MO Dept of Conservation Ranges

[kcgunfan]

So, the MDC has a number of ranges in the state. Most of them are unmanaged, but there are 1/2 dozen or so managed ranges. 2 are in the KC area, and I've been to both recently.

At both ranges, there is a sign outside of the buildings that say No Concealed Weapons, and all weapons must be unloaded, with their actions open.

At the Lake City range, you must go into the building to enter the range (and pay the range fee.) You must also take your firearm in with you. Technically, my firearms are concealed, because they're in my range bag (unloaded and with the action locked back.)

So, that leaves a few questions:

1. How in the heck do I go through the building with my weapon not concealed? Let's say I bring all 4 of my handguns, plus a rifle. That seems a little difficult.

2. So, what gives the MDC the right to make facilities off limits to concealed carry?

3. What gives the MDC the right to make facilities require unloaded firearms with actions open? I'm not saying it's a bad idea, or that I won't obey it. I'm just curious what gives them the authority to require it.

 

[LMTD]

So, that leaves a few questions:

1. How in the heck do I go through the building with my weapon not concealed? Let's say I bring all 4 of my handguns, plus a rifle. That seems a little difficult.

2. So, what gives the MDC the right to make facilities off limits to concealed carry?

3. What gives the MDC the right to make facilities require unloaded firearms with actions open? I'm not saying it's a bad idea, or that I won't obey it. I'm just curious what gives them the authority to require it.

1. In a "case" is different than concealed, I am not particularly clear on why but it is and perhaps someone with more knowledge on that part can weigh in.

2. State owned/leased buildings were listed as off limits, MDC was encouraged to do the same. http://oa.mo.gov/fmdc/weaponsqa.htm

3. No such thing as an unloaded weapon, everyone should perform a visual check themselves, action open gives everyone the opportunity to visually note the weapon is indeed not loaded, with it shut no one knows for sure.

I have been to the manned ranges here in the St Louis area and they are ok, but not really. They make it pretty hard to enjoy shooting as a sport, for rifle sight in there would be no problem but for pistol shooting they are far more of a pain than they are worth IMHO.

I have not experienced it personally but it is said that a few of the range masters are real power tripping freaks whom will almost scream at shooters for literally no reason of any concern. They have a 3 second rule, the claim is you can not fire more than one shot every three seconds and maintain muzzle control. I would offer that if you are not capable of maintaining muzzle control and put your POA back on target in less than three seconds, you need to enlist the assistance of a professional firearms trainer. Needless to say that is a favorite thing for the power trippers to scream about.

The other huge issue I have with them, no ammo outside the booth so while the lolly gaggers meander down 100 yards to reset targets, you can not even load your magazines while your firearm is stored in the booth. What the MDC manned ranges pretty much mean to me is you spend one heck of a lot of time waiting to shoot and you do not get much shooting done.

IMHO not really worth the time and it is too bad too because MDC would be in a great position to encourage a lot of training and support if they would try and remember folks are supposed to enjoy the sport.

 

[kcgunfan]

IMHO not really worth the time and it is too bad too because MDC would be in a great position to encourage a lot of training and support if they would try and remember folks are supposed to enjoy the sport.

I'd love to hear from someone more knowledgeable about the case exemption to the CC status. I haven't seen anything on that. Especially since I'm just in a range bag, it's not locked or anything.

I don't doubt there's rule backing up the sign. I guess my question is what in RSMo let's them make that rule?

I tend to agree about the range nazi's, especially at the Parma Woods range. I haven't tried to reload my magazines during a cease fire, but it's not listed in their rules. I can see them telling you not to. That's a shame though, because when I was there we had about an 80 year old shooter that took long enough that I could have cleaned my firearm between cease fire and commence fire.

Personally, it's just too far away for me to shoot at, unless it's just really nice weather. The $3/hour seems like a nice price. But, the range I usually shoot at is $9 for all day shoots, and I spend a lot less in gas and time getting there. So the economics don't work for me.

The worse part is that since MDC has managed ranges here, they don't appear the need to have any unmanaged ranges nearby, which just stinks...

 

[peterarthur]

Pigeon Hill, near St Joseph, is managed by MDC but there is never anyone there to run it. They have 25, 50 and 100 yard ranges with berms between them so you can set up and check targets without doing a cease fire on the whole range. The people I have seen there all know standard range rules, you just need to be cautious and make sure everyone is following them. I personally have never seen a violation. It is a great range if you don't mind driving to the south end of St Joe.

Hopefully, I can find one closer to KC that is similar...

 

[kcgunfan]

Pigeon Hill, near St Joseph, is managed by MDC but there is never anyone there to run it. They have 25, 50 and 100 yard ranges with berms between them so you can set up and check targets without doing a cease fire on the whole range. The people I have seen there all know standard range rules, you just need to be cautious and make sure everyone is following them. I personally have never seen a violation. It is a great range if you don't mind driving to the south end of St Joe.

Hopefully, I can find one closer to KC that is similar...

That's what MDC called an unstaffed range (I had my language wrong...) The list of managed ranges is here:

http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places-go/shooting-ranges-and-outdoor-education-centers

The unmanaged ones are here:

http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/p...nd-outdoor-education-centers/unstaffed-ranges

Notice how much harder it is to locate the unstaffed ranges...

 

[Shawnald]

Thanks for spelling this out.

2. State owned/leased buildings were listed as off limits, MDC was encouraged to do the same. http://oa.mo.gov/fmdc/weaponsqa.htm

Thanks. This question has been bugging me for a while. The answer, while probably correct, doesn't sit well.

Pretending that a range overhang is the same thing as "A state-owned building" is quite a stretch. You'd think that MDC would be a little less ridiculous, but then again... The more I talk to MDC reps, the more they sound like every other power-hungry bureaucrat.