Posted: 9/13/2011 1:51:50 PM EDT
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Just went shooting at Blue Trails Range in Wallingford CT.
These guys were still collecting money to " Save Blue Trails" - hasnt Blue Trails Range been saved for almost 2months ? I feel that it was misleading and unnecessary , especially for a place that gouges their customers. Its nice to have a range open to the public, but I have never considered them to really support the shooting community as they frequently have a sense of disdain and apathy towards their clientèle. That being said, can anyone recommend a good private range in the greater New Haven area ? Thanks ! p.s. here is a PIC |
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Did you ask them why there were still collecting money for the "Save the Blue Trail Range" when they won the DiNatale lawsuit back in July (or earlier) of this year?
The savebluetrailrange.org site is still up and appears to be accepting donations. That site says the following about what the donations are used for: What are we doing with the donations?
• All funds raised are being put towards the purpose of funding necessary; • Legal costs • Accounting costs • Consulting fees • Environmental costs • Media Relations • Improved safety enhancements to ensure continued operation Yes it sucks that their prices are so high and the forced rifle range bench rest shooting with the plywood barriers are also a major frustration/turn off. Its why Highrock in Naugatuck tends to get packed from time to time. There are other private clubs but many tend to have long waiting lists. The New Haven Sportsman's Club is one such private range, Chris's Indoor Shooting Range is another option for the public. I think there is another range within the New Haven city limits but I don't know the name of it. There is also a club called Elm City Gun Club but I don't know if they are still active. I'm sure others will be along to flesh out the local New Haven country ranges. |
| I'm willing to bet there is debt to pay on that lawsuit still. However their prices are high which is why I try and go on a week day once price for the whole day! I do miss their old hours in the summers open till dusk I was able to get out after work for 2 or so hours for less than $15. I never did get to try the 200yd range how ever if they ever re-open it I sure would give it a try. |
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THe bench positoion is unnatural. Im too hunched over, so I bet im foking with my site pic. And its fatiguing. I try shooting off hand siting LOL..not easy.
One of these days im gonna kick the bench outta the way and go kneeling or prone...I'm sure the RO will fliptheFout. And they do seem disinterested that you are there. Like your putting them out...If they don't watch it no one will shoot there and then they WILL lose. |
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Any news on the 200yd range? Per their website... 200 YD RANGE We're sorry, but our 200 yard range is inactive until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. |
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Dave Lyman has been a tremendous support to youth and competition programs over the years. To say he doesn't support the shooting community is not at all fair. Most folks who want to shoot very much end up joining a private club. Make your own judgements Hey Ii dont doubt that. Ive been shooting there on and off for 30 yrs. Not sure who he is there. But the woman in the range reg booth and the dude in the pro shop...like they had no joy in their lives or something. Just saying, retail requires some energy to be effective. A nice enthusiastic Hey How ya doin once in a while goes a long way... Maybe different on weekends, but the place is like a morgue during the week. The answer my questions and all, and I'm not looking for a social club but jeez its a public place. Maybe cuz they are mostly the only game in town they got complacent. And those baffles are never ever coming down. Yup I'm pit-bulling the baffles. It sticks in my craw. But they'll get my money next week, and the week after that... |
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Quoted: Quoted: Dave Lyman has been a tremendous support to youth and competition programs over the years. To say he doesn't support the shooting community is not at all fair. Most folks who want to shoot very much end up joining a private club. Make your own judgements Hey Ii dont doubt that. Ive been shooting there on and off for 30 yrs. Not sure who he is there. But the woman in the range reg booth and the dude in the pro shop...like they had no joy in their lives or something. Just saying, retail requires some energy to be effective. A nice enthusiastic Hey How ya doin once in a while goes a long way... Maybe different on weekends, but the place is like a morgue during the week. The answer my questions and all, and I'm not looking for a social club but jeez its a public place. Maybe cuz they are mostly the only game in town they got complacent. And those baffles are never ever coming down. Yup I'm pit-bulling the baffles. It sticks in my craw. But they'll get my money next week, and the week after that... it aint different on the weekend |
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Dave Lyman has been a tremendous support to youth and competition programs over the years. To say he doesn't support the shooting community is not at all fair. Most folks who want to shoot very much end up joining a private club. Make your own judgements Hey Ii dont doubt that. Ive been shooting there on and off for 30 yrs. Not sure who he is there. But the woman in the range reg booth and the dude in the pro shop...like they had no joy in their lives or something. Just saying, retail requires some energy to be effective. A nice enthusiastic Hey How ya doin once in a while goes a long way... Maybe different on weekends, but the place is like a morgue during the week. The answer my questions and all, and I'm not looking for a social club but jeez its a public place. Maybe cuz they are mostly the only game in town they got complacent. And those baffles are never ever coming down. Yup I'm pit-bulling the baffles. It sticks in my craw. But they'll get my money next week, and the week after that... it aint different on the weekend Only thing that changes on the weekend is the price, $30 for the first hour, $10 for each hour after that (for men). 
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| I see that this is a public range. Me being from Rhode Island can I bring my AR15 down there to use on the 100 yrd range? Too lazy to look up CT gun laws. I use to go to this public range in Mass but its getting pretty sketchy up there. I only own high cap mags btw. |
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Quoted: I see that this is a public range. Me being from Rhode Island can I bring my AR15 down there to use on the 100 yrd range? Too lazy to look up CT gun laws. I use to go to this public range in Mass but its getting pretty sketchy up there. I only own high cap mags btw. CT has no magazine restrictions. Your AR15 will need to be ban compliant (or a non-colt AR15/Sporter pre-ban). I had a tough time shooting 30rnd mags off the bench rest but 20rnd worked just fine. |
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I'm not going to tell Lyman how to run his business, but it doesn't take a sharp eye to see that folks are waiting 3 hours for a lane to clear over at HRSA just so that they can shoot elbow to elbow with other shooters at a reasonable restrictions and at a reasonable rate. The demand is there.
