Traditional Muzzleloading Association
The Center of Camp => The Campfire => Topic started by: RobD on September 26, 2018, 06:20:02 PM
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basically, where can you shoot and where do you shoot? it might be at least interesting to hear where we get to enjoy our firearms.
seems the urban and suburban encroachment is reducing shooting ranges and woods for some of us, if not a lot of us. then, there are the anti-gun groups and the local, county and state rules that seem to be increasing as do the years, shutting down ranges and making it near impossible to find places to shoot without really long drive times.
here in this heavy socialist state of new jersey (gawd, the founding fathers are rolling in their graves over where this once pinnacle state of individual freedoms has sunken to new all time levels) i do have a number of ranges to shoot at, but there are caveats and rules and stiff regulations for most, but thankfully not all. there is NO ccw allowed for anyone in nj.
i'm fortunate to belong to the town pistol club and we shoot centerfire and rimfire only on monday nights at the police range not 200 yards from my house. of course, i can't walk there with guns and ammo in hand, that would be a severe violation and i'd lose all rights to firearms, so i hafta drive. the range is climate controlled and the boothed targets are motorized from 5 to 25 yards, yearly dues are $50. yep, no muzzleloaders of any type allowed.
i also belong to the largest jersey based firearms club, ANJRPC - association of nj rifle and pistol clubs. membership is in the tens of thousands and they have a 5 to 50 yard pistol range where muzzleloaders are allowed, a 50 to 100 yard rifle range where muzzleloaders are welcome, a 200 to 300 yard high power and BPCR range, a 5 to 50 yard rimfire only range, a shotgun (trap and skeet) range, and an archery range divided into field and target. the range is open every day from sunrise to sunset. they have VERY strict rules, which is both good and maybe not so good. dues for seniors (me) are $165/year. it's an hour's drive away.
my trad muzzleloader club, GSBPA - garden state black powder ass'n - has a rented tract of land in a 7000 acre timber farm. we constructed a nice ten station woods walk last year for 10 to 50 yard steel plates. however, the "range" is locked by club officials and only open for matches and events. unfortunately, this club doesn't understand how to create and run a club (you know, the usual "people issues") and may disband. yearly dues are $40. an hour twenty drive for me.
there is a free public jersey shooting range that's strictly for muzzleloaders, shotguns and rimfires, no handguns of any kind. no supervision, yer on yer own, and that can sometimes create people issues. 5 to 70 yards. 1-1/2 hour drive.
over this summer i've become friends with some extraordinary fine folks in rural lower ny who collectively have a private community range where i get to shoot literally whatever i want, at distances from 5 to 700 yards (yes, SEVEN HUNDRED). no dues, free food and BEER, long range targets of paper and steel are on a target camera. we shoot muzzleloaders there a bunch! yay! pinch me, i'm dreaming! 1-1/2 hour hi speed drive away!
what's on your shooting range list?
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I guess I'm fortunate to live in rural Ulster Co., New York, where there are many gun/fishing/hunting/muzzle loading clubs. There are at least 5 within 15 miles of my home, but I belong to Marbletown Sportsmen's Club in Stone Ridge, and have for 35 yr. We no longer have a ML presence or even much interest in it, but nothing prevents me from using a ML on the 25-, 50- or 100 yd. ranges (barring the problem of target mounting "hardware") that I mentioned in another post. The range doesn't get much use during the week, but is especially busy prior to deer season for which it closes.
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Mostly at our local Range about 2 miles from me. I also have access to tens of thousands of acres of State and Federal lands that we're allowed to use as well. Then there's the location of where we hold our annual Spring Shoot & Rendezvous for Chadron Fur Trade Days location. I also have a standing invite from quite a few local Ranchers to come out and shoot anytime (I kind'a like to reserve those places for hunting deer, rabbit, and coyotes). You remove a coyote or two or three or more from a Rancher's life and you gotta friend forever.
