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New Indoor Range
- Thread starter mrmike.me
- Start date
mrmike.me
Regular Member
Well family is a theme we will be promoting. We have a kid friendly area and will have some Eddie Eagle stuff. As for the burgers ... maybe we can get a scout troop to cook some up.
jpm84092
Regular Member
But Would You Travel 1500 Miles to This One?
I know that the Salt Lake market is different than the Green Bay market, but one of the most successful indoor ranges in this area is one I am a member of. This is a 25 yard indoor range that allows pistols of any caliber, rifles of any caliber up to and including the .50 BMG, and shotguns (including slugs). They rent a large selection of pistols, rifles, and shotguns. And, they rent fully automatic firearms including an M-60 machine gun. (Brings back memories.) You must buy their ammo for rental firearms. They offer several long guns for rent that fire the .50 BMG, but do not rent a "Ma Deuce". To keep insurance fees manageable, one of their employees, who is an RSO, must be present for any fully automatic firearms shooting (if a rental) or when renting the .50 BMG firearms. If you have your own, you are on your own.
They do heat the air in the winter, but do not cool it in the summer as SLC can see temps in the 100+ range. So on hot days, the range is not as fun as it is on not so hot days.
Because they use cardboard target hangers (secured to a metal travel mechanism), any distance from 1 inch to 75 feet is fair game. (Although they go through a lot of target holder clips.)
They offer a wide range of membership options so customers can tailor their resources to a suitable membership option. There are two options that offer unlimited range time, one free guest, and discounts within the store on guns, ammo, and "stuff".
They offer NRA Classes, the UT Concealed Firearm Permit Course, and some in-store non-NRA classes taught by NRA Instructors. (One is the shooting team coach at the University of Utah.)
They do not have a grill that offers cheeseburgers, but if they did, that would be perfect.
And, because this is UT, their prices are competitive.
Allow handgun, rifle, and shotguns (even slugs).
I'd travel 60 minutes to one.
Have a class III license and rent full autos.
I know that the Salt Lake market is different than the Green Bay market, but one of the most successful indoor ranges in this area is one I am a member of. This is a 25 yard indoor range that allows pistols of any caliber, rifles of any caliber up to and including the .50 BMG, and shotguns (including slugs). They rent a large selection of pistols, rifles, and shotguns. And, they rent fully automatic firearms including an M-60 machine gun. (Brings back memories.) You must buy their ammo for rental firearms. They offer several long guns for rent that fire the .50 BMG, but do not rent a "Ma Deuce". To keep insurance fees manageable, one of their employees, who is an RSO, must be present for any fully automatic firearms shooting (if a rental) or when renting the .50 BMG firearms. If you have your own, you are on your own.
They do heat the air in the winter, but do not cool it in the summer as SLC can see temps in the 100+ range. So on hot days, the range is not as fun as it is on not so hot days.
Because they use cardboard target hangers (secured to a metal travel mechanism), any distance from 1 inch to 75 feet is fair game. (Although they go through a lot of target holder clips.)
They offer a wide range of membership options so customers can tailor their resources to a suitable membership option. There are two options that offer unlimited range time, one free guest, and discounts within the store on guns, ammo, and "stuff".
They offer NRA Classes, the UT Concealed Firearm Permit Course, and some in-store non-NRA classes taught by NRA Instructors. (One is the shooting team coach at the University of Utah.)
They do not have a grill that offers cheeseburgers, but if they did, that would be perfect.
And, because this is UT, their prices are competitive.
mrmike.me
Regular Member
You will hear me shouting soon!!
LCD screens that run a video on safety rules and a short quiz that must be passed for first time shooters before they can use the range. These monitors will also show range high scores from competitions and basic fundamentals of shooting, grip, stance, trigger squeeze etc. Also night shoot capability would be a must since most defensive engagements take place in low light.
jpm84092
Regular Member
One more thought -
If you want to be a "hit" with the local gun community, offer package deals to NRA Instructors (or other properly qualified Instructors) who ask to hold the range portions of their classes at your range. When I visited WI to conduct classes, I had trouble finding a range. This is likely because (as one person fessed up), the local ranges already sign folks up for classes and get a "finder fee" for each student they enroll as well as their "range fee". They have unwritten agreements with local instructors not to allow other instructors to teach the range portions of NRA (or other) classes at their range.
