Practical place to pattern shotgun?

[saizou]

Looking to pattern my new shotgun with steel shots. I've looked into indoor ranges with retrievable targets but all of them (at least to my knowledge) prohibit steel shots. I've been told I can try public outdoor ranges but with no retrievable target system it could take a while in between target replacing. Any ideas?

[Grandpa Rex]

Metro gun club in Blaine used to have a place for this on the North side of their shooting stations. You would be able to walk down repeatedly to check targets and not wait for a cease fire.

This was several years ago but you could call them and inquire.

[hard h2o]

Oakdale Gun Club has a station for patterning. I would call and see when you could do it.

[2in2out]

As a relatively new shotgunner, I don't how far away you need to be to get a decent pattern (and thus don't have too much useful advice).

Where I live, there are no indoor ranges, and the outdoor ranges are relatively quiet (the one I go to, I usually have to myself). Maybe the thing to do would be to set up a bunch of targets along the backstop to keep the trips for retrieving targets to a minimum.

[grimbeaver]

Metro gun club in Blaine used to have a place for this on the North side of their shooting stations. You would be able to walk down repeatedly to check targets and not wait for a cease fire.

Metro does still have a pattern station which is usable as long as the first field is not in use. However it is very unlikely they will let you shoot steel shot. I'm not sure they will even let you pattern larger lead shot.

[saizou]

Shucks, called Oakdale and they don't have a place for public use. Metro Gun Club does but steel is prohibited.

[870TC]

BESA had one on the shotgun range, last I looked. Was a big roll of paper contraption between the skeet and trap field.

[yukonjasper]

What is BESA?

[870TC]

http://www.besamn.com/

[minnesotatv]

BESA had one on the shotgun range, last I looked. Was a big roll of paper contraption between the skeet and trap field.

its moved over to the 50 yard range

[EAJuggalo]

Oakdale's patterning board is members only. I'm sure if you asked around here you could find a member to bring you in as their guest. At least they had one for members when I was last a member two years ago.

[OldmanFCSA]

Most people living out in the sticks of Wisconsin use STOP signs for a pattern board, though not recommended.

I would go to Oakdale Gun Club myself.

[bummey]

It should be noted that Oakdale only allows shot shells the trap range; the rest of the facility is restricted to slugs only.