My shooting spots are quite a few where I live,,, but mostly I just use our local Range because of the convenience of it. I can shoot out to 300 yards there, shoot trap if I'd like, and take part in any Matches being held. In fact, I was just recently asked to come back on the BoD at Northwest Nebraska Shooter's Association come January 2019, and I probably will... I've served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer, in the past - so I expect I'll go back on the NNSA BoD in January in some capacity seeing how I'll be retiring at the end of March 2019. Just have to see which direction the wind's blowing in 6 months. :)
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I strongly expect recreational shooting was not something I thought of when I moved here for retirement.
I mean after all, I had been hunting, shooting, fishing in this area for 15 years prior to moving here.
But that was then, and this is now.....
I live smack-dab in the middle of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Refuge....and, outside of an "Aproved Shooting Facility" there is no "open" rifle or handgun shooting allowed, period....
Of course that changes with the Wildlife Seasons...
During Water Fowl Seson, you can shoot any shotgun using steel shot in any legally designated area.
During Big Game Season, if you are lucky enough to draw a special permit for Desert Area 1, you can shoot both rifle and hand gun.......I would like to think my number is coming up as I have applied for 11 straight years with no luck.....much like ever permanent resident of the area I know where the big bucks hang out...not the scrawny Mule Deer, but farm fed Whitetail that are fat and heavy with HUGE racks...it not unusual to find a carcass, minus the rack, that are big and heavy as young steers.!!
But, sport shooting in general, there is only one range within 75 miles, and that is located in Ephrata....32 miles from the house. This year that Range was closed due to Wildfire from early July to late August.
DNR was petitioned to open the Range before it's scheduled opening of 15 September.
What a mess that was!
I have a Range key that has not been used this year!
At a cost of over $100 bucks for key access to a beautiful range, I don't see this as bad deal, but when I don't get to use that Range I do see that as a really poor investment in my part.
Still yet, there's still a good two months left before the deadline hits us, so there is still a chance I will get use my "gold plated" key.
Uncle Russ..
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I reckon I got it made where I'm at, I can step out my door and shoot 20 to 1000 yards in a couple of directions, and the places where the timber is thick is great for camping and hunting.
Only drawback is, the population here is so sparse I don't have anyone close by to shoot with. :(
Traditional muzzleloader shooting needs to be shared with others. :hairy :toast :*:
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For a long time I shot at the local 4H Camp. The range set up wasn't great but it worked. The ML range was small dark and was only about 25yds so I used the regular rifle range most of the time.
Then the State came in...knocked everything down and built up a really nice range area. Shortly after that, they closed the range on Sunday and Monday...my two days off :P. Now I just go behind a buddies plant on Sunday afternoons...I can get 50yds there. Other than that it's just off to the woods and an old logging road.
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I reckon I got it made where I'm at, I can step out my door and shoot 20 to 1000 yards in a couple of directions, and the places where the timber is thick is great for camping and hunting.
Only drawback is, the population here is so sparse I don't have anyone close by to shoot with. :(
Traditional muzzleloader shooting needs to be shared with others. :hairy :toast :*:
dang it brother, yer making me mighty jealous!! can i come over and shoot with ya? pretty pleeze?? :applaud :*:
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All I gotta do is step out the back door and however far I want to shoot....no problem!
I'd die in 3 months if I had to live in a city!! :Doh!
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I'd die in 3 months if I had to live in a city!! :Doh!
I used to think that as well. Sorry to say, I have survived being able to see my next door neighbors and I am still here. The only good news about that is the "city" is only about 10,000 poor misguided people. Mostly, I stay inside the house or in the shop or on the patio most of the time, so it isn't too bad.
I imagine the neighbors would get a tad bit upset if I were to step out the back door and fire off a few shots, though. That part of my life seems to be gone forever.
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When I lived near Dallas, Texas I watched shooting ranges disappear at a steady rate. Before moving out of there I had to drive 45 minutes to a public range or 2 hours to a club range. Here in New Mexico I am 10 minutes to the club range. If I wanted I could shoot on public lands.
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I reckon I got it made where I'm at, I can step out my door and shoot 20 to 1000 yards in a couple of directions, and the places where the timber is thick is great for camping and hunting.
