New Member in VA Beach
- RoundHouse
- On Target

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 23:49:09
- Location: Virginia Beach
New Member in VA Beach
Hey folks, my name is Cole and I am new to the forum and to the area. I moved here a little over a year ago but spent most of that time at sea. I just returned from deployment and am looking to network with other shooters in the area and take advantage of the outstanding shooting culture in Virginia. I enjoy taking shooting courses as often as I can afford and shooting in local matches when I can.
Re: New Member in VA Beach
Welcome
Improvise, Overcome, Adapt
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
T Jefferson
4-H Certified Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol, Archery & Muzzleloading Instructor
NRA/ATA Shotgun Coach
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
T Jefferson
4-H Certified Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol, Archery & Muzzleloading Instructor
NRA/ATA Shotgun Coach
- MarcSpaz
- VGOF Platinum Supporter

- Posts: 6010
- Joined: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 17:55:20
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Re: New Member in VA Beach
Welcome!
This is a great place to meet top notch gun enthusiast in VA. I am about 2.5 hours north, so I am not super familiar with activities down your way. However, we have many members that are. I am sure you will find some fun stuff to get into.
This is a great place to meet top notch gun enthusiast in VA. I am about 2.5 hours north, so I am not super familiar with activities down your way. However, we have many members that are. I am sure you will find some fun stuff to get into.
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OakRidgeStars
- VGOF Gold Supporter

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Re: New Member in VA Beach
Welcome to VGOF, Cole

- dusterdude
- Sharp Shooter

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Re: New Member in VA Beach
Welcome
- GeneFrenkle
- Sharp Shooter

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Re: New Member in VA Beach
Welcome!
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And if Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell!
- RoundHouse
- On Target

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 23:49:09
- Location: Virginia Beach
Re: New Member in VA Beach
Thanks for the warm welcome gentlemen. Have I said how much I love Virginia yet? Today I shot at Academi which is the former Blackwater training facility. The place is fantastic! I couldn't believe my eyes. I was looking for a basic pistol course for a friend to learn how to shoot and found out the Academi introductory pistol course didn't have anybody registered. I enrolled with my friend and another good friend who is an experienced shooter. The three of us had our own instructor and shot 550 rounds in a course designed for 300 rounds. The instructor fired up the pneumatic plate targets and let us battle it out among ourselves. Once he realized we were safe and proficient with a pistol he just started running drills for us and providing tips and instruction. It was a fantastic day! The price is a little steep but the facility is amazing and worth the price.
- allingeneral
- Site Admin

- Posts: 9678
- Joined: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:38:25
- Location: King George, Virginia
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Re: New Member in VA Beach
Welcome aboard, Cole! Go Navy!
- MarcSpaz
- VGOF Platinum Supporter

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- Joined: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 17:55:20
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Re: New Member in VA Beach
Wow, sounds like it might be worth the drive for me
Sounds nice.
- rlbellco72
- VGOF Gold Supporter

- Posts: 708
- Joined: Sun, 30 May 2010 06:31:20
- Location: Colonial Beach, VA
Re: New Member in VA Beach
Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
- VACoastie
- Sharp Shooter

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- Location: Currently - Suffolk, VA
Re: New Member in VA Beach
Welcome to the forum shipmate. I live in Suffolk so if'n you're wanting/needing a range buddy just give me a shout. I'm in and out at sea but I'll be around.
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- RoundHouse
- On Target

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 23:49:09
- Location: Virginia Beach
Re: New Member in VA Beach
Here is a photo of range 2 where we shot last Saturday at the Blackwater "Academi" facility. The paddles are air powered and reset with a remote control. The roof was required for a contract to keep the people shooting from being seen from the air. It sure was nice to escape the sun. There was plenty of room for the three of us


- MarcSpaz
- VGOF Platinum Supporter

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Re: New Member in VA Beach
Reminds me of Range 82, up by my way. Outside but covered is very nice.
Three to the whole range... all the perks of a private rental with none of the cost. Nice!
Three to the whole range... all the perks of a private rental with none of the cost. Nice!
- gunderwood
- VGOF Platinum Supporter

- Posts: 7189
- Joined: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:28:34
Re: New Member in VA Beach
Welcome Aboard, Shipmate!
I didn't realize that Academi gives private firearms instruction - may have to consider going there after shaking out all the loose change from the couch.
I'm a week and change into deployment. Got to see Africa and Europe at the same time today.
All the Best,
Monkey
I didn't realize that Academi gives private firearms instruction - may have to consider going there after shaking out all the loose change from the couch.
I'm a week and change into deployment. Got to see Africa and Europe at the same time today.
All the Best,
Monkey
- RoundHouse
- On Target

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 23:49:09
- Location: Virginia Beach
Re: New Member in VA Beach
Ha ha sounds like you are part of the Truman Strike Group. I was there a little over a month ago except Europe was on the starboard side! The Academi courses are a little more expensive than most around here but the instructors are great, and the facility is world class. My instructor was a Marine, a SWAT cop, and had spent time in Afghanistan contracting for Blackwater in the good old days. Academi offers a ton of courses for open enrollment and will make a custom course upon request for a group of buddies. I want to put together a course and spend the whole time of Rogers Range. If you don't know what that is look it up. You probably don't enough bandwidth for the videos on youtube though. I loved Academi and look forward to going back.Monkey wrote:Welcome Aboard, Shipmate!
I didn't realize that Academi gives private firearms instruction - may have to consider going there after shaking out all the loose change from the couch.
I'm a week and change into deployment. Got to see Africa and Europe at the same time today.
All the Best,
Monkey
- allingeneral
- Site Admin

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- Joined: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:38:25
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Re: New Member in VA Beach
Don't feed the monkeys that live on Gibraltar! lol
Re: New Member in VA Beach
Cole,
Indeed I'm with the HST Strike Group. I have to admit, Gibraltar always looks better when viewed from the starboard side.
While YouTube is challenging, the fact that I even have internet, given the way it used to be when I started (for you old salts, think MarsGrams) keeps me content.
There's a running joke on the ship that I'm going to get my Amazon Prime stuff faster than I'm going to get the parts I need that Supply hasn't randomly cancelled yet...
As for the monkeys...if only I could use them for target practice and nobody pitch a fit...
Welcome Home Cole, and welcome to the forum!
Monkey
Indeed I'm with the HST Strike Group. I have to admit, Gibraltar always looks better when viewed from the starboard side.
There's a running joke on the ship that I'm going to get my Amazon Prime stuff faster than I'm going to get the parts I need that Supply hasn't randomly cancelled yet...
As for the monkeys...if only I could use them for target practice and nobody pitch a fit...
Welcome Home Cole, and welcome to the forum!
Monkey
