So, with Point Blank recently changing their policy to disallow full auto, that puts me at a bit of a loss of where to shoot when the weather is bad or I need to test something quick (when I have time for a full range trip, I head out to ProTEQ, but that's not always an option).
I started looking around at other ranges in the area.
1. Parabellum - This actually used to be the range I went to regularly to shoot full auto after Beech Grove shut down. It was going to be my fall back, until I check their range rules:
2. Indy Arms - Someone else suggested I check out Indy Arms and I have shot there before for a corporate event. But looking at their range rules:
3. Tim's Shooting Academy - Honestly, I've never had a good impression of Tim's, despite never having been there. I recall in the past them not being full auto friendly and have some annoying policies about requiring ammo purchase from them (at typical inflated prices). Not sure this is still the case (I know the owners a few years ago were shopping the place around for sale, so I don't know if the same folks are still running it). Their website doesn't list their range rules, so I can't tell one way or the other what their current policies are.
4. Indy Trading Post - I don't know anything about them (other than they are kind of far from my side of town). I can't find their range policies on their website or Facebook. They are apparently a class 3 dealer, for what that's worth. Anyone have any info on them?
5. Indy Gun Bunker - Apparently formerly Family Indoor, formerly Popguns. No real new info, but their range rules disallow steel and aluminum cased ammo and "high powered rifle". That already disinclines me (more the steel case and aluminum cased ammo thing than the "high powered rifle" as not all ranges can handle rifle rounds). Unless they've done some stellar renovations, I recall that range being pretty crappy (but again, that was back in the Popguns days). They don't say anything about full auto, so not sure what their policy is.
6. Indiana Gun Club - Shotgun only (but a really fantastic facility, especially their sporting clays station set up) and a great place to drool over shotguns worth more than your car. But not relevant for this discussion.
7. Don's Guns - Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. No.
So, does that pretty much cover everything? I'm not seeing a lot of great options... or really any options here, which is very disappointing. Sure, we still have numerous outdoor ranges in the greater central Indiana area, but within a short driving distance during a cold winter/rainy day, we don't seem to have much.
I started looking around at other ranges in the area.
1. Parabellum - This actually used to be the range I went to regularly to shoot full auto after Beech Grove shut down. It was going to be my fall back, until I check their range rules:
- Parabellum does not allow any fully automatic weapons except during special approved “full auto” times. Suppressed (“Silenced”) are allowed
2. Indy Arms - Someone else suggested I check out Indy Arms and I have shot there before for a corporate event. But looking at their range rules:
- Fully automatic firearms are not permitted on the range unless being used during special events
3. Tim's Shooting Academy - Honestly, I've never had a good impression of Tim's, despite never having been there. I recall in the past them not being full auto friendly and have some annoying policies about requiring ammo purchase from them (at typical inflated prices). Not sure this is still the case (I know the owners a few years ago were shopping the place around for sale, so I don't know if the same folks are still running it). Their website doesn't list their range rules, so I can't tell one way or the other what their current policies are.
4. Indy Trading Post - I don't know anything about them (other than they are kind of far from my side of town). I can't find their range policies on their website or Facebook. They are apparently a class 3 dealer, for what that's worth. Anyone have any info on them?
5. Indy Gun Bunker - Apparently formerly Family Indoor, formerly Popguns. No real new info, but their range rules disallow steel and aluminum cased ammo and "high powered rifle". That already disinclines me (more the steel case and aluminum cased ammo thing than the "high powered rifle" as not all ranges can handle rifle rounds). Unless they've done some stellar renovations, I recall that range being pretty crappy (but again, that was back in the Popguns days). They don't say anything about full auto, so not sure what their policy is.
6. Indiana Gun Club - Shotgun only (but a really fantastic facility, especially their sporting clays station set up) and a great place to drool over shotguns worth more than your car. But not relevant for this discussion.
7. Don's Guns - Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. No.
So, does that pretty much cover everything? I'm not seeing a lot of great options... or really any options here, which is very disappointing. Sure, we still have numerous outdoor ranges in the greater central Indiana area, but within a short driving distance during a cold winter/rainy day, we don't seem to have much.