Anybody a member?  I'm thinking of joining, but, I would like some input first because it's kind of expensive.

Here is a link to their site:

[url]www.gtri.ws/index2.htm[/url]

Damn. I was hoping it was in Gainesville, TX, but no such luck for me.

Looks like a pretty nice place though.

I am one of the original members of this range and spend many a weekend working my ass off helping to build this range.  The range is in full swing now with just over 300 members.  We have one 100 yard rifle range (parts of which will be expanded to 200 yards later), one covered 50' pistol range, and one 50' "open" range for training and use with reactive targets (with some restrictions).  I am the process of making the club CMP affiliated and expect to do several matches this year so members can order rifles from the CMP.

This is a members-only range and only range officers can bring guests.  Membership may be a bit pricy compared to larger ranges, but we are small right now. As we grow, perhaps the fees will change accordingly.  Please note that we do not charge first-time members an "initiation" fee like most ranges do.

If you would like to comeout sometime to check out the range, Ron (the owner) does open-house and new-member orientation from about 5:30-7pm Sundays every week.  Please feel free to come out and check out the range.  If you want to come out with me some other day, please e-mail me privately and I will make arrangements for you (I am a range officer and can take guests).

Hope to see you at the range.  Oh, the operating hours are 9am-sunset 361 days a year (closed for Thanksgiving, Chistmas, New Year's Day, and Easter Sunday).  No full-auto or .50MBG.

l8r

Chad

I'm another of the original members / ditch diggers / irrigation specialists / fence installers / carpenters / painters at GTRI.  You probably don't know me unless you also hang out at GlockTalk...I don't have any rifles yet, so I don't normally visit here.

I'm not sure where Chad got the 50' number.  The two pistol ranges are both marked off out to 25 yards, but actually are just a few yards deeper.



Another explanation for the membership fee is that this range has been entirely privately funded.  A large amount of land inside the city of Gainesville had to be bought, zoned, reshaped, etc. all without any help from the government.

Ron's been working on getting this range built for several years.  I only got involved just over a year ago when construction was just beginning and spent just about every weekend out there building the range until it was done.  Unless you're law enforcement or have land or friends with land outside the city limits, this is the only place to shoot that I know of in Gainesville.  The next closest one I know of is Beckwiths on the edge of Micanopy, and that's an indoor pistol-only range.

Like the looks of it, and I might actually (God Willing) be relocating to the Gainesville area. My only beef is the mandatory NRA membership...Some of us gun owners do not appreciate the NRA's "compromising" stance. Maybe if you could allow for membership in GOA or JFPO or other pro2A organizations????

Ron is flexible on that.  I think a certain percentage of the membership needs to be NRA for insurance purposes, but I know he really just wants the membership to be supporting pro-second ammendment lobbyist groups, so if the NRA is too soft for you, but you belong to GOA or any other similar group, that'll do.

I know the range would get alot more use if it were cheaper to join or open to non-members...but on the bright side, I've never seen it crowded, so it's almost like having your own private range.

jlewis -

Duh, you're right, ranges B and C are 25 yards.  Range C has some reactive steel targets and we will be adding more soon.

I have never found the range to be very busy yet, I guess the flexible hours help spread out the visitors so no one has to fight for a lane.

I will repeat my offer, if anyone ones to visit the range, send me a private e-mail and we will make arrangments for you to visit and shoot for a day!

I think I'll go check it out.



Why not? What about 2-3rd. burst fire?

How do they feel about black rifles in general?  I have plenty of other stuff to shoot but, I would like to shoot EVERYTHING I own at the same range.