Hi all, it's official, the wife and I will be packing up and moving to the Fredricksburg area of Virginia.  Since we will be new to the area if anyone familiar with Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties could answer some questions or offer recomendations we would really appreciate it.
1st. I need a realtor. Can anyone peronally recommend sombody they know. I can find one on my own but I would prefer to use someone that comes recomended.
2nd We will be looking for a carpenter, an electrician, and a plumber. Personal recomendations of people whos work you are familiar with are appreciated.
3rd Possibly a home Builder/contractor if we cannot find a home we like. Definately someone with good credentials.
4th Where do I go to shoot down there. Also need names to gunshops and a good gunsmith.
5th Anyone in the food service industry looking for an assistant manager in a large company/chain owned restaurant or other food service facility?

We look forward to coming to Virginia and if anyone has any other helpfull advice for us we appreciate your input.  This is a big move for us and we want to make it go as smooth as possible.  We look forward to making new friends and living in the beautiful state of Virginia.

Post or e-mail responses and
Thank You to everyone that takes time out to post.
LilRhody
Nick [bounce]

[email][email protected][/email]

Welcome the the Commonwealth

I don't live in the NOVA area so i can't really help you on info for contractors.

As for gunshops. Richmond has a great gun show at the Showplace several times a year. Not that far of a drive down I95. Greentop is also a good stopping point on the way to the show.

You probably can't help it as that is where you'll be working, but STAY THE HELL OUT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA!!!!!!!!!

The area has horrendous traffic, high crime, sniveling whino liberals, and property is so outrageously expensive that you'll probably only get a cardboard shack for $100,000.

I used to live in NOVA and can't even describe the looks my neighbors used to give me when I loaded the car up for a trip to the range.  The bitch living across the street actually had the fucking balls to tell me that she didn't like seeing my daughters and I loading guns into the car, "It gives a bad impression to our children."  The twins were routinely crapped on for owning weapons and being competitive shooters.

NOVA SUCKS!!

The rest of VA is great, it's just the areas polluted with transplanted Yanks that are hell-holes.

And as far as shooting, you'll need to drive up to Fairfax to use a rifle range (NRA range).  That's the only range open to public consumption that I know of in NOVA, all the others are military or police.  Contact the NRA, they will give you all the information you could possibly want.

God- I couldn;t agree more.. townhouses here in fairfax are going up and start at 375,000!!
It is also a god damn police state and you get taxed on everything I am leaving soon and can;t wait.

Good luck.. sorry for venting but man it sucks here

I'm in Northern VA.  It isn't as bad as all you say, but houses are expensive.

I don't think there are any more civilian spots open for Quantico Shooting Club.  1000 yard range. :)  You can check. [url]http://users.erols.com/shootclb/[/url]

I also belong to the Izaak Walton League of America.  They have a 100 yard range in Centreville.  I'm not sure there is a IWLA down near Fredricksburg, but look around.

There are also some public gun ranges but they are out in the south and western part of VA.   Here is a page of them. [url]www.r8web.com/gwj/shootingranges.htm[url]

I'm thinking of going to the West Side range Saturday the 18th.  Everyone is welcome to meet me there.  It will be my first time there, but I've heard it is public, open any time, and no range master.  Plust I'll be able to shoot my M16 there.  (No place local allows full auto).  I'll probably post something in Meetings and Events soon.

You are in the center of the area where the Civil War was fought.  Be sure to visit the battlefields.  Chancellorsville,  The Wilderness etc.  

Welcome to Virginia!

You will not be in the part of NOVA that you are
being told about. I have been in VA since 1970, you will like your new home.Ranges---Izaak Walton off rt. 234 East, Izaak Walton East of Winchester, Fairfax Rod and Gun Club East of Manassas,Izaak Walton Centreville, Clark Brothers Guns and range, and the NRA range in Fairfax.And at least two Gun show every month.Say "HI" when you get here.

