Ranges in the Central Texas Area

[Barr]

Starting this up as a kind of review for the various ranges we attend as a chapter or if you have a particular one you like, seeing as how we have been meeting at various ranges recently.

All I ask is if you do post about the ranges in the area you include the fees for range use, various amenities the range may or may not have (indoor/outdoor, bathrooms, tables and the like), the general rules of the range (class 3 friendly, range safety officers or call your own ceasefire) and if at all possible include a link to their site and their physical address.

For Example

Lonestar Gun Range http://lonestargunrange.com/lone-star-gun-range-faqs.php
3795 Dry Creek Rd., Lockhart, TX 78644 Office: 512-801-2624

Gun Range Hours & Pricing
Winter gun range hours: 9 AM - 7PM.
Registration or waiver IS REQUIRED for every person on property.
Every person on property MUST check in with office upon arrival.
Office may close at 6:30PM on any given day. Call ahead for availability after 6:00PM.
Shooting stops AT 7PM.

Normal OFFICE hours for registration are 7 days week from 9 am-5 pm for registration purposes with the exception of lunchtime on occasion. Shooting stops at 7 PM or Dusk whichever comes first.

Range fees
$5.00 registration for the first visit
$12.00 Adult day pass
$6.00 Juvenile day pass
$100.00 Year pass
$50.00 Juvenile year pass

Members that have paid the yearly access fee and registered are allowed to use the range 7 days a week during our normal business hours. We are closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day to the public. We do NOT have a guest or family plan.

Handgun range available and marked for 3,5,7,10,15 and 25 yard shooting. Can be used in all weather conditions. All main shooting positions are covered.
100 Yard rifle range is covered and marked for 50, 75, 100 yard. Trap area now available with electronic thrower.

For further details click the link above.

Having been to this range twice now, I'm gonna have to give it 8 out of 10 and only because we can't fire full auto, it does have various amenities such as picnic tables for non shooters to sit at and potentially eat but most seem to use it for reloading mags. It is a call your own ceasefire range so it is a bit more relaxed than some I've been to and the cardinal rule about drawing from your holster if you wish to is not to muzzle flash anyone.

[Barr]

Best Of The West http://www.texasshootingrange.com
19500 W. SH 29 Liberty Hill, TX 78642
(512) 355-3486

Range Fees

Skeet & Trap Tactical Bays- Pistol

Members- $6.34 Members- $6
Guest- $10.34 Guest- $12
Non-Members- $12.44 Non-Members- $16

Rifle Range

50-250yds 500-1000yds
Member- $6 $10
Guest- $10 $16
Non-Members- $16 $20

Pistol Range-

Members- $6
Guest- $8
Non-Members- $10

With two skeet fields, two trap fields, a 50- 1,000-yard rifle range,14 pistol lanes, 10 tactical bays and a CHL bay.

Full Auto Status: Unknown
RSO or call your own cease fire: Unknown

Will have more after attending this range.

[DeviantSaint]

I've been to Best of the West. It's easy to drive by because of how the signage is facing. But it's a great range. Not for beginners though. I went with some friends and we were given an entire BAY of the pistol range to do what we wanted with. You drive your car right up to it and have at it. I think it's better for people who can bring more target stands and know what they want to train or practice on more than just recreational shooting which might be better for like, a reds or something. The price is definitely right.

Best Of The West http://www.texasshootingrange.com
19500 W. SH 29 Liberty Hill, TX 78642
(512) 355-3486

Range Fees

Skeet & Trap Tactical Bays- Pistol

Members- $6.34 Members- $6
Guest- $10.34 Guest- $12
Non-Members- $12.44 Non-Members- $16

Rifle Range

50-250yds 500-1000yds
Member- $6 $10
Guest- $10 $16
Non-Members- $16 $20

Pistol Range-

Members- $6
Guest- $8
Non-Members- $10

With two skeet fields, two trap fields, a 50- 1,000-yard rifle range,14 pistol lanes, 10 tactical bays and a CHL bay.

Full Auto Status: Unknown
RSO or call your own cease fire: Unknown

Will have more after attending this range.

[KentsOkay]

This is very relevant to my interests. Sadly, I have no reviews to give at this time.

[zombieapocalypsegame]

Hi guys

I have found an outdoor range pretty close to me, and I'm going to check it out some time this week. It's called Eagle Peak in Leander. I really liked the freedom at Best of the West, but it is farther out, and not open as long. So, I'm going to Eagle's Peak to see if it's worth it for quick trips.

