Elite vs SEG

[Daveausbayern]

First the disclaimer - I'm a member at Elite and I like it there. It's very clean, the people are nice and I've never experienced it as being overcrowded. So, my opinion may be a tad bit biased.

So, yesterday I went to SEG with a friend and experienced that range for the first time.

SEG beats Elite at: SEG rents and sells firearms. This is probably the biggest reason to go there. If you want to try out something you haven't fired, you can do that at SEG. Not so much at Elite. They have a policy that allows you to pay the rental fee and then switch between rental firearms at no extra cost. Also very nice. The sales room is well designed and has a nice place to sit to fill out the required paperwork for a sale.

Elite beats SEG at: They are a bigger facility and much more organized. A person new to SEG has to read a sign sitting on the floor, register at a computer terminal that may or may not be on the correct page, know to go to the next station where you can confirm your registration and show ID, and then move to another station where you can conduct your business. Elite has a front desk manned (actually, womaned most of the time) where they welcome you, explain the process, walk you through the steps and walk you to the safety video.

SEG = Elite (matter of preference): If you are new to the range, you receive a briefing by a human range officer. He asks you several times if you have any questions and has laminated cards that display the subjects of his briefing. Elite has a nine minute video that you must watch. With that said, the SEG briefing relies on the trainee being honest and speaking up that he's new to the facility and can be rushed when the facility is busy. With the Elite video, you are physically walked to the viewing room by staff and all of their staff are trained range officers who can answer any questions you may have.

Elite beats SEG at: One word, comfort. You can spend the day at Elite comfortably. They are a large facility with big leather sofas and a cafe. I saw neither at SEG although, again, the sales room is very nice. SEG is small and when busy, cramped.

Elite beats SEG at: The range experience is much nicer at Elite. SEG's range reminded me of a dark, dingy NYPD range that you would see on old 70s television cop dramas. Elite's range is well lit. The target setting machines at SEG are older and appear in need of replacement (press F1 to send your target, the buttons are worn, the screen is a yellow/black text only style). Elite's machines are new, multi color graphic displays that are user friendly. The range tables at SEG require a staff member to move if you want to remove it. Elite's are on wheels and easily removable by the shooter. At SEG you can use a call button to call a member of staff to your station. At Elite, you can turn around and catch the attention of the range officer right behind you.

So, to summarize, Elite is a larger range with newer facilities and you can't fault SEG for that but in my humble opinion, SEG could significantly improve their shooter intake process, the range area and it's comfortability factor.

Hope this helps. - Dave

[Nevermore1]

Nice comparison. I would like to add that at SEG you can also turn around and get the attention of the RSO , 95% of the time I've been there there is usually one (if not an RSO then one of the instructors) hanging around in the range as well as the one in the booth who keeps an eye on both main ranges. The one in the range is usually helping people out and giving "mini lessons".

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[CaptainMorgan]

Went to Elite today. First time there and first time in a facility like that- a "guntry club". It's very nice. Wasn't crowded. After completing the orientation video I walked over to the only guy at the counter. He didn't say anything, just had a grumpy look on his face, looked to the back room, and then another guy came out and helped me. Dude, just say you're not on duty (or whatever) and that someone will help me in a minute. (I sound worked up about it, but it's just an observation)
Anyway, it's a little spendy to what I'm used to down on the Gulf coast, but it. is. nice. I do recommend checking them out.

I didn't announce I was going/arrange a meet up with anyone, because it was my first time there and I hadn't been to the range in awhile, so I wanted to be the only witness to my bruised pride. Hopefully, I'm more sociable in the future.

Kind of a worthless post, but it's always nice to have new stuff to read on the forum.