Posted: 6/21/2007 8:11:53 PM EDT
Does anyone have a range they can recommend in the Chicagoland area? Any suggestions, recommendations, or definite no go's? I would love any input!!! -Helen |
WHAT do you want to shoot? Handguns? plenty of indoor ranges around many will require a FOID card. There were plenty of offers from people willing to take you out shooting the last time you asked. What happened w/ that? |
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I wanted to go with someone I knew well, first time around. He only knows of ranges in WI. So I wanted to find some place in IL to go. I have been talking to a few of the people on AIM quite a bit!!! You guys rock!!! I have sent in for a FOID card -Helen ETA: From the last thread there were 5 people who flat out offered to go to a range, two in CU area, two in Chicagoland area, one in between the two, and I talk to 3 of them on a regular basis  I have not had the guts to go or the opportunity with the MCAT and work.
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It really all depends on how far you want to drive. As npd233 said, most all ranges require you to have a FOID to shoot or rent by yourself. However, many ranges allow one FOID holder to "supervise" one or more people who don't have FOIDs, either shooting or renting. If you use Google Earth, you can d/l this file and it import the locations of a number of ranges that I saved on my computer: RangesNeIL.kmz I assume you are going to start with pistol, because for rifle, AFAIK, the only indoor rifle range in Chicagoland is Gun World in Bensenville...although there are a few more outdoor rifle ranges, the favorite one being Buffalo Rock Range in Ottawa. As far as indoor pistol ranges, here's my experience, in order of personal preference as to facilities: Megasports in Plainfield has a good selection of pistols for rent, and their facilities are modern and clean. As a bonus, they have the mother lode of guns for sale to peruse. The Bass Pro in Gurnee has a very nice indoor range as well, but they require you to pay a one time fee to shoot there, and I'm not positive that they rent guns, or that you can shoot w/o a FOID. Also, it's sometimes a hassle to get in if you are bringing in your own firearm, because they have to put a safety flag in the chamber at the front desk before you make your way through the store to the range upstairs. If you want to drive all the way to Aurora, J&R is modern and clean, but as I recall: 1. they can be sticklers on range time, with overages being charged another hour, and 2. unless you are a great shot they make you buy the target holder from them ($5) because you're bound to shoot the plastic buggers at least once. Gun World is outdated and not very clean, but they are convenient and nearby for a lot of people, plus really the only option for indoors rifle over the winter. GAT in Dundee has a fairly decent range, and a few rental guns. I've only been to Maxon's in Des Plaines once, but it seemed on par with Gun World. |
Mike's gone. Guy I used to work with at Maxon, Ray and 3 of his friends, bought the shop from the them. Mike "ran" it for another guy, I believe a lawyer, at a loss. They have some new inventory in there now. I just picked up a used Kimber TLE from them for $725 OTD. |
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My pleasure. That's the best way to go, try out a bunch of different varieties and see what fits in your hand best, and what works for you. Let us know if you come to an impasse, or want to get some opinions on your top 2 or 3, I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions here. Also you can check out the Handgun section. |
No you've got it wrong. The law permits it. However some owners of some ranges may choose to put more stringent requirements on use of their range. |
MegaSports won't sell ammo or rent a handgun to anyone out of state. They can, however, use the range with their own guns and ammo. JR will rent to out of state residents, if i remember correctly, but i could be off. |
To answer someones question above, Bass Pro in Gurnee does not rent guns. Also and Illinois resident that wants to shoot there must have a FOID regardless if they own the firearm or not. I think their reasoning is that if you are handling a firearm you are in possession of it, and as such must have a foid card. |
Probably that is why I shoot in Indiana and Ohio and Kentucky ... a little easier to operate... Thanks for the info |
It may be "their" reasoning, but their reasoning is more restrictive than Illinois law is. The law permits an Illinois resident who does not have a FOID card to possess firearms under the immediate supervision of an over 21 adult w/ FOID card, or if they are participating in a Firearms class under supervision of an instructor assuming that they are not otherwise ineligible to obtain a FOID. Any firearms store in this state may legally allow any person to handle or inspect a firearm, so long as an adult over 21 w/ a FOID card is in direct supervision. This may be an employee or even a friend or family member of the customer. I have not yet been in any firearms store in Illinois that doesn't require a customer to produce a FOID card before being permitted to handle a firearm. Obviously these stores' policies are more strict than the law. But better for them to be more strict than less strict. I would likely have such a blanket policy if I were an FFL and gun shop owner, even knowing the law as it is. Not that I agree w/ it, but it would provide some level of comfort for allowing me to ensure that no un-FOID'd customer was left alone in the shop unsupervised in possession of a firearm. |
I could be wrong, but I thought IL law restricted ammo (as well as long gun) sales for non IL residents to those in contiguous states i.e. WI, IN, KY, IA, MO |
I don't think ammo is included in that. |
I found the following at the ISP firearms law site, but it's not clear to me...and maybe I didn't look hard enough but it was giving me a headache  (430 ILCS 65/3a) (from Ch. 38, par. 83‑3a) Sec. 3a. (a) Any resident of Illinois who has obtained a firearm owner's identification card pursuant to this Act and who is not otherwise prohibited from obtaining, possessing or using a firearm may purchase or obtain a rifle or shotgun or ammunition for a rifle or shotgun in Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin or Kentucky. (b) Any resident of Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin or Kentucky or a non‑resident with a valid non‑resident hunting license, who is 18 years of age or older and who is not prohibited by the laws of Illinois, the state of his domicile, or the United States from obtaining, possessing or using a firearm, may purchase or obtain a rifle, shotgun or ammunition for a rifle or shotgun in Illinois. (b‑5) Any non‑resident who is participating in a sanctioned competitive shooting event, who is 18 years of age or older and who is not prohibited by the laws of Illinois, the state of his or her domicile, or the United States from obtaining, possessing, or using a firearm, may purchase or obtain a shotgun or shotgun ammunition in Illinois for the purpose of participating in that event. A person may purchase or obtain a shotgun or shotgun ammunition under this subsection only at the site where the sanctioned competitive shooting event is being held. (c) Any transaction under this Section is subject to the provisions of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (18 U.S.C. 922 (b)(3)). (Source: P.A. 94‑353, eff. 7‑29‑05.) There does appear to be a FOID exception regarding ammo possession (and another section for ammo transfer) for Nonresidents while at a firearms show, firing or shooting range recognized by the Department of State Police EDIT to fix typos |