What are your thoughts about owning an indoor shooting range and training center?

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 22:36:25 -0400

I cannot think of a better group of Professionals to ask this question. How do you feel about owning and operating an indoor shooting range and training facility? I have researched this and I am looking into the possibility of building and operating an indoor shooting range and training facility. Yes, we do have a few, very few, indoor ranges in my State but the majority of these facilities are private clubs. If I do this, my range would be open to the general public. How do you guys feel about this? Is this something that you may have given any thought about?

Because of my Law Enforcement experience and background, I have been approached by the NRA about doing such a project. I’ve already located a suitable site, which borders two States, and I’ve talked to several other retired LE and Military personnel and they are all for it.

We would build an indoor range, eight lanes with two ADA approved lanes, large enough to accommodate not only hand guns but also rifles, shot guns, automatic weapons and up to 50 cal. Sniper Rifles.

We would have a training facility that would not only educate people on gun safety, but the proper way to handle weapons, how to tear down and properly clean their weapons and re-assemble them. I think you get the idea? And yes, before anyone ask, that is a picture of me in my State Police uniform.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2015 10:52 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 22:52:30 -0400

I think it is a fine idea. I would suggest a more central location like Concord, however. There are firing lines in Manchester and Belmont that tend to do a fairly brisk business. Partnering with a long range, outdoor facility would be ideal.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Mar 20 at 2015 10:55 PM

Cpl Brett Wagner — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 22:55:39 -0400

I think if I had that kind of money I would do whatever makes me happy. In general I think we need more ranges indoor & outdoor so if anyone here owns one and needs a brass monkey I'm your man or monkey.

Response by SSgt June Worden made Mar 20 at 2015 11:09 PM

SSgt June Worden — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 23:09:15 -0400

Great idea! I would love to have access to a facility such as the one you described.

One question... What type of ventilation system would you install? I only ask because we had OSHA issues with ours at the NYSP Academy.

I wish you luck & safe shooting!

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Mar 20 at 2015 11:12 PM

SFC Collin McMillion — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 23:12:45 -0400

I have trained on a couple of the reality ranges and they are about the closest thing you can get to real and let me tell you I loved them, but oh Lord, the expense of putting one in and maintaining it is unreal. Regardless I would love to own one!

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Mar 20 at 2015 11:15 PM

Cpl Jeff N. — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 23:15:58 -0400

I would do it. I know one of the owners of Shooters World here in Tampa, FL. It is what they call a country club gun store. They have 7 indoor 100 yard ranges with cameras on the target so you can see your strikes and don't have to bring the target back as often. They also have 25+, 25 yard indoor lanes too.

They do very well and it is a first class facility. It is a massive store (16,000 SF) with a tactical section, they have a high end gun room with the pricey stuff, rifle and pistol sections all the optics, knives and other non lethal stuff too. They do all of the CC and other training from beginners to advanced. They also host shooting events there as well. I think it is a great business venture. I would encourage you to so some demographic reviews to make sure you locate well (near people with disposable income).

Here is their link if you want to check them out. http://www.shootersworld.com/

Firearms Store & Classes | Shooting Range & More at Shooters World

Shooters World is the premier shooting range in Tampa & Southeast United States. We are proud to offer an unmatched firearms store and classes. Stop by today!

Response by SPC Edward Tapper made Mar 21 at 2015 12:12 AM

SPC Edward Tapper — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 00:12:03 -0400

While I would love to see more public indoor ranges, it is a very expensive venture. I am not sure of your state's laws, but in North Carolina, all indoor public ranges have to have a very expensive air filtration and exhaust system to remove 99.85% of ALL lead particles from the air. A local man was going to open one here, 4 shooting lanes, 150 yards each, and the exhaust system and air filtration system with computerized monitoring and reporting was estimated at $1.25 - 1.5 million. That didn't include the purchase of the building or any other range safetyeequipment and supplies such as steel traps, automatic target retriers, lane lighting, P. A. or intercom systems. If a man has mega-millions to spend, I'm 100% behind the idea. Wishing you many blessings and success in your endeavors. Good luck, my friend.

