Blue Ridge Arsenal

[Hephaestus]

Are you talking about the NRA range? I have never been to Blue Ridge, but I would say that it would be really hard to beat the NRA range (as far as indoor ranges are concerned). I believe that they are only about a 15 minute drive from each other.

[LFS]

I've been to Blue Ridge twice. Once was for the Basic Pistol course, and the other was for Basic Rifle. Both times, the staff there gave me the "we're the bouncers, we can kick your a$$ any time we want to" attitude. It's one thing to run a gun shop/range and maintain safety. It's another to clearly communicate "I wouldn't mind fighting you, you little twerp" to your patrons. I'm serious, it looked like a few of them might actually want to pick a fight with someone, just to show how tough they are!

That's odd. I've never had that experience. And I've been in there plenty of times.

I have seen them get serious with people, but when somebody is doing something foolish I would like the range to take action.

Also, they were the ones going to the Wal-Marts, buying up all the ammo, and then reselling it for double price in their stores. The ammo counter clerks all made it very clear it was the Blue Ridge people. That's why Wal-Mart now has a limit on how many boxes you can buy.

At one time they did buy a bunch of 9mm from Wal-Mart, but they didn't sell it at twice the price. They sold it at the going rate, and only to customers using the range and in limited quantity.

Last time I was looking for .380, they had the lowest price locally by 50%. Sure their prices aren't always the best, but I can say that about most of the gun shops and ranges in the area.

[zephyp]

I dont know why folks insist on spending more than they need to for ammo by visiting local establishments that have high prices...many good deals to be had on the internet and you can do all your browsing sitting in your underwear while scratching yourself and drinking beer...

Heres a good place to start...

http://www.ammoengine.com/

[LFS]

I dont know why folks insist on spending more than they need to for ammo by visiting local establishments that have high prices...many good deals to be had on the internet and you can do all your browsing sitting in your underwear while scratching yourself and drinking beer...

Heres a good place to start...

http://www.ammoengine.com/

I totally agree. I have purchased the vast majority of my ammo online. It just so happened that in the case of the .380 I bought recently, I couldn't find it online for less (when you factor in shipping) than what they had at BRA. Of course, BRA limited my purchase to two boxes, but it was still a good deal.

[Hephaestus]

I dont know why folks insist on spending more than they need to for ammo by visiting local establishments that have high prices...many good deals to be had on the internet and you can do all your browsing sitting in your underwear while scratching yourself and drinking beer...

Heres a good place to start...

http://www.ammoengine.com/

Personally I would love to be able to buy ammo locally from small shop even if it is $1-2 more a box than Walmart. I would prefer to support my local business, who puts money into my community by providing local jobs and paying taxes. I choke when the same box of 9mm at the local shop is twice the price as it is in Walmart.

[zephyp]

I dont know why folks insist on spending more than they need to for ammo by visiting local establishments that have high prices...many good deals to be had on the internet and you can do all your browsing sitting in your underwear while scratching yourself and drinking beer...

Heres a good place to start...

http://www.ammoengine.com/

Personally I would love to be able to buy ammo locally from small shop even if it is $1-2 more a box than Walmart. I would prefer to support my local business, who puts money into my community by providing local jobs and paying taxes. I choke when the same box of 9mm at the local shop is twice the price as it is in Walmart.

Hey, I'm with ya but when the local guy has prices much higher than anywhere else I'm gonna look for the deal...I'm not into supporting a local business that likes to take advantage of local loyalty...

[Chasbo00]

I stopped by BRA to function check a new Glock 19 Gen 4 pistol this afternoon. I was treated well as I always have been when there. It was a bit warm, but not as hot as I expected. So,I ended up getting in some practice as well as functioning checking the new pistol. The break room's freezer was well stocked with complementary Popsicles and ice cream.

BRA's membership rates for seniors are the best in NOVA that I'm aware of. Members also get the range to themselves from 8 to 10 AM on Saturdays and Sundays.

[LFS]

I stopped by BRA to function check a new Glock 19 Gen 4 pistol this afternoon.

Dang. Must have missed you by a couple of hours. I was there this morning with my wife for some shooting practice. Found out that American Eagle .380 doesn't feed worth a darn through my PK380.

[Chasbo00]

Dang. Must have missed you by a couple of hours. I was there this morning with my wife for some shooting practice. Found out that American Eagle .380 doesn't feed worth a darn through my PK380.

Sorry I missed you LFS, we'll have to link up at BRA sometime soon. I'm surprised to hear the Federal American Eagle didn't feed. That bullet is a true round nose FMJ as I recall, would have expected it to feed well. Too weak a load perhaps?

[LFS]

I was less than exact with my words there. American Eagle chambers just fine. It just consistently fails to eject. Might be a dirty gun issue, but I was able to
put 50 rounds of PMC through it without issue, and that was after I had the problems.

