What do you want in a local range

[benenglish]

Damn, a restaurant onsite? Genious

My sarcasm detector is broken. Sorry.

Anyway, here's another 200M baffled range that's completely usable, despite the baffles.

ETA: So you understand the scale of the photo and how high those baffles are, the shooter is actually reclined atop a rifle benchrest. The bottom edges of those baffles are well above the ground and never get in anyone's way.

Properly done, baffled ranges are great.

However, I understand why people who have never seen one that's properly done think they're awful. Far too many range owners cheap out by trying to just install one baffle, close and low. If they care so little about their customers, they shouldn't even be in the business.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

It's too difficult to please everyone.
We all want the freedom to do what we want on the line, and a good majority of people here are responsible enough.
But, then one must be on high alert for those that are not.

 

[Shotgun Jeremy]

My sarcasm detector is broken. Sorry.

No sarcasm to detect. The more accommodating a range can be, the better. If you have a restaurant at a range, then its easier to take a break to eat and get back to shooting. On the flip side, the restaurant can probably help bring in a few more shooters.

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[robertc1024]

Properly done, baffled ranges are great.

However, I understand why people who have never seen one that's properly done think they're awful. Far too many range owners cheap out by trying to just install one baffle, close and low. If they care so little about their customers, they shouldn't even be in the business.

Count me in that category. That's all I've ever seen around here. I find them quite annoying when you are trying to shoot through a 2' tall window, but I understand why they are there.

To the OP, one thing that hasn't been mentioned is a lot of ranges don't allow off-hand shooting - which is very, very annoying. First, if you're shooting a relatively heavy recoiling rifle, it is a lot more comfortable. Second, if you shoot BP matches (at least the ones I'm familiar with,) you have to shoot offhand, but a range that won't let you practice is worthless for that.

 

[benenglish]

To the OP, one thing that hasn't been mentioned is a lot of ranges don't allow off-hand shooting - which is very, very annoying. First, if you're shooting a relatively heavy recoiling rifle, it is a lot more comfortable.

A stand-up benchrest for heavy-recoiling guns would be a blessing for some folks. They exist but I don't think I've ever seen one except in pictures.

 

[benenglish]

No sarcasm to detect.

Good to know. I agree with you.

However, I was open to the possibility that you were making a negative reference to a local range that has a restaurant. Glad to see that's not the case.

 

[benenglish]

But, then one must be on high alert for those that are not.

Every weird, stupid rule posted at a range is the result of that one guy, that one time.

I'd suggest we hunt him down but he appears to have plenty of clones.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Every weird, stupid rule posted at a range is the result of that one guy, that one time.

I'd suggest we hunt him down but he appears to have plenty of clones.

Agreed!

A lot of people seem to forget "they" are out there

 

[A & P]

Great feedback everyone! Thanks! Some great considerations both for the outdoor and indoor version. I've seen and like the idea of the baffles. I think the term is "no-sky" or "blue-sky" or something like that. You cannot see the sky from a the shooting position above the berm so it's basically impossible to send a round over the berm. Benenglish, those areal pics of that range were great! Did you take those?? It's probably expensive to build the baffles since you need so many, but it might not be as expensive as building a taller berm or settling a lawsuit. Of course, to the initial observation it looks cluttered and busy, but once you're down in your glass, you'll never see it anyway! I also like the CMP range. Not sure how much land it's on, but the way they have elevated berms for each distance is cool, but you'd need that kind of topography to begin with.

I'm a big fan of "no nanny state" ranges, but then you get the one dumbass that ruins it for everyone. Case in point, the range I shoot at now has heavy, mild steel poppers and plates for pistol. Some dumbass shot it up with AR ammo. They replaced them and painted everywhere: "NO RIFLES". It happens again. Steel is potmarked and you always get pelted with jackets coming back at you. They fixed them again and even painted "NO AR 223/556...THIS MEANS YOU (and put the guys name who they knew was a main culprit)" and it still happened again! I see cops holstering pistols with fingers in the trigger guard. I've seen guests of people who know better flag the entire line with a hot pistol, FINGER ON THE TRIGGER. I've seen ARs on tables that are supposed to be safe, I walk in front of them to paint steel targets just to find out at the end of the day that AR, on fire, with a magazine still in it, has two rounds in the mag and a round in the chamber...."but it's safe".

So I've seen a lot that would elicit the need for range nazis. It's hard to strike a balance. I can draw and shoot "rapid fire" all day without an issue. But then Bernie ponies up next to me, sees me do it, think it looks cool, and after he figures out that his mag is stuck because he put it in backwards, he tries to emulate me and blows a hole in his foot.