Only drawback is, the population here is so sparse I don't have anyone close by to shoot with. :(
Traditional muzzleloader shooting needs to be shared with others. :hairy :toast :*:
dang it brother, yer making me mighty jealous!! can i come over and shoot with ya? pretty pleeze?? :applaud :*:
You're welcome to stop by any time and shoot to your heart's content. :shake :toast :*: :hairy
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I usually do my shooting on national forest/blm land where it is legal to do so. I live maybe 15-20 minutes away from good safe shooting spots. I can also shoot at home, but do it rarely-- just to try out something or another. I don't like to bother my neighbors. I hardly ever shoot at a "pay to shoot" range unless I am at a specific event or rondy. Of course, I am not a competition shooter, just a casual hunter and history enthusiast. I grew up in rural California and spent much of my childhood roaming the foothills with an old .22 rifle or shotgun. Mostly hunting for rabbits and quail. I have lived in the city a few times in the past where shooting was prohibited but mostly I have lived out a bit so I guess I am a bit spoiled.
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Guess I'm spoiled. I can shoot 600 yards off of my patio. I have a 200 yard benchrest range set up at home and 2 gun clubs within a 20 minute drive from my house. Got to love rural Michigan :hairy
IronHand
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The public range closest to my house was closed a number of years ago because the college students were shooting the trees behind the 100 yard range to cut them down. Now it is strictly for LEO use. This year Ohio has deemed that you have to pay a yearly fee to use the unsupervised public ranges except for the ones for archery. I joined the Athens Fish & Game Club about 9 years ago because they have 25, 50, 100 and 300 yard ranges. There are several black powder guys there although I have yet to see one of them shooting there.
I generally go during the week and I'll be the only one there except sometimes the OU police department will be using the 25 and 50 yard ranges. Cost is $50/year and the club does a lot for kids so it's a good deal. Monthly meetings start with a pot luck supper at 6:00 and the business meeting starting at 7:00, which usually lasts 1/2 hour. Last Saturday was a family day with chicken provided and the rest pot luck, and we will have a Turkey dinner for the November meeting. Also several times a year there will be a swap meet and also fish fries. I figure on driving 30 minutes over rural roads to get there.
Ohio law prohibits target shooting on public land except at official ranges. This includes the Wayne National Forest and all village, city, county and State land, which is a bummer. I know folks regularly ignore this with no ill consequences, but with my luck if I tried it the law dogs would be on me in a heart beat. :Doh! :o So I drive out to the Fish & Game Club. A bummer really, as a piece of the Wayne is a 10 minute walk away....
~Kees~
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~Kees~ back when I was a whole lot younger and in my early 20's (40 years ago I guess) and I lived in Ohio, we were allowed to hunt & shoot along the rail road tracks in the country, so we found us some old spurs that were no longer in use and we had quite a few plinking expeditions. 'Course, I reckon that's frowned on now. I've been out here in Nebraska for 30 years, and I've never regretted the move.
$50.00 a year ain't bad for Range usage. I pay $40.00 annually at our local club even though I have endless places to go shoot out here. However, a handy Range 2.5 miles from me is hard to beat. As much as I go shooting, I'd probably burn up 5 or more times that annual $40.00 fee in gas traveling to -and- from the public lands. (Not that they're that much further, but on average a 15/20 mile round trip would add up pretty fast. :shake
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I'm fortunate to live on 40 acres surrounded by 1000's of acres of state land. Pretty much shoot or hunt in any direction I want from the yard. My closest neighbor is about a 1/2 mile away.
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I've got it pretty good. A very nice public range 20 minutes away and several popular shooting spots in the national forests 30 to 40 minutes away.
The public range is very nice. $100 a year or $10 each visit. What with shooting there almost every week it works out to a couple dollars per visit. The range has paper targets at 13, 25, 50, 75 and 100 yards, paper or steel at 200 and steel at 300 yards. Nice benches, decent hours, and pleasant, but strict, range officers. They have a blackpowder club associated with the range, but their shoots are only on Sundays and I've got higher priorities that day. One advantage over the national forest spots is the range has shade. The national forests here are really national deserts - you have to bring your own shade.
