Do you resent having to pay a fee to shoot at "public" Ranges? I for one do. Our tax dollars already pay for the ranges run by the Ohio department of wildlife... In Kentucky the State public range my family and I always used while vacationing was free as it was a "public" range, Why should Ohio which is a much richer state then KY charge?

When I called the ODWL the gentleman was fairly rude. All he could say is well you pay for the roads you drive on don't you? What a stupid statement. The roads and paid for through taxes just like the range.

There is definitely an anti gun sentiment rampant at The ODWL. The agency has a very anti concealed carry policy. Not sure where that comes from...

Also every time you go to the range it seems as though the monitors stand over your shoulder the whole time knit picking everything you do. From choice of targets to speed of firing they seem to be on some type of power trip. What should perfectly safety conscience shooters be harassed?

I don't like this socialist nanny state crap. What's everyone else think??

 Try the Delaware Range. If the young guy (Range Officer) is there, he never bothers me with my AR15 or G3. I usually don't shoot rapid fire. I don't mind paying $ 5. I do mind all of the information that I have to submit to use the range on the sign in form.

I have seen, in my limited 10 or so times going to a public range, the following:

1 man who walked down a hot rifle range, to change targets. I saw him through the reticle of my scope, while my finger was on a 1.5 lb trigger. He walked ACROSS my field of fire.

I saw a guy touch off a Desert Eagle .50, through the roof of the Delaware range....twice. First time after clearing a jam, then again in frustration.....all in under a minute.

I saw a man turn and sweep the entire line with a hot Mini-14, finger on the trigger.

I saw a kid take a cosmoline-soaked, new out of the cardboard SKS, and proceed to fire it. Which, of course, the firing pin was locked tight and it went full-auto. He shot the last 5 shots way over the berm.


You want to know why they're so strict? Work a day there, observe how god damned stupid some of our fellow shooters really are, and you'll be amazed they even bother to keep the gate open.

Do yourself a favor. Join a private range, buy some land, or go to Millers. The public ranges are not for safe, responsible shooters. They're for once-a-year deer hunters and idiots who NEED supervision.

I'm an NRA Instructor. On one recent trip when giving a few "2" people a basic pistol class  the watcher wanted me to sign extra forms beyond the permits we had bought,  I practically had to give my life history. when taking a few students/friends/family I'm teaching for free I don't like being harassed. Nothing like being watching and timed to see if everyone really shot for two hours! That's too much in peoples private business for a free country. .

Quoted: I have seen, in my limited 10 or so times going to a public range, the following: 1 man who walked down a hot rifle range, to change targets. I saw him through the reticle of my scope, while my finger was on a 1.5 lb trigger. He walked ACROSS my field of fire. I saw a guy touch off a Desert Eagle .50, through the roof of the Delaware range....twice. First time after clearing a jam, then again in frustration.....all in under a minute. I saw a man turn and sweep the entire line with a hot Mini-14, finger on the trigger. I saw a kid take a cosmoline-soaked, new out of the cardboard SKS, and proceed to fire it. Which, of course, the firing pin was locked tight and it went full-auto. He shot the last 5 shots way over the berm.    Yes been law abiding safety conscience shooters shouldn't be punished because of the actions of others. You want to know why they're so strict? Work a day there, observe how god damned stupid some of our fellow shooters really are, and you'll be amazed they even bother to keep the gate open. Do yourself a favor. Join a private range, buy some land, or go to Millers. The public ranges are not for safe, responsible shooters. They're for once-a-year deer hunters and idiots who NEED supervision.

      Yes, there are some unsafe shooters out there, But safety conscience law abiding shooting shouldn't be punished due to the actions of others, Also it's not true that many regular shooters don't use these ranges, Not everyone can afford to go to private clubs or buy property. Should poor shooters who are responsible not have a decent place to observe the second amendment? Socialist only like certain privileged groups to have certain rights, such thought are dangerous. By the way, know any good shooting land for sale? lol thanks.

I think the thing that pissed me off the most about the Delaware range was the fact the shotgun range is unsupervised and therefore you need no permit, but you show up at the gate when the range opens, the officer opens the gate, then tells you "Go ahead, I'm going to go get breakfast and will be back in 30 minutes." That happened to me twice. Why am I paying to be "supervised", especially if the officer leaves? At least 4 times they were 15 minutes or more late to open.

I went to that range for about 6 years. I stopped taking my son to the range because I felt less and less safe on the firing line OR changing targets. One guy let his 10 year old shoot his AR, and the kid rapid fired all the way up into the guardrail "roof". The range officer said nothing. A bunch of us called a cease-fire, got the all clear, and were walking down the range when I guy popped one off, aimed no less, from his 8mm surplus mauser; We were at the 25 yard line, and the range officer said nothing (yes, in hindsight I should have kicked the officer out of his hut and made him do something). I was shooting one morning on the shotgun range and a deer hunter walked out from the road between the two ranges (i.e. impact area).