Ahh, 7 and Falcore, thanks the guys were scaring me there for a while. I thought that south of Quantico was still a decent place to live.  The wife and I drove north of Quantico and then decided that NoWAY were we going near that region again.  We are trying to remain as far south of DC as we can but travel times dictate Spotsylvania and Stafford are as far south as we can reasonably travel daily. Anyway I thank you all for the input, both good and unpleasant, I will try to heed your words and avoid certain areas and people.

I certainly still welcome any recomendations if anyone has them towards my original questions. Lookinf forward to meeting you NOVA members at the ranges and such.
[bounce]

Let me also welcome you to Virginia.  Unfortunately, like just about everyone else thus far, I can only help you with number 4 (I don’t live in the Fredericksburg area).  I’ll elaborate on some of the info you’ve already been given:

NRA Range at NRA headquarters in Fairfax City, near I-66 and route 50, 50-yard indoor range which can handle rifles, no full auto, screwy hours, closed this month for maintenance.  NRA firearms museum at same location; museum store has great selection of books.  If you’re in the area, also check out Galyan’s Trading Post (near Fairfax County Parkway and Fair Lakes Parkway), which is an awesome sporting goods store.  About 60 miles from Fredericksburg.

Clark Brothers Gun Store, Opel, VA – north on route 17 from Fredericksburg about 30 miles.  Smaller old time gun store, prices used to be good but not anymore except occasionally on used guns.  Has free range in back but you must use their ammo.

Green Top Gun Store, Ashland, VA – south on route 1 about 35 miles from Fredericksburg (use I-95 to go most of the way if you want), big store, enormous selection of firearms, esp. long guns.  Pretty good prices for a retail store.

Gun shows:

I guess everyone agrees the Showplace is the best show in the area.  It’s in Richmond on Mechanicsville Turnpike near I-64.

There is also a good show at the Richmond Fairgrounds, though it’s more focused on antique firearms.

While much smaller, there is also a decent show in Bealton, VA, which is on the way to Clark Brothers.  Forget the Dale City gun show unless you’re going into gun show withdrawal and it’s the only fix available.

In March of every year there is an 800-table antique (only) gun show in Timonium, MD (just north of Baltimore).  This is a bit of a haul but it’s a great show.  Expect to look but not buy unless you’ve got a lot of money!!

Museums:

All sorts of museums in the D.C. area.  If you’re into military aircraft in particular, check out the Marine Air-Land Museum at the Quantico Marine Base northeast of Fredericksburg.  Also, the base sponsors a lot of rifle competitions if you’re into that kind of thing.  (Incidentally, the FBI Academy is located on this base – they have lots of ranges but, sorry, you’ll never see them).

While definitely a haul, the Aberdeen Proving Grounds (north of Baltimore) has a staggering collection of military firearms and armor (as in tanks).  

Other things:

Don’t make a wrong turn and wind up in D.C. with a firearm in your car, they have extremely strict gun laws (that’s why their crime rate is so low).

Richmond has a very high homicide rate; don’t make a wrong turn there either.

Don’t piddle around too much getting your vehicle safety inspection, registration, driver’s license, etc. straightened out; the police run roadblocks checking for these things.

Concealed carry permits are easy to get - $50 for 5 years.  You’ll need to show some firearms training (like a DD214 proving you were in the military), otherwise, you’ll need to take a class from the NRA or someone like that – no big deal.

Another store/range in the area is Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly, VA – I won’t get into particulars but I won’t recommend it!!

There is some good info on Virginia in the Maryland AR-15 Shooters Site home page.

My personal opinion is that the further you can get from I-95, the better.

Once all this is behind you and you’re settled in, you’ll like Virginia.  Good luck!

Where are you going to be working?  If it is in the DC area, you might want to consider heading West instead of South.  The Valley (where I live) is very gun friendly, has a LOT of public and club ranges and plenty of reputable gun stores.

Winchester or Front Royal (Fauqier County) are nice and much cheaper than most of NOVA.  Still more expensive than where I live, but much better than Fairfax or Loudon counties.

