Good range to shoot at.

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I can help a little with an explanation:

About 90% of the range is closed to the public. If you want to use specialty ranges you have to join club, abide by their rules, and shoot on their schedule. If you are not a competitive shooter in whatever their discipline is , you are limited further by only being allowed to shoot on their practice dates. My best example is I have 2 custom Thompson Contenders. When MCC was in charge of the range I could go out and shoot metal silhouette rams with them whenever the range was open. Now the long range rifle club is the one running that range. Contenders are not rifles, and I don’t go there and practice to compete or be scored, I do it because I enjoy it.

Then there are the ROs. I understand safety and all that but damn don’t treat everyone like the lowest common denominator. You have a couple guys shooting a $23,000 full auto M16, a $43,000 MP5, and an $8,000 MAC, and give them crap about not having actions “OPEN” when the MAC is an open bolt SMG. And yes, be very loud about it while you making things “safe” but demonstrating your stupidity.

Then take a new build out that you have to tinker with spring, buffer weight, adjustable gas block and be limited to touching it only when the line is hot. Could take you half a day to try 3 or 4 different approaches to solve FTF or FTE

Then there is the picking up brass issue. Some ROs biatch about that. I don’t know if it is a rule or not, but I will pick up my 6.5 Creedmoor and 458 SOCOM.

I’m sure others that have gone there for many years can add to the list, but I just don’t need the hassle.

(Fixed a couple typos on reread.)
 
regarding Avery: " If you want to use specialty range [highlight=yellow]you have to join club[/highlight], abide by their rules, and shoot on their schedule. "

you don't actually have to "join" the club, you just have to show up and shoot with them. Desert Sharpshooters runs nearly all the events on the long (1000 yard) range, and basically everything they run is open to everyone, they don't even have "members". Tomorrow, 8AM is "600 Yards Practice & New Shooter Orientation."

http://www.desertsharpshooters.com/

But if they are running a 25 minute string at 600 yards and alternating shooting and pulling targets, you will shoot a 25 minute string at 600 and alternate shooting and pulling targets.

of the 600 employees at AZGFD I think only 2 have ever fired on Ben Avery's long range, or probably any of the specialty ranges for that matter. AZGFD simply does not have the expertise (with 1 exception) to run the specialty ranges, so they run public, archery & shotgun and the "user groups" (clubs) run all the other ranges.

My primary interest is competition shooting, if you have any questions about that post, PM or email.

Ya'll shoot good!

Poole
http://arizona-rifleshooting.com/

Poole
 
Bill,
Will you guys be on the 200 anytime soon? I lucked into a matched mosin pu i may want to get ready for a vintage sniper match.
 
Bill Poole said:
You don't actually have to "join" the club, you just have to show up and shoot with them. Desert Sharpshooters runs nearly all the events on the long (1000 yard) range, and basically everything they run is open to everyone, they don't even have "members". Tomorrow, 8AM is "600 Yards Practice & New Shooter Orientation."
http://www.desertsharpshooters.com/

Bill,

Thanks for pointing out the exception to the membership requirement. I wasn't aware of it for the 600 & 1,000. I will watch the web site and may drop by.

Regards
Tony
 
THE ICEMAN said:
338lapua said:
Elk34 said:
Someone would actually try to rob me while I'm shooting?

It has happened in the desert, especially when you are by yourself. I have had attempts made on both my camera gear and my guns. Both times by south of the border f***.
Hmmmm... Never had that happen to me & I have been shooting in the desert starting with my Dad & Brothers since the 60's... I'm not saying you're wrong, just saying that's not been my experience. If anything, people I have run across while shooting have been very personable.

That having been said, I do, as a practice, save one loaded firearm for the trip home. Also agree with the others, always pack out what ya brung & a wee bit more...
I primarily use the desert as well and most we come across are usually very cordial. I've never been out alone though. Usually at least 2 to 4 of us. And I always have a loaded pistol on my person.
 
I chose to shot at a local indoor range but was out yesterday at superloaf and it was WILD. They have closed most parking in tanto and I think they closed hiking down closer to phoenix so there were dozens of people on those small 4 wheel off road vehicles, Dirt bikes and non stop gun fire.

Fun to watch. I have been out in this part of AZ for close to 6 years .. I have trampled a lot of dirt in that time. I have never seen it like that over there ever.

If you are going desert shooting .. I recommend you try during the week. Both places where I know they shoot outdoors near me were SLAMMED yesterday.
 
The people are good at Rio Salado Sportmans Club. Up to 200 yards. Well designed site. Limited access because of Covid. Every other bench is open so weekends are crowded. Afternoons are better if you can handle the heat.
 
Rio Salado has been suspending people wholesale for small infractions or none at all. The ROs there have been taught to escalate situations instead of deescalating them and so I won't shoot there.
 
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