Hi all!
A few of us IPSC shooters made our way down to Jackson Florida and shot the Area 6
Championship. We did OK at the match and had a lot of fun watching really good shooters
show us how its done. I also spent several hours checking out the operation of the Gateway
Rifle and Pistol Club, the host range.
I asked a lot of questions and learned a lot about how a really successful gun range
operates. They have 2800 members, several employees, 15 bays, a nice picnic camping area
with RV hookups, a 80 by 60 foot airconditioned building for indoor airgun matches, a
retail area, new shooter classes, and 17 different competition events every month. The big
difference between what they do and what we are doing here is they have a day rate for
nonmembers and a slightly different operating plan. I am in the process of incorporating
several of the really good ideas into my business plan and will launch the changes on June
1st. A few of the immediate improvements are remodeling the restroom with counter space,
real sinks, and better lighting. Remodeling the Range office as a retail sales area with
much more counter space, shelf space, cold drinks and snacks, a much more diverse
inventory of the items my members have told me they are looking for at the range, better
lighting and fresh paint.
The below listed changes are not carved in stone
as of yet and I am polishing out the rough edges as we decide how the changes will be
implemented. As things change, you will see the changes posted here. I know
there will be tons of questions form the current range members. The thing to
remember is that the changes are for the good of the facility. It will be safer,
cleaner, and better than ever before. I am actively looking for input as to what the
members want from the range. You comments and suggestions can be directed to me on
the "Shots Fired Web Forum" on this site or you can call me anytime with
your questions. The postings on the forum may have already answered your question so
take a look there first.
Day Rate Public Use...
The main range will be modified to cater to a "day rate" setup that the members
can still enjoy. The nonmembers will be restricted to the main range with the rest of the
facility off limits until they join.
The main range will have 12 benchrest tables and 9 handguns shooting positions for 12,25,
50, 100 yard shooting with dedicated target stands.
We are putting in a 25 yard bullet trap to keep bullets fired from the handgun area from
leaving the range. The 50 and 100 yard target positions will be fine the way they
are. A fresh coat of blue paint will also spruce up the appearance of the range.
The public will be welcome to use the Day Rate
range under the supervision of a Range Officer. He will call the range hot and cold.
There is also a big clock with red areas painted on its face to indicate when the
range is cold. It will run hot for 20 minutes then cold for 10 minutes.
As shooters arrive to use the range, they will enter and set up while the range is
cold. 20 minutes is ample time to do some shooting before the range goes cold so
they can check and change out targets. While the range is cold, no weapon handling
is allowed. This cadence works great at other ranges around the country. I am
in the process of having a computer set up that will call the range hot and cold with
audible, spoken commands.
How much does it cost for a day of shooting? The day rate is $10 weekdays (Monday
through Thursday) and $15 on weekends (Friday Saturday, and Sunday). The nonmembers are
restricted to a supervised range. Children 8 to 20 will be half price. At 21, they
are adults and will pay full price to shoot.
The age limit for day rate use will be 21 years
of age, unless closely supervised and accompanied by their parent or guardian.
Limited Family Membership...
I am changing the membership plans available here. I like the family membership and life
membership plans. I have not changed the membership dues since we opened. The rate has
always been $200 per year with a $75 intiation fee for annual family memberships. How
about a membership that will get you full range use for you, your spouse and children up
to the age of 20, four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) for $75 per
year with a $75 intiation fee.... To use the range on a weekend (Friday, Saturday,
or Sunday), Limited members would have to pay the daily rate and use the Public
Range. The facility is lightly used on weekdays and there is plenty of room for more
members to shoot.
Family Members Defined...
We need to change the age limit for those considered your family. As of June 1st,
your children up to the age of 20 years old will shoot with you as children. There
is no additional fee for their range use. They must be supervised by a parent of
guardian while on the range. When they turn 21, they have reached the age of
majority, can purchase ammunition, can possess handguns, and are responsible for their
actions. The can shoot with you as your guest but will have to pay the standard
guest fee. They can join as a family member add-on for half of what the parent's
membership runs. For example, Dad is a Full Member with dues that cost $200 per year
and son or daughter turns 21 and wants to shoot. They can now purchase the same Full
membership for $100 per year. If Dad has a Limited Membership with $75 per year
dues, then the 21 year old can join as a limited member for $37.50 per year. They
will then be able to come to the range alone and enjoy the facility. The initiation
fee will be waived for family member add-on memberships. The rate will remain the
same as long as the original member, Dad, remains current on his range dues. If he
lets his membership lapse, the renewal rate for the family member add-on will be the
regular rate for new members.
Speed limit enforced on the rifle
range...
A speed limit of 1 round per 2 seconds is
enforced here. I have already heard many complaints from members sighting in rifles or
doing some benchrest shooting about guys dumping a whole 30 round magazine downrange as
fast as they can pull the trigger... many of the rounds hitting the ground before the
berm, the other shooter's targets, or going over the top of the berm. Those are unsafe
actions that need to be addressed.
The rapid fire rule is aimed at guys who are dumping a
mag downrange as fast as they can pull the trigger. Their rounds hit the ground mid-range
and skip, they hit other guys targets, they hit 20 feet up the berm near the top and I
have found a 4 inch pine tree that someone intentionally shot in two at the top of the
berm. See this article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134346681_gunclub27m.html
for an example.
