A couple of years ago here in Iowa, the 1000 yard benchrest matches that were held in Pella were closed down and we no longer have 1000 yard rifle matches. I currently shoot F-class at VanMeter, Iowa which is just west of Des Moines and is 600 yards maximum. Not to say anything bad about VanMeter, but Iowa needs more on the plate with regards to the long range shooting sports--I am fearful that it is dying out here in Iowa. So, recently I spoke with a friend of mine at work that knows Pete Brownell--of Brownell's, and that they were going to build a 1000 yard range on their property and start holding matches. So today I called Brownells and they said that they were thinking about it at one time after the Pella range shut down--I guess the folks that were involved in the Pella 1000 yard range contacted Brownells to see if they would do it. I was told by the Brownells rep that they got so far as to get dozers out their with surveying equipment but that was as far as they got and Pete Brownell shot down the idea. I voiced my concern with the rep and said that I was afraid that the shooting sports here in Iowa might die out. I asked for him to speak with Pete and see if he would reconsider. I also to the rep that I would call every day if that is what it would take and I would speak to all my fellow competitors and see if they would make the call to brownells to persuade them to build the range. Please, if you could spare the time and call Brownells and help fellow shooters here in Iowa--that would be greatly appreciated.
help with shooting sports in Iowa
- Thread starter cmillard
- Start date
I grew up in the Cedar Rapids area and then moved to Minnesota. Last fall I was considering moving back to Iowa to be close to family. I checked out all of the ranges I could find online at the time, and the max range distance I could find in the entire state was only 200 yards. I'm glad to hear there is at least one 6oo yard range but I agree, Iowa needs more long distance ranges badly. From what I've heard and seen, everyone down there is either into pistols, AR's or shotguns. I sure wish you well and hope something gets done for the long distance riflemen down there.
I see you live in Anamosa, Iowa so have you tried looking into Wisconsin ranges. Lodi, Wisconsin is about 145 miles from Anamosa and they have a good long distance range with several meets during the year. Looks like it may be only about 40 miles further than Anamosa to Montezuma, Iowa where Sinclair is located. I have not been to Lodi but some of my friends have. The web site for the Winnequah Gun Club says a rifle range up to 1200 yards is available. Wisconsin and Minnesota have numerous ranges. I do agree with you that it would be nice if Sinclair would build a long range facility on their land in Iowa and hold some meets there, I will give Sinclair a call.
effendude
Gold $$ Contributor
Cole,
I hope you can create more shooting opportunities near you in Iowa. The lack of ranges in general hurts all shooting sports. Unfortunately, the harsh realities of social and economic challenges prevents most new ranges from being built. Initial start up costs would be huge, even in a gun friendly area. Operating a range is very expensive. It is far easier to keep existing ranges open than to create a new one. Do you know why Pella closed?
Scott
I hope you can create more shooting opportunities near you in Iowa. The lack of ranges in general hurts all shooting sports. Unfortunately, the harsh realities of social and economic challenges prevents most new ranges from being built. Initial start up costs would be huge, even in a gun friendly area. Operating a range is very expensive. It is far easier to keep existing ranges open than to create a new one. Do you know why Pella closed?
Scott
I was told that the guy that owned the range--or the land where the range was--passed away and the family no longer wanted a range there. the only reason I am saying all this is Brownells/Sinclair is a huge company with a lot of money, not to mention the NRA would help them with the range. we should not just sit idly by and let the shooting sports die out. that is why I want to help
More power to ya! Not only in your state but there is a need everywhere. Some young enterprising shooters need to get together and take the step now in order to keep our sport alive. Luckily in Central and So. Central Pa. we have a half a dozen long distance excellent ranges available to us.
redrockranger
Silver $$ Contributor
There is a fairly new range near Spikard , Missouri that shoot 600 and 1000 yds. It is Vapor Trail Valley if i remember correctly and they have a website listing match dates.Looks like nice range.
thank you all. I know of the surrounding area ranges, but the reason for this is not to just shoot at other ranges but to bring it back here in Iowa--as it is going away. I can't just sit idly by and let it go away, I am not the type to cave to the anti-gunners/politicians. this would not just be for me, it would be for all of us. I am sure most of you have bought something from Brownells/Sinclair, and I urge all of you to give them a call. I would do the same for all of you if it was the same case for your state. Please, if you can, call!!
