Best Range?

[rrtex1]

I shoot at Eagle Peak most of the time even though they are strict and only allow bench shooting.
I am off work Friday and was thinking of driving someplace new to shoot my AR and 45ACP. Any suggestions?
Sorry in advance if this is in the wrong area.

[Texas1911]

Tell us about your range.

Might have a look in that thread.

[Sig_Fiend]

I had a pretty bad experience at Eagle Peak when I took a CHL class and we ended up going there for the shooting proficiency test. The instructors were both a good bunch of guys, one was ex-military and has his own private security company (obviously a very educated and experienced individual) and the other is a Bastrop county active LEO and on their SWAT team. Before we went out on the range and got started, both of them asked the manager what their policy was on rapid fire since the CHL class is of course self defense based and they wanted to give us a little demonstration afterwards. The manager said they typically don't allow rapid fire, though since they were instructors they would let it go. Well, long story short after the proficiency test they showed us several things regarding retreating from an attacker at angles, etc and rapid fired a few times in a controlled manner with tight groups. The manager came over and started complaining to the instructors and told them "We don't do that around here!" even though he specifically said beforehand it would be alright that time. Once we went to the main building to pay our fees and leave, the manager/owner (I'm not sure if he was the actual owner or not) had obviously been steaming a bit and wanted to have a talk with our instructors. He decided he wanted to ban the instructors from the range permanently and ordered them to hand over their range cards. One did, the other instructor wasn't sure where he put his and told the manager he wasn't sure where his was but, that he understood and that we would leave. Well the manager got even more steamed for some reason and insisted the instructor give him the range card. The whole time the manager was standing in his way preventing him and several of us from the class from walking out the door. Keep in mind, this whole time everyone from our group including the instructors acted in a very professional manner, had already paid our fees, and just wanted to leave. Well, the manager did something pretty stupid and after ordering the instructor to give up the range card, he actually thrust his hand out so as to attempt to reach in the instructor's pocket to try and get the card himself?! Sorry but, that is a big no no invading someone's personal space like that. Needless to say the instructor was a bit shocked, took a step back and basically asked him what he was doing and told him that's not very nice to do. Long story long, thankfully nothing happened and we ended up just walking out. I will never go back to Eagle Peak PERIOD! I do not know the name of the manager responsible for this incident, however he was incredibly unprofessional (especially considering the backgrounds and professionalism of the 2 instructors). I can understand ranges not wanting people to rapid fire as usually the average individual will do so in an unsafe and uncontrolled manner. However these are two professionals we're talking about, and on top of that they had approval from the same manager beforehand. He could have simply said "Look, I know what I said before but, we would prefer that you don't do that in the future".

Rrtex1, you might consider going to Red's Pflugerville location as that should be really close to you: http://www.redsguns.com/ Other than that, the next closest range I can think of is Red's south 290 West location.

[rrtex1]

I go to Eagle because it is close and my kids like it. Red's is good but for two reasons I do not go there. I had the luxury of being laser tagged by someone there showing off their new toy. I gave the range employee a look and he did nothing. I am not a big fan of looking down the wrong end of a barrel. And whenever I go to indoor ranges I get a bad headache afterwards. Is there anywhere else? Waco? San Antonio? East? West?

[Texas1911]

Bullet Hole in San Antonio looks to be pretty good. I think they have an outdoor section?

[mcmoyer]

http://www.ctxpta.com/index.html

The Lone Star Range near Lockhart...good place, great guy (Matt) running it.

[Sig_Fiend]

Oh wow, sorry to hear that Rrtex1! The south Red's location isn't like that at all, and they are a good group of guys to deal with plus they don't put up with that kind of crap.

Here's the link to Bullet Hole: http://www.bullethole.com/

There is also Dietz Gun Range in New Braunfels: Link

Here's a good link to plenty of other ranges in Texas: Link

[rrtex1]

Does Lonestar allow FMJ? What is longest rifle yardage?

[SteveW]

I have the same negative experience at Eagle Peak, but over FMJ 7.62x51 ammo. I knew in advance that they didn't allow FMJ mil surp, so took some Silver Bear softpoint for my FAL. When he saw the FAL the guy running the place nearly strip searched me and then just 'hovered' all the time, glaring at me. I am done with them.

Now Crazy Richards (AKA Hill Country Rifle Range) has closed I joined the Austin Rifle Club. Not as, err, exciting as a visit to Richards, but sanity reigns.

Steve.

[ctxpta]

Our longest rifle range currently is 100 yards with plans to expand to 250 at some point. We do allow FMJ and rapid fire with a semi. Just so you know I have most of Richards shooting benches. We can only hope that there was nothing planted in the benches by the feds before I got them.