Car for sale... 
Hey, I know its a gun range web site but I need to sell a car I got stuck with.
There is a "stupid tax" story behind this with a bunch of pics of the car, a
2005 Mazda 6. It's in the B'ham News and posting this
page here is easier than emailing pics to guys who call on the car. Sorry for
the intrusion... I'll remove this when it sells.
Father's Day special!!!
This Father's Day week, Sunday June 21st through June 27th, the range is sponsoring a
"get dad out of the house week". Bring your dad to the range as a
nonmember and he shoots for free with you. Bring dad to the range as a member and he
shoots as your guest for free. It is an excellant opportunity to do something fun
with your dad both of you will remember for a lifetime. This special only lasts for
this week with no limit on the number of times you can bring him during the week.
Come on out. Have some fun.
Welcome!
The F.O.P. Range is the nicest family oriented shooting
range around. The F.O.P. Range is located just outside Birmingham, Alabama, in
Pleasant Grove. The Range facility has eight outdoor ranges, each with a covered shooter's area up-range to permit year-round
use in all weather. It is located about 15 minutes from the I-59/65 interchange,
making it a short drive from anywhere in Birmingham. See Virtual
Tour for a guided tour of the range or see Range Features for detailed info about
each of the Ranges or take a look at the aerial photos.
More Range Improvements...
Friday and Saturday, I worked on getting the rest of the facility ready for the spring
shooting season. As the weather gets better, we tend to get busier. All the
plate racks have been serviced and look good, there are target stands on all the ranges.
There is no garbage anywhere. The road has been graded. The grass cut
and weeds sprayed. It looks pretty dang nice around here now. We try to keep
up the maintenance but when it is cold and nasty out, its hard to get motivated to get it
done. We're ready for spring. Pick a nice day and come on out.
I spent 9 hours on the tractor Sunday renovating the 100 yard area on the
public range. It had developed a small pond where the target stands were set because
of the erosion on the berm. I shoveled it all back where it is supposed to be,
graded it for good runoff, put a central walk up to the target stands and laid an asphault
base for us to walk on. It looks good and should be a lot cleaner on your feet.
click to enlarge
Is this going to be your first trip to the
Range???
Check out the First Range Trip page for tips
and instructions what to expect when you get her and how to get the most out of your day
at the range. Please take a few minutes to review the Public Range Safety Rules
posted there.
Be Safe or Be Gone!
I had the displeasure of removing a shooter from the firing line and
trespassing him from the range property after getting reports and observing that he was
being unsafe on the range. Story here...
Here is the 2009 Range Newsletter...
This is the 2009 Range Newsletter. I
have a few updates and info about things happening at the range. I'll update the
range newsletter periodicaly so check it often.
Range Newsletter '08
I know this is now 2009, but, the '08 page has a ton of
good information about problems we are having at the range. There are tons of
pictures of the intentional destruction of stuff here by our members. The solution
to the destruction is education. We have to get the word out about what is cool to
shoot here and what is not. See this page for an illustrated page filled with what
is not cool to shoot here.
I was moved to crank one out after filling my digital camera
with pictures of stuff damaged here at the range by our members. See the Range Newsletter '08 by clicking here or the
link in the top of the stack to the left.
***** UPDATE***** Due to the theft of hundreds of
loaner staplers, eye protection and ear muffs over the last few years, we no longer
provide them for members. I lost 9 staplers last weekend. Enough is
enough. I even tried painting them pink so no one would want one away from the
range. If you didn't buy it and still took it home, you stole it. Members who
shoot paper targets will need to bring their own staplers or buy one at the range office.
We stopped loaning out eye and ear protection a few months ago for the same reason.
They also are available at the range office if you did not bring your own.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. If you see a guy dig a pink stapler out
of his bag, thank him for screwing up a good thing for everyone else here.
Hunting Season is behind us...
If you have been out to the range between late October
and mid January on a weekend, you know how busy it can be with all the hunters sighting in
rifles and scopes. Well, that is behind us. For the next few months the pace
here will slow down to a comfortable dozen or so guys here a day. It is very
different from the days when we have more than a hundred. There is plenty of space
for eveyone to spread out and enjoy their guns. That is why you come here.
Shooting is fun!
If you missed "Grandpa Horns" this season, take a
little time to know that your rifle and scope are going to perform. The only way to
do that is to shoot it at a known distance to verify that it is zero'ed. If it is
zero'ed, come on out anyway and get some practice during the year. We have two rifle
ranges here. The Public Range has 12 concrete benchrest tables with rifle rests on
each and target stands set up at 50 and 100 yards. Our members rifle range has 6
concrete tables and target stands at 33, 50 and 100 yards. Each is clean and ready
for the flood of hunters we see every hunting season. Ammo and targets are available
in the range office. Eye and ear protection are always required.
We have a couple of rifle grade steel plates on both rifle
ranges at 100 yards. I tell guys to get off the bench and shoot. Most of us
don't have concrete benchrest tables and rifle rests at in our stands so why not practice
the way we will have to shoot. Off hand, kneeling, sitting, braced against a tree.
