This is something that just amazes me, but is part of the "each state does it differently".
I grew up in Missouri and there are lots of public shooting ranges that are like county parks. You just drive up, park, go to the line and do your thing. I also know a lot of people with land where shooting any time is not an issue.
What I find in Michigan, a state that is big on hunting, that at least in SW Michigan, there are not many public ranges, to my knowledge. I have been in Michigan nearly 11 years, but have not gotten back into shooting until the past year.
I have been told that there is a range near Allegan, I think, but am not sure where it is.
When I bought my long guns, the gun shop just mentioned the gun clubs and the one near Allegan. I can understand them not mentioning that the competition in other towns have their own indoor ranges.
I learned of Freedom Firearms in Battle Creek from the calendar for January, when I was on the site yesterday, and was glad to see they have an indoor range. Beats trying to get permission from someone to go shoot on their land in the cold and rain. My neighbors with land outside town have moved, so I have to find someone else with land if I want to shoot close to home for no fees. I do have a co-worker who has a place were he shoots, but I have to get in touch with him in advance and schedule it. This co-worker did not know of anyplace else to shoot, since this place it at the neighbor across from his sister and does not need to look elsewhere.
If I can every come up with the money, I would like to buy a few acres suitable for shooting.
Freedom Firearms about 25 miles from my house, which is a lot better than another gun shop I learned of with an indoor range in Wyoming over 50 miles away.
I am sure that people who have been shooting in Michigan for a while know all the good places to go if they don't have easy access to land in rural areas. I am sure that most people find the place that works for them and stick with it.
I guess public land is good, but I like to know in advance where it really is no big deal to just go shoot, to avoid problems.
I know that I am not the only person who does not know all the free and inexpensive places to shoot in my general area.
If there are other gun shops that have ranges or places that are not too expensive, would it be in order to have a forum category for places to shoot?
I know there are a couple of gun clubs in my area, and I can see the value in joining one, but what about poor college students, or those who have tight budgets, those new to shooting?
The NRA website just lists gun clubs in my area, so until yesterday, I had no idea there were shooting ranges around here that were not part of a private club.
