Does Ben Avery really cost $7.50 per hour now?

[admin]

I'm not looking for the comments about range nazis or any hyperbole please.

I used to go to Ben Avery when it cost $7 for a table and you could shoot as long as you wanted to. Now, I see that you have to set up a reservation to go, pick a date and a time slot. It costs $7.50 per shooter and you only get a 1 hour time slot. Does that mean that if I want to shoot longer, I need to make another adjacent reservation and pay another $7.50?

 

[xerts1911]

https://www.azgfd.com/shooting/tempguidelines/
Things have certainly changed

 

[admin]

https://www.azgfd.com/shooting/tempguidelines/
Things have certainly changed

I'm familiar with those - for the most part, they haven't changed.

Still doesn't address my question though. I may just call them to see...

 

[TheAccountant]

It was an hour and a half, but yes, it’s 7.50 per time slot. If you want to shoot longer you have to make a second reservation and pay another 7.50.

 

[admin]

It was an hour and a half, but yes, it’s 7.50 per time slot. If you want to shoot longer you have to make a second reservation and pay another 7.50.

Yep; just called and that's what they confirmed. Apparently the commissioners made the change in May of last year. It now costs $7.50 every 90 minute block.

Ugh.

 

[Longhair1957]

And this is the reason I don’t go out to Ben Avery any more. Pre covid I was out there for about 3-4 hours per week. I will not pay more per hour than I paid per day.

 

[TheAccountant]

If it was 2 hours then the convenience of being able to just show up and shoot without worrying about a wait on the weekends would be worth it. 90 minutes, especially with people dinking around during ceasefires, is just a little less time than I generally need.

There have been a couple positives though. The groups of 10 at 1 table pointing guns in every direction aren’t a thing anymore. The kooks that want to gnaw on your ear for the entire ceasefire seem to be either staying away or keeping themselves.

 

[slapiron]

90 min for 7.50 sucks. Bright side is make a reservation, show up and have a table. No more long wait on weekends. With the cost of ammo I can't afford to shoot all day anyways.

 

[Manitu]

Rio is 15$ and if busy I think they make it 2hours limit. If not busy just keep shooting. Actually 2 hours of the line is cold time I care to invest. Living so close just may pay the 100and?? for annual family member.

 

[AR-15Man]

90 minutes is a joke. With how Ben Avery is run, half of that is down time to check targets, so 45 minutes of actual shooting. Less with setting up and packing up your stuff afterwards.

 

[admin]

Apparently, they only use every other shooting table to avoid requiring the use of masks, so that cuts the capacity in half. Then, they said that they chose to put the time limits in place along with the reservation system to avoid having the groups of people waiting for shooting tables to open up (COVID). They said that nothing prevents someone from reserving a table again for the session immediately after if you want to shoot longer, but it will cost another $7.50. They said that they did raise the rate to $10, but have kept it at $7.50 for now to ease the transition and because of COVID.

That's what they told me on the phone today.

 

[Longhair1957]

90 minutes is a joke. With how Ben Avery is run, half of that is down time to check targets, so 45 minutes of actual shooting. Less with setting up and packing up your stuff afterwards.

And even less if a freakin buzzard is flying by the mountain. I’ve been there when one was clear back by the mtn. And they did a cease fire till it moved on.

 

[TheAccountant]

To be fair, the set up and take down is outside of the 90 minute window. The main problem is the guy that takes the stroll to the 200 yard line and spends 10 minutes admiring his 6 inch group.

 

[Tenring]

It would be better if they extend the slot another hour or even a 4 hour slot.

Scheduling a slot ahead of time is both good and bad, I miss just deciding to go shoot and running over to get in line.

 

[knockonit]

its all about indoctrination and control, has been there for a long time, a great range turned into a .................u name it. :think:
Rj

 

[rick lee]

Last time I went, I had planned to rent one of their rifle rests and spotting scopes because I was alone and couldn't carry all my own stuff. Nope. No more rentals. Yeah, I guess they're really making a dent in the Covid cases that way. Sheesh.

 

[82echo]

Seems they are now allowing walk in. I just spotted this on their web site. Though a bit more spendy.

Walk-in fees for the 300-yard steel or paper tables are $12 per shooter if available.
Walk-in fees for the Rifle & Pistol steel tables are $9 per shooter if available.
Walk-in fees for the 100 & 200-yard paper tables are $9 per shooter if available.


https://www.azgfd.com/shooting/tempguidelines/

 

[oldslurrydog1]

It's been probably 25 yrs sinse I've been there. All I can rember is someone on a megaphone screeming at someone in my direction. Geez it was awful.

 

[mike400]

Pay 7.50 an hour for 20+ minutes of cease fire time, no thanks. Does Game and Fish realize that the less convenient and more expensive range= more desert debris. They have a big facility, expand!!!

 

[AZ Husker]

I hated the down time before all this crap. Fridays are ladies day at Shooter's World. Free lanes and range rentals too. I'm heading there soon, gonna tell them I identify as female. What a lawsuit if they deny me!