity ), property taxes and other incidental costs and your talking about a lot of cash.

I haven't even started calculating debt service on a mortgage, the land and building itself ( cost to build ) and other up front costs.

I do not plan on complaining anytime soon on having to pay $ 10 bucks per hour for range time.

Chris

 

[Old Guy]

I used one indoor range that had a back stop of sheet rubber, and behind that, hard rubber balls to soak up the rounds.

Benefits, this set up eats the noise! and no lead dust.
All gun shot reports seemed to be muffled, like a dumb-dumb sound compared to crack-crack.

No one knew how the thing was cleaned when I was there, seemed like the bullets filtered down, and trays behind caught them, but we had no access to the back. Next time I went it was reconfigured into warehousing? more profit?

Golf has dues of thousands of $s per year, more than a few hundred at a range, not happening. Yet indoor will be the future, noise complaints, liability for the errant round. In my State? Florida, you can not go too deep to make a true underground facility, and we are being pushed out of the outdoor Ranges.

The secret would be lots of members, yearly dues, the drop outs would pay for the true devotees.