Will gladly call Brownells and thank you very much for the invitation back. We also have an informal 600 yard range here near Faribault, MN that I would be honored for you to come up and accompany me as a guest to our range anytime you would would like to informally shoot that distance with us.
Best Wishes on your endeavor.
Best Wishes on your endeavor.
Cole, I applaud your efforts & wish you the best. Everyone should realize that Brownell's is a for profit company selling gun/gunsmith parts & related items. They are not in the business of operating shooting ranges. If you really want to get their interest, you should at least bring a proposal to them to offer some matching funds & maybe commitments to help operate the range & support it after construction. Now I'm on my soapbox, so please bare with me. I am the treasurer of Pinetucky Gun Club in the Augusta, GA area, have run & participated in many, many organized shooting events and was even a national officer in IBS for a few years as a member of the score committee. Something I have never understood is how shooters can think it's OK to spend thousands & thousands of dollars on shooting/reloading equipment, but ask them to join a club to support it, or pay match or range fees that are adequate to keep the club in business (and yes, it most definitely is a business), and you get endless carping about the costs, or even refusal to participate. As Pogo once said, "We have found the enemy, and it is us." Until shooters understand the costs of having a place to shoot and step up to the plate with cold, hard cash, we are doomed to continually hear of one range after another closing, until there isn't anywhere for you to shoot anymore. Then, who wins? The anti-gun crowd, of course, so not only do we shooters lose the place to enjoy our hobby, but the antis win another little battle as a consequence. And while I'm still preaching, look at how many "members" use this and other shooting sites, but never contribute to the support. Sorry for the sermon, but we all need to pull together to support the entities that support our hobby - with $$$. Thanks for baring with me. Off the soapbox.
cmillard said:
Cole, no offense intended, but if you had your own company, and one of your (mult-ithousand) customers called you up to suggest how you should run your business and spend your money and warned that he would call every day to bug you, would you think highly of that situation? I wouldn't.
If you're trying to sell an idea, then you need to make a business case for it. Unless, like liberals and the politicians pandering to them, your platform is that somebody else should pay for whatever it is, and the consequences.
I think Pringles should have a peanut butter and bacon flavor chip, but that doesn't mean Pringles agrees with me, or should. Sure, I would buy a can every year or two, but they rely on the best bang for their bucks, just like Brownells.
1,000y shooting is specialized. It's not a money maker, or ever going to be as popular as many other shooting competitions. If we want shooting sports to survive, then we need to get WAY more kids and women interested. 8)
effendude
Gold $$ Contributor
SmokinJoe said:
Smokin Joe said it much better than I could. Every match, I hear grumbling about match fees, etc. My response is the range must make an attempt at being profitable to the hosting club or the club can decide the range isn't worth the liability and headaches. I often ask shooters when they last heard of a new range being built. It isn't often. Compare shooting ranges to golf courses, they can't build golf courses fast enough here in the midwest, yet ranges are closing. We as shooters need to support what we have because we most likely are not getting many more.
Scott
I took all of this into consideration before making this post--they already run ranges at brownells as part of their training division--so operating a range should not be an issue for them. the reason I was hopeful that they would do it--and almost did, was the fact that everyone knows brownells/Sinclair and having matches there could bring them in much more business. i would be right on board buying a club membership as well. secondly, i have contacted the NRA about how new ranges are opened and they offer help--at least they said they did--to open the ranges and help set it up. all points made are valid and i agree with them--the calls to Brownells, in my view, is like a call to a politician or sending a brick a day to a politician--at some point they act on it when there is enough interest. what would you all do, if tied to shooting ranges closing, the wacko leftists decided that your guns would go as well. i would be willing to bet that people would be trying to get more ranges to open in order to keep you firearms.
That was part of my point, Cole. If the places to shoot dry up, then a lot of guns will go by the wayside as a matter of attrition, and consequently a lot of gun owners will lose interest in shooting & become more complacent about their 2nd Amendment rights, and it just goes downhill from there.
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