These are WI businesses that do not "get it". They do not seem to understand that any range course work held in their range (often also a gun store) is likely to result in purchases of firearms and/or ammo by the students attending the course. These are sales that will not be made without a cooperation between the (new) Instructor and the Range. So, in the interest of protecting one instructor who pays them a finder fee for each student they sign up for his course, they are losing untold profit from students that another instructor will be bringing into their shop. I have run into the same thing here in UT and it is frustrating to me and to my students who often boycott stores that have refused to cooperate with me when I teach courses.
Yellow Cat out -
If you want to be a "hit" with the local gun community, offer package deals to NRA Instructors (or other properly qualified Instructors) who ask to hold the range portions of their classes at your range. When I visited WI to conduct classes, I had trouble finding a range. This is likely because (as one person fessed up), the local ranges already sign folks up for classes and get a "finder fee" for each student they enroll as well as their "range fee". They have unwritten agreements with local instructors not to allow other instructors to teach the range portions of NRA (or other) classes at their range.
These are WI businesses that do not "get it". They do not seem to understand that any range course work held in their range (often also a gun store) is likely to result in purchases of firearms and/or ammo by the students attending the course. These are sales that will not be made without a cooperation between the (new) Instructor and the Range. So, in the interest of protecting one instructor who pays them a finder fee for each student they sign up for his course, they are losing untold profit from students that another instructor will be bringing into their shop. I have run into the same thing here in UT and it is frustrating to me and to my students who often boycott stores that have refused to cooperate with me when I teach courses.
Yellow Cat out -
mrmike.me
Regular Member
2 things:
Night training can be safely done at any range any time. Yo need 2 people and some welding goggles. One person is your safety net the other is wearing the goggles. This method is the safest way to night train and it is very effective. Just a tip in case anyone is waiting for a lighting controlled environment to train.
Next I am a NRA instructor with contacts to 12 or so other NRA instructors. On top of that I know at least 4 AACFI instructors. We will be offering courses at the range. I suspects out of the group associated with the range we will be near capacity for classes. Now we will have a commercial membership for others that want to come in and use the range as a part of another commercial enterprise (other trainers, security companies, gun shops, ...). But we do not have that detail hammered out yet.
Night training can be safely done at any range any time. Yo need 2 people and some welding goggles. One person is your safety net the other is wearing the goggles. This method is the safest way to night train and it is very effective. Just a tip in case anyone is waiting for a lighting controlled environment to train.
Next I am a NRA instructor with contacts to 12 or so other NRA instructors. On top of that I know at least 4 AACFI instructors. We will be offering courses at the range. I suspects out of the group associated with the range we will be near capacity for classes. Now we will have a commercial membership for others that want to come in and use the range as a part of another commercial enterprise (other trainers, security companies, gun shops, ...). But we do not have that detail hammered out yet.
Interceptor_Knight
Regular Member
Don't forget about the Appleseed instructor you know...
davegran
Regular Member
Really? How does that work with a hand-held defensive light?
mrmike.me
Regular Member
Interceptor_Knight I wouldn't forget you ... you won't let me! :banana:
davegran:
It works very well on a cloudy day. In direct sunlight not so much. In doors it works very well also (especially in older ranges with poor lighting). I will admit it is not perfect as the amount of direct light on your target influences what you see. It is however safer than a completely dark range. If no one can see well then who is the safety backup? When doing low light training it is always a good idea to have another person with you. I guess what is the point of an RSO is they can not see what is happening?
davegran:
It works very well on a cloudy day. In direct sunlight not so much. In doors it works very well also (especially in older ranges with poor lighting). I will admit it is not perfect as the amount of direct light on your target influences what you see. It is however safer than a completely dark range. If no one can see well then who is the safety backup? When doing low light training it is always a good idea to have another person with you. I guess what is the point of an RSO is they can not see what is happening?
