5 new shooting sites

If it doesn't fit the topic in any of the other forums, and is firearm-related, put it here!
User avatar
YNOTAZ
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1554
Joined: June 3rd, 2018, 10:01 am
Reputation: 8
Location: NW Valley

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#31

Post by YNOTAZ »

Azgunlover69 wrote: January 23rd, 2023, 7:11 pm The 2 by pleasant are open and wonderfull!
Really? One very small area for pistol shooting, can’t use your own targets for sighting in, Can’t go down range to set up targets, the theory is you shoot and move off the line to the rear to reload so idiots behind you handling loaded firearms, the shooting tree is almost always broken, you can’t pick up your brass past the firing line, can’t go past firing line to set up a Chrono.

The good news is another member and I got high, for free, from the whacky weed wafting from a car full of wanna-be gangbangers when they opened their car door. Then they walked down the range and one of them started with the belt-loop full auto with his mini Draco. Oh yeah, forgot, one family packed up and left when the wanna-bes started slinging led.

They do serve a purpose, yes, but they are only “wonderful” when compared to Ben Avery in a very limited sense. They don’t hold a candle to desert shooting away from idiots, they cost millions and have yet to open the baldy mountain range after we pointed out one of their construction flaws to them almost 2 months ago.

BUTT hell, it’s only a few million dollars pissed away and almost 6,000 acres closed to shooting.


User avatar
Azgunlover69
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 721
Joined: May 15th, 2018, 8:44 pm
Reputation: 13

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#32

Post by Azgunlover69 »

YNOTAZ wrote: January 23rd, 2023, 7:26 pm
Azgunlover69 wrote: January 23rd, 2023, 7:11 pm The 2 by pleasant are open and wonderfull!
Really? One very small area for pistol shooting, can’t use your own targets for sighting in, Can’t go down range to set up targets, the theory is you shoot and move off the line to the rear to reload so idiots behind you handling loaded firearms, the shooting tree is almost always broken, you can’t pick up your brass past the firing line, can’t go past firing line to set up a Chrono.

The good news is another member and I got high, for free, from the whacky weed wafting from a car full of wanna-be gangbangers when they opened their car door. Then they walked down the range and one of them started with the belt-loop full auto with his mini Draco. Oh yeah, forgot, one family packed up and left when the wanna-bes started slinging led.

They do serve a purpose, yes, but they are only “wonderful” when compared to Ben Avery in a very limited sense. They don’t hold a candle to desert shooting away from idiots, they cost millions and have yet to open the baldy mountain range after we pointed out one of their construction flaws to them almost 2 months ago.

BUTT hell, it’s only a few million dollars pissed away and almost 6,000 acres closed to shooting.
I see your points and understand. For me I used it to sight in some pistols, ar platforms and it worked great for that purpose. I didn't have to sling out my truckload of steel as it's already down there and setup. It was quick and easy, I went during the week and there were 3 other shooters all decent with firearm handling. It's a concrete slab and provided brooms and dustpan make it easy to save brass. Huge time saver for me when I want a quickie at the range.
It won't compare to the desert if you want to do drills, run and gun, have different type of targets or shoot for precision to see moa etc...
There is a long range portion that's 200-700 yds I plan to hit soon to sight in some 308s and check accuracy on steel soon. Again for my current purpose it is very appealing, tho like I said there is a place for desert shooting as well.
User avatar
baja
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 812
Joined: June 25th, 2018, 10:18 am
Reputation: 12
Location: Mesa

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#33

Post by baja »

They probably have several cameras at each site.
User avatar
kenpoprofessor
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1968
Joined: July 22nd, 2018, 4:10 am
Reputation: 3
Location: Phoenix

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#34

Post by kenpoprofessor »

baja wrote: January 23rd, 2023, 10:28 pm They probably have several cameras at each site.
I doubt it, how are they powered, how are they transmitting, what ISP provides service?


Have a great, gun carryin', Kenpo day

Clyde
User avatar
YNOTAZ
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1554
Joined: June 3rd, 2018, 10:01 am
Reputation: 8
Location: NW Valley

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#35

Post by YNOTAZ »

Make no mistake, they are pretty good for the purpose they serve but nothing else. Even AZGF agrees they deviated from the initial design so much that they are horrible. I have no gripe with these ranges, but they are no worth sacrificing almost 6,000 acres of desert shooting.