Bench-only at $30 an hour is only going to attract newbies and fudds who zero their thirdy-thirdy once a season and go home. Lots of money left on the table I think..... |
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Weekdays it's $30 for the day, weekends it's $30 for the first hour and $10 an hour thereafter. that's what people are bitching about? That is $80 before ammo and gas to take your kid shooting for a few hours. That is more than my annual dues to my local private range. The same trip to HRSA is less than $20. I'm not sure what you are getting for 4x the money except for 4x as much space between benches. Unless you are popping rimfire all day, this is a $200 trip once you stop at Chili's on the way home for a shitty lunch. I guess the fact of the matter is that guns are a big money pit 
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$80? 2 hours is only $40, right? 30 for 1hr then $10 for each after that. well i guess i can't complain seeing as the most of my rifles are worth 2,500 or more. The real bitch is all you can do is sit to shoot. You cant work on different positions, techniques or drills. Taller folks are kinda screwed. weekdays its $30, i can only sit and shoot for 2-3 hours, about 200 rnds, $6 in gas, a granola bar and 2 bottles of water. nice even $100 afternoon. Ammo get shot any way, granola bar gonna get et anyway, car gets drove any ways.so where can you trim it. range fees. and bang for your buck. which means see above. |
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I haven't been to BT since the outdoor mods to the backstops. Some of the people there almost want to die with their stupid gun handling or other forms of carelessness.
I'm not saying private ranges are much better, but they are some what safer. At least the guys you must deal with at private ranges shoot more, so they understand safe gun handling better than a brand new shooter. If you or I want a perfect range, you must buy land, period. I belong to two clubs, and I shoot as often as I can. Between the two I spend around $440 a year to shoot. Divide that by $30 comes out to almost 15 visits for 1 hour (blue trail fees per 1 hour). Either club I belong to is perfect. They are stupid rules you must obey or you are kicked out. One club has a 5 round rule. That sucks! Also there are benches to shoot from, nothing else. No human type targets permitted either. But, you can shoot steel. This place shuts down for hunting season. 2ND place has 200 yrd range, plus 22LR indoor range. No human type targets permitted or steel allowed. You can shoot any form of shooting discipline. Biggest let down here is the rifle and pistol ranges are in same line. If someone is shooting pistol, rifle guy must cease fire also, which sucks at times. This club is busier also with shitty parking. Like I said, I live to shoot, but if you want a perfect place, you must have your own place to shoot. 
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Is this how it looks to shoot on the 100 yd range still ? Not being able to stand and that plywood sucks   
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/ctcorvette/bg/maygun006.jpg Every time I've gone there, the scenery hasn't been nearly as nice... 
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Seriously, how many of you guys actually ever stand when shooting? I have been to High rock a few times and don't recall ever seeing anyone stand. Wait a second... Shooting AND standing? Slow down there Mr. SEAL Team Six. That sounds way too high speed and potentially unsafe. Remember dude, there are shooters and gun owners. The vast majority of the public fall into that second category. At HRSA, the stations all of the way to the left (if looking downrange) support standing positions quite well and are used extensively for that purpose during the non-public hours. During the public hours... Notsomuch... Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Seriously, how many of you guys actually ever stand when shooting? I have been to High rock a few times and don't recall ever seeing anyone stand. I stand 95% of the time when I shoot. Same here, standing most of the time to shoot both handgun and rifle at most ranges except BTR. Usually those who sit are using scopes or the like. Others like myself are just throwing lead down range with either iron sightes or red dots. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Seriously, how many of you guys actually ever stand when shooting? I have been to High rock a few times and don't recall ever seeing anyone stand. If I'm not standing, I'm prone. Can't do prone at BTR either. Benches are for sighting in. End of story. Is shooting prone at BTR against the rules? |
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Is shooting prone at BTR against the rules? I believe so. The rational being that from the prone position you could elevate your muzzle enough to shoot over the berm. I think BTR had some baffles made up specifically for shooting from prone but they were intended for Match use only. Putting together what I have heard form a few sources, BTR reopened after the Temporary outdoor range closure with the promise that all rounds would be contained within the range property. Allowing patrons to shoot with visible blue sky would open BTR up for accusations of errant rounds impacting nearby homes. Something we all know was completely unfounded. Nevertheless I get the impression that BTR sn in no financial position to take chances and risk further accusations or litigation. |
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Seriously, how many of you guys actually ever stand when shooting? I have been to High rock a few times and don't recall ever seeing anyone stand. If I'm not standing, I'm prone. Can't do prone at BTR either.
Benches are for sighting in. End of story. Is shooting prone at BTR against the rules? Yes. Except for matches. No practice. Can you imagine how bummed I was to show up with my RRA National Match rifle and $200 worth of 75gr match ammo on the first nice day of the spring to find this out? |
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Is shooting prone at BTR against the rules? I believe so. The rational being that from the prone position you could elevate your muzzle enough to shoot over the berm. I think BTR had some baffles made up specifically for shooting from prone but they were intended for Match use only. Putting together what I have heard form a few sources, BTR reopened after the Temporary outdoor range closure with the promise that all rounds would be contained within the range property. Allowing patrons to shoot with visible blue sky would open BTR up for accusations of errant rounds impacting nearby homes. Something we all know was completely unfounded. Nevertheless I get the impression that BTR sn in no financial position to take chances and risk further accusations or litigation. Not sure this is the best argument, but the trap fields are open. That gets air. Same thing with the outdoor pistol range. No gheyness there. |
