Posted: 12/23/2003 8:37:46 AM EDT
| I'm going to be stationed at the National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, Md and I will be living in the area and was wondering where a good place to shoot(rifle & pistol) is? Also any info on where not to live would be helpfull. Thanks |
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There may be a limit to how far he can live from his post. Otherwise I'd say try living near Gettysburg - commute down 15 to Frederick and pick up I270 to the Beltway - then its a hop-skip-and jump to Bethesda. There are some indoor places near Bethesda, the outdoor (rifle) ranges are a bit further out. Visit us at www.md-ar15.com we have a list of the AR friendly range in MD. |
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Are you moving/buying a house, or just renting? It just so happens I am selling my house in Gaithersburg. It is convenient to 270 or Metro, not too far of a drive compared to some of the far-out burbs, but reasonably priced compared to the close-in towns. It's also very near an IWLA range. If you are interested, please email or PM me. |
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As a grizzled veteran of the I270 - to VA commute every day, I suggest that you choose a place to live based largely upon your commute. Commuting south from PA or north from Virginia will add a considerable number of hours to your commute through some of the worst traffic corridors this nation has. Even if you live close-in to NNMC you'll have to deal with Bethesda traffic - which is no picnic on an average day. I hear the ownership advocacy side. I also know what it is like spending 18-20 hours commuting to and from work each week (average week, not a bad one). That is one hell of a waste of time. There are several things to consider. Your best decision will be a balanced one weighing your daily priorities. From commuting hell, CWO |
I hear ya, CWO! If there were NO traffic, my commute would be about an hour each way. There's NEVER "no traffic"! I guess I spend about 15-20 hours a week commuting. To not have to live in Baltimore (or Maryland for that matter) it is WELL worth it to me. |
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iNeedIt: I forgot to mention that the NNMC has it's own Metro rail stop on the Red Line. This would allow you to avoid slogging it out on the main-line traffic arteries and would drop you literally at the NNMC doorstep. At the north end of the Red line is Gaithersburg. You could get there from anywhere else on the Metro system, however cost and ride time increases with distance (of course). Thought I'd mention this alternative mode because of convenience to your destination. CWO |
| the metro on the red looks like a good option. Also since I dont have a lot of experience with driving in the snow It will be another one of those things that will influence things. Thanks sofar for all the info... Also what are the good gun shops, I know, getting a-little ahead of myself.. |
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Man has got to have priorities. Two good ones in the area you are looking for: -The Gun Rack in Burtonsville (just up RT29 from Silver Spring). -Atlantic Guns they have a shop in Silver Spring and one in Rockville. I haven't visited the Rockville shop but the Silver Spring one always has good stuff. There are others as you go north. |
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Rockville Atlantic guns is OK, not sure how it compares to the Silver Spring shop. Skip Gilbert Guns on Rockville Pike. There is a Train & Guns store in Wheaton. yes, model trains upstairs, guns downstairs! Prices weren't great, but I need to buy something there someday, just to support the concept. 
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I would second the notion that Gilbert Guns should be skipped (at least the Rockville store). The selection on site is mediocre compared even to Atlantic Guns in Rockville. Gilbert Guns merchandise is typically higher than online or other local shops; part of that goes to pay for a free month at their indoor range, which is the only indoor range in Montgomery Co. I bought a Rock River Arms A2 (plain ole, vanilla A2, no extras) as a factory order April 10. It arrived July 3. The first clerk that sold it to me told me specifically it would NOT require paperwork and a waiting period. The clerk who told me it was finally in made me do the paperwork and wait a week (just as the wife and kids were leaving town and the long weekend was there for fun to be had). All this after a three month wait (guess all that anger has to subside you know, when you wait three months, another week will do it /sarcasm off). Finally get to the range with the new rifle after another 3 months go by (lots of work deadlines, don't ask). I show up at the range and guess what? WE'RE OUT OF 5.56 AMMO TODAY! Can't bring your own ammo in; Montgomery Co. rules (uh huh), so I can't go get some elsewhere and bring it in. Oh, well, come back a week later, but it was well worth the wait, nice gun. I am also ticked that as an annual member of their indoor range I am supposed to get an additional month on my membership for having purchased the rifle, but when I brought it up to the range staff they tell me that I had to bring it up within 30 days of the purchase, so I don't get an extension of the annual membership. When I try to send a note to the owner by email via the range web site, the message won't go through. It is hard to get motivated to support their contiued operation, so if they get hassled out of business by Montgomery Co. by the GFWs I will have mixed feelings about it. Forrest and the others on this board could advise you on the other ranges to be experienced in the local area; I have only been to Gilbert's Indoor Range, as noted. Now, for the commute. If you choose to live in MD, a good option is Olney (on Georgia Avenue/MD 97). Though real estate has gone through the roof, you might be able to afford to rent something to your liking. Schools are very good (even the public schools). My commute to NIH (across Rockville Pike from NNMC) is 35-40 minutes using the "back roads". The commute gets worse all the time, however. Gaithersburg might do well for you, too. If you shoot for the Red line be sure to gravitate to the Shady Grove end of it rather than Silver Spring; otherwise you have to go into DC to go back out to the NNMC/NIH stop. Good luck. |
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I lived in MD for 32 years (grew up in Rockville) Lived in Bethesde off Pookes Hill Rd my last 5 years there. GET READY FOR MASSIVE TRAFFIC!!!!!!!! And I mean MASSIVE! I now live in VT - Did I tell you how good the gun laws, or lack of gun laws are up here?!?!? The gun shop I liked the most in MD was the Gun Rack, up in Burtonsville, off RT-29. |
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My best friend, a former Virginia resident, JMU grad...left to go play Army, in ROK and Texas. He then moved to Maryland in an effort to be close to his father-in-law {wife's choice as I understand}..... Horrible, horrible mistake....they are now looking to move back to VA. You will kick yourself later if you take RKBA seriously and then move to MD. HTH.... |
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Moved to MD about 10 years ago at the request of my wife (the family thing). Work was plentiful at the time and wages were high.... BUT Biggest mistake of my life in more ways than one. Coming from the hills of WV, then PA where I could pretty much shoot/hunt whenever or wherever I wanted. I had no idea at the time that state governments could make life so miserable as a hunter or gun owner. I've had my fill of MD. PA or possibly DE, they're calling my name. I'm in Iraq for a few more months then I'll start looking in PA first. In the distant future, I plan to move Idaho or Montana, but not til my kids are grown and I'm independently wealthy. (yeah right) At least it's a life long goal. |