Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

FWIW,

Heard add on radio about 15 minutes ago.
They say opening in March 2012.
Phone 266-2666

Check out there facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/colonialshootingacademy

A lot of pictures and 3d renderings. I wish I could afford a membership I bet it's going to be a really nice place heck the retail space alone is going to be one of the largest around my area. Also they may cap there membership at some point to just be aware if you really are interested get your foot in the door early.

looks to be expensive for a casual shooter. $100 initiation + $34.95/month, or $20/hour/lane for non-members. you'd break even on year one membership if you spent ~26 non-member range hours, not counting any member discounts on goods and services they offer. subsequent years break even at ~21 range hours, assuming no rate increases. it does look like a very nice facility, though.

personally, i like shooting outdoors while the weather is nice. it's wintertime and heavy rainstorms when a place like this would be great. just gotta weigh the costs...

Just for reference: It's in the Colonial Heights area of Richmond.

They are going to be using the old Colony House Furniture building
at 6020 West Broad Street near Willow Lawn.

I agree that for the occasional shooter, to expensive.

I would use the indoor range on rainy, snowy days.
I also prefer to be outside on nice days.

Would like to be able to shoot reactive targets and bullseye.
Have separate range areas for rifles, shotguns, pistols

Would be great to have training for beginners

We need something like this near Williamsburg which is essentially centrally located between Richmond and Hampton. Maybe in Lanexa, West Point, Providence Forge, Kent?

Actually, and outdoor and indoor range.
An indoor area for home defense or clearing a building practice, great for home defense training
I am thinking like Gunsight, Front Sight type but not that large

Williamsburg has nothing in the area.
Must go to Newport News which has limited ranges to my knowledge.
Chickahominy (Charles City) is rifle only.


My .02 cents

I would like a range that had 100+ yards for heavy caliber rifles...

Pistols, and shotguns are great, but I have heavy duty rifles that I haven't shot because going to Quantico on the "special" days (if they still do that) is just too much trouble...

AppleaDay wrote:Just for reference: It's in the Colonial Heights area of Richmond.

AppleaDay wrote:Just for reference: It's in the Colonial Heights area of Richmond.

This is incorrect, its on West Broad Street in the West End.

I saw this news article and noticed they said all shooters will have to pass a background check!?!
http://www.nbc12.com/story/16975320/col ... ch-opening

I knew about the safety course, but a background check, that seems excessive. Has anyone ever gone to a range where they had to pass a background check?

I know Dominion Shooting Range, Smoking Gun, and Black Creek don't.

glock36familyman wrote:I saw this news article and noticed they said all shooters will have to pass a background check!?!
http://www.nbc12.com/story/16975320/col ... ch-opening

I knew about the safety course, but a background check, that seems excessive. Has anyone ever gone to a range where they had to pass a background check?

I know Dominion Shooting Range, Smoking Gun, and Black Creek don't.

The background check mentioned in the article may be a reporting error. It sounds over the top to me. From their own website, here are the range rules:

http://www.colonialshooting.com/content ... the-range/

Chasbo00 wrote:

glock36familyman wrote:I saw this news article and noticed they said all shooters will have to pass a background check!?!
http://www.nbc12.com/story/16975320/col ... ch-opening

I knew about the safety course, but a background check, that seems excessive. Has anyone ever gone to a range where they had to pass a background check?

I know Dominion Shooting Range, Smoking Gun, and Black Creek don't.

The background check mentioned in the article may be a reporting error. It sounds over the top to me. From their own website, here are the range rules:

http://www.colonialshooting.com/content ... the-range/

i don't see any mention of a bg check on the general info pages, but... if you look at the membership application: http://www.colonialshooting.com/upload/ ... _blank.PDF you'll see, near the bottom, that your signature authorizes a vsp criminal history check *if* you don't have or produce a valid chp. maybe that's what the news article refers to.

I knew about the safety course, but a background check, that seems excessive. Has anyone ever gone to a range where they had to pass a background check?

I know Dominion Shooting Range, Smoking Gun, and Black Creek don't.[/quote]

The background check mentioned in the article may be a reporting error. It sounds over the top to me. From their own website, here are the range rules:


Call me crazy.......but "open to the public" doesn't mean the PUBLIC is "welcome." They are clearly targeting a certain shooter. I have no problem with it. I don't intended to hand over hard earned money only to feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. Remember, that $100 fee is nonrefundable.

My 2cents

^^^
"recreational" shooting: http://www.colonialshooting.com/content ... -shooting/ doesn't require a membership.

"Lane Rental
$20.00/hour for Non-Members
Free for Members"

Chasbo00 wrote:The background check mentioned in the article may be a reporting error.

That's what I figure (or hope). There's just no way to efficiently run a background check on every person who walks in off the street to shoot, unless they force them to buy or rent a gun (then they could use the regular VFTP check, since that includes temporary transfers).

So, probably more "layers of editorial oversight".

Has anyone heard a date for the opening?

One single blog entry, dated Dec. 2, 2011, saying "As we get closer to our grand opening, we’ll post updates and details here regularly."

Can't find anything on their site giving any kind of update as to what their status is or whether they're on schedule to open as planned. That is not highly encouraging.

But then there's this article, stating that it's on track to open soon

Found this statement on their Facebook page in reply to a 'When are you guys opening' question...

That is the most answered guestion these days. If you are a Member you will be notified by email. Our best guess is by the end of the month. We have been working 24/7 to finish, however some things are beyond our control...KBS has done a great job keeping the project moving and when the doors do open, I think everyone will feel the wait was worth it!!!

FWIW, I noticed that they have classes schedule for early April
http://www.colonialshooting.com/content/classes-events/

...so their grand open should be any day now

Aaalllmmooosssstttt April, any word?