Shooting on your own land vs Public Range

[xswanted]

I’m a memeber of a couple private ranges but I rarely go. The membership is basically a donation.

I’m fortunate to have my own range, I take it for granted at times until a thread like this pops up.

Rimfire steel to 350 yards
Centerifre steel 400-840
200 yard backstop
840 yard backstop.

No one within a mile of me.

 

[DRK]

My backyard. Nuff said.

 

[moondog]

Not mine, but my buddies ranch next to my place. I'm the only one with permission. Steel out to 2060. Shotmarker at 600.

 

[1shot]

I've been blessed with the family farm and I have build a 100 yd. rifle range and 11 lane pistol range. The berms are 11 ' high, and nothing but timber on the other side of a 40 acre field past the berms. My shooting bench is 60 ' from my reloading bench. Just walk out the basement door and get busy. I often shake my head in disbelief when I read accounts of the goings on on public ranges. i know it sounds like I'm gloating about my circumstances, but as I said in the beginning, I have been truly blessed.

Lloyd

 

[n.c.outlaw2024]

Lots of unsafe shooters at public ranges from what I have seen. Makes me nervous more so than usual. I'm far from being an expert or professional but even I know just b/c you drop the mag doesn't mean it has been made safe. There could still be a bullet in the chamber. I shoot with a buddy on private land but that i just myown personal preference.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I've been blessed with the family farm and I have build a 100 yd. rifle range and 11 lane pistol range. The berms are 11 ' high, and nothing but timber on the other side of a 40 acre field past the berms. My shooting bench is 60 ' from my reloading bench. Just walk out the basement door and get busy. I often shake my head in disbelief when I read accounts of the goings on on public ranges. i know it sounds like I'm gloating about my circumstances, but as I said in the beginning, I have been truly blessed.

Lloyd

Not being too boastful, imo. There are tons of people on this site with far more money than I have. I think it's about priorities to a lot of people. I think land is a solid investment and that's where what little I have is..land. Having the land, why not shoot on it? Yes, we are both blessed but there's a lot of folks with more but choose to invest other ways is all.

 

[PhilC]

Personally I would rather be able to shoot on my own land than a public range. For a whole host of reasons. What about you guys?

Yes. Shoot any time I want, no range fees, no club membership, no whackos, no parking issues, no traffic, etc. to get to my bench. Currently planning a shooting shack and changing range direction from south to east which will give me 400yds to backstop.

 

[leakeyjohn]

Already got a backstop. Several years ago I got an Email from the city of Loxahatchee FL ( Ive lived here since the early 80s) It was a copy of a state law that allowed home shooting ranges as long as the homeowner had over 1 acre and no bullets ever left the property. I asked the Mayor if the law was still in effect and he said it was. I told him that I was going to build a range as soon as I could get someone to deliver enough dirt to make a berm. The following Sat morning he was at my gate in a tractor with front bucket with dirt to build a berm. After he brought me 4 or 5 buckets he said "have fun". I built the range along the back fence where his property adjoins mine. It don't get no easier than that. He told me about the Arabs that own the property several thousand yards east of me that have a range that is very obvious from the air. He was called to a meeting with Palm Beach County, ATF, the Secret Service, The PBSO and the state. They were upset that this landowner had a shooting range that was on the approach to the PBIA and in the flight line of Air Force 1 when Trump was president. Mayor Bob explained to them that they were citizens that had 2nd amendment rights just like the rest of us.

My response would have been if you need any assistance in any form I would be happy help any time, just let me know PLEASE

 

[coldboreshot]

My hat's off to you fortunate souls who are fortunate to be able to shoot on your own lands. Even though I am a member of a private club a bit of a distance away, I get a pucker factor of +10 every time I need to use the local public range. Somerimes the additiinal travel is not an option.

 

[dthomas]

I would love to be able to shoot at my house but am fortunate to have a private shooting range fairly close. It is a great club.

 

[DeerHunter82]

I belong to two private ranges. Both excellent facilities and honestly there is really nobody at either ever. I think 95% of the memberships sight in their deer rifles in October. 5% are like me and actually shoot.

 

[Richard Jones]

Honestly, if I couldn't shoot at home, I feel like I would just quit shooting. Blessed and spoiled to be able to shoot on my land. Can't imagine having to travel to shoot. I shouldn't take it for granted...

While working I once drove by the Wildlife Management Area, VA Game Commission property located in our county. Witnessed 2 guys that had set up about 50 yards downrange from the covered benches, trying to sight in a muzzle loader. I guess they were too lazy to move one of the target stands closer to the shooting line. That was enough for me.

