Local Range Comparisons

[ChicagoGuy]

I've been making the rounds using some of the tips I've picked up here. I've been to the Dominion Shooting Range (Richmond) and the Smoking Gun Range (Colonial Heights) as well. In fairness I have to say, I only shot at the Richmond range though. Some have expressed displeasure at not being able to take their ammo to the Dominion range which I found to be correct. However, what seems to be up in the air is which is the better bargin. Richmond charges $8 and Smoking Gun $10 if you purchase their ammo and $20 to bring your own. Their ammo is as much as $9 a box more also. Lastly the Richmond range is open 2 hour later as well.

Hope this helps you fellow shooters

[rromeo]

Thanks for the tips. I shoot 9 and 45. Do you shoot either of those, or notice how much those calibers were?
Also, is that range price for a certain amount of time? An hour?

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[ChicagoGuy]

The fee at Dominion is a flat fee. I was there for sometime and no one mentioned a time limit. Again, I didn't shoot at Smoking Gun so I can't say one way or the other. The 9mm was $20 bucks I believe. They offer a few different choices and various prices though. It depends on what type of load your looking to shoot. I should mention also that they are 50 rounds per box.

[newdovo]

Also, is that range price for a certain amount of time? An hour?

I've stayed there for a couple hours and just got charged the one range fee, but that was when they were not busy. When there is a wait/busy, they'll give out numbers and limit your range time to an hour. Not sure if that's the rule, but that's been my experience.
Prices vary for ammo, even within same caliber, depending on what you want to shoot. Manufacturer, type of round (jacked hollow point, lead round nose, metal jacketed, different grain/weight, etc.) will vary in price just like at the store.
One nice thing is that if you don't shoot a whole box, they will seal it with a sticky label and you can bring it back to finish on your next trip.


Parry

[zombiekiller57]

Depending how much ammo I want to blow through and what distance I want to shoot and the weather is my determining factor. Nice weather I will hit Ft. Lee POW range and shoot my ammo for $5 an hour. Dominion range in Richmond is a 25 yard Max but you must purchase their ammo where Smoking Gun is a 15 yard max but you can shoot your ammo all day long for $20. One other plus for Dominion is if you want to try before you buy they have many weapons hanging on the wall to rent. They even have full auto which is nice when your bank account is topped off

[davasmith]

Location, location, location. I frequent the Smoking Gun because of it, and the owner is a former police swat member from Richmond/state police. I have purchased a few guns there as well. The ammo prices are a little high, but once you get over the sticker shock the staff are very nice, easy going people. The plus is at the shorter range you can practice real life scenarios such as cqb and quick fire drills. If all the idiots out there would stop screwing it up for us we'd still be able to shoot shotguns at the Smoking Gun but do to some "southerners" thinking there in a gang shoot out they no longer allow shotguns. They to have guns hanging for rentals. I have not fired a fully auto there yet, its just to short a distance for me. All in all, bring your own ammo, pay the fee and stay out of the rain/wind and politics of the bigger range in Richmond (which coincedentally is straight across from the state police headquarters). They have an in house trainer for CHP named Mike Murray and he is an excellent instructor. I've know Mike for 20 something years now and will personally vouch for him. Josh