For $10 to shoot all day ($10 more to get the lifetime membership on the first trip) it's a pretty darn good deal. They've got safety officers throughout, so I am sure it's going to be an actively managed situation, but I don't mind that. I'll report back on the place as a whole in a bit.

Barr - is there any way for us to make a post with just the list of all the local ranges to put at the top of this thread, linking to the post about each one? I foresee this thread in particular getting really long.

ZAG

[DeviantSaint]

I was just at eagle peak today.

[zombieapocalypsegame]

Where do you live DeviantSaint? Perhaps we can hit EaglePeak at the same time?

I'm in Leander.

ZAG

[DeviantSaint]

I live in central Austin, near 2222 and Lamar. I'll be out there on sunday doing some pistol shooting. I was invited to go with a group. Honestly the weekend is probably not a good time to shoot because I expect that it'll be busy. I have some week days off so I tend to shoot tuesday and thursday. I would go out to best of the west but they're not open on tuesday.

-Darren

[zombieapocalypsegame]

Sorry, I saw this post too late to join you on Sunday. My wife and I swung by there that day just to check it out, since it is so close. We didn't have time to actually shoot, but I did chat with the lady in the office for a bit, and got a good understanding of what to expect.

I am still deciding what I want to do re: shooting practice sessions. My wife didn't like the range because it was a lot louder than Best of the West, and far more restrictive / crowded. At this point, the big factor is getting her to attend the classes/practice. For me, it'd be fine since it's close, cheap, and open later. But, if I want to get my wife practicing regularly, I may need to head to BOTW instead.

ZAG

[zombieapocalypsegame]

Oh, and I forgot to add that I can go pretty much any day of the week.

It's just a few miles away, and my schedule is pretty flexible.

ZAG

[zombieapocalypsegame]

Ok Barr, here's another for the list.

Eagle Peak Shooting Range
http://www.eaglepeakshootingrange.com/epsr.htm
20026 Lindeman Lane, Leander, Texas 78641 Office: (512) 267-1400

Gun Range Hours & Pricing
Every single day of the year 10am-8pm including all holidays
Lifetime Membership Registration IS REQUIRED for every person on property beyond the store (Under 5 years old not permitted)
Every person on property MUST check in with office upon arrival - there is no other way onto the ranges.
No spectators permitted on the ranges.
Last shot fired at 7:45pm.

Range fees
$10.00 required lifetime membership registration upon the first visit only (17+ years old)
$10.00 All-day pass (come and go as you please, all day, at pistol/rifle ranges) - required at any age.
Bring as many guns as you wish.
Juveniles must be within arm's reach at all times
NOTE: They ONLY accept cash or check - no credit/debit cards, nor do they have an ATM on premises or nearby. Come prepared.

Ear & eye protection + spotting scopes are available to rent at $2 a piece, and they do rent some pistols, rifles and shotguns. Cost is $12 + purchase of their ammo only. One target is free per day, after that it's $0.25 a piece or 5 for $1.00 for the basic type.

Handgun range available and marked for 7,15 and 25 yard shooting, I believe. Not sure of the others - I will check next time around. Can be used in all weather conditions. All main shooting positions are covered. Trap area available with electronic thrower included in range fee - you just bring your own clays or buy theirs.

I've been twice. Once was quite busy - more than 3/4 of pistol bays were occupied, but less than 1/3rd of rifle, and unknown on both occasions about shotgun range. Second time was just before closing time - I was the 2nd to last customer, and had the range to myself for at least 30 min. They do have Range Safety Officers, and are very stringent about the processes of prepping for a ceasefire, having the range go cold, not going ANYWHERE near your equipment while the range is cold, etc.

The pistol and rifle ranges are both covered booths, with carpeted stands & shelving for your bags. I didn't need it when I went, but I understand the ranges are well lit for evening shooting. They have brass catchers between firing bays, so that's a nice plus. Some people in online reviews have complained about grumpy or overly harsh staff, but I simply haven't seen that - they've all been very friendly, and helpful.

They do carry reloading supplies, as well as a smattering of ammo & equipment in the small gun store. They also sell their brass - although they only offer it sorted, not in salvage / by the pound form. The range is easy to find, and not too far off the beaten path.