All it takes is one bullet hitting something off the range to shut the range down. I have
invested too many years of my life in creating the best gun range in Alabama to have some
stupid action by a nonthinking shooter take it away from me. That is a risk that I will
not take. If we hear rapid fire that resembles someone dumping a mag as fast as they can
pull the trigger, they will have their day at the range ended. The rapid fire rule will
not interfere with practice for the competition events or the competition events. There is
a big difference between a shooter who cares enough to have joined the practical shooting
club and strives for excellence in his shooting skills and the dope who is just blasting
ammo as fast as he can yank the trigger.
The next question will be: will it effect class 3 shooting? The only answer I have is if I
see any unsafe action, I will end a shooters day at the range. Unaimed rapid fire is
dangerous and irresponsible. Class 3 guns, full auto, are rapid firing weapons. All of the
class 3 owners are very thoughful, careful, responsible shooters. As long as their actions
on the range do not put the range at risk, I have no problem with them and they are
welcome here.
Driver's license required to
check out range accessories...
We will require you to check out rifle rests,
spotting scopes, sandbags, shot timers, chronographs, staplers, eye protection and ear
muffs by leaving a driver's license as security. I have spent a small fortune over the
years replacing the above items as they were either taken from the range or damaged beyond
repair. You will want your license back... I need the range items back. It won't cost
members anything to use the range stuff and I will now have some accountability.
Shotgun range closing...
The shotgun range will go the way of the
Dinasaur. I have really enjoyed using it for the last few years but a safety concern has
been identified and needs to be corrected. To fire a gun and have the projectile land off
your property is an unsafe and inconsiderate act. It also has some liability attached to
it. As of today, the shotgun range is now a Police qualification range that will double as
a nice 50 yard rimfire range. The clay bird thrower will be removed from that range. The
covered area will be expanded both to the left and right and several benchrest tables will
be added. The surface of the range will be covered with the crushed asphault and permanant
target stands installed. The height of the berm will be increased and the distances the
police use will be marked.
New membership cards issued...
Each member will get new membership badges that are
to be worn in place of the range badges we are using now. Your name will be on the badge
for other members to see, making it easier to put names and faces together.
Range safety orientation
attendance required for new members...
All new members will have to attend a new
shooter safety orientation before being granted use of the full facility. Until they
attend the class, they will be restricted to use of the day rate range. The
membership card will be issued at the safety orientation. The membership payment
receipt will serve as a pass to the day rate range until they recieve their card.
The class will be held on a regular basis at a time most conveinant to most people, will
be free, will be open to the public who want to learn more about safe gun handling and
range etiquet and will take less than an hour. For now, we will continue to do an
orientation at the time of membership purchase. When business picks up and I have a
few joining every day, we'll schedule the class.
Guest Policy changing...
A change in how often you may bring an individual to
the range as your guest is also being considered. At the Gateway Club, members may bring
any one they want to the range... they just may only bring that individual once a year as
their guest and have the guest use the full facility with them. The next time the guest
comes to shoot with the member, he now pays the day rate and is restricted to using the
day rate range area. This policy encourages individuals to join the facility and has
been very successful for Gateway.
For now I will leave our guest policy as it is.
However, the guest fee will be raised to help offset the additional costs of
operating the facility. For the last 5 years, it has been set at $8 per day per
guest. Everything now costs more than it did 5 years ago. The new rate will be
$10 per day per guest. I also hope this will steer guests into joining the facility.
The new limited membership will give you use of the entire facility during the week
for $75 per year. That is an average of $6.25 per month for a family use membership.
Open 7 days a week...
The range will be open 7 days a week with
hours running from 9 am til 7 pm Mon - Sat and from noon til 5 on Sunday. I will be
have hired another employee to help cover the hours the range is open.
Gun sales...
We do not sell guns. To do so would compete with the gun stores who steer shooters our
way. The range has an FFL and will continue to handle firearm transfers for members
as a service. The $15 fee for each transfer will remain unchanged. The range web store has a firearm section and anyone may
order directly from Davidson’s through the range web site. There is no transfer fee for firearms ordered
through the web site.
Humanoid targets...
Humanoid targets will be allowed on the pistol ranges where the target stands are placed
only near the berm.
Look for these and a few other changes in the way this range is operated. My eyes were
really opened up to the way things should be done at a safe, sucessful firing range.
I will be posting flyers everywhere I can announcing the Public Range opening. My
Birmingham News ad will change soon to announce the day rate.
What do you think? I think I need to do something to increase the amount of money the
range is making. I am working way too hard just to break even here. The Gateway Club is
and has been doing it right for a long time. They have a business plan that is working for
them. I hope that adapting it to my business plan will work here.
Jacksonville is not much bigger than Birmingham. We have tens of thousands of gun owners
in our area. Where do they shoot? They need to shoot here. We have a really nice facility
now and it will only get better from here. Let me know what you think. I know any changes
will make somebody out there mad and they may quit the range because of them. I know that
these changes will bring in more shooters who will join, increasing the capital I'll have
for things like a paved road, clubhouse, additional employees to serve members better, new
plate racks, water fountains, etc..
