so many nes posts recently about finding a place to shoot......this is like the third post asking this question in a week.....must be the smell of spring in the air......there are so many gun clubs around taking members. Just join a gun club.
I'll never understand the fixation of joining a commercial indoor range vs. a gun club. I've only been in this game for almost 40 years.
- Most clubs are simple to join, one or two meetings at most and you are in. [Do NOT be intimidated by "member must sign off" application forms, that formality is usually taken care of by a BOD member when you don't know anyone there.]
- Since everyone has a vested interest in the facility, people tend to be more careful (safety conscious) than at a commercial range. It's all about "skin in the game".
- Many fewer yahoos, gang-bangers practicing for their next act of terrorism or neighborhood shoot-out.
- I've belonged to 4 different clubs over the years. Unless there was an event going on, I have NEVER had to wait for a shooting lane.
- Outdoors is usually healthier (less lead in the air you breathe) even in a normal Winter (this year was NOT a normal Winter)!
- Cost is a helluva lot less assuming you use it more than a couple times/year.
- Usually you have indoor and outdoor multiple ranges vs. commercial single indoor range in most places.
- MA is very tough on anyone trying to run a commercial range, hard to get all the permissions, oftentimes BATFE DEMANDS that you copy DLs or LTC and give that info to them on a regular basis, as they are looking for PPs using said ranges (which is very common). This does not exist at gun clubs! If there is a sign-in book, it is strictly managed only by officers and not given to LE.
- Hours of availability is usually greater in gun clubs than commercial ranges.
- There are something like 200+ gun clubs in MA and only 4 commercial ranges! Two previous commercial ranges were shut-down by local gov't intervention and/or BATFE hounding!
- Gun clubs sponsor juniors programs and women's programs at no or little cost to the participants (and parents/participants don't have to belong to participate either). Commercial ranges don't do this (they may run a discount night for women however, but I think MFL is the only one that does this in the area).
- Only a couple of clubs "require" you to participate in work parties or attend meetings. Most members at each club I've belonged to never show their face anywhere but the range after they join.
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Personally I avoid commercial ranges like the plague.
- I have taught a class with Jeff/RKBA at AFS, coaching the students on the range but didn't shoot there myself.
- I attended a number of events at AFS where they ran an open house and you could shoot for free, I didn't bother.
- MFL is a great commercial range but I have no interest in shooting there.
- I have only shot at the late S&W range but it was a NES event both times and they had ROs (with bullet-resisting vests) managing the safety of the line both times.
- I have been to MFL numerous times either to chat with Jim/Carey, taught a MA Gun Law Seminar there or as a customer, but never shot there, each time I observed lines running 15-45 minutes waiting for a lane. Why pay good money to belong somewhere just to waste time standing in line to use the place vs. pay once, use it whenever and as often as you like, with no lines??
Obviously I expect some will disagree with me. YMMV