Living...and shooting...in Virginia...

[boisepaw]

I posted this in the introductions area but didn't get much feedback from folks so I'm hoping to get a little more here...

Hi all. I'm an old guy...60 years old...who has been shooting for about 20 years now in Idaho and Oregon. I was a late bloomer but it would be fair to say that I am now something of a "gun nut" in that I simply love to own and shoot quality firearms.

But life has changed a little bit. Our first grandchild was born at the end of October and what do new grandparents do when that happens but think about moving to be closer to that new little person. He is pretty much irresistible to his grandmother and to me. So...we are considering moving to be closer to our kids in Annapolis, Maryland.

However, when I checked in with the folks on the Maryland Shooters forum I had about fifty people say "don't move to Maryland!!!" and not a single one encourage me to do so. Many of them suggested Virginia or Pennsylvania or even Delaware. I shoot pistols (lots of NRA bullseye and a little bit of IDPA but lots of self-defense "practice" on my own). I shoot a lot of sporting clays and five stand. And I own a number of rifles and am just learning to shoot them. In particularly I would love to learn some precision longer range rifle shooting...500 yards? 1000 yards?

So I would love to get a basic understanding of the limitations on firearm ownership and use in Virginia, especially under the current governor. But even more importantly, I would like to get some input on what part of the state might have the magic trifecta...reasonably close (i.e. at least within a couple of hours) to my grandson in Annapolis, MD (I'm already dreaming of working with him to build an AR-15), close to good shooting opportunities and, critical right now, would be affordable home ownership or at least rent for the short term. Even better would be enough land to be able to shoot on my own property.

I am a financial advisor so there have to be enough people around that I could make a living...

So if anyone can shed some light for me on all of those questions, I would really appreciate it. I apologize if I don't know or follow all the correct protocols but if anyone would like to respond to my personal e-mail address, I would love to have some "conversations" there. It is "boisepaw@gmail.com".

Or if I need to start a new thread to ask those questions more generally, perhaps someone can help me figure out how to do that.

Thanks in advance!

Read more: http://vagunforum.net/new-members/think ... z3OdNx6ffB

[Swampman]

Well boisepaw, that's a tall order. Living in VA and being within 2 hours of the capitol of the People's Republic of Maryland won't be too difficult. The hard part will be having land to shoot on. I think your best bet will be down in the area of Dahlgren. That way you can cross the Nyce Bridge into MD and travel Rt. 301 up to Rt. 50, then east to Annapolis. Use an online mapper to get directions from Dahlgren, VA to Annapolis, MD to get a general feel for time and route.

My brother lives down in King George and it's still pretty open down there. Good fishing on the Potomac and depending on where you are, the Bay is accessible as well. Living up around the Northern Virginia area won't get you any land to shoot on unless you are independently wealthy, and can deal with anti-gun libtards that inhabit them thar parts.

That's about all I got for ya. Good luck with your move and many congratulations on the grandkid! My youngest just got hitched and I'm looking forward to the new crop comin' up. Be safe out there and whatever you do, don't carry firearms into MD until you figure out the laws!

[VACoastie]

I hail from the great lands of The Northern Neck. It's very rural around there. Lots of fields, farmers, and fisherman. I shoot whatever I want back on my parents land. They own a ranch style home with 20 acres, 10 of that being wooded. Never had a complaint on me for anything we've shot. They even let family/friends hunt back there whenever they ask. It's roughly 2-2.5 hrs from Annapolis pending traffic. Land and home values are relatively cheap too. Not because the land is bad or anything, it's just rural and not everyone cup-o-tea when you drive 30 minutes to go to Lowes, Wal-Mart, movies, one way.

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[cwfunrider]

Agree. Do not move to MD. Especially if you want to build an AR. No can do anymore in MD. Northern VA is congested and very blue. I am as far south as i can be for work at the moment and that is only as far as Woodbridge. No land to shoot on around here but a few nice indoor ranges, including the NRA headquarters range. An new state of the art range just opened not far either. Looks to be promising. Trap and skeet can be done at Bull Run in Centerville.

You go north of MD to Pennsylvania and you gotta come through Baltimore to get to Annapolis. No thanks.

Good luck.