How much is too much for a year's membership to a range? Assume that your membership simply gets you a safe place to shoot, and that you have to provide targets and other equipment.
Thats a tough question to answer. For me it depends on the location (how easy is it for me to make a trip), which will also change how often I make a trip to use it. It also would depend on what other shooting options I have. If its right out my back door and I would use it weekly I would pay more than a range thats 20 miles away that I might use once a month. Are we talking indoor range or outside? For me I would do the math and figure out if its cheaper to buy the annual pass or just pay per visit. I don't shoot inside all that much unless its raining so I normally just pay the hourly rate.
One more thing I forgot. I see some ranges that offer a range card. For example you buy 10- 1 hour visits to the range and its a better price then paying as you go. I like that way better.
One more thing I forgot. I see some ranges that offer a range card. For example you buy 10- 1 hour visits to the range and its a better price then paying as you go. I like that way better.
I'm the exact opposite. I'm very much in the "Pay one price for unlimited access" camp. When I go to the range, sometimes I'm just there to hang out with a couple of guys and maybe shoot a box. Other times, I'm there for a fully-productive practice session. It's distracting to watch the clock and I don't like feeling like I'm wasting a coupon if I'm not using the time to its fullest. I'd much rather pay $150 or $200 or whatever for access anytime I want.
If you are only going to shoot a few times a year than a pay as you go is the best option. However, if you want to sling lead a lot throughout the year, then a membership is for you!
I personally like memberships where I can go anytime I want. Like scutter mentioned, sometimes its an all out lead slinging event or the only thing getting shot is the
depends on the rules and the facility itself. If its a "nothing from the holster, 1 sec between shots" kinda range, I'm not paying all that much, if anything at all, for a membership. If it's a range where all I get is a single lane, same thing.
OTOH, ACC is $150/year, and I think that's quite fair.
$25-50 and no BS anti-gun insurance placating rules (handgun fire a one round per 5 seconds stationary standing and no drawing holds little training value); I've got a free DNR range nearby and ammo ain't cheap, its already $50 per trip minimum
None of your poll answers apply for me then. There are 2 ranges (clubs) in my area, one is $35 a year and the other is $50 I believe. It would be somewhere in that general area for and outside range.
I voted for $150 per year which coincides with what ACC is now charging for their members; although, I paid $100 last year at the same club. The substantial increase was a little bit of a shocker, but they are making improvements to the club.
I think Roush is 80 bucks a year. I've gone about once a week when it's nice out.
I will pay because it's like 5 minutes away. The RO fets stressed when they are busy though. Oh, and no EDC in a holster due to the Corps of engineers BS. But I can shoot all day to my hearts desire
A lot depends on how close the range is and what is allowed.
I think 100 is a fair price for a safe range where I can draw from my holster and set up a classifier or a small stage and shoot it to my hearts content. I used to be a member at three different clubs . I am down to two because the range rules at one of the clubs did not allow drawing from a holster.
Eh. I answered before I saw "outside". Indoor is more costly so I put $150. Outdoor would depend on the facilities. Wildcat Valley R&P club charged $100 yearly and some service. For that beautiful club I considered it a steal. But I have been to others that were not worth that much so...
If there was a range that was closer that allowed me to draw from the holster, move around, rapid fire, and allowed rifle calibers, and had 100 yards to shoot, I would pay $200 a year.
To me, it would have to offer the following before I would even consider paying for membership rather than using private property.
1. unlimited access 365 days (other than night time obviously)
2. all calibers allowed rifle, shotgun, pistol
3. large enough to NOT have to wait for hours in line to shoot (unlike most indoors)
4. an area for extended range rifle shooting, around 300-500 yards
5. an area which would allow for tactics/scenario training without disrupting the everyday, average shooter who just wants a punch paper in a lane
6. allows rapid fire, holster draw, etc
It would have to offer all of these and be within a 30-45 minute drive of Indianapolis. If it were any further than that, then there is private property I can go to which I can do whatever I see fit and not pay a dime. Then it becomes a balancing act: is the price per year worth a 5 minute saved drive? etc etc.....The less of these that a range offers the less likely I am to be at all interested in paying for a range, because I can't do everything I would use it for and so I'll have to find others to access as well, which means I'd be looking for as cheap as possible or seek an alternative like private land.
One of the thing the pole doesn't ask is about facilities. Are there indoor men's and ladies' rooms, or one single porta-john outside, if there are any bathrooms at all? Is there a clubhouse? Kitchen? Organized events nearly every weekend or never? Do they charge instructors a fee per student on top of yearly dues or is that a perk of membership? Are there target holders available or do you have to bring all of your own stuff? These things make a difference to me.