Posted on Mar 20, 2015
What are your thoughts about owning an indoor shooting range and training center?
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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.
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.
Posted in these groups: 
Shooting (Sport)
Shooting (Sport)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 25
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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!
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!
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Thanks for that but I think that I've heard all the excuses there are why someone should not get a summons! And I've heard some good one's from "I have to pee," "my speedometer is broken," "I just got new tires" to "I'm already late and my wife is going to kill me."
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CSM Michael J. Uhlig
Just curious - was there an excuse that was so outlandinsh/funny that you just let them off them hook?
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
I stopped Santa Clause on Christmas Eve speeding. He was driving a shit box and he told me that he knew he was speeding because he was late bringing presents to my kids. He got a free ride!
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Sounds like a great business opportunity. Wish you the best of luck if you pursue.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Thank you, CSgtMaj, and yes, we do plan on pursuing this. All I know is that this has been a passion of mine and as they say, it's part of my so called "bucket list" of things to do.
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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.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Amen to that brother! That is why this is such a lucrative business. People love the idea of being trained in gun safety and being able to shoot at an indoor range that has qualified employees, retired Military and Law Enforcement personnel , with them every step of the way!
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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.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Thanks for those comments and suggestions SSgt. I will definitely look into those things you mentioned. We already checked into the Permits and we all ready have the green light because the Town owns the land and they are all for it. As a matter of fact, the local Police Department is considering moving their PD right next door. What great security that would be for us. Now is the hard part and that is getting all this together and built. But like I said before, "if we build it, they will come." SF!
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
I'd actually love to see HS shooting again, sort of like they did in the 50s and 60s, long before my time, but I would have attended if it were available. Some good ideas here.
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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'
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Thank you SSgt! I know what you mean. We do not have anyplace at all around here in a 60 mile radius so that people can shoot indoors other than private clubs. We do have two indoor ranges that are at least an hours drive from us and they are so busy that you have to call ahead and schedule a time to shoot. Plus, we have had so much snow these past few winters, and it has been so damn cold, that we need more public indoor ranges. Hell, right now it is snowing again and this rate, we will have snow on the ground until June. We have so much snow right now on the grown that it is knee high to an elephants ass.
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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.
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.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Thank you for your comments MSgt, and yes, we do plan on having at least two days or nights a week dedicated to women who want to shoot or learn to shoot. There are so many women that have an interest in shooting and we will also have plans for a Corporate night so that Companies can rent out the facility for their employees and functions. I have already reached out to two women veterans who want to be instructors at the Range. They are both already NRA Certified Instructors and one of them is in Law Enforcement. By the way, I too grew up the same as you. We were all hunters. I have also reached out to the Fish & Game Department and they too want to get involved in Training.
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MSgt Robert Pellam
Sgt David G Duchesneau
That is outstanding sir. Looks like you have a great detailed plan and business plan in place. I am excited for you and the community you will be supporting. I have relatives up in Rochester, and Rome, NY. Let me know when you get it up and running. Not only will I send them up I will make the effort to come see it for myself as my family still lives in PA. Again sir, good luck.
That is outstanding sir. Looks like you have a great detailed plan and business plan in place. I am excited for you and the community you will be supporting. I have relatives up in Rochester, and Rome, NY. Let me know when you get it up and running. Not only will I send them up I will make the effort to come see it for myself as my family still lives in PA. Again sir, good luck.
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I think that would be a great idea having an indoor range with guns after classes.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Before going to the actual Range to shoot, the class room would be an intricate part of the Range especially for those who never fired or handled a firearm. Proper gun safety courses would be the first priority.
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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.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
We researched that and have made contact with a Company in PA that sells and installs all of the items and equipment that you mentioned and the cost is not as bad as you stated. In fact, the entire system is approximately 500K. Of course, that does not include the cost of the property or the building itself. But this Company also sends out a Field Representative to assist with all the logistics to properly build the range. This Representative assist in over seeing that everything is built correctly from the ground up.
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SPC Edward Tapper
In that case, go for it! I'm 100% in favor of the project. I only wish you you were building down here in North Carolina, somewhere close to me. The only indoor ranges we have nearby to me are either members only gun clubs or law enforcement only. Good for you, that you are in a position to be able to make this happen. Wishing you tons of heartfelt luck and success.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Thank you so much! I know that it's going to be allot of work, but it will all be worth it in the end.
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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/
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!
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Thank you, Corporal, for your input. I will look at the website. By the way, what you have described above is exactly what we want to build.
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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!
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Thank you, SFC! We are going to put our best foot forward on this project and we want our Range and Facility to be second to none!
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