Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I've seen it mentioned in posts, but couldn't find an actual review. I'm interested in giving it a go sometime in the near future (maybe once this heat wave dies down). I understand you have to purchase their ammo and targets but their prices look fine.

How crowded is it on the weekends? Is there a wait? I called and they said they have a pistol range and rifle range of varying lengths.

Thanks!

bryanrheem wrote:How crowded is it on the weekends?

Variable, very hard to estimate. Its the only public outdoor range in the area, so it gets quite a bit of users.

Is there a wait?

Some times

I called and they said they have a pistol range and rifle range of varying lengths.

7&15 yds on pistol I believe
25,50,100 on rifle.

This is a controlled range and the RO generally keeps a fairly good eye on things. The ammo is a bit more more expensive, but the range use has no separate charge.

My experience matches jdonovan's pretty closely.

Machineguns are forbidden, I don't know about other NFA, and last time I was there rapid fire was discouraged.

Diomed wrote: last time I was there rapid fire was discouraged.

Specifically prohibited by rule. 1 round per second max.

Also no holster work.

jdonovan wrote:

Diomed wrote: last time I was there rapid fire was discouraged.

Specifically prohibited by rule. 1 round per second max.

Also no holster work.

So this is the ideal range for someone who doesn't care about self defense at all!

Echo what others have said. Ammo is indeed very expensive, you have to buy their ammo (and at times, the selection is sparse) but the range is free.
The target rails are stationary, so you have to position yourself on the firing line to see the targets you need.
During cease fire, everyone walks downrange to change/check targets.
I like Clarks for sighting in @100 yards - it is about a 10 minute drive from the house, but for pistol I prefer other ranges in the area where I can adjust the target distance and retrieve the target when I want to. (Like Blue Ridge, NRA)

The range officers are strict but fair, not dictatorial - if you handle a weapon in a safe manner, you wont have a problem. And they will help you sight in, advise, etc.

They also have a birdshot station for skeet/trap.

Is it crowded? at tImes, extremely. At other times, not at all.

And correct - no holsters, or standing rifle - rifle position must be seated. Strictly a place for target shooting, not practicing your tac moves.

I usually go there each weekend, it's only about 20 min from the house. As said the ROs dont mess around, but I wouldnt want them to. It's basically a public range, so there are often some "interesting" individuals there. You must shoot their ammo and their targets, but if you factor in what range time at NRA or some other range would be, I think it's a good bargain. They recently converted 3 pistol stations from 15 yds to 7 yds, so now they have 6 stations at 7 yd and 3 at 15 yds. They have several rifle stations, any of them can shoot at 25, 50 and 100 yds. If you shoot there, read and understand the range rules, and you'll be just fine.

Jakeiscrazy wrote:

jdonovan wrote:

Diomed wrote: last time I was there rapid fire was discouraged.

Specifically prohibited by rule. 1 round per second max.

Also no holster work.

So this is the ideal range for someone who doesn't care about self defense at all!

Well, yeah, it's a Fudd range. I was trying to be delicate, but whatevs.

Jakeiscrazy wrote:

jdonovan wrote:

Diomed wrote: last time I was there rapid fire was discouraged.

Specifically prohibited by rule. 1 round per second max.

Also no holster work.

So this is the ideal range for someone who doesn't care about self defense at all!

Oh, I dont know about that. I'm pretty concerned with SD and the safety of my family. It's convenient for me, and the price is right. That's the nice thing about options, find one that works for you.

BTW, the range rules are 1 shot every 2 sec, not 1 sec, so no rapid fire. Every now and then you can get off a double tap, but not a mag dump. There are a lot of businesses and homes in the area, so I suspect this is why. Insurance might also be another reason (which I know costs them $10K a year).

Oh, and you can do holster work, just not loaded.

Sounds like it's what I need since I just need to sight in a couple of rifles.

starting in september the free range out at phelps WMA becomes available.

Range Operation Dates: September 1 to March 31, closed on Mondays

note it is RIFLES only. (or rifle like, shotguns w/ slugs, muzzle loading rifles)
There used to be an exception for single shot handguns. TC encore/contender. I don't know if there still is.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wmas/detail.asp?pid=17

Clark Brothers has two heavy duty 3/4 straight-away clay throwers, both capable of doubles. They also have a 'target stand' downrange (shotgun side) for hanging large chunks of paper for pattern testing. I take my Venturing Scouts there about every other month for some range time.

Aroooo wrote:Clark Brothers has two heavy duty 3/4 straight-away clay throwers, both capable of doubles. They also have a 'target stand' downrange (shotgun side) for hanging large chunks of paper for pattern testing. I take my Venturing Scouts there about every other month for some range time.

Thanks for the info. How does it work? I would love to try out some choke sizes but you can't really do that @ Bull Run unless it's inbetween sets.

bryanrheem wrote:Thanks for the info. How does it work? I would love to try out some choke sizes but you can't really do that @ Bull Run unless it's inbetween sets.

As others have posted, you need to purchase clay and ammo from them. In the grand scale of things the price balances out since there are no range fees. As a first time user, you need to get a range card from inside the store. No fee for that. Then you go round to the back, and check in/sign in at the RSO area. There should be a clip board with a sign-in sheet.

The shotgun field is just to the left of the covered range area. Its first come first served. On busy days most folks will be polite and rotate as one big group. Or rather, two groups since there are two throwers. Every 10 minutes or so the RSO will call a cease fire to hang new targets. Once the all clear is given, go down range and hang your paper.

Here are some pics of the range

If ALL you want to do is sight in a rifle up to 100 yards or shoot a pistol slow with no holster work then this is your place. Otherwise its junk, old cranky bastard R0, ridiculous ammo prices and no work space.

Arooo,

Thanks for the pictures I think I'll make a trip there next week!

Actually made it out there this week. Couple observations:

* People in the store are extremely helpful.
* Range RO was extremely nice
* Range was pretty crowded both on the rifle and pistol side. I was surprised as it was during the day but I figure because it's summer.
* Shotgun station was occupied. I wanted to do shoot up some clay but didn't want to wait around.

I went there to make sure my Remmington 700 was sighted in and it was perfect for that. Ammo was normal priced, targets were cheap, and the atmosphere was fairly laid back.

What I didn't like was a mom with 3 or 4 boys running around on the shotgun side. She had a 10 gauge shotgun (that's right... 10 gauge) and her kids were all over the place. Did not make me feel comfortable as the mom would leave and the kids would be all alone. The RO was visibly concerned as well and went over there several times to remind the mom to not leave the kids alone. In cases like that, I'm okay with the RO being a cranky old bastard to keep the place safe.

As far as my shooting... I was dead on @ 50 yards but man, my groups were terrible out to 100. Part of the problem are the tables that don't allow both of my elbows to rest and the bigger part of my problem is just lack of skill and practice. I'll def. be back to continue to practice and also hopefully pattern my shotgun chokes.

btw, there were several guys there who were 'emptying' mags at a rapid pace and the RO did not say anything.

Glad to see the review. I've never shot at their range, but have been to their store and I thought their prices on ammo were extremely high, but at the same time since you got to shoot on their range free it would be worth it if you were having to pay a range somewhere else to shoot.