I am visiting Socorro, NM Sept. 20-24th.
Are there any matches, gunshows, or anything else to do
in southern NM?

Thanks,
Danomite45

They have a free shooting range south of town. It has pistol range, shotgun range and rifle range. They have the Socorro Springs Brewery, great brew and great pizza.

Alaska to southern NM!? You're in for some heat!

I only ever stop in Socorro for gas on the way to/from Albuquerque but there doesn't seem to be much there. I hear Soccorro Springs Brewary has some really good food and beer though.

Go check out the VLA (Very Large Array), cruise up into the Magdalenas and have a picnic.

Don't go to the Capitol Bar unless you're looking for heroin.

Another vote for the VLA. That is a pretty cool place. Lots of antelope running around there when I came through last week.

If you don't mind driving a couple of hours east, you might want to drive up to Ruidoso which is in Lincoln County. It is right in the middle of "Billy the Kid" country. Lots of old west history up there. Altitude is around 6500-7000 feet. Beautiful scenery, cooler temps, lots of restaurants, a couple of casinos, golf, etc.....

Stopped at the Capitol Bar the last night of our live burns a few months ago.

Let's just say the locals are very friendly.

Did you score? Hooker or Heroin?

A buddy of mine is a full time bouncer there (full time student at Tech, retired Marine). The stories he tells about that place are freakin' hilarious.

ETA: He's the one who looks like Magilla-Gorilla with the thick BCGs (Birth Control Glasses-military issue of course)

Thanks guys for the travel info!
quite a few things added to my to-do list.

I was looking into renting a Harley to ride for the week, however the HD shop in
Albq is wanting almost $200 a day. way too steep for my blood.

Any of you guys willing to rent me a bike for a week?
any leads? Though I'd try here first before trying Craigslist.

thanks,
Daniel

You'll be here for dove season... The spot I will be checking out this year is not too far from there. You buy the ammo and license and I can bring the shotguns...

MAHA

yeah not too much here to do

+1 on socorro springs
be sure to hit up the buckhorn in san antonio

Thanks guys for all your suggestions.
I had class at NM Tech for a week, and then had a few days to explore.
Socorro Springs Brewery was within walking distance of the Best Western I stayed at, and was a good place to eat and drink.
I did make it to San Antonio, NM and had a green chilly burger at the Buckhorn.
The VLA was a drive, and I wasn't able to make it there for the gift shop, as it closed at 4pm.


After Class was over I turned the rental car back in in Albq, and rented an Ultra Classic Limited from Thunderbird Harley Davidson. I headed West on I40 and stumbled across Ft. Sumner and Billy the Kid.


Billy the Kid was such a bad person, they even put bars over his grave!


I attended an IDPA match with my Uncle in Lubbock, Tx. I did well, placing 2nd in my class.
The next morning rode back on hwy 380, through Roswell. It was full of Aliens ( both kinds) .
I continued through Lincoln County stopping at Ruidoso for fuel, and at the Smokey the Bear cafe in Carrizozo.
The heat was really not hard to get used to. It was in the low 90's for most of my stay. I just didn't wear a jacket, ditched the long sleeve shirts, and didn't wear dark colors. On the bike I had the wind to cool me off, and the classrooms had AC.

I had a great time, and hope to take another class next spring.
Danomite!

I forgot to mention during lunch one day, I stopped by The Shooting Iron gun shop in Socorro.
The owner asked where I was from, and I answered that where I was from
they don't have signs on the front of gunshops which say concealed guns are
not allowed. To which he replied that he wanted to be the only one who was
armed in his shop. We picked back and forth a little bit. He was a cool old dude.
I bought a few boxes of .45 and went back to class.

I really liked Socorro.

I was able to get a top notch haircut for only $8.