Tejano Scott
TGT Addict
Went to try out Thunder Gun Range today in Conroe, TX. Had a pretty good time and I am thinking about joining their shooters club. Here is all the pertinent info I found out. I also sent an email to the owner Jesse, and once a few more questions are answered I will update this thread.
Thunder Gun Range
Thunder Gun Range - Conroe TX
17234 FM 1314
Conroe, TX 77302
(281) 572-1314
Pros: Nice facilities, friendly staff, reasonably priced, freedom to shoot rapid fire(with RO permission), cheap shooters club allows you to take advantage of shooting & moving drills, carbine courses, etc., easy to find, friendly to first time visitors.
Cons: RO's were young and a little green, there seemed to be some confusion as to whether NFA items were allowed, and a slight vibration in wooden platform (see below) where you shoot.
Staff:
I'd rate the staff as very friendly. The Range Officers were very young guys and, quite honestly, didn't know a lot about guns, etc. But I feel they did a sufficient job in monitoring what was going on. All of the staff went out of their way to help me when I identified myself as a first timer at the range. They didn't seem overly obsessed with rules, choosing to answer most of my questions with "just do what is safe" and "as long as you are safe". I liked their attitude, definitely not your typical gun nazi all in your business waiting for the moment to seize in and make you feel like you violated some massive safety rule. All in all I'd give the staff an "A".
Facilities:
They have a public and private part of the range. As I understand, you can shoot on the private part of the range and do movement drills if: a) you are a member of their club ($35 annual) and; b) you participate in club safety and training courses (which also seem very reasonably priced- the safety course is free and most of the other courses are $25). As I was shooting today for the first time and the owner was gone, I did not get to see the private area- but I could hear steel targets and rapid fire, etc so it sounded fun.
The Public Part of the range was pretty nice. The benches/shooting lanes for rifle are on an elevated wooden platforms. They have approx 20 benches that have 25/50/100 yard access. They have a 100, 200, and 300 yard only range. They also have several pistol bays that allow you to stand and shoot. Each rifle bench has a bench rest and adequate space to set up your gear. The rifle range isn't the most handicapped accessible range I've seen, but they assured me they have other spots that people in wheelchairs, etc. can shoot. My only complaint would be that it seemed their was some slight sway/vibration in the platform if someone was walking the plank behind you. They do allow rapid fire, if the RO is notified. I just let him know I planned on shooting briskly, he told me to be safe and away I went. They even have lights out on their targets, which leads me to believe they have some night shoots from time to time.
No target backstops/staplers are needed here. They just have a little chickenwire fence they've run, and you just clothespin your target to the chicken wire. It worked pretty well.
Rifle Range:
Lots of parking:
Thunder Gun Range
Thunder Gun Range - Conroe TX
17234 FM 1314
Conroe, TX 77302
(281) 572-1314
Pros: Nice facilities, friendly staff, reasonably priced, freedom to shoot rapid fire(with RO permission), cheap shooters club allows you to take advantage of shooting & moving drills, carbine courses, etc., easy to find, friendly to first time visitors.
Cons: RO's were young and a little green, there seemed to be some confusion as to whether NFA items were allowed, and a slight vibration in wooden platform (see below) where you shoot.
Staff:
I'd rate the staff as very friendly. The Range Officers were very young guys and, quite honestly, didn't know a lot about guns, etc. But I feel they did a sufficient job in monitoring what was going on. All of the staff went out of their way to help me when I identified myself as a first timer at the range. They didn't seem overly obsessed with rules, choosing to answer most of my questions with "just do what is safe" and "as long as you are safe". I liked their attitude, definitely not your typical gun nazi all in your business waiting for the moment to seize in and make you feel like you violated some massive safety rule. All in all I'd give the staff an "A".
Facilities:
They have a public and private part of the range. As I understand, you can shoot on the private part of the range and do movement drills if: a) you are a member of their club ($35 annual) and; b) you participate in club safety and training courses (which also seem very reasonably priced- the safety course is free and most of the other courses are $25). As I was shooting today for the first time and the owner was gone, I did not get to see the private area- but I could hear steel targets and rapid fire, etc so it sounded fun.
The Public Part of the range was pretty nice. The benches/shooting lanes for rifle are on an elevated wooden platforms. They have approx 20 benches that have 25/50/100 yard access. They have a 100, 200, and 300 yard only range. They also have several pistol bays that allow you to stand and shoot. Each rifle bench has a bench rest and adequate space to set up your gear. The rifle range isn't the most handicapped accessible range I've seen, but they assured me they have other spots that people in wheelchairs, etc. can shoot. My only complaint would be that it seemed their was some slight sway/vibration in the platform if someone was walking the plank behind you. They do allow rapid fire, if the RO is notified. I just let him know I planned on shooting briskly, he told me to be safe and away I went. They even have lights out on their targets, which leads me to believe they have some night shoots from time to time.
No target backstops/staplers are needed here. They just have a little chickenwire fence they've run, and you just clothespin your target to the chicken wire. It worked pretty well.
Rifle Range:
Lots of parking:
