Looking for pistol range in NoVA...walk in, pay, and shoot

[YuDanJa]

I'm looking for a pistol range...doesn't really matter if it's indoor or outdoor. Mainly looking for some place I don't need to pay membership fees...where I can just drop by, pay a small fee and shoot away for an hour. Normally, I use the NRA HQ range (less than 10 miles from home)...costs $14/hr. Is there any place that gets better than that?

[LFS]

Blue Ridge Arsenal (BRA) is in Chantilly. Silver Eagle Group (SEG) is in Ashburn. Neither require a membership, though I think SEG is still closed for renovations right now.

And there is Sharp Shooters in Lorton which does require a membership, but I think it is month-to-month terms and when you do the math, if you shoot more than 3 hours in the month it works out to be just like the others.

Going further out is Clarks Brothers in Winchester, but you have to buy ammo and targets from them.

[YuDanJa]

Looks like both those places (BRA & SEG) charge $20-$25 per hour...that's kind of pricey.
You're right on Sharpshooters...it would even out if I went 3 times a month, but NRA Range is closest, cheapest and most convenient for me. I thought maybe if I traveled a littler further out there, I'd find something cheaper.
Thanks!

[graybeard321]

Going further out is Clarks Brothers outside Warrenton, but you have to buy ammo and targets from them.

[ShortMan]

I have shot at Blue Ridge and Clarks Brothers. They are both decent enough. But in this economy its tough to find cheap places.
Clarks has no fee, but you must buy their over priced ammo.

Blue Ridge has a range fee, but you can use your own. When possible I buy my ammo from Walmart, which is a much better deal.
Of course, you can always try joining one of the many Izaak Walton leagues, which ends up being a much better deal if you shoot frequently.

[novaglock]

I also use the NRA range a lot. 1. It's only a couple of miles from my house. 2. Great ventilation, lighting and target system, even more so after this Summer's upgrade. 3. I'm comfortable there because the RSO's watch over the line like a hawk. I've heard horror stories about some ranges and witnessed a couple of things that made me cringe at other places. Always good to know the RSO's have your back so you can concentrate on your own shooting.

[RocKor]

I also use the NRA range a lot. 1. It's only a couple of miles from my house. 2. Great ventilation, lighting and target system, even more so after this Summer's upgrade. 3. I'm comfortable there because the RSO's watch over the line like a hawk. I've heard horror stories about some ranges and witnessed a couple of things that made me cringe at other places. Always good to know the RSO's have your back so you can concentrate on your own shooting.

What's the wait time on the NRA range? I imagine it's terribly long compared to other places.

[YuDanJa]

What's the wait time on the NRA range? I imagine it's terribly long compared to other places.

From my experience, the winter (cold) months with less daylight, especially weekends, are times they have the most people, and the wait times can average 40 minutes to an hour. But in the warmer seasons (where there is more daylight), I can walk in and shoot right away; lanes empty. It almost seems like 3/4 of the shooting crowd disappear in the warmer seasons, which is part of the reason why I made the original post; curious of whether or not there are better ranges out there with a better deal, and I'd like to get in on it, too.

[chfaunce]

The longer waits at NRA during the colder months also might be due to the onset of hunting season. Not sure if that's really true, but it would make sense as NRA is in close proximity to the beltway and allows larger caliber long guns.

[gregj]

From where you are, I dont think you can get any better, or cheaper than the NRA HQ range. If you got to Clark Bros, you're going to spend a lot more time on the road, and fuel getting there and back. No range fees, and you can shoot as long as you have (their) ammo. Unlike NRA, which limits you to 1hr at a time. SEG is renovating, who knows when they will reopen. BRA and Sharpshooters are both options as well, but unless you're a member, it wont be cheaper than NRA.

[Diomed]

Unlike NRA, which limits you to 1hr at a time.

Though if you go during slow periods, they'll let you shoot until they get busy/close/you stop.

[wabbit]

Are there any outdoor ranges near Arlington that don't require membership or charges by the hour? I guess I"m kind of spoiled because when I lived out of state, I used to shoot at an outdoor range that was on a county park and I would pay one fee and shoot all day. I also shot IPSC matches hosted by a local club that rented out one of the pistol ranges two saturdays a month.

I'm still trying to find a range that holds IPSC matches and there are very few near Arlington. If there was a range close enough that someone without a car can get to, then joining a club might be worth it, but it's difficult to justify a $300 initiation fee for a dozen visits a year.

[LFS]

I don't know about IPSC, but IDPA matches are scheduled for Nov and Dec at Blue Ridge Arsenal. Silver Eagle Group has held IDPA matches in the past, and will likely continue to do so. And I seem to recall some talk of matches at Sharp Shooters.

As for outdoor ranges, check the Izaak Walton Leagues. The Alexandria chapter has a land in Stafford. There is an Arlington/Fairfax chapter in Centerville. And I'm told there is a chapter in Leesburg.

[ShortMan]

Are there any outdoor ranges near Arlington that don't require membership or charges by the hour? I guess I"m kind of spoiled because when I lived out of state, I used to shoot at an outdoor range that was on a county park and I would pay one fee and shoot all day. I also shot IPSC matches hosted by a local club that rented out one of the pistol ranges two saturdays a month.

I'm still trying to find a range that holds IPSC matches and there are very few near Arlington. If there was a range close enough that someone without a car can get to, then joining a club might be worth it, but it's difficult to justify a $300 initiation fee for a dozen visits a year.

I'm spoiled too. When I lived in the Mojave desert I had a nice strip mine to shoot in. Only cost 25 bucks a year. And the only rule was no glass bottles.
Paid a lot more in Oregon and there were tons of rules on that crappy range, not the least of which is you can only shoot paper targets.
Just moved to Manassas and was appalled at the cost of everything, especially ammo and shooting ranges.
Arlington is even worse. This whole state is full of powerful (aka "rich") businessmen, politicians, and lawyers. Nothing is cheap unless you have a hookup. My suggestion is make as many friends as you can and maybe someday one of them will clue you into a secret spot.

[CowboyT]

Unlike NRA, which limits you to 1hr at a time.

Though if you go during slow periods, they'll let you shoot until they get busy/close/you stop.

[Diomed]

Unlike NRA, which limits you to 1hr at a time.

Though if you go during slow periods, they'll let you shoot until they get busy/close/you stop.

I've found Friday mornings and nights, and Mondays to be pretty slow. Sunday mornings are too, though I only went once or twice. You gotta go when people are at work or engaged in social rituals.