Never going to Bills Range again...

[justinvan]

Sorry to here about you bad trip. I have heard many stories about the ranges at Bills, both good and bad(seems like bad gets more publicity wich is to bad for Bills I guess), but the thing I hear the most is the inconsistencies on picking up brass. On all the issues you stated I would have to say that it is there choice to make these policies... it may or may not cost them customers. I would have to say that I do not agree with some of them but it is not my range and will just have to respectfully disagree. How far do you have to travel to get to another range? Luckily its a free world and nobody has to go there if they dont want to.

[mnmike59]

I buy the shot card from Burnsville pistol range. $130 for ten range trips. With that you can bring one extra gun and/or person on your punch. More than once I have had three or four pistols and they haven’t made me pay extra. Heck most of the time they will throw in a few extra cheap targets. The thing doesn’t expire. $13 a range trip is the best price I have found and Roger and Sue run a tight ship but also keep out of your hair.

+1

[Squib Joe]

Plan on following up with John M. later

I would encourage this, and I know for a fact that he welcomes all constructive criticism. His email is johnmonson@billsgs.com

As far as brass collection goes, the policy is quite clear and posted with the range rules:

- Pick up only your own brass that is behind the firing line. Do not pick up brass in front of the firing line. Do not reach over firing line. Do not disturb other shooters while picking up your brass. Do not pick up brass from another shooters point while they are shooting even if it is your brass.

If the range officer said "once it hits the floor it belongs to the range", he was incorrect. The exceptions to this would be if you left the point or if the amount of brass on the floor was a safety hazard. At that point it would have to be cleaned up.

[crbutler]

I had a bad enough experience at Bill's that I never went back to the Robbinsdale one. I did shoot at the north locations when they had USPSA there, but that was it.

They did have a good selection of guns, but after buying a special series colt commander and taking it to the range and having the guy get in my face to the point of saying that if he knew I was going to shoot it he would have never sold it to me...and that was a manager. They also refused to take responsibility for a gun with problems that I had brought as "new", and when it went back to S&W, they said that it was used. I told him that I would never darken the door at the establishment again, and I haven't. Saved me enough money for an African hunt given I was spending over $1000/trip (maybe 2x a month) between buying guns and shooting the ammo they sold there. They usually didn't hassle you about picking up brass, but occasionally they did- I did get that apologized for by the management though.

While I realize that anyone can have a bad day, I figured having 2 "bad days" in a row with the management was enough to convince me that they didn't need my money.

[FJ540]

Come shoot at my range. $10/unlimited guns, pick up all the brass you find, shoot any targets you want. Just 2 short hours north of the metro.

[mmarino]

i have been to bills north quite a few times and have never ever had problem, actually the first time i went with my wife (her first time shooting) she dropped her glasses and got pretty scratched up and the RO offered to borrow us some for free. and actually asked me i wanted the brass or not before sweeping it up. with that said the fees add up way to quick and beaverbrook ends up being quite a bit cheaper.

[Geezer43]

Thats unfortunate.
................
I'm thankful BPR is close to home. Here's to Sue and Roger for an outstanding range!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+1

[Stradawhovious]

FWIW, I try my damndest to stay away from all indoor ranges. Mainly safety issues with the other patrons. If I had a dollar for each time I had a muzzle pointed at me, or someone did something stupid in my presence at a public indoor range, I would have a whole hell of a lot of dollars.

That being said, when I DO go to a public range, its Bills. Might be spendy, but I have had the opposite experience that Rob had. Sorry you had that experience Rob, but I would be willing to bet that Bills management would be very receptive to hearing what you have to say about it.

[EJSG19]

When I was up there I had both good and bad at Bills. About 50-50. Friend of mine has a youngish child who liked to shoot also, BPR wasn't a fan but Bills would allow it. I think under proper supervision, a young child should be encouraged to participate. One thing I wish BPR would change.

But, having said that, I went through much more BS at Bills than I ever did at BPR personally. I found that BPR tends to hire people I could tolerate, where Bills seemed to have a lot more folks who were very much the opposite. Not saying all, just some, and definitely more than BPR.

The clientele was the primary reason I stuck to BPR. You don't find nearly as many homeboys and thugs at BPR, holding the Effing gun like they see movie stars do, and spraying lead everywhere but onto the target, while muzzle sweeping everyone NOT on their hands and knees collecting brass.

Also I thought if I had an issue, Roger would respectfully listen to my problem and more likely than not, do something to help out. The folks I mentioned above at Bills, I wouldn't even ask, after the first couple times I was more or less blown off like I was some kind of idiot not worth their time or breath.

I always felt BPR was cheaper for the way I went to the range. Normally with 2 guns and two people. Not to mention nobody EVER hassled me about getting my brass back. (There is a "no broom" situation at BPR sometimes, because of ******** who would brass monkey the entire range. But, I asked if I could bring my own collapsible broom and that was fine, just so I didn't do what caused the brooms to be removed in the first place. Never lost my brass at BPR. Can't say the same for Bills.)

Nowhere is perfect, but some are much closer than others.

[Paul]

Especially after it gets posted in the largest and finest gun community in MN.

Link?

[Spike]

I find Bill's north to be a much better experience. It's almost like they're not even related to each other.

- Spike

[1911fan]

While some have had a bad experience at Metro, I like it there, flat fees, no per gun BS< and its pure BS. I am renting time on the range, not renting my own use of my guns. IF I clean up, I keep my brass, no one has a fit. yup, you gotta rent ears and eyes, but thats ok, if you go to Viking safety supply once a year, you can buy ten sets of both for 20 bucks, and have change left over.

I like the upstairs people at Bills S, and on occasion the downstairs people are ok, but the loonies who feel the need to shoot there bother me.

Bills north has been fine, most of the time, but they fee's get crazy fast.

re Professionalism and paper plates, considering thats what a few big time trainers and LEO systems use for basic training, I see no reason to disparage them. They just want to sell you targets. So play their game, if you must shoot there and buy a ream of 500 sheets of construction paper for $5, and print your own or print one and run a few hundred on the work copier.... I keeeeed I keeeeed.



I like John, and I know he's trying to make a buck, but he's losing a lot of the repeat users by cobbling up big price tags. If he thought about volume of repeat shooters, who buy guns, reloading supplies etc, then he might try to make the range the cheapest part of the experience. Who cares how many people are on a lane, if its one or ten, its only one range lane getting used. Price the lanes at a flat rate, keep it reasonable, and get the once or twice a week shooters to come back, not look for other places to go, if the range is full of regulars and a few bangers have to wait, well good.

[solidgun]

I really enjoy the Burnsville range, but I have not had bad experiences at Bills Range, but I am rather used to indoor ranges with similar rules as they have.

[RobD]

You know bills and the people that work there have always been good to me, don't like it go somewhere else. There are other options.

Thanks for logging in today.

How far do you have to travel to get to another range? Luckily its a free world and nobody has to go there if they dont want to.

I usually just go to Oakdale.... well worth the drive from West Burbs. We do our class quals at BPR. Bills was just convenient yesterday because of having Mother's Day brunch at "The Lodge" next door. As of right now, I wouldn't go to bills again if I lived next door.

That being said, when I DO go to a public range, its Bills. Might be spendy, but I have had the opposite experience that Rob had. Sorry you had that experience Rob, but I would be willing to bet that Bills management would be very receptive to hearing what you have to say about it.

I hope so...

[mnmike59]

I hope it works out for you Rob. A business is only as good as it's employee's. Even one bad employee can do damage that cannot be repaired. This is where I'd like to see John or Tom do something about it.
Keep us posted.