Current shortcomings,

You can't use a chrono unless you have a lab radar
You can't set up your own targets with sighting squares to accurately sight in a sub MOA rifle
You can't test reloads for accuracy
The steel targets are not painted often enough to get even a good feel of accuracy
You can't paint their steel targets
You can't pick up your brass if it ejects forward past the firing line
If you are in the end, southmost station of the small and only pistol range, you can't pick up your brass if it goes past the fence, past your immediate reach
The stones just past the firing line are full of brass that people are not allowed to pick up. And there is no way to get it up for maintenance of the range.
The shooting tree was designed by an idiot, doesn't lean forward enough so the targets stick in back out of sight, then somebody shoots it cross-range to help you out. That is if the welds aren't broken
The pistol caliber only signs look like they were done by first-time ghetto gang initiates.
When the guy with the 50BMG show up with the muzzle break that nocks your hat off, your shooting is done for the day.
When the guy shows up with the sub-gun on the small pistol range and starts pelting you with brass at 1,000rpms, you sit it out and wait or you're done for the day.

The worst part is the presumption of some form of control since it is a designated shooting area with structures, parking, picnic tables, and bathrooms. Shooters get pelted with the brass from a guy who just bought his High point, and wants to do mag dumps while holding it sideways. People look around for somebody to do something when the beltloop full auto guy shows up. Nobody knows what to do with the guys swiping the entire shooting line with the AKs and ARs.

You are right, if you go during the week, when it is lightly used, you can easily bang some steel but one thing you should know, this is a pilot program. It is the first in the nation. The next area will be Table Mesa road with a "similar facility", likely after a several year closure during construction. Then more thousands of acres will be closed to desert shooting. These are "models" for the BLM nationally and this comes directly from the regional manager of BLM.

If you just sit back and say nothing or that "these are wonderful", without expressing the loss of "run and gun", "different types of targets", or "sub-moa" rifles, you will get more of these and mores desert closures, nationally. If you know anything at all about construction, think about the cost of the fencing alone and how that amount could have been better used to clean up existing desert sites for decades.

If you just sit back and watch, you will join the crowd getting 45 minute stints at Ben Avery or going indoors.
User avatar
action magic
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 446
Joined: May 14th, 2018, 2:45 pm
Reputation: 27
Location: Peoria

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#36

Post by action magic »

^^^^ we have a winner.
QuietM4
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 2125
Joined: May 15th, 2018, 8:36 pm
Reputation: 12
Location: Tempe

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#37

Post by QuietM4 »

The ranges they built will only attract amateur gun owners. The ranges seem like a good idea to amatueurs, but experienced shooters will avoid them like the plague. They are nothing but a clever way for BLM to restrict all types of shooting on BLM land. You want to keep shooting at Table Mesa rd? Do it while you can, because as soon as they start constructing the range out there, it will be closed to desert shooting forever. "But we built a nice range that you can shoot at", BLM will say.

Anyone want to place a bet as to when the first injury or death occurs due to amatuer shooter induced negligence? What then? Will they close all the ranges? Most likely.
User avatar
YNOTAZ
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1554
Joined: June 3rd, 2018, 10:01 am
Reputation: 8
Location: NW Valley

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#38

Post by YNOTAZ »

So far, in all the years of desert shooting in Arizona there has only been one verified death due to a shooting accident. That happened at Miller road around I-10. When we met with BLM they mentioned a second killing near lake pleasant but were informed that it was a homicide and already indicated as part of a drug deal.

Based on the facts and my experience at the two open ranges and a tour of the third range, still closed, I am much safer shooting in the desert.

And QM4 is correct, Table Mesa road is next. It is already in the planning stage and likely will not have public meetings based on "everything they've already learned" from the three ranges out by lake pleasant.
User avatar
Jack Dupp
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 901
Joined: May 14th, 2018, 3:15 pm
Reputation: 5
Location: Mesa

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#39

Post by Jack Dupp »

Anyone have pics of any of these ranges?
User avatar
Tenring
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 2483
Joined: June 2nd, 2018, 10:13 am
Reputation: 7
Location: Cave Creek

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#40

Post by Tenring »

Ill ben out there tomorrow to check it out and try to get some picks.
User avatar
Azgunlover69
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 721
Joined: May 15th, 2018, 8:44 pm
Reputation: 13

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#41

Post by Azgunlover69 »

Tenring wrote: January 24th, 2023, 8:11 pm Ill ben out there tomorrow to check it out and try to get some picks.
Every other Wed they close from 7-10 for maintenance fyi.
User avatar
xerts1191
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 12215
Joined: May 28th, 2018, 7:25 pm
Reputation: 5
Location: Arizona

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#42

Post by xerts1191 »

User avatar
Azgunlover69
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 721
Joined: May 15th, 2018, 8:44 pm
Reputation: 13

Re: 5 new shooting sites

#43

Post by Azgunlover69 »

20230105_145114.jpg
20230105_145302.jpg
Post Reply