The NF spots are just some place with a good sized hill or mountain for a backstop and maybe 50 to 100 yards clear flat land leading up to the hill. The closer to the city, the more popular they are and get very busy on weekends. And you never know what kind of trashy people you'll encounter. By trashy, I mean those who bring stuff like old computers, tvs and junk like that to shoot and leave it behind when they're done. I usually take more trash home than I bring - just a small attempt to clean it up. The slightly further distance offsets the lesser cost and more target setup/cleanup time keeps me going to the range, unless I've got all my sons and friends to help with the setup/cleanup, or we want to do some shooting that wouldn't be allowed on the range. Nothing to exciting mind you, just an old contest my brothers and I did with 22s when we were very young - throw an empty 50 count 22 ammo box on the ground and then shoot at it and make it jump until it went some agreed upon distance. I usually won - I never did tell them the trick was to shoot under the box, not into it.
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Ah several places.
I have a range here at the house enough for me to get 75-100 yard shot. I belong to the Elberton Gun Club in Elberton GA it's about a 40 mile one way trip. The range is most excellent. There is even a small shack on the covered platform with A/C. This is so you can take a break if you start to get fuzzy from the heat. The club house is also accessible with a code.
At times a few of us will meet at the Harris Homestead in Monroe GA. A friend does living history,boards his horse and sheep to do shows.
I have found here in GA gun clubs are far and few between. In New Yorkisstan I could drive 25 miles and hit a dozen clubs.
So if anyone of you is in my hood and want to shoot let me know.
bpb
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The Athens Fish & Game Club 50 yard range. The 25 is over the berm on the right, the 100 to the left. Those berms make it so I can walk out 25 yards from the target on the 100 yard range and not worry about what is going on on the other two (if need be). There is also a 300 yard range but that shoots down the power line way off to the
left RIGHT....
~Kees~
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OKC gun club is 20 minutes away. There is a muzzleloader range, a large SAS complex range, Hi-power range, silhouette ranges, bench rest range, rim fire range, plinking range, pistol range, airgun range, two shotgun ranges and an archery range. We take our shooting sports seriously in Oklahoma . :bl th up :bl th up
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On my property 50 yards from my homesite! Goes back to 1500 yards! :yessir:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1885/29264669527_01bb54f09b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LA25FH)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/LA25FH) by Sharps Man (https://www.flickr.com/photos/61286670@N08/), on Flickr
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Northwest Nebraska Shooter's Assoc. (1st three pictures) We can go out to 300 yards
(https://i.imgur.com/4bmUmxk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/32iK3aj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sBPgRCw.jpg)
Chadron Fur Trade Days (Annual Fur Trade Days Rendezvous) And Spring Shoot
(https://i.imgur.com/MPd03vs.jpg)
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Most of my shooting is done at my son's blacksmith shop located on my Ex's farm (or what's left of it). It's not much of a range, and 50 yds is maximum distance we can shoot. His palce is about a half hour from me.There's also an Issac Walton but I have not joined so can only shoot by invitation. That's also over a half hour from me.
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Nothing wrong with only 50 yards. I would expect most of us here shoot more 50 yard and under targets. Heck, 50 yards - that's a 100 yard round trip... I guess I get more exercise then what I thought... :Doh! :laffing :shake
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Nothing wrong with only 50 yards. I would expect most of us here shoot more 50 yard and under targets. Heck, 50 yards - that's a 100 yard round trip... I guess I get more exercise then what I thought... :Doh! :laffing :shake
Glad ya put that in perspective!
No wonder I'm so worn out after just a few hours on the range.... :lol sign
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Nothing wrong with only 50 yards. I would expect most of us here shoot more 50 yard and under targets. Heck, 50 yards - that's a 100 yard round trip... I guess I get more exercise then what I thought... :Doh! :laffing :shake
Glad ya put that in perspective!