I joined a gun club and never went back...

Quoted: I think the thing that pissed me off the most about the Delaware range was the fact the shotgun range is unsupervised and therefore you need no permit, but you show up at the gate when the range opens, the officer opens the gate, then tells you "Go ahead, I'm going to go get breakfast and will be back in 30 minutes." That happened to me twice. Why am I paying to be "supervised", especially if the officer leaves? At least 4 times they were 15 minutes or more late to open. I went to that range for about 6 years. I stopped taking my son to the range because I felt less and less safe on the firing line OR changing targets. One guy let his 10 year old shoot his AR, and the kid rapid fired all the way up into the guardrail "roof". The range officer said nothing. A bunch of us called a cease-fire, got the all clear, and were walking down the range when I guy popped one off, aimed no less, from his 8mm surplus mauser; We were at the 25 yard line, and the range officer said nothing (yes, in hindsight I should have kicked the officer out of his hut and made him do something). I was shooting one morning on the shotgun range and a deer hunter walked out from the road between the two ranges (i.e. impact area). I joined a gun club and never went back...

I have had a similar experience, yet with the opposite effect of an OVERBEARING range officer during my last shooting session at Grand River, which was about two or so years past.

As it turns out, from the moment I arrived to the moment I left, myself and practically everyone on the firing line were harrassed by some short, fat prick with glasses and a moustache (and always with a sandwich in hand, go figure).  This went on nonstop.  And it was all over a bunch of petty shit, too.  I don't remember the asshole's name, but a few of the guys who were regulars said that he was a burnout/flunkie from some other division of the ODNR who was assigned there to wait out his time before retirement from the ODNR's service, and was thusly pissed off and taking it out on everyone at the range.

Since then, I have joined a private and unsupervised range, and also go to A&A where I don't have a problem shelling out $8 an hour to have fun.  And guess what, I have yet to encounter any "range nazis", and nobody has gotten hurt while I've been shooting there.  I figure that if the State of Ohio want to treat its citizens that way, then I will take my business elsewhere.  

Quite frankly, I will NEVER go back to an ODNR range.  Not after my last time at Grand River.

- PM

I used to shoot at Deer Creek a lot.
Range officers were generally nice guys, and the range was very nice.
So were the shooters for the most part.
Mostly old guys handloading and benchrest shooting.

I DO resent paying the fee.  I don't mind the range guys at Spring Valley though.  The only time any of them ever said anything to me was when I shot my handgun on the 50 yard range.  He told me I can only shoot it from the 25 yard mark.  Ok.

But, I really don't have a problem with them watching over things and keeping it safe.  I haven't seen anything real stupid at Spring Valley.  Target World and New Albany are another story entirely.  Saw one of the range staff at NA break one off in a guy who kept loading his gun and walking around with it in his hand behind the line.  Sure, we carry loaded guns at work, and occasionaly another officer walks in front of your sights, but its still nice to keep it to a minimum.

The monies for the GR Range came from several sources including private groups. The money you pay ($5.00/day, $25.00 year..big deal) is to maintain the place.

As far as the RSO two years ago, he's now with parks division. We don't know what he's doing with them and we don't really care. He's gone and that's all that counts.

There are no forms at the GR Range for CCW classes. At least not for the two years I've been there.

There is no problem at the range with CCW types. It's a cold range. The only place firearms are locked and loaded is up on the firing line. Nobody transports loaded firearms between ranges or down range. If you want to be on a hot range, join the military or get into law enforcement. This is a civilian range.

If you have trouble with range rules, don't ever shoot at Camp Perry and stay out of the military.

We have to keep that place safe. I can't tell you all the bone headed mistakes I've seen "experts" make on the firing line. Having a firearm and/or a CCW does not make one an expert. I think some of the folks I've corrected out there learned all about the use of firearms from Hollywood.

We have about 900-1000 people come through each month. When hunting season nears, that number swells to 2200-2500/mo. Experience levels range from total novice to honest experts. We also have the Rambos, wannabes, guys who claim to have been with the 12th Special Forces, and a fellow who claims we're really run by the U.N.

If you come out now, you'll find it to be a pretty relaxed place. Just follow a few simple rules and things go well. It's way too hot to stand and nit pick. Come hunting season, we have to watch very closely so some bubba doesn't stroll down range to check his target while the range is hot! It gets interesting when there's 60-100 range newbies who only shoot once a year. It's like herding cats, believe me.

