Elite Shooting Sports - Getting Aggravated

[MarcSpaz]

Two weekends in a row, I went to Elite. The range is awesome, but I highly doubt I will ever go there on a weekend ever again.

We waited over an hour to get on the range... it took almost 15 minutes to process the transaction, walk down to the range, find a stapler, get unpacked, setup and fire the first shot. Then, 40 minutes later they told us are time was up.

We barely shot, trying the get the BUS dialog in on the 300 Blackout. I didn't have enough time to finish anything.

They have a great place and the people are nice... But I can't deal with that.

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[Snakester]

I know exactly what you are dealing with Marc . I've been pretty lucky over the years having private land to shoot on. The few times I have shot at public ranges have usually been a good experience . I understand they have a lot of rules and all the range officers seem to me to really want to enforce them. It's hard to beat having land where you can shoot and not be on the clock.

[MarcSpaz]

Yea. Someday I'll follow your model. Stuck in NOVA til I retire, sadly.

I would go to a range like izaak walton league, where there is no time limit... But the only one I like around here is in Leesburg. It takes longer to get there than to get to peacemaker in West Virginia. Even though it's closer, traffic and back roads make it almost 2 hours.

Guess I'll just have to play hookie once in awhile.

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[jdonovan]

most of the IWLA ranges I've been to have been dominated by the guns should be wood and blued metal, shot slowly on warm Saturday afternoons club.

If its black, not fired from the shoulder, while sitting or has a barrel shorter than 24 inches, they really don't want you there. One of the many reasons I let my IWLA membership lapse.

[kelu]

Marc, IWLA in Centreville should be less than 1 hour from you...

[MarcSpaz]

I tried Fairfax, Centerville and Leesburg. Fairfax and Centerville are exactly like what JD mentioned. There are a lot of very snobbish people and I have actually seen guys almost come to a fist fight over who was going to be the "acting RSO".

I like Leesburg because every time I go either we are the only ones there or there is only 1... maybe 2 other people there.

No machine gun fire at IWLA though... which is a plus for Elite. But I can only do auto-fire during the week.

Maybe I should just buy some land before I retire and make my own range. Might be the only solution that is ideal for me.

[zykur]

I've only been to Elite on weekdays and it's hit or miss on timing, it seems like the 100 yard range is always full and has a waiting list. I haven't had this problem on the 25 and 50 range.

I'm not sure where in NoVA you're in but Range 82 in Midland (outdoor} has unlimited time for members. The only problem is the distance is set by the time of the day.
It starts off at 5-10 when they open at 12 then move back throughout the day.

I haven't been to Silver Eagle in a couple of years but maybe you'll have better luck there on weekends.



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[MarcSpaz]

I love Range 82. Lee is a great guy. I met his two partners, Dave and Mark, a few times, too. Good people.

For me there are two downsides to Range 82. He only keeps Saturday hours during the winter, and shooting outside, prone at the 100/200 yard shoot points while is 14 degrees is not a great time. LOL

Now that I am working from home again, I may get another annual membership with him.

[MarcSpaz]

Well I think I've completely had it with Elite Shooting Sports. It's the middle of the day during the week. I just left there about 15 minutes ago. There is an hour wait to do any pistol shooting. It's ridiculous! I can't stand going to a range where I have to wait longer to get on the Range then the total amount of time I'm allowed to shoot.

[kelu]

That means the range is a success and they need to expand it. There is a lot of space behind that building; they can make it 3 times bigger... maybe even a 200-300 yards range...
Elite, do you hear it?

[MarcSpaz]

I don't think Greg is on this site anymore. I hope he pokes his head in and at least reads this thread. I agree that he should expand. At least double, if not triple.

He was pretty active when he was first thinking about building it... was on here almost daily. When he first started a poll thread asking people what we wanted in an ideal range, I never thought he would do it. $16 million later and he created a masterpiece.

[Snakester]

Yeah Marc, it ain’t nothing like the “friendly shooting experience” you get at The Dinwiddie Range !

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[MarcSpaz]

Amen to that, brother!

Honestly... we need to hang out soon. Been to long. Hopefully by the end of February my schedule will lighten up. Working 2 contracts is great financially, but almost zero "me" time.

[Jon]

Honestly Mark I think if you made the trip you'd love CSA in Richmond. I went there exclusively for a while and IMHO it's a great indoor range.

Great staff and even when they were slam busy I think the longest I ever waited was 15-20min.

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[Jon]

Honestly Mark I think if you made the trip you'd love CSA in Richmond. I went there exclusively for a while and IMHO it's a great indoor range.

Great staff and even when they were slam busy I think the longest I ever waited was 15-20min.

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[MarcSpaz]

Yea... but it takes me 90 minutes to hit Richmond from my house. That is a long drive for range time.

It's different when we go to Randy's. It's friends hanging out. We spend more time talking and eating than we do actually shooting. Truth be told, as much as I enjoy shooting, I only go that far for the friendship. I have zero incentive to go to Richmond, while I'm sure it's a nice range.

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[FiremanBob]

Marc, if you're ever in the Charlottesville area, pm me. We can get some range time at Rivanna.

[MarcSpaz]

Sounds like a plan!

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