Let me also welcome the both of you to Virginia.
I have to agree with staying away from NOVA and with attending the shows at the Showplace.However, I will disagree on a gun shop. I recommend DeGoff's in Mechanicsville
rather than Greentop.Have found Greentop prices higher and their customer service lacking.YMMV
Again,nice to have ya'll here.

List the public ranges out your way.  I can't find any info on whats out that way.

I'll take addresses, web sites, and phone #'s.  

Thanks.

If you give me 2 days (my local gun shop isn't open on Sundays, they have the information) to get the phone numbers and addresses to all the gun clubs, sure.  There are 4 I can think of within 45 minutes of my house.  One in Charlottesville, Vesuvius, one near Monterey, and one in Stuarts Draft.  

I don't feel like paying to shoot (except for ammo) so I go to a rifle range that is free public access in the National Forest out near Augusta Springs.  In the Winchester area I don't know of all that much, but it it's only about an hour drive from my area and the ranges around here.

This wouldn't happen to be the beginning of a "which area in VA is better" argument, would it?  Just curious.

Hopefully, you told her to go straight to f**king hell, do not pass go, do not go to jail, go straight to hell.  I realize we need to be diplomatic whenever possible, but this bitch is too far gone.

Let me be the first to welcome you to Virginia!! Oh, never mind.  It never ceases to amaze me how many people from Virginia are on here!

Seriously, though, I really like Virginia and think you will like it much better than RI.  Yes, the civil war IS still being fought here, but it is one of the most Patriotic and Freedom-loving States you'll find.  NOVA (NOrthern VirginiA) is a bit "socialistic," but you're close enough to get out from what you've said.  Virginia IS class III (you can own full-autos and suppressors) and does have great gunshows as mentioned.  While ranges up North are hard to find, those of us down near Richmond are rarely at a lack of places to shoot.  There are annual gatherings here in Virginia - you HAVE to make the next one (see Meetings & Events).  

I can recommend several good builders and realtors in the Richmond area, but none in Nova.  Be careful - there's a lot of people with a lot of money and very little common sense up there (something about the proximity to DC I guess?).  Try to find "good old boys" who are willing to drive to where you're building.  The old "Southern" codes of honor and responsibility are still alive here - you just have to look a little.  This is very important in a contractor.

Again, welcome to Virginia.  We all look forward to meeting you.  Keep us updated as you move down here.  

    Black Fox

BTW, Rg00red, always enjoy your posts.  Which area of Virginia is better?  Live in NOVA - make LOTS of money (relatively speaking) but live in hell.  Live elsewhere in Virginia, make much less money, but live better.  If you can live in NOVA for a few years and have a weekend place elsewhere in Virginia it's probably a pretty good option.  I'm looking at mountains in the Western part of the State and they all are owned by people in NOVA.  It's all in your tastes/goals.  You sound like you live in the Charlottesville area?  The Western part of the State is absolutely beautiful - you have my envy.  I hope to be there some day myself.  

    Black Fox

The south westernern part of Spotsylvania county is really pretty.  Rolling farm country with great hunting.  However it seems that NOVA is spreading like kudzu down RT 29 and Charlotesville will soon meet with NOVA.

For now you shouldn't have any problem with Spotsylvania county.  Also if you don't mind commuting you might want to look in to Culpeper  Madison  and Orange counties.  These are also rural areas.

BTW ditto on Showplace gun shows, and Greentops rule.  I also remember a neat shop in Warrington called Clark Bros.

Welcome to Hokieie country!  

Damn, I've heard of southern hospitality but you guys go above and beyond the call of duty.
Thank you to everyone who has replied!!
We really look forward to escaping the clutches of the northeast, the good ol' days of carry permits and gun friendly people are quickly dwindling away.
It's been fun up here but we look forward to acquiring a bit of southern charm..
We still do not have a move date yet but it should be well before winter sets in.

