Range Question

[dickenscpa]

Recently Gallatin Gun Club opened up 200 slots. I was #221, so a no go. I was told that about 30 might quit, turn down, etc and by mid March I'd probably get in. Doesn't look like that's gonna happen. I've been into guns for quite a while but didn't get real serious about quantity shooting until Jan '11. Local indoor range was $10. I was going to do the year membership but thought $325 was a tad steep.

Well they went up to $15 and I probably went enough to justify the $325. So now I have a dilemma, join it or go to Stones River for $5.50 a pop. Since I bought an AR-15 a few weeks ago, I've really gotten into shooting it and I can't shoot it indoors.

I enjoy the AC/heat of indoor range as well as electric pulley system for targets. But I thought it might be counter intuitive to pay $325 and still have to pay to go to Stones River to shoot my AR. I was put off by the fact that I would only be able to go to Stones River Saturday and after Church on Sunday. Then I got to thinking, my office is in Nashville, I get off at 5PM and I couldn't go to either Mon-Fri anyway so that was a wash. I'm as close to one as the other so distance isn't a factor.

If I pay the $100 or so membership fee for Stones River, do I get any perks? Like not have to wait in line as long or not limited to 2hrs? I reload, are they brass nazis at Stones River?

I know I have to make this decision but TGO has a standup group of people and I value your opinions. What should I do?

Brad

[Tempest455]

No offense to any member but I would not pay that amount for that distance range. I know a few members and funny part, the ones I know rarely go, yet it's booked.

There was a thread on "The High Road" where someone in middle TN is considering a land purchase and creating a long distance range (up to 1,000 yards) with an annual membership situation. That is what is needed in middle TN. A 500-1,000 yard range.

Depending how far you are from Stones River, there may be other choices.

[Steelharp]

FWIW, Sumner Guns and Supply in Gallatin has a rifle ready range, membership is only $199 for a year. Great place and folks. Highly recommend them.

[hipower]

Steel, do you know how long the rifle portion is?

[Steelharp]

I believe the depth of the entire range is 75 ft.

edit: corrected measurement

Edited March 23, 2012 by Steelharp

[hipower]

Thanks buddy. Foolish question, but is this outdoor? Or indoor?

[Steelharp]

Indoor. Play every day... 7 days a week. 9am-9pm Mon-Sat, 12-6 Sunday.

[hipower]

Ok. New customer. At least once in a while. Gas costs do enter into it as well as time. Yes, I know I'm cheap. But realistically, it is something we all will start having to factor in a lot more than we have in the past. At least I will. I'll probabably even have to cut down on my trips to Eastside.

[Steelharp]

I understand. It's only about 4 miles for me, either to GGC or Sumner Gun. Helps a lot. I only see Bill when I have to go to Madison Glass for my wife's business.

[monkeylizard]

$100 for a year at a range as developed and maintained as SRHEC is actually pretty reasonable. Especially when you consider that all of the rifle stations have real rifle benches with adjustable height seats, all areas where you walk are paved so no muddy boots, it's clean, has real indoor toilets, and you have RSOs and an inspection station to try to keep safety levels high. It's just $5.50 a trip, so 18 trips is your break-even point. 18 or less, pay as you go. 19 or more, get the annual.

I think you'll still have to wait in line if there is a wait, but I don't think there is a 2-hour limit on annual members.

You can collect your own brass. They ask that you not collect from other shooters that aren't in your party, and anything that goes in their buckets stays in their buckets. The RSOs don't get paid. They sell the brass for their odds-and-ends expenses that don't get covered by the state, and maybe for a few pizzas or something.

I don't know if it's true or not, but I have been told that only annual members may use the two 200-yard lanes.

My membership is at CHMR. It's the same hour drive each way for me but it has much better hours, unrestricted target subject matter, some clay launchers for shottys, and clays allowed on the berms. I would like to see more rifle benches there since those get squatted first, and I'm not crazy about the way the pistol pit operates (people reloading behind active shooters). For $60 a year, it's worth it, even if I do bring home a pound of mud on my boots if it has rained in the last few days. I would pay more for more range improvements though.

Edited March 23, 2012 by monkeylizard

[dickenscpa]

FWIW, Sumner Guns and Supply in Gallatin has a rifle ready range, membership is only $199 for a year. Great place and folks. Highly recommend them.

Where is Sumner Guns? I live 'bout half between Hwy109/Hwy 70 intersection and where Hwy 109 and I40 intersect so the mileage difference between Lebanon Gun Room, Stones River and Gallatin Gun Club is nill. However I don't know where in Sumner this other club is at. Do they allow handguns too?

Thanks

Brad

[dickenscpa]

NVM, did a quick google and this seems like the perfect place for me. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I didn't even know they existed. Almost the exact same distance from me as Stones River and they stay open 'til 9PM thru the week! I might even get a week night or two in! Indoors and shoot my AR.

This is so full of win I could cry.

Thanks again!

Brad

[monkeylizard]

Across 31E from the Miracle Ford dealership. I've been meaning to get up there.

Yes they allow handguns.

[Steelharp]

http://sumnerguns.net/

[dickenscpa]

Right before I was about to do the deed of joining Stones River or Sumner Gun, I get an email last night that I made it into Gallatin Gun Club. I'm pretty tickled about it. I misread my directions and upon further study, I was farther from Sumner Gun than I thought.

Brad

[TripleDigitRide]

Right before I was about to do the deed of joining Stones River or Sumner Gun, I get an email last night that I made it into Gallatin Gun Club. I'm pretty tickled about it. I misread my directions and upon further study, I was farther from Sumner Gun than I thought.

Brad

Congrats! We're glad to have you.

[Steelharp]

Welcome to GGC! (Who died?)

[TripleDigitRide]

(Who died?)

No kidding.

Edited April 4, 2012 by TripleDigitRide

[dickenscpa]

Welcome to GGC! (Who died?)

I've been on the waiting list a LONG time.

Brad

[Steelharp]

I've been on the waiting list a LONG time.

Brad

So he was fairly young. Pity.

[dlm37015]

davidson county sportsmens club has a nice range about 275 yards. the membership is limimted to 225 some of us are trying to raise it by at least 100 come to a meeting on the 2nd teusday of the month if you know a member ask him to help raise the membership

[1gewehr]

I'm about halfway between GGC and Stones River as well. But since GGC does not allow full-auto, that's a deal-breaker.

I reload as well, and the folks at Stones River have never had an issue with me picking up my brass.