▐▐▐ Pistol - Target Practice locations

[Makarov]

If the OP is still wanting to take a drive up to Chengwatana State Forest and go shooting for "free", this should help.

Go to Google - Maps.
Enter search for "West Fork Redhorse Creek, Chengwatana, MN"
Switch to Satellite View and zoom in to 500 ft scale.
Follow the South fork of the Chengwatana Rd about 1200 ft to the SE.
The large white area just East of Chengwatana Rd is the shooting range / gravel pit.

Zoom in to the 50 ft scale while over the shooting range.
You will see a couple of logging truck trailers and some logs.
The trucks and logs are long gone.
There is now a cable on posts located just West of the trailers.
The benches in the photo are positioned near the trees in the SW corner of the range.
Shooting East / NE, from the benches to the end of the pit is about 85 yds.

If no one else is there (usually no one on weekdays) and you bring your own "bench", you can easily shoot 100 yds by setting up closer to the road.

There are bear hunters in Chengwatana now.
You will probably see some camped along the road on the way in.

There is a nice free camping area about 100 yds South of the range.
You can see a white travel trailer parked there with slide outs on Google maps.

Bring a trash bag and take any "targets" you carry in, back out with you.
In fact, take some extra trash out with you and leave the area a little cleaner than when you arrived.
It seems like a lot of people think their momma is going clean up after them...

Benches were donated for public use by Snake River Valley Conservation Club.

[dessoir]

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for all the replies, very helpful!

How about an arrangement like this; say you know someone, who knows someone, who has large enough land just outside of the cities with a perfect backstop. And that person would be super cool and let me swing by and shoot in the direction of said backstop...does something like this exist? I'm a photographer and would be glad to do some photo work for access to said friend's friends's land.

I've posted an ad on craigslist asking for such an arrangement, no luck yet, fingers crossed though!

Thanks.

[Sigfan220]

Good luck with that. It's to much of a liability. If a landowner gives you they OK to shoot on his land they are liable for any damages. Not saying it won't happen but I would find it hard to believe a landowner would allow a random person to use their land as a range. Besides why? Go to an established range with nice benches, a ******* and liability insurance. Plus its good for the shooting community to join a range, they need the members to stay active.

[grimbeaver]

In reality the cost of range time is a fraction of what your ammo costs are going to be. So not seeing a huge savings by finding a free place to shoot

[northernbird]

Gotta agree with most everyone thats chimed in here.. find a range thats fairly close to your location and join it. Most of the clubs end up being quite a bit cheaper than the indoor ranges if you plan to shoot a fair amount. Plus you get the added benefit of learning the rules of a range, having some folks to talk shop with and supporting a local group of shooters. If you want some specific advice as to a place to go let us know what section of the metro your looking for. North, South, East, West? There are places all over and there might just be a nice little spot just down the road you didnt know was there. Welcome to an addiction.

[dessoir]

Thanks for your reply! I certainly wouldn't mind some recommendations for local places to check out/join if it comes to it. I'm in Uptown mpls and would like to keep it as close to me/cheap as possible. If there is an outdoors place, that would be really sweet as opposed to an indoor range. Those get too stuffy/smoky for me plus I'd like to shoot while weathering the elements.

Both Rainbow and Gopher look awesome though both are about 75mi away. If there is anything like those two, closer and at similar price range, that would be a wonderland.

Thanks!

[northernbird]

Gotta agree with most everyone thats chimed in here.. find a range thats fairly close to your location and join it. Most of the clubs end up being quite a bit cheaper than the indoor ranges if you plan to shoot a fair amount. Plus you get the added benefit of learning the rules of a range, having some folks to talk shop with and supporting a local group of shooters. If you want some specific advice as to a place to go let us know what section of the metro your looking for. North, South, East, West? There are places all over and there might just be a nice little spot just down the road you didnt know was there. Welcome to an addiction.

[xd ED]

Thanks for your reply! I certainly wouldn't mind some recommendations for local places to check out/join if it comes to it. I'm in Uptown mpls and would like to keep it as close to me/cheap as possible. If there is an outdoors place, that would be really sweet as opposed to an indoor range. Those get too stuffy/smoky for me plus I'd like to shoot while weathering the elements.

Both Rainbow and Gopher look awesome though both are about 75mi away. If there is anything like those two, closer and at similar price range, that would be a wonderland.

Thanks!

I'm not familiar with Gopher or Rainbow, but BeaverBrook is much closer.
As is Forest Lake, as well as is Oakdale Gun Club.
All are East/ Northeast metro.
I believe Oakdale has a waiting list, the others do not.

[XDM45]

Everything here is seconded by me. ALL great advice and very true. Remember that sometimes "free" is the most expensive option there is.

I want to add Burnsville Pistol Range is good to go to for an indoor range because they don't rent guns (unlike some other places that do) and there's far less stupidity and danger going on there.

There's also a DNR list available online of gun clubs, ranges, etc, so check that out.

What part of town are you located in?

[SIGP240]

If timing is right, you and another can shoot as my guests at BPR in Burnsville . It is a simple range, not carpeted like Edina. They have rifle too. No extra fee for time or number of guns, that is all on me.