davegran
Regular Member
The welding goggles I have would make a tactical light useless because they are designed to only pass enough of the light of the welding arc or flame to see the puddle. What number lens do you use?mrmike.me;1613251.... said:
Last edited:
mrmike.me
Regular Member
Generally a 5 will do out doors. I just ran over to airgas and picked up these:
http://www.airgas.com/browse/productDetail.aspx?Category=80&product=RAD64005086
The other nice thing is with crap for side vision you have to break tunnel and turn your head.
http://www.airgas.com/browse/productDetail.aspx?Category=80&product=RAD64005086
The other nice thing is with crap for side vision you have to break tunnel and turn your head.
mrmike.me
Regular Member
LLC formed ... check
Lease signed ... check
Local goverment aproval ... check
Blueprints approved ... check
Range systems ordered ... check
Vendors picked ... check
A lot left to do ... double check!
Look for a Febuary grand opening (God willing)
Lease signed ... check
Local goverment aproval ... check
Blueprints approved ... check
Range systems ordered ... check
Vendors picked ... check
A lot left to do ... double check!
Look for a Febuary grand opening (God willing)
pepsiaddict
Regular Member
If you make the grand opening on a Sunday my wife and I will drive up.
If you let us shoot at bowling pins we'll do some volunteer work for you during the day too.
If you let us shoot at bowling pins we'll do some volunteer work for you during the day too.
GLOCK21GB
Campaign Veteran
EXCELLENT NEWS !!! Where is the location, address ?
mrmike.me
Regular Member
The grand opening will be a week long event. As for pins ... once shot up they are hazardous waste. Still working on a disposal method that makes sense.
25 yrd and up a .308 rifle
Address .... well ... we are not ready to open for ... oh what the hell!
1976 Verlin Rd. East Side right off GV. Signage coming soon.
25 yrd and up a .308 rifle
Address .... well ... we are not ready to open for ... oh what the hell!
1976 Verlin Rd. East Side right off GV. Signage coming soon.
GLOCK21GB
Campaign Veteran
Cool, close to the Gas station on the corner & very close to my place. Will you be offering an annual membership ? I could afford $100.00
rcav8r
Regular Member
awww. A little far for me.
FWIW, while I have access to my local clubs indoor range, I pretty much never use it. Too many people abuse it despite repeated warnings. Still can't use magnum loads, and its, oh, 15 yards, and very formal shooting rules with small targets. I'd rather see close up, gunfight distance (9 yards or less) targets, multiple targets, rapid firing, and as others have suggested a "shoot room" for tactical situations.
You may have to look into that safety ammo for such a room, but the conversions are kinda pricey, so that would have to include rentals of same.
Above, all the instructors, RSO's, and clerks need to check their attitude at the door. Nothing worse than a know-it-all at a gunshop/range.
Oh yes, don't let any groups/teams/leagues dominate range times. That pretty much kills it for everyone else on weekends and evenings for anyone not part of such a group. Leave some lanes open for open shooting, no matter what the pressure. In fact, have strict rules against anyone in a league or team from sneaking over or using a open lane "real quick".
FWIW, while I have access to my local clubs indoor range, I pretty much never use it. Too many people abuse it despite repeated warnings. Still can't use magnum loads, and its, oh, 15 yards, and very formal shooting rules with small targets. I'd rather see close up, gunfight distance (9 yards or less) targets, multiple targets, rapid firing, and as others have suggested a "shoot room" for tactical situations.
You may have to look into that safety ammo for such a room, but the conversions are kinda pricey, so that would have to include rentals of same.
Above, all the instructors, RSO's, and clerks need to check their attitude at the door. Nothing worse than a know-it-all at a gunshop/range.
Oh yes, don't let any groups/teams/leagues dominate range times. That pretty much kills it for everyone else on weekends and evenings for anyone not part of such a group. Leave some lanes open for open shooting, no matter what the pressure. In fact, have strict rules against anyone in a league or team from sneaking over or using a open lane "real quick".
GLOCK21GB
Campaign Veteran
I agree a friendly staff is key to repeated business but I can see them doing brisk business specially in the winter time.