Greater Houston Gun Ranges

[Tejano Scott]

Thanks again to Acera and acourneau for the work on creating this...

 

[acorneau]

Thanks again to Acera and acourneau for the work on creating this...

Thanks Tejuano Scott.

 

[Rebel]

Anyone ever been out to Hot Wells? Seems to be the closest outdoor range to me (not a huge fan of indoor ranges).

Also, linky no worky on my mo-bile device

 

[Brains]

Many of us have, it's definitely a "well it's close" range though. No rapid fire, no movement, no steel, etc. You stand/sit in a box and slowly shoot at paper. Lots of new shooters, keep your eyes open at all times for people doing potentially unsafe things without realizing it. The staff is very nice, but they do enforce the rules (especially the no rapid fire rules). There is most often young and inexperienced guys working as RO's, but if you're willing to teach they're very willing to learn. For example, one day I wanted to setup a chronograph to proof some hand loads, and the kid had no clue what I was talking about. Ended up being a good range trip for me, and a fun educational day at work for him.

 

[Robert_K]

I went to Hot Wells for the first time two weekends ago. While Carter's Country is a "nicer" facility, I found Hot Wells to be less strict. You're allowed to bring your weapon bags to your lane. Use your own targets. And I was allowed to shoot buck & slug through my shotgun. What I didn't enjoy/like was the parking arrangement and the 40-50min wait between target changes. Otherwise for outdoor ranges I will go to them over Carter's. Also the staff at Hot Wells was a lot friendlier. Carter's staff are uptight, rude, and arrogant. Lastly, Carter's is overpriced.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I went to Hot Wells for the first time two weekends ago. While Carter's Country is a "nicer" facility, I found Hot Wells to be less strict. You're allowed to bring your weapon bags to your lane. Use your own targets. And I was allowed to shoot buck & slug through my shotgun. What I didn't enjoy/like was the parking arrangement and the 40-50min wait between target changes. Otherwise for outdoor ranges I will go to them over Carter's. Also the staff at Hot Wells was a lot friendlier. Carter's staff are uptight, rude, and arrogant. Lastly, Carter's is overpriced.

When did Carter's start this rule, not allowing bags at the benches?

 

[Acera]

When did Carter's start this rule, not allowing bags at the benches?

It has been years since they started not allowing guns to be brought into the store to get tagged while in the cases. Guess too many folks were irresponsible when doing that. I did watch one guy unload his lever gun, with shells dropping on the ground, right outside their door once. Some folks are less safety conscious that others.....

However I have bagged mine at the bench when done, no need to walk through the store then. So I don't know about the no cases on the range issue, they did not mention it anyway.

 

[Robert_K]

Last time I went (Oct/Nov '14) I had my dual rifle case and I was told I couldn't bring it to the lane. My problem was I had EVERYTHING inside that one case. When I asked why about this rule they said; "People walk off with other's bags/cases."None-the-less I refuse to ever go to Carter's again.
Oh side note... This was a Wednesday morning and there were two other's shooting the whole time I was there. One shooting pistol.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I have not been in a while, but I always carried all my gun rugs & range bags to my table, & everyone around me did the same.
When I would walk into the store, however, I only carried my gun rugs w/guns inside, then I would go back to my car for the rest.


ETA: it has been more that a year since I have been there.

 

[benenglish]

I refuse to ever go to Carter's again.

I reached that conclusion a long, long time ago. I think most people eventually get to the same place in their thinking and the more serious they are about shooting, the quicker they get to that point.

 

[Acera]

I reached that conclusion a long, long time ago. I think most people eventually get to the same place in their thinking and the more serious they are about shooting, the quicker they get to that point.

Had a real good experience this weekend at the Gun Emporium in Conroe. Rifles, pistols, then the sporting clays range. Laid back and friendly staff.

 

[Tejano Scott]

Had a real good experience this weekend at the Gun Emporium in Conroe. Rifles, pistols, then the sporting clays range. Laid back and friendly staff.

I've been there 5 or 6 times and have mixed reviews. I've had the experience you describe, I've had rude clerks and uptight ROs.

 

[Acera]

I've been there 5 or 6 times and have mixed reviews. I've had the experience you describe, I've had rude clerks and uptight ROs.

This was my second, both good. I liked the clays range. The RO had his hands full on a Saturday afternoon. All stalls full, but handled it well. However I do know folks that said they have had less than stellar experiences there.

 

[Tejano Scott]

I've heard nothing but great things about their skeet range.

 

[Acera]

I've heard nothing but great things about their skeet range.

It looked fine, but most do, hard to screw up a skeet field.

I liked the clays range.

When you drive the cart to the first station on the clays range, you actually drive through a small opening where some of the skeet birds have landed, yeah downrange

Sure some folks will have an absolute cow at the thought of being that close to an actual live firing line, but it's quick and no more dangerous than a lot of dove fields in the fall, don't look over LOL.

Bad news is they just started charging for the carts, guess they had to pay for the damage somehow. $25 each, but two can ride, they have gun racks, and you can use them all day if you do more than one round.

The course was set up on the honor system Saturday. You got to the shooting station and you had the controllers laying on the table or fence. We threw for each other. No system of counting by the staff was in place. Hope folks don't abuse that.

Think the full round was $45 (100 targets) or so and the 1/2 round was half that. Good variety of set ups.

We had a perfect day, but I bet in the summer it gets rough with bugs, humidity, etc. It is in a swamp.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Surprisingly, all of my Carter trips have been fine, & I used to go there every weekend.

 

[grumper]

Surprisingly, all of my Carter trips have been fine, & I used to go there every weekend.

That's only because they recognize the gang colors you be wearing and they don't want your homies be showing up strapped at dey cribs if they disrespect you.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

That's only because they recognize the gang colors you be wearing and they don't want your homies be showing up strapped at dey cribs if they disrespect you.

 

[Acera]

Heard about a new range that just opened up on the Katy freeway on the radio yesterday. Could not get much information, but wondering if anyone else knows about a new on in the west part of town that is not on the list.

 

[PasadenaEd]

Do any of the ranges have 100 to 300 yard accommodations for rifles?