Age Restrictions ? and Firing Range Recomendation (Gatlenburg/Sevierville area)

[RobertNashville]

Hey everyone!

In about three weeks, my 13 year old nephew will be visiting from Ohio along with my sister and her family: I'm going to meet them in the Gatlenburg/Sevierville/Pigeon Forge area and I'm planning for my brother in law and my nephew and I to go shooting but I'm wonder if ranges restrict age (how old someone has to be before allowed to shoot)???

Given the above age concern, I'm looking for a good shooting range recommendation in the general Gatlenburg/Seviereville area...it can be and outdoor or indoor range but with the heat we've had I'd probably prefer a good air conditioned, well lighted and well ventilated indoor range...we'll likely be using only handguns.

Any advice/recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks.

[chemprof]

Here's info on the Sevier Indoor Range. I've never been there but folks on here who have will surely chime in and tell you about 'em. They can be contacted about their age policies--I'm interested in finding out myself--I don't know either!

Sevier Indoor Range - Indoor Shooting Range serving Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg

[VERO1]

I have taken my son to Sevier Indoor and I think he was 12 when we went. You have to sign the Waiver for them is all that I recall doing. They are really nice people, very professional, with a nicely kept range. They are hangun caliber only and last time I was there it was $13 an hour.

Edited August 4, 2011 by VERO1

[RobertNashville]

Thanks for the info guys...I've emailed Sevier to ask but it sounds like the place! I'll let you know what they say when they answer my email and/or when I go.

[peejman]

I've been to Sevier Indoor Range a couple times. Nice folks, nice place. The range itself isn't air conditioned, though there is lots of air circulation. Be prepared for it to be a bit warm during the heat of the day.

[RobertNashville]

They wrote back to me today...as VER01 said, 12 is the minimum age and they require a waiver but that's it!

Since it's not air conditioned, I'm hopeful that this heat will have abated by then!

[Guest dthurston]

I just recently took my wife's nephew, visiting from Ct., to Guns and Leather, Hendersonville. Nothing was said about his age or signing a waiver.

Boy just love the look on his face the first round. I also turned his Grandmother into a shooting nut.. Now I want to take him to the

Cheatam or Montgomery shooting complex to shoot the Nagants. But just thought about the purchase of a permit... He has no picture id...

God.... are we gonna have problems getting him back on his flight home... Oh well I'll keep him ...

Dave

[Guest mn32768]

Sevier Indoor Range is a first class facility... clean and well ventilated. I went there in June and asked them if I could bring my 15-yo daughter there and the owner(?) said no problem. I think it is air conditioned, it was a 85F day and the range was quite cool. Highly recommended!

Edited August 5, 2011 by mn32768

[RobertNashville]

Well; I took my 13 year old nephew shooting last Thursday evening at the Sevier Indoor Range - as was noted above, not air conditioned but well lighted and very well ventilated so even with a 90+ degree afternoon the range was truly not over bearing as far as heat goes. The range and the store is clean and I can't say enough good about the friendly staff who were more than accommodating; a big thank you to them!

Most importantly, this was the first time my nephew had ever shot anything but a small 22 rifle - he was ecstatic AND a damn accurate; even out to 25 yards!

I took my Glock 31, Glock 20 and a Les Bare 1911 45ACP (my brother in law and I shot all the foregoing but I also brought my S&W model 29 44 Magnum and he and I put a few rounds down range in honor of Dirty Harry).

I started my nephew on the G31 and then moved to the G20; after about 50 rounds through each we moved to the 1911 - he enjoyed them all but really liked the 45ACP and put 100 rounds down the pipe.

So...thanks for the recommendations; we had a great time.

Unfortunately; there wasn't an opportunity to teach my nephew how to clean all the weapons I brought; that's my job I guess!

[zapfbroad]

I'm curious what if any legal state minimum age is for ranges or if its just discretionary to each range. I went with a neighbor when I was 9 & both me & his 6yr old son shot .22rifles, so that was like one of the coolest things ever. But that was at the nat.guard range in new england so I don't know the law here. I took a 17yr old buddy of mine on Fri morning & had to sign the waiver for him. It was his first time ever shooting, after some gentle corrections(I think he was squinting so hard for fear of recoil, with his eyes almost closed, his first couple shots were actually grounders) after we realigned & covered sight alignment more he turned into a natural with good centermass groupings at 10 yards. He took his targetpaper home & showed his dad. His dad was super proud & offered to take him out to cheatham co to his buddy's land & let him shoot his dads .357 & shotgun. Kid didn't even know for sure if his dad owned any guns lol. Now they're planning some shootin trips before boy goes off to college. How cool was that!

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[RobertNashville]

I'm curious what if any legal state minimum age is for ranges or if its just discretionary to each range.

There apparently is no state law regarding a minimum age to shoot a firearm (only to own one)...it's up to the range to decide their age restrictions (and I wouldn't be surprised if such restrictions are tied to their liability insurance!).