The steel rifle targets are 12" round armor plate and ring when you hit one.
If you can wear out the plates, shooting offhand, no deer has a chance... you
aren't gonna miss come hunting season.
Steel Plate Match Saturday June 13, at 10:00 am!
We have resurrected the steel plate matches here.
After several members asked about them, we realized there is a renewed interest in banging
on steel. The match will be held on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 am on
Ranges 1 and 2. Match fee is only $5 per run and most guys shoot a couple times or
shoot multiple guns. The target arrays are set up for this match and are ready for
you to practice on to get ready for the next match. The match is open to everyone
wanting to have some fun with their handguns. You don't have to be a member to
participate but you will want to join so you can use Ranges 1 and 2 to practice on for
following matches. See the competition events link to the left or click here for more info, pictures of the target arrays for
the match, rules, etc. How about a video of a few runs on the plates...
Here is the August 07 Steel Plate video...
2 minutes long...
Here is the June 07 Steel Plate video... 4
minutes long...
Look here.... for the 7 meg version of a
match.
Here is the 18 meg for broadband of the
aMatch.
Public Range Open!!!
Yes, the general public has a great place to safely enjoy their firearms.
The big range beside the office is a "Public"
range that is open to the general public for a small daily fee
and staffed by friendly Range Officers who will ensure the range
is safely run. The rest of the facility (the other 7 ranges) is a members only use
area. The only requirements for range use are that you
legally possess the firearms you are shooting and you are safe
while you are here. See the "Public Range" link for pictures and more info.
Sight in your rifles...
The Public Range is ready for you to use to sight in
your rifles. The best time to come is during the week. On weekends, it gets a
little busier. We have a dozen concrete benchrest tables for this purpose. We
open at 9:00 am but if you get here a little earlier than that, we will get you signed in
and set up, ready to make some noise at 9:00. The range fee is only $15 during the
week and $20 on weekends with kids at 1/2 price with a paying adult. There is no
limit on how long you can use the range. Shoot all day if you want.
If you arrive late in the day, after 3:00, you
can come the next day for free...
"after 3, next day free!"
Your range fee gets you use of the public range
for a full day, should you need it. We'll loan you use of a rifle rest and spotting
scope if you need them. Targets and ammo at reasonable prices are also
available. A Range Officer will be controlling the Public Range, watching for safe
gun-handling, assisting you with any problems you may be having and keeping it safe for
everyone to enjoy. See the Rifle Sight's Info
and Rifle Sight's Tips pages for more info.
Gun Rentals Available!!
Due to the high demand, we now are able to offer guns for
rent. About 1 out of 10 calls I get here asks me if we rent guns. The answer
to that question is YES. We have got several for you to chose from. We have a
Glock 17 9mm, a S&W 357 Magnum 686+ 7 shot revolver, a ported Springfield XD in
40 caliber, and 45 ACP 1911, and a Browning Buckmark 22LR (its cheap to shoot and perfect
for introducing a youngster or novice to firearms). More guns will be added
soon. The rental fee is only $10 and requires that you shoot our ammo in it.
Fair enough? Wanna shoot but ain't got a gun yet? Come on out to the range
anyway and use a one of ours.
Just in... a Springfield Tactical XD45, two tone with nice fiber optic sights and a
S&W 45ACP M&P. Try one before you buy one.
Christmas/Birthday/Anniversary
Gifts...
There still is no better gift than a membership to the
range. Got a birthday or special event coming up for someone who enjoys target
shooting? Now is a great time to ask for or give the best gift you can lay your
hands on... a membership to the range. It is a gift that gives for the whole
year. The details about the different memberships are posted below. Can't
swing the membership? That's OK, get them a day on the Public Range for them to
enjoy. Gift Certificates are available in any amount. Call the range for more
info. 205-744-2600.
Online Gun Store Open for Business!!!
The F.O.P. Range Inc. has partnered with Davidson's
Gallery of Guns to provide you with a powerful shopping tool and really good deals on the
firearms you want. Take a look at the Online Gun Store page for details. All guns are priced at 10% over dealer cost with 1000's to choose
from. This is a cool place to see what all guns should cost.
Big Changes occurred on June 1, 2002...
There are some big changes to the range and the way things are done here
that went into effect June 1, 2002. All the
changes are designed to bring more shooters to the facility so we can grow, improve the
facility, and ensure a long future for the range. These
changes have been very beneficial so far. See the "Big Changes" link for full details.
Membership Plans...
You can join the range and have full use of the entire facility for an annual fee.
There are several options for you to choose from. See the Membership
Info page for more information about these plans.
Sale on Memberships... NEW!!
For a limited time, we have
rolled back the fees required to get a membership here. The first table below lists
the new prices. The second table lists the old prices. We have continued the
Christmas season sale with these new lower prices to make getting or giving the best gift
we could think of more affordable. Once you join, your annual range dues will not
change as long as you maintain your membership. A range membership is a gift that
will give all year long and can be enjoyed by the whole family.