Response by SPC Roy Baez-Gordils made Mar 21 at 2015 1:43 AM

SPC Roy Baez-Gordils — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 01:43:13 -0400

I think that would be a great idea having an indoor range with guns after classes.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 21 at 2015 3:06 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 03:06:47 -0400

I think its a great idea and has the potential to be very profitable (from a teaching perspective as well as a business perspective) Sgt David G Duchesneau. Weapons competence and confidence is a critical task to teach those that are not as familiar with handling weapons.

By the way, great photo but you do a have look like someone is trying to tell you a BS story to get out of a ticket!

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 3:09 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 03:09:23 -0400

Sounds like a great business opportunity. Wish you the best of luck if you pursue.

Response by MSgt Robert Pellam made Mar 21 at 2015 10:10 AM

MSgt Robert Pellam — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 10:10:26 -0400

Excellent Idea.

When I was 12 we had a mandatory hunters safety course we had to attend in Pennsylvania to Hunt. With that my small town also had an indoor 22 cal range to practice what was preached. My whole town were hunters, and my dad was no exception. I grew up around guns and was taught by some great people on proper gun handling skills and gun safety. It was a culture where I grew up. Not of Guns, but of Gun safety.

Fast forward to Air Force Basic training. Our first day of M-16 training, which is class instruction. In the first 5 minutes I had seen at least 100 different gun safety violations.

So gun courses, gun safety courses are needed. Good luck sir I wish you the best. OH, something one of the gun ranges do around here is they have a Ladies night. This is a night women are encouraged to come, no men except some of the instructors. That way they get to get weapons training while feeling comfortable in a mostly Men free zone. This is not a stab at women's or men's rights, its about giving the best safety education in the most comfortable way possible.

Just some thoughts. Again, good luck.

Response by SSG Rob Cline made Mar 21 at 2015 10:20 AM

SSG Rob Cline — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 10:20:58 -0400

Outstanding idea! I would much rather shoot indoors than our when given the opportunity. I shot enough outside in the cold and rain during my service. I'm ready to shoot 'comfortably'

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 12:10 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 12:10:05 -0400

I think you are a quiet professional that wants to give back....I think it is a fantastic idea. I wish you luck getting the permits, and a speedy well built build. May you rarely run into gun control freak outside of your establishment. Your heating bill...hmmn consider geothermal heating. Expensive up front, cheap in the long run.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 12:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 12:28:23 -0400

I think having an indoor range would be greta for your surrounding towns, especially if they come to you for your experiance and knowledge. I would bet that the NRA would even help with some of the costs or sponsor you and give some money if you were to teach certain classes and become an instructor through them. But with out the business aspect of it, I think it is a great idea and I would take a trip up there with my wife and we go shooting. Good Luck SGT!

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 3:54 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 15:54:06 -0400

Since I am close to retiring it is nice to know that there are some places that I can still go to shoot. I like being able to go to the range and keep up with my skill as an expert shot. Gun rights are a freedom that I defended for 20 years.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Mar 21 at 2015 11:56 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 23:56:04 -0400

6ft wide lanes x 8 lanes x 300ft (100 yrds) (Longer lanes would be more advisable with higher power cartridges.) = 14,400 sq ft in range lanes alone. Add to this at least 1000 sq ft in offices. You are looking at prohibitively expensive building permits, zoning variances, and construction costs (even if you convert an existing building to handle backstopping without ricocheting 50 cal rounds). However, the fees might be offset if your facility gains support contracts for local area law enforcement training, helping to secure a stable revenue base. I would love to hear how you work out the issues associated with higher power rounds indoors and how the project turns out. Keep us posted!