No wonder I'm so worn out after just a few hours on the range.... :lol sign
:lol sign
Hmmm??? Now I'm a thinking - "Rest Area's established every 50 yards" on the Range before heading back to the firing line may not be a bad idea ('cept I'd forget to take my bottle of water with me :Doh! and I'd have to walk all the way back to the parking lot just to get it out of my pickup - then come back and use those rest areas)... Well, it's not a full proof idea, but it might catch on... :o :laffing :pray:
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I guess I'm fortunate to live in rural Ulster Co., New York, where there are many gun/fishing/hunting/muzzle loading clubs. There are at least 5 within 15 miles of my home, but I belong to Marbletown Sportsmen's Club in Stone Ridge, and have for 35 yr. We no longer have a ML presence or even much interest in it, but nothing prevents me from using a ML on the 25-, 50- or 100 yd. ranges (barring the problem of target mounting "hardware") that I mentioned in another post. The range doesn't get much use during the week, but is especially busy prior to deer season for which it closes.
:wave Hello from Dutchess County. I belong to High Woods in Woodstock. It's a quiet place. Sunday June 2 will be my first time in a BP event there.
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Hello JB67 :bl th up
Have a great day at the BP event! :bl th up
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For about five months out of the year....right here IN THE SHADE!!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1857/44068281142_e28a6305fc_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2a9asEJ)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2a9asEJ) by Sharps Man (https://www.flickr.com/photos/61286670@N08/), on Flickr
I'm the Lonely Maytag Repair Man of the blackpowder world here!
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For about five months out of the year....right here IN THE SHADE!!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1857/44068281142_e28a6305fc_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2a9asEJ)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2a9asEJ) by Sharps Man (https://www.flickr.com/photos/61286670@N08/), on Flickr
I'm the Lonely Maytag Repair Man of the blackpowder world here!
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Mine generally get their exercise shooting at critters either around my house or at my farm. The gravy made from paper targets tastes terrible!
Darren
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The gravy made from paper targets tastes terrible!
Darren
:laffing :toast :hairy :applaud
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Are you putting in enough ink, Darren? :lol sign :shake
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I have to take up for Darrin on this one :bl th up. Paper & gravy make a mighty thin meal... :lol sign
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Left Ohio in 1964 and NEVER looked back !!!! Been all over the world in the military , retired , still working 40+ hours week . Finding shooting time is what i consider a valuable asset in my life . Fortunately , i now live 6 minutes from a donated shooting range , (N.R.A. certified) , just outside Fort Fairfield , Maine , compliments of McGillan construction who own the property and structures that we use. Other than that , we have many public wood-lots . The only thing i am short on is available time.
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I just shoot out in the back yard...
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I just shoot out in the back yard...
BOFUS! :hairy :toast
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1776/43863089721_f0c34c8538_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29Q2NpB)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/29Q2NpB) by Sharps Man (https://www.flickr.com/photos/61286670@N08/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/934/42040118090_effabe6fb8_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/273WAsf)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/273WAsf) by Sharps Man (https://www.flickr.com/photos/61286670@N08/), on Flickr
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I'm loving THAT setup!!
Where in the great state of Louisiana are you?
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I'm loving THAT setup!!
Where in the great state of Louisiana are you?
Northeast Louisiana.....16 miles 120 degrees from Monroe Regional Airport!
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All my folks are in Louisiana, Alexandria area and Baton Rouge area.
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My shooting is done at a local rod & gun club range. It's a pretty nice setup with a good - enclosed on three sides - shooting shelter. It's a 100 yard range although I rarely shoot past 50 yards. I've only lived in Maine a year, now, and haven't found a place to hunt that's within reasonable distance (physical disabilities, wouldn't you know). Although I haven't hunted that much the past few years, I still like getting into the bush with my flintlock whenever possible.
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Spotted Bull Said:
I just shoot out in the back yard..
I tried that...but I was told that I couldn't use the back neighbors house as a back stop. Hey!! It's not like they were home or anything!! 8)
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Spotted Bull Said:
I just shoot out in the back yard..
I tried that...but I was told that I couldn't use the back neighbors house as a back stop. Hey!! It's not like they were home or anything!! 8)
:yessir: :toast :hairy
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Spotted Bull Said:
I just shoot out in the back yard..
I tried that...but I was told that I couldn't use the back neighbors house as a back stop. Hey!! It's not like they were home or anything!! 8)
That's funny right there!
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We have a club range just 10min from the house. There's a 25yd pistol bay and rifle has 50-200yd. All firing points are covered. Only issue, because it's on the back of an active farm, it's only open Fri-Sat-Sun.