All I want, as a range supervisor, is for you to be able to go home the way you came.  If you can't handle that, go shoot in a sand pit or junk yard. Or you can go to A & A and watch the shooter next to you enjoy his .45 and a beer. Yes, that happened to me six years ago. I've been shooting at GR ever since and this is my third summer working there as range supervisor.

Groucho

Quoted: I have seen, in my limited 10 or so times going to a public range, the following: 1 man who walked down a hot rifle range, to change targets. I saw him through the reticle of my scope, while my finger was on a 1.5 lb trigger. He walked ACROSS my field of fire. I saw a guy touch off a Desert Eagle .50, through the roof of the Delaware range....twice. First time after clearing a jam, then again in frustration.....all in under a minute. I saw a man turn and sweep the entire line with a hot Mini-14, finger on the trigger. I saw a kid take a cosmoline-soaked, new out of the cardboard SKS, and proceed to fire it. Which, of course, the firing pin was locked tight and it went full-auto. He shot the last 5 shots way over the berm. You want to know why they're so strict? Work a day there, observe how god damned stupid some of our fellow shooters really are, and you'll be amazed they even bother to keep the gate open. Do yourself a favor. Join a private range, buy some land, or go to Millers. The public ranges are not for safe, responsible shooters. They're for once-a-year deer hunters and idiots who NEED supervision.

i have to go along with swingset on this one. i also go as little as possible to a public range. when i do it is at the spring valley range. i have also seen the stupid bullshit that people do for whatever reason.

once i left feeling sorry for the range officer. i got to leave and he was stuck there for the day.

if paying $5.00 for a trip to the range keeps the range in shape and MIGHT guarantee me not getting my ass shot, well then that is very cheap insurance.

not trying to be a bitch but just my.02.

I don't.  Admittedly I have only gone once with Geezah after a OGCA convention.  It cost me a whole whopping 5 dollars.  The range was excellent and in good condition and a range monitor at each section (one at the clays and three at the rifle/pistol).

I was even dressed down a slight bit for crossing the yellow safety to my table before "resume" was signaled.  

There are PLNETY of other services and wasted projects that the State of Ohio spends money on that would get my get me salty before I even start looking at the ranges...especially in a society that is increasingly anti-gun.

in fact, we should be thankful that we have the ranges.  Not every state does.

Richard

I try and visit the Woodbury ODNR range at least once every weekend.  It's 7 miles west of Coshocton and 55 miles east of where I live, but the drive is well worth it.  4 ranges with covered shooting positions: 25, 50, 100 and 200 yards.  At lease 11 concrete or wood shooting benches on each range.  During the three or so hours I spend there, it unusual to see three or more people on each range.

Archery and shotgun, too.

I cannot see me ever going back to the Delaware ODNR range again.  It's well worth the $24 or $25 a year plus the gas to get there.  :)

--
Mike

Quoted: As far as the RSO two years ago, he's now with parks division. We don't know what he's doing with them and we don't really care. He's gone and that's all that counts. If you come out now, you'll find it to be a pretty relaxed place. Just follow a few simple rules and things go well. It's way too hot to stand and nit pick. Come hunting season, we have to watch very closely so some bubba doesn't stroll down range to check his target while the range is hot! It gets interesting when there's 60-100 range newbies who only shoot once a year. It's like herding cats, believe me. All I want, as a range supervisor, is for you to be able to go home the way you came.  If you can't handle that, go shoot in a sand pit or junk yard. Or you can go to A & A and watch the shooter next to you enjoy his .45 and a beer. Yes, that happened to me six years ago. I've been shooting at GR ever since and this is my third summer working there as range supervisor. Groucho

Thank you for the great news.  That idiot RSO is THE reason I have not been back in several years.

That all sounds cool to me.  You just might see me at the GR range in the near future.

- PM

edited for grammar

C'mon over! Some of the folks on the board are trying to put together a shoot this Saturday. Their firearms are so-so, but Engineer has a war wagon that's a work of art! I think Shotar and some of the others are planning to come.

Just please get the old pass before you come.

Groucho

Quoted: C'mon over! Some of the folks on the board are trying to put together a shoot this Saturday. Their firearms are so-so, but Engineer has a war wagon that's a work of art! I think Shotar and some of the others are planning to come. Just please get the old pass before you come. Groucho

Thank you very much for the invitation.  I will be very busy this weekend, but I'm certainly interested in getting out to the range with you guys in the very near future.  

See you later.

- PM

Quoted: guys who claim to have been with the 12th Special Forces,

Hey, listen, that's Dr. 12th Special Forces to you! I'm trying to keep the country safe with my red battle wagon and this is the thanks that I get?

See if I show up on Saturday....

I hope you make it. The war wagon adds a certain "something" to what would otherwise be just a shoot!

12th SF, indeed  At least you don't think we're owned by the U.N.

You don't, do you? Engineer? C'mon, answer me!

Groucho