Biggest downer would be the noise - for an outdoor range, it can get pretty darn loud. Had a .40 next to me, and he had a .357 next to him. My teeth felt every round they shot - mostly the .357 of course. I had seen posts half-joking to put your hearing protection on in the car - they weren't kidding. The parking is separated from the pistol & rifle ranges by a chain link fence, and not a lot of space. Another minor issue was waiting for a ceasefire when it's busy can be a while, since everyone is on the same range.

All that said, it is quite close to my house, and the price is right. Given the range is open quite late, this will likely be my most frequent practice spot.

ZAG

[zombieapocalypsegame]

I also found this website illustrating quite a few ranges in the overall Austin & surrounding areas. Would love to include reviews of the mentioned ranges here so we can be a good resource for interested folks.

http://www.krtraining.com/FAQs/AustinGunFAQ.HTML

ZAG

[KentsOkay]

I like what I'm hearing about this place (Eagle Peak). Wish it wasn't almost an hour away, but I'll deal with it when the time comes.

Off that list, I shall for sure be checking this place out:

http://www.stansrange.com/

In Florence off 183 is rather convenient.

[zombieapocalypsegame]

Hey guys

I checked out Stan's Range when I was looking for Astro Shooting Range. They're pretty close to each other on 183.

I met Stan - he's a nice old guy. The guy running the place inside though was kind of a mean old dude. Guess they balance each other out. I went on the weekend, and there was a steady flow of shooters, although it couldn't have been too many people since the parking area is pretty small.

Overall, I might buy brass from these guys if they had it available, but I don't think I'd shoot there. My first impression of it was that it's a very haphazard setup, and I'd call it ramshackle quality at best. It's literally right on the 183. Stan did tell me they were prepping to sell the lead from the range soon, but the other guy inside didn't have any brass available. He wanted to sell me new expensive brass. His words. :\

About 3-5 miles farther north of them is Astro Shooting Range. I know the gun store in Liberty Hill hosts their pistol training and CHL range time at Astro's. Astro doesn't have a website (actually they do - but it points to Stan's site, and there's a long story there) and they only take cash. I spoke to three different guys when I went there to buy brass - all very knowledgeable and very helpful. I didn't shoot that day though, so I'll have to go back again for a review.

ZAG

[KentsOkay]

I am disappointed to hear about Stan's, hopefully Astro will be better.

[3Fingas]

Two best ranges in San Antonio:

http://www.bullethole.com/

We have already had several range days at the Bullet Hole while this chapter was still in its embryonic stages. The best thing(s) about about the Bullet Hole is/are the shooting bays, which you can reserve for your group only, and where you can shoot what ever you want (pistol, rifle, etc.). No minimum time between shots rule either. So, you can double/tripple-tap away to your heart's content.

http://aplacetoshoot.com/

Very good pistol range and rifle range. Also, has an excellent area to shoot shot guns.

Both are outdoor ranges, but have various structures for shade.

The Bullet Hole has a lot weapons you can rent, including fully automatic weapons....

Both places offer inexpensive shooting fun.

[Langenator]

Is Bryan-College Station considered CENTEX?

There's three ranges out here:

Gunsmoke Range, located between CS and Snook. They charge by the hour and have a pistol bay and a rifle bay with 100m and 200m target berms, although the 200m berm is limited to maybe 1 or 2 benches. Honestly, their rifle range seems mostly to cater to guys zeroing their deer rifles. I think they also do shotgun of some type.

Gunsmoke also hosts USPSA matches.

Arrowhead Range, north of Bryan. I've never been there, but I know they charge a flat fee instead of hourly.

[url=http://www.championfirearms.com/]
Champion Firearms[/url], on Texas Ave in CS. Gun store and indoor range. Guns available for rent. Several of the guys who work there are 3-gun shooters and know their stuff. Store owner teacher CHL classes. My main gripe is that they close too early - 6pm, even on weekends.

[Langenator]

Something I forgot to add - some caveats on the Best of the West Range.

They run a lot of 'action' type matches there - IDPA, USPSA, 3-gun, plus I'm sure others. So availability of the various bays will vary from weekend to weekend, depending on what's being used for that weekend's match.

BotW also hosts the Texas Multigun Championships the third weekend in April, which uses pretty much all everything but the skeet/trap areas. Due to set up requirements, etc, all of the bays are pretty much unavailable between the second and third weekends, at least.

[Amarksman]

I'm posting this here because I can't seem to find the post about trips to the range and can't post a new topic from my phone lol.
Short notice but I'm gonna head to reds at some point tomorrow to test an AR I picked up and put some .40 down range. If anyone else is interested, I'm open to times and I'd love I meet some of y'all!