Gun Ranges Closing

[Mgderf]

You are now the envy of most of INGO.



In my Senior year of college in Searcy, AR (1973-74) I could go outside and shoot practically off my front porch.
Convenient for a function check.



I have been interested to find an outdoor range to frequent.
The Marion County Fish & Game at 7052 Crawfordsville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46214 is only about 30 minutes from me.
I have wanted to get signed up for it when retired (it has been since last June, 2019) & feels like 3 yrs.
I have been there with members once for some steel shooting practice & twice getting some rifle instruction.
Noone is around during the day while I'm there to talk about joining, so I've just not got around to doing it.
I have questions about a class requirement.
Don't know whether any of the 2-3 classes I have taken at Point Blank, or the all-day class in Columbus, IN (with Coach here on INGO) would be enough or whether it is a class that is indigenous to MCF&G only?
They have the Friday Night Steel which has been an interest ever since I've done it 3 times at different ranges.

I went to another range with a member, Fall Creek Valley Conservation, 1204 County Rd 610 S, Markleville, IN, and it was :45+ from my house.

I have an old retired teacher friend that has always wanted me to come up to Anderson to join one up there that was ridiculously inexpensive.

All that is on hold now.

The range at my brothers house was one of the easiest accomplishments I've ever tackled.
I built a Frankengun AR15 and gave it to my brother.
A week later he told me there was now a range in his front yard.

Only cost me a couple hundred bucks and I never broke a sweat!

I told you I was lucky...

 

[doddg]

The range at my brothers house was one of the easiest accomplishments I've ever tackled.
I built a Frankengun AR15 and gave it to my brother.
A week later he told me there was now a range in his front yard.

Only cost me a couple hundred bucks and I never broke a sweat!

I told you I was lucky...

 

[Karl-just-Karl]

Our range has now reopened. The hours are going to be limited like the winter hours and extra rules have been put into place for the RSO that will make the job more difficult.

Social Distancing (Blah,blah,blah)
No facilitating new sign-ups.
No sign in.
No orientation.
No guest fees.

This has bad written all over it, but it is open.

 

[COOPADUP]

My main outdoor range just re-opened April 30th. It's a scan card gate and the covered stations are already spaced fairly wide.
About the only area where people would go is the switch to signal range going cold.
I suppose you could just slip a glove on.
Other than that the porto potty is closed.

 

[KellyinAvon]

I want to go to the range!!

 

[KellyinAvon]

Speaking of going to the range, Parabellum in Avon (my very local range) is open by appointment. Only half the lanes are open (7 of 14) and limit one shooter per lane. I'm off Friday, just sayin...

 

[doddg]

Speaking of going to the range, Parabellum in Avon (my very local range) is open by appointment. Only half the lanes are open (7 of 14) and limit one shooter per lane. I'm off Friday, just sayin...

That's what Point Blank does as well: 10 shooters spread out in the 20 lanes.

 

[Mgderf]

Applied Ballistics in Lafayette is open again.
It too has "social distancing" protocols in place.


Good grief I hate that term

 

[Karl-just-Karl]

We have an outdoor range with a special "RSO Shack".

It has been deemed off limits so we do not have access to the PA system, member list, first aid kit, orientation package, money box, receipt book, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, bottled water, paper towels, and a bunch of other amenities.

We have been told that money will not change hands, membership applications are stored in the glass "community bulletin board" to give out for inquiries. Guests shoot for free and if the RSO doesn't want to sit on the line they can sit in their cars.

We were asked if we were willing to work under these conditions. Most said, "Yes".

The range at our club has been the number one contact point and recruitment tool for the last several years.

So goes the "New Normal".

That's starting to bother me almost as much as "social distancing".

New Normal=Accept it B*****s!

 

[doddg]

Point Blank in Greenwood has hours now from 11 am to 7 pm.
And, they are using all 20 lanes in the range not every other one now.

 

[d.kaufman]

My local Izaak Walton opened back up so finally got some much needed range time. 2 hours at the range all by myself. Felt great to be shooting again. Going to hit the DNR range in Winamac Friday and do some shooting of the Ars (223, 308, 6.5grendel, & 450 bushmaster) and probably shoot the bolt action 6.5 creedmoor as well. Hell, I'll probably take as many as I can fit in my trunk!

 

[drillsgt]

Point Blank in Greenwood has hours now from 11 am to 7 pm.
And, they are using all 20 lanes in the range not every other one now.

Is it still members only?

 

[lrdudley]

I stopped by yesterday and was told it is back to the old normal. Even asked about a second person on the lane and was told that is OK, but maybe not on the weekends when is is expected to be a lot busier.

 

[rb288]

I don't HAVE to shoot, but, I WANT to shoot.
Since I'm retired, I have alot of time for reloading and that's what I have been doing quite a bit of lately.
The problem is, with the ranges closed, there is no where to test my loads.
So, since I have 5 acres, I decided to build my own, outdoor range.
It's 75 yards, with an 8ft. high x 8 ft wide, double sandbag deep berm, backed up with 4x4 timbers behind the sand.
Total cost is about $550 for materials and 3 to 4 weeks of work, filling and stacking sandbags.
But, I can now shoot whenever I want.
It is nice to be able to velocity test my reloads as soon as I make them, find my velocity nodes, eliminate the non-consistent loads, before I go to the range.
I won't say that accuracy checks at 75 yds is as good as, say 200 yds, but, it will certainly get me in the ball park.
When it's time to verify longer distance accuracy checks, well, that may have to wait until the longer, ranges reopen.

Anyway, that's my solution to this problem.


Update...
I thought I would throw a picture into the post.
I just finished with a few, minor, tweaks, and now it's pretty much the way I want it.
The only thing left is a 4x8 sheathing in front of the bags to staple my targets to, I had been using saw horses, they work, but, not so well.