 

[Steve Donlon]

I could but I do not shoot on my own land unless I have no choice. I only have to drive a few minutes to shoot at 1000 yards or a mile. There is so much open space close by, it's not a problem to just take off and find a place where the conditions are best that day. I also don't want to scare my horses and other animals on or close to my property. Plus the noise travels for miles up in the mountains. So just out of respect for my neighbors, I don't shoot in my vicinity. Besides it's fun to shoot in different places where the terrain is different.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I would and do not shoot on my own land unless I had no choice. I only have to drive a few minutes to shoot at 1000 yards. So I can just shoot there. I don't want to scare my horses and other animals by my property. Plus the noise travels for miles up in the mountains. Just out of respect for my neighbors I don't.

That is a consideration. I've got a bunch of new neighbors moving in out here in the country and, while I can..I also wanna keep the peace as much as possible. If I had a range within just a few minutes, I would still shoot at home but would utilize the public range too, when practical.

 

[Wolfdog91]

I have a love hate relationship with the local public range. Int he one hand intend to meet some really fun people, have a lot of good chats and I've been able to help some people and kids out.I always bring extra tools, targets , some lube, ect in case theres somone who needs a hand adjusting there scope or something , Even though I tend to complain about it , I really do enjoy helping ... Also it's nice to have a manicured range to shoot at with their cutting hay in the pastures ect...

But at the same time....at times ..... I do kinda hate it when I'm just trying to relax zone out listen to some music and plink ....and I have to deal with other people wanting to chat, asking what I'm not shooting on the bench , watching the classic " give their 90lbs gf a 30-06 and have her shoot it for the first time" or my favorite when I'm shooting groups and I'll habe someone constantly questioning why I don't hit the bullseye. Along with Billy bob the Leupold .270 elitist who really don't know jack Diddly And the range I go to is by a town that's like half hood half country so ... The amount of times I've had some ignorant guys roll up with high points and mini dracos just blasting everywhere like idiots while trying to get some vids for the gram... Also all the trash

Actually here a lil range walk of my local public range

As far as private. Well it's the cow pasture. Not many down sides except when there's cows out and about or theirs field work being done

 

[Presis Skytter]

A few years ago I’d only of considered shooting at home. Now I prefer the range for the lone reason of talking with people that have a common interest with me. With that said I have a 1600 yard distance at home when the corns low enough with a huge backdrop… and I can’t find a range that has that distance close to me.

 

[Doug Casner]

Ive got a concrete bench out my basement door on a 100 yd. range. with a trackhoe hump. Doug

 

[mauser284]

Now that pot is legal things might have changed. In college one of the jobs I did regularly but seasonaly was working for the power company doing tree trimming. I did residential and transmission lines. We always went to a Town Hall and Commerce Department in every town or city and called ahead.

I can not tell you how many times on public land we came across illegal pot growing farms stealing public and private power and water. In 90% of cases we ran into bobby trapps like you would imagine in a war zone and would get shot at 25% of the time. We would announce that we where with the power company and not cops and they would disapear and let us do out job. We would likewise come across vinyards or orchards that at some point had been private land. I recall once comming across about 2 acres of what at one point had been cheery orchard and you can tell because the tree's will be in perfect rows just like how a farmer would plant corn or beans. I have also ran across animal traps from small game to bear sized on public land. This was like 1993-1998 in Michigan. Your state might be different.

I always wanted to hike the from one end of the Ampalachins to the other but never got the chance because of knee and ankle injuries combined with being a dad and being responsible to other's needs. that said even in the 1980's to 2000's I would never imagine hiking them with out a pistol and shotgun or rifle and shotgun!

So on State land do not go in before sun rise and be out before sun set. If you get a bad feeling back out ASAP and if you run into anything that seems sketching get out. Make sure you can see where your bullet will end up should you miss. I think today having a cellphone, locator becon and GRS radio is a must. Bear spray, whistle, GPS, compass, fire starter kit and 24hrs. of food and water is a must! Back a jacket or windbreaker!

 

[Dgd6mm]

I'll be putting in a short range on my property at the end of the year due to my Gun Club closing.
I'll have maximum 200 if I want it, the local range in the forest, and the Bradford Sporting Farm that goes out to 850 about an hour or so drive from me. More into ARA these days but still shooting centerfire often enough. I will be pistol shooting today. No matter where I'm at, if I'm not shooting by myself I do my utmost best to be aware of my surroundings.

 

[n.c.outlaw2024]

Imho being able to shoot on your own or a neighbor's, with permission of course, has advantages you might not have on a public range. Most ranges that I know of have set opening and closing times. Private land offers you the flexibility. sun up to sun down, that sort of thing. Certain firearms may not be allowed in public but on your own land it probably doesn't matter as long as it is within the law of your county or state.