Seeing it from a business owners point of view, an "open to the public" range generally has to be restrictive to the lowest common denominator. Striking a balance between "great for good shooters" and "safe for everyone" is tricky.

Depending on the build cost, the parking in front of your station is pretty good idea. But if a parking spot is typically 12' wide and the shooting station is 6-8' wide, then the math doesn't work so well. if you do two sided parking, then that's 50% more space need roughly. Good option, just have to realize space requirements. And that parking would likely have to be one car allowed per station, so you couldn't have 3 bros parking there to share a bench (flexibility based on how busy, of course).

Range rental stuff like quality scopes, target cameras, etc is a good idea. We actually offered a demo day where you paid one fee, could shoot 20 different guns, and only paid for ammo by the cylinder or magazine so that you didn't have to buy a whole box of 50AE, for example. Not one person showed up for it. It was a perfect "try before you buy" opportunity. But if we had an onsite range, it'd have been better I'm sure.

Indoor 100yd range isn't practical. Too expensive to build. Good climate control of course; good air handling.

Food option: onsite prepared food would be an option, but then you have a whole world of health department, food costs, menus, etc. Vending machine/snack machines is an easy alternative. Or maybe lease a space to an interior restaurant. Adds quite a bit of cost, though.

Having all the bells and whistles but keeping the cost down is usually difficult. Gold lined toilet seats for $10 all day isn't realistic.

It seems like one of the biggest gripes I hear about, though, is crappy personalities. That should be free and easy to correct. In fact, that's why our store opened...because other nearby stores reportedly have poor attitudes. So if I keep that in check, that's simple enough. Think "British cops" version. Those guys are so polite.

As for distance to travel, well, plenty of guys from up here in Tomball travel to ASC so to shoot longer ranges, people will make the drive I guess.

All great ideas! Thanks for the input so far!

 

[zincwarrior]

Where are you thinking of putting a range in?

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Nice100 yard indoor range in Conroe.
They have video cameras at the far point of the target area so no spotting scope is required.

 

[benenglish]

Nice100 yard indoor range in Conroe.

YMMV but it's definitely a place the OP should check out.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

YMMV but it's definitely a place the OP should check out.

Of course, but it's the only one I've ever seen, lol.

 

[45tex]

*A flat fee, no time limit unless people are waiting.
*When it comes to indoor ranges I can be in and out. If I stay under a half hour give me a break in the price. Sportsmens outlet charges half. Often I just want to function check a gun and only need a few minutes.
*If you want me to buy ammo, charge a fair price. If I can buy it retail for $14, why should you buy wholesale and charge me $28
*Don't charge me to use your ear muffs and scratched up old eye protection.
*Allow the use of steel and aluminum cased ammo. If you don't then be honest. Its because you are cheap/lazy and expect me to sort my brass for you so you can make more money. This stuff is part of the shooting world, adapt, hire me to sort it later. I would pay $2 extra for no brass restrictions.
*I like to test the function of my carry gun by drawing and emptying the carried magazine just once. If you charge by the gun I just got ripped off or the carry piece does not get a true to life test. I am less safe, you are greedy. Also then I need more carry ammo, at a fair price, I will buy it from you.
*With concealed carry our needs are different and we are not there just for fun.
*Why do you charge me more to shoot a pistol caliber rifle?
*We never intend to shoot your floor, ceiling, walls, or the pulley system. But it will happen. Live with it. We get no pleasure from mistakes.
*Explain to your Range Officers that we don't care what great shots they were, how many VC they killed, and that they already know everything. Have them watch out for safety.

 

[STXdevilsquid]

I would say, Combine TopGolf, Alamo Draft house and a Range! Sniper levels, and electronic scoring. If you miss your target, you got to take a shot (not a gun). Big screen playing greats like the great Santini or Goid, the Bad and the Ugly.

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[grasshopperglock]

Coffee machine in the lobby on the cold days.

 

[Savage20]

Yeah and a nail salon.

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[grasshopperglock]

Yes!

Big tank of cucumber water too. Some Foot bath action going on...

 

[Savage20]

I go there to shoot, not get pampered or waited on.

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[grasshopperglock]

I wouldn't mind a shop fan blowing across the shooting bench. I usually go to the range during the hottest part of the day. Bandana wrapped around my brow to be able to see the cross hairs. You can almost pour sweat out the ear muffs.

$200 shop fan. I'm not asking for A.C.....just a little air flow.