Response by CPO William E. Mahoney made Mar 22 at 2015 12:03 AM

CPO William E. Mahoney — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:03:19 -0400

I have thought about this same thing there are a lot of safety and legal liability hoops to go through in order to make this happen.

Response by MSgt Michael Gaddis made Mar 22 at 2015 12:26 AM

MSgt Michael Gaddis — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:26:37 -0400

I have thought about opening a range in my local area. My biggest concern would be public or private. There are a lot of gun owners, but how many of them have been taught and actually practice firearm safety? I've seen some real characters at public ranges. Which brings up the liability issue and insurance cost. I would also try to get some statistics regarding gun ownership in your area.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Mar 22 at 2015 10:26 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 22:26:23 -0400

I applaud you for going through at least the initial planning for this. I do not have the best business mind so I hope it works out. Where I live, the country park district has a free outdoor range and there are some private ranges but no close indoor range. So having a public range is key. Not everyone can afford the membership fees to a private club. I know you would want to make a profit running it but keep if affordable and provide great customer service. I wish you the best on this endeavor.

Response by PO2 Edward Shelton made Mar 22 at 2015 11:10 PM

PO2 Edward Shelton — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 23:10:13 -0400

Being a competitive shooter that has been to a few indoor ranges, I'd say go for it. Not that many indoor ranges around. I've always enjoyed being in ones that had electronic scoring targets, great to be able to shoot during bad weather.

Response by MSgt Allan Vrboncic made Mar 23 at 2015 10:15 AM

MSgt Allan Vrboncic — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:15:54 -0400

Yes Come to Valdosta, GA to build one. We need one bad. It would be very, very successful here. I will be waiting.....

Response by SGT Richard H. made Mar 23 at 2015 10:21 AM

SGT Richard H. — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:21:14 -0400

This is a very popular and successful concept in Texas....Almost all that I have seen have a gun shop as the "front" business and many of them rent firearms for use on the range. The rental is typically considered a "test drive" for someone considering a purchase to try out a weapon before buying. Many (not all) offer training, and most of the training in the case of TX is the training required for a CHL (concealed handgun license).

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 23 at 2015 10:24 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:24:42 -0400

Excellent idea.

Will you be maintaining "club" (I realize you won't be a club) weapons on site? This requires an FFL (which is a pain... trust me).

Will you be doing any gunsmithing/repairs (again FFL)

Will you be doing any shipping/etc?

If you are doing any training, will you do certifications for Concealed for other states (Non resident permits)?

Former Gun Dealer here - Feel free to hit me up for any of the odd ball questions you may have.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Mar 24 at 2015 9:11 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 21:11:49 -0400

I live in central Az where ground temps swing from freezing to 150F during the year.
There are boatloads of places to shoot, but somehow 150F in the sun sucks a lot of the fun out of it.

A couple of years ago an indoor range opened up
Copper Star Indoor Range, Camp Verde, Az (yea ... shameless plug)
I immediately bought a yearly membership and have been keeping it up. I now shoot at least 2x a month which I didn't do out in the wild.

I am sort of friends with the owners and have had a couple discussions about "how is business".

PO2 William Allen Crowder mentions the liability insurance issue and I have to agree. That must be a pretty good sized nut.

Also ... this is the state where there was a 9 year old girl who needed to fire a full-auto Uzi because it was on her "bucket list". So her parents rolled her out to a range (outside in this case). Long story short, the Uzi got away from her and dropped the RSO who was couching her with a GSW to the head. He was an Iraq / Afghanistan vet.

So if you go into this with eyes wide open you can provide the shooting public with a fine service ... understanding that your worst day could be a real MoFo.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 3 at 2018 11:34 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 23:34:49 -0500

You need to ensure the HVAC system meets EPA and OSHA standards, especially for lead capture. Employees need to be in a blood lead monitoring program through some sort of occupational health provider.

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Sep 14 at 2020 11:02 AM

SSG Paul Headlee — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:02:13 -0400

I'd think that the insurance costs, for one thing, would choke a horse.