Looking for a range, not a club (West metro)

[TRW407]

Hey MNGT,

As this is my first post I will go ahead and say 'hi' to everyone here. I am just really getting into to firearms, though I have been hunting (mainly birds) since I can remember. I am 19 now and am looking for a casual range. Dont get me wrong, belonging to a club im sure is great. But for me at this time, I cannot devote one day per month for a fundraiser or dinner. I am fine with paying a range fee, but dont want to be nickle and dimed to death, ammo is expensive enough!

Target shooting on WMA's is prohibited but is there any 'public land' that you can hunt and shoot on? I would love to be able to shoot 'naturally' with brush, elevation and what not rather than a range but I just want a place to shoot!

As mentioned, I am just getting into the sport. I was given an old Winchester 30-30 and a Remington 870 and used them both for years. But in the last 6 months had the urge (you all know the kind) to buy a Ruger 10 22 that I have had a blast and learned a ton turning it tactical, Benelli Nova, and lastly a Savage 93R17. Once I can raise the funds I am looking at some kind of .223 varmint rifle, either Rem 700 or some kind of AR...

I am located in Victoria (west metro) and know of a few clubs but they are expencive and I have read on here that the occasional rapid fire stress releaser is not allowed

Also anyone know of some local FFL's?

Thanks for the help!

[farmerj]

place to start as well
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/shooting_ranges/index.html

[autobahn]

As far as I can tell, there's a major lack of local gun ranges that are really "open" to the public. Many of the clubs are open during deer sight-in but that's for like 1 month out of the year.

I'm in the same boat - just not really ready to commit to a club but would like to find a few places to shoot.

[mnglocker]

Join at delano. $130 gets you in the door and $80 per year there after. You don't have todo volunteer hours either. If you do though, your yearly goes down to $30.

Pretty cheap in my book.

[Holland&Holland]

As far as I can tell, there's a major lack of local gun ranges that are really "open" to the public. Many of the clubs are open during deer sight-in but that's for like 1 month out of the year.

I'm in the same boat - just not really ready to commit to a club but would like to find a few places to shoot.

Oakdale is open to the public on weekends starting the first weekend in June and then opens 7 days a week from the end of Sept until almost the end of Nov.

[LarryFlew]

If you don't mind a little drive Gopher Campfire in Hutch is $35 a year and no time required.

[JoeH]

If you don't mind a little drive Gopher Campfire in Hutch is $35 a year and no time required.

Great suggestion and a great value. They have a nice facility. Plus, there are even birds in the area for hunting!

[45Badger]

If you don't mind a little drive Gopher Campfire in Hutch is $35 a year and no time required.

Great suggestion and a great value. They have a nice facility. Plus, there are even birds in the area for hunting!

Gopher's a nice place, nice folks, and STEEL SHOOTS!!!!!!!!

[DocLRRP]

http://horseandhunt.com/memberships/index.html

[chopper]

I belong to isanti sportsmans club in cambridge its $75 a year which is membership and maintance and for a deposit of $30 you get a key fob to the gate so you can use it anytime you want.

[JJ]

Another Isanti member here. Really a pretty good price, though a drive for you. http://www.icsclub.org/default.aspx

[TRW407]

Thanks for the suggestions! Ive got some calls to make

@DocLRRP: Do you know how long the rifle range is at the Horse and Hunt club? I could not find any info on their website but they have a pictures of a guy with some kind of long gun...

Thanks again,

[dunnym1984]

I live in victoria also. I got a private land spot about a couple miles down the road that we shoot at. we can shoot out to about 250yards. plan on extending that (400-600) once the snow is gone. we have a bunch of steel targets that we use. plan on setting up some kind of coarse once spring is finally here.

[TRW407]

Well I spoke with someone from just about every club on my side of town and am hopefully going to spend some money in the near future for a membership.

For those of you that belong to the Horse and Hunt club in prior lake, what do you think of it? They have a 300 yard rifle range which I like, but are very expensive ($350/yr). Are you always forced to wait for a bench? How is the staff? Can you just show up whenever you want with a key or padlock code? The reason I ask is I want to shoot a lot in the winter months due to work in the summer...

Any insight is appreciated!

Thanks, Tyler

[DocLRRP]

Well I spoke with someone from just about every club on my side of town and am hopefully going to spend some money in the near future for a membership.

For those of you that belong to the Horse and Hunt club in prior lake, what do you think of it? They have a 300 yard rifle range which I like, but are very expensive ($350/yr). Are you always forced to wait for a bench? How is the staff? Can you just show up whenever you want with a key or padlock code? The reason I ask is I want to shoot a lot in the winter months due to work in the summer...

Any insight is appreciated!

Thanks, Tyler

Staff is magnificent
Food is very good
Just call when you want to shoot and they will let you know conditions --crowded-closed, etc
No key needed
My wife and I ar eon or 4th year there