VTHOKIESHOOTER we were actually looking at the fringes of Culpeper county.  Unfortunately we have been spoiled by living in states where anything more than a 40 minute drive constitutes a day trip.
I hope we are able to attend a few meetings and events this year in order to make friends and meet some of the members from this board. I really did not expect to get such thought out and informative responses, again thank you all!!!
I want to keep this thread alive for a while longer in-case anyone comes up with realtor or contractor names. Life savings, and then some, are about to be blown on a new home and I prefer to deal with people who come recomended.
Thank you everyone.
Nick & Maria[bounce]

Not quite sure where you are in the Valley, but many in the central valley south of Harrisonburg and north of Lexington go to my club. We're in the Charlottesville area:
[url]www.rrpc.org[/url]

Nice range Poodleshooter.  I'm near Springfield VA so I'm about 1½ hours from there.  I have a local place (9 miles) where I can shoot to 100 yards.   What I'm looking for is a place to plink and shoot full auto and maybe 50bmg.  (Quantico doesn't allow 50BMG!!!)   Looks like the closest place is the West Side Shooting Range right across the border in WV.  I'm planning on going the 18th.  

I was hoping there were a few other 'public' ranges out near the Winchester, Culpeper area.

Nick and Maria,
Welcome to the Fredericksburg area!  My wife and I moved here from LaLa Land five years ago.  Best damn place we've ever lived in.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the great people in our Commonwealth and the many shooter-friendly resources available to you here.  All that you seek is here in abundance.  Go to the fredericksburg.com site and start there.  I'll be glad to help you with a very good builder and the other stuff too.  Contact me offline for details.
Again, welcome to the area.
[uzi]

Poodleshooter, I've been considering trying to join RRPC, it is evil rifle friendly.  From viewing the photos on the web site, I draw the conclusion that it isn't.  I understand that there is probably no "Breakin' Stuff", but how are the rules otherwise?

Hey Drift Punch,
To answer everyone's questions about RRPC...it is indeed ClassIII friendly. You need to get permission from the board before doing it (one of them is a Class III dealer,IIRC). That's basically a safety issue. As for black rifles, tons of members have 'em. We host the main NRA highpower competitions in the local area. We have a single lane 300yd range, which is often frequented by the guys with 50's, though very seldom used by members. I know of at least one Barrett owner there. The thing is, at this club, lots of people enjoy multiple shooting disciplines. I currently shoot IDPA, occassional trap, blackpowder fun shoots, and hope to start highpower soon. We have great rules, but are very self policing on the outdoor ranges. If you are uncomfortable without an RO at all times, don't apply. We do have a dedicated plinking range (25yds.) There is lots of contact info on the webpage, so give a call and ask if you have any questions!

Thank you everyone that took time out to respond!!!
Every comment is helpfull in one way or another and we really appreciate you all taking time to post.

LilRhody

I'm near Springfield, too. Where do you shoot to 100 yards?

LilRhody,
Welcome to Virginia,
I can't believe nobody has mentioned Fredericksburg Rod and Gun Club. This is an amazing facility that has hosted Many USPSA sanctioned matches including the Limited Nationals. IWLA has three ranges nearby that I know of and Quantico hosts matches that you can participate in until you work your way up the list for a civilian membership. Black Creek also has a club on the north side of Richmond.
Also, as a resident of NOVA, I'm proud of the quality of our schools, health care, public parks, police, fire and rescue departments. It's also nice to have the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac and Occoquan Riers in my backyard. Less than three hours to the Atlantic beaches, too. Yeah, traffic sucks and real estate is expensive, I won't try to argue on those points.

It's at The Izaak Walton League of America, Very nice place. Thanks to 7 for taking me there the other week.

Tupperware,

As SNIPERm88 said,  IWLA in Centreville.  Here is their webpage [url]http://www.geocities.com/yosemite/rapids/8293/[/url]  It isn't very up to date or very good. [:)]  

75 dollar for initialization fee and 100 dollars a year.  No costs for each visit to the range.  You also have to do 6 hours of service (mowing lawns, fixing target frames etc) before you can get your range badge.

you can email me offline if you want more info.