[zeroselect]

The first time i have been to a fire range after purchasing my first gun was at blue ridge arsenal. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, answered my question, and has a honest appreciation for firearms.

We arrived at blue ridge at around 8pm and it was 90 degrees outside. After filling out the forms and getting instruction and rules of the range we were told to head into range B (pistol range). As soon as i walk in it was like walking to a sauna that someone has just started up 5 min ago. They had a free standing AC system but it did little to help the heat unless you were standing right infront of it. After 30 mins of shooting and sweating 5lbs of water we headed out.

I would visit them again but i think i will wait till fall/winter to do this.

[Riana]

The first time i have been to a fire range after purchasing my first gun was at blue ridge arsenal. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, answered my question, and has a honest appreciation for firearms.

We arrived at blue ridge at around 8pm and it was 90 degrees outside. After filling out the forms and getting instruction and rules of the range we were told to head into range B (pistol range). As soon as i walk in it was like walking to a sauna that someone has just started up 5 min ago. They had a free standing AC system but it did little to help the heat unless you were standing right infront of it. After 30 mins of shooting and sweating 5lbs of water we headed out.

I would visit them again but i think i will wait till fall/winter to do this.

Yeah, BRA is like that. In the summer, I only go there if I can be there right when they open. It doesn't become unbearable for about 45 minutes.

[gregj]

BRA has posponed their IDPA matches in Sept and Oct due to the HVAC renovations. IIRC, they will be shutting down one side, renovate the HVAC on it, then open it up for use while the shut down and renovate the other side. Just in time for winter. Brilliant.

[Bilgeman]

I used to habituate BRA, even did some business with them, (an FFL transfer), and found their staff to be very helpful and professional.

But the REAL reasons I'd hang out there was that Blue Ridge Arsenal was where the noted Maryland Planning Board member and failed 1994 US Senate candidate Ruthann Aron tried to hire a hit man to bump off her husband and some attorney.

The staff at BRA turned her in to the boyz in blue, who managed to get a conviction, despite her producing 9 different varieties of pshrink, all of whom testified that she was bugsy as the beds in a flophouse.

For some unfathomable reason, Montgomery County MD threw her off the Planning Board, and she did 3 years in the hoosegow...and then shortly after she was released, her son was one of the dead in the WTC terrorist attack...Ruthann's nickname should be:
"Lucky".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthann_Aron

A place that was the scene of such a life-changing brainfart has just GOTTA be worth some hang-out time, y'know?

The OTHER reason was that every so often a group of Limeys would come there to shoot.
By the looks of 'em, I'd suppose that they were SAS or SBS in mufti, and attached to Good Queen Bess's embassy or some such.
Their problem was that you could spot them as Limeys from a kilometer away by their suits...and gents, if you've never seen an example of Saville Row single-needle tailoring, then I truly...truly pity you.

I'd hang around hoping that they'd take off their suit jackets in the range so that I could jack their bloody clothes.

[LFS]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthann_Aron

A place that was the scene of such a life-changing brainfart has just GOTTA be worth some hang-out time, y'know?

Sometimes life is stranger than fiction.

[Gtone]

Quick update on BRA. I quit going last summer because of all the uncertainty with the range renovations, and hours, etc. It just got too frustrating. But I kept up my membership in hopes that they would pull it together.

I went last Saturday and its really nice on the range now. Well lit, AMAZING improvement to the ventilation & air handling, and the RO was on the line the whole time I was there. Took my daughter, and she had a great time.

Glad I kept up my dues...I'm going to get more use out of a nicer facility for it.

[bryanrheem]

Quick update on BRA. I quit going last summer because of all the uncertainty with the range renovations, and hours, etc. It just got too frustrating. But I kept up my membership in hopes that they would pull it together.

I went last Saturday and its really nice on the range now. Well lit, AMAZING improvement to the ventilation & air handling, and the RO was on the line the whole time I was there. Took my daughter, and she had a great time.

Glad I kept up my dues...I'm going to get more use out of a nicer facility for it.

I'm happy to hear this. I would go there frequently but stopped after the summer since they had no AC. I'll def. be stopping by there soon to check things out!

[scott9050]

So are both sides open now? I went a few weeks ago and only one side was available and I had to wait 45 minutes for a lane.

[Riana]

So are both sides open now? I went a few weeks ago and only one side was available and I had to wait 45 minutes for a lane.

Not yet. Right now they're still down to Side 2 only, and the hours are squirrely. I recommend calling before you make the trip out, just to check hours and availability.

[gregj]

There's a 2-gun match 2/16, so if side 1 is still down for renovation, a range will not be avaiable for the public from 5-9pm.