Posted: 4/5/2006 11:33:53 AM EDT
| I just bought my first AR-15 and was wondering if anyone knows of any ranges around the Madison area that allow you to shoot them. Thanks |
I live in sun prairie, and unfortunately...have to use deerfields range It's pretty ghetto in my honest opinion. I tried to call lodi but cant find a good number. I heard thats where they shoot 1000 yard palma comps..so it cant be too bad. How's the Lake Mills club? What do you guys offer in terms of facilities?
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There are only a few ranges near Madison that allow rifles, and all are "private ranges." The Deerfield Rod & Gun Club is one. I've been a member there for several years. If you just want to shoot/plink and don't want anybody bothering you, that is probably the best place to go. In addition to the trap field, they have a 25 yard pistol range and a 100 yard rifle range. The clubhouse/bar is open on Sundays (I think). You'll have to inquire about becoming a member before you are allowed to shoot. Absolutely no guests are allowed. I think membership costs $35 or $40 per year. The North Bristol Sportsman Club is East of Sun Prairie, and has excellent pistol, skeet/trap, and archery ranges but do not currently allow any centerfire rifles despite having one of the best a 200 meter ranges in the area. NBSC is a sponsor of the Student Alliance for Firearm Education & Responsibility at UW-Madison, and I can give them nothing but praise. Open shooting is available on weekends from 10am until sometime in the afternoon. I think membership is $40 per year for non-students. www.shootatnbsc.com The Stoughton Conservation Club has 25 yard, 50 yard, and 100 yard pistol/rifle ranges. I think they also hae an indoor range. I haven't been to this range yet, but plan to visit them this spring. I recently moved from Madison to Brooklyn, so the Stoughton club seems to be the closest to me now. Reading through their website it seems that they have a rediculous rule about rapid fire "5 shots in 10 seconds", so I'm not sure if I'd get along with them, but it's worth trying out. Membership is $75/yr. stoughtoncc.org The Winnequah Gun Club in Lodi is one of the best long-range rifle ranges in the country, and probably the very best in the Midwest by a long shot (pun intended). It is expensive. The last time I checked, the yearly dues were $175/yr, plus you are required to put in a certain number of hours working at the club. If you want to shoot there you'll either have to be a member and shoot during the week, or you'll have to pay to shoot a highpower match on a weekend. I think they have ranges up to 1200 yards now, perhaps more. The closest public range that I know of is at Yellowstone Lake State Park. It's a long drive from Madison if all you want to do is plink for an hour or two. It sounds like a couple of you might be students. Definitely check out the UW student gun club. safer.rso.wisc.edu The current club president is somewhat lacking in his ability to coordinate and maintain memberships and events, so if you can't get in touch with anyone let me know and I'll help you out. -Anthony |
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Portage rod and gun club is touting member/public so they might let you shoot there. link Last I paid my membership it was $25.00 for a year. |
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I used to be a member at Stoughton. The key phrase is USED to Its definatly not a Black-rifle friendly range. Plus, they have a LOT of members who don't think the rules apply to them, and a bunch more who think its their personal range. Add in the number of dumbasses who harass you for shooting 'an illegal machinegun/assualt weapon/M-16' and you will quickly look elsewhere. Lodi may be $$$ and a bit of a drive, but it is WORTH it. 28 firing points back to 1000 yards, 14ish at 1200, and the nicest pits in WI are worth it. They also have a couple pistol ranges, a silohette range, and a plinker range. From my folks home south of oregon its a 45 minute drive. |
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I'm a member of Stoughton, and there is indeed a rapid fire rule of no more than 5 shots in 10 seconds rule. This is more because of good neighbor relations due to legal hassles a few years back. The club was within its rights, but tries to do the right thing. The layout of the range houses don't allow you to practice prone firing, and maybe sitting or kneeling either. Anyway, if someone hassles you, ask them to define their terms. If they continue to hassle you, ask for their name and get their license number, and CONTACT THE BOARD MEMBERS! The squeaky wheel gets the grease in this case. Maybe its because I shoot during the week, not the weekends, but I have yet to be harrassed in a LONG time. |
I concur. Stoughton has a nice range but it's not a blasting pit where you burn mags bump firing into your old couch. It's fine for developing loads and zeroing, however. I see tons of black rifles and C&Rs there. That being said I'm a member at two other clubs that have more relaxed standards for fun shooting. |
You guys let me know, sorry I just checked back into this thread now. Been busy as of late. And as for the pistol/rifle range, there is 3 (three) spots. I cant really explain how they have it setup, but there is these concrete tubes that you shoot "through". But yeah, if you guys want a gang to go, lets plan a date and I'll talk to the President and we'll get it figured out. |
wow isn't that kinda loud to be shooting AR's thru???? Heck I stand next to some of these guys in wide open area and their flash suppressor is blowing my hat off. |
its not nearly as bad as you think. they did it for safety reasons, and actually I think it is a pretty slick setup. Come out and check it out sometime. |
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Just got back from vacation, so I'm a little late getting onto this thread. I shoot at the Columbus sportsmans club. I've bumped into people shooting ARs there pretty much every weekend I've gone. They have berms setup for 25, 50, 100 and 200 yards, and a nice covered shooting area. You do need to be a member to shoot there, and they allow each member to bring one guest, however they will make exceptions for special occasions if you contact them first. |
