New to TN... Ranges in Knoxville?

[Guest Spaker]

Hey guys, I just accepted a job offer in Knoxville and sometime in Jan-Feb will be moving there from NC. I'm looking for good places to shoot in the area. I am usually at the range once or twice a week, in addition to attending the occasional match on weekends. I mostly shoot handguns, but also rifles and occasionally shotguns (action-shooting type, not clays). Basically, I would like to be able to train for the type of shooting one might find in a typical three-gun match, minus the fancy moving targets. I'm not a 3-gun competitor (not yet, anyway), but that's the kind of shooting I'd like to be able to practice at whatever club I join. When possible, and especially for handgun shooting, I prefer to practice alone so I can set up dynamic shooting drills involving movement and targets at varying ranges.

Yeah, it sounds like I'm being picky, but essentially I just want a place that allows this stuff and isn't too crowded on weekdays. A berm at 25 yards, a covered bench, and no babysitter looking over my shoulder is really all I need the majority of the time.

In a brief visit a few months ago, I had a chance to shoot at ORSA for a couple of hours with a friend of a friend. I think we were on the plinking range, but I'm not sure. From what I've read so far, this seems like the place with the best facilities in the area. I'm especially impressed with the 1000 yard rifle range, although it looks like the rules for shooting on that range are rather strict. Are you really only allowed to use CMP-legal rifles when practicing there? The longest ranges we have around here are 100-200 yards, and I would love to be able to try longer range shooting every now and then. But I would want to use modern rifles with optics, etc. and the rules seem unclear on whether that would be allowed. For the low price of membership there, it's not a deal breaker if I can't use that range with my guns, but it would be a nice perk.

Volunteer Rifle and Pistol Club sounds rather limited in what's allowed, and probably not what I'm looking for. Are there any others nearby that I should consider?

Looking forward to meeting some of you guys at future matches and events. Thanks, ya'll!

[Kenstaroni]

I would join the range in Norris, TN. You get a yearly permit and a key to the gate from the Norris Police Department. You have daylight hours access nearly all year except for a couple weeks when the police do training and during part of hunting season. It used to be $30 a year but I think it's gone up a little. It's still the best value around and it's almost like having a private range to go to as there's no range officer or anyone bothering you (unless you go on saturday...it's busy during nice weather). Cease fire's are called by whoever is there and it's usually a pretty easy getting along with everyone. If you go weekday's you should frequently have the place to yourself.

They have a 25yd pistol bay, 50, 100, and 200 rifle under covered shooting benches.

Welcome to Ktown...I lived there for 4 years it's a great place with lots of great TGO'ers!

Oh, and there are IDPA and 3 gun matches at ORSA each month. Only $15 for non-members and alot of fun. Go to ORSA3gun.com. I still make it out there a couple times a year. Edited November 9, 2012 by Kenstaroni

[gjohnsoniv]

ORSA, Norris, John Sevier/VRPC, Moose Lodge.

[Guest Spaker]

Thanks for the replies. Where exactly is the range in Norris? I'm guessing there's not a website...

$30/year, or even a little more, is insanely cheap. My range here is $150/year and is by far the cheapest in the area. We have three simple 20 yd pistol pits and a rifle range with 25/50/100 yard berms. There's a covered bench and some target stands but that's it. I was expecting to pay $300+ a year to join one or more clubs in order to find what I need.

[BrasilNuts]

ORSA is going to be your best bet.

Join the club, participate in an action pistol match, which will make you a member of the action pistol club. Then you can go to the AP range, get a bay and train like you want. There are certain rules at the AP range (target type etc..) but you'll be able to shoot without having someone standing over you.

I shoot IDPA, USPSA and Steel Challenge at ORSA. If you are in town one weekend come out and shoot with us. Edited November 9, 2012 by BrasilNuts

[Murgatroy]

Norris is a little police range. Locking gate, covered benches. Best place I have shot in Knoxville. $40 a year for the key. 25yd pistol bay, then a rifle range at 50, 100 and 200 yards. Give or take on the distance.

Lots of good folks up at Norris.

ORSA would probably be more up your alley if you want to shoot matches. I don't have much experience with that though. I was an informal shooter. It will obviously be more than Norris.





The prices are something that set me back when I moved to Kentucky. A range membership here is $400+ a year. So I wind up shooting at a free range that I am not fond of.

[Dolomite_supafly]

The Moose Lodge isn't bad at all. You shoot from a building that keeps the wind off of you when it is cold. They also have a pool for members as well as a "bar". Although I have never been they also have a weekly dinner for all the members.

I joined the Moose Lodge a few months ago and really like it. It is never crowded. Norris isn't crowded most times but there have been times where people have waited an hour or two to shoot at Norris.

Dolomite