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Posted: 7/29/2003 8:32:42 AM EDT
[#1]
NRA HQ Range -- 50yds indoor, well lit, well ventilated. $12/hour.
Clark Brothers, in Opal, VA about 40 minutes away, outdoor, covered, 100yds rifle, must buy ammo there. Living in Annandale is going to be one of several scenarios: You are an Asian minority. You are a Hispanic Minority. You make over $300K combined income. Otherwise there are plenty of great places that will have houses available. Be ready for sticker shock. A $200K house in Ohio is about $350K++ here. HTH..... |
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Posted: 7/29/2003 9:53:00 AM EDT
[#2]
What are some of the areas around Annandale that are more "affordable?" I won't be making a load of cash, but I won't be hurting either. Prolly looking for an apartment for my 1st year or so, and prolly around $500-800/month...if possible. |
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Posted: 7/29/2003 10:04:42 AM EDT
[#3]
Centreville would be an easy 30 minute AM commute to work in Annandale.
Springfield will also be an easy 15 minute commute. $500 will get you about an hour each way commute minimum. $800 will get you a nice apartment up here in Springfield or out in Centreville/Chantilly/Fairfax... I would not suggest anything south of Springfield despite a lot of people singing the praises of it. Anything along 7100 Fairfax County Parkway or Braddock Road from 28 - Backlick will be ideal for a good commute. You most likely need to do an area recon and get your bearings if you are serious. Living here all my life I can tell you right now, a lot of people make the mistake of going south and they hate it -- then they try to tell everyone how happy they are, etc etc..... Unless you like bumper to bumper, I can't see 1 hour plus commutes in that shit as "happy". YMMV..... |
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Posted: 7/29/2003 12:01:09 PM EDT
[#4]
Burke is right next to Annandale and fairly affordable. Most of the areas are pretty decent although a few have gone downhill in the past few years. But there isn't any place in Burke that I would feel uncomfortable at night, they are just sort of rundown.
Besides the already-mentioned shooting spots, there are several smaller indoor ranges of varying quality and the big daddy of them all: Quantico is available to shoot 100-1000 yards if you join the Quantico Shooting Club. And it's only about 30 minutes from Burke/Annandale/Springfield. |
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Posted: 7/29/2003 1:40:20 PM EDT
[#5]
Unless something has changed, Quantico's range is only up to 300 yards for the Quantico Shooting Club. There is also a 100 yard range, IWLA near Centreville. |
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Posted: 7/29/2003 1:57:50 PM EDT
[#6]
I just joined so I'm not positive but there is talk on their forum www.quanticoshootingclub.com about using the 1000 yds range. So while not a regular thing - since that range is booked quite a bit - it apparently does happen.
And if you're interested in service rifle competition, there is VA State Rifle Team practice almost every weekend except in the dead of winter. So you could shoot 200-600 yards with them. Not quite the same as just driving over the NRA in any case but the only option I have to shoot further than 100 yards. |
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Posted: 7/29/2003 4:14:59 PM EDT
[#7]
There are $350k houses here????????? dittos on everyting Shiv said. |
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Posted: 7/29/2003 5:09:51 PM EDT
[#8]
I think it's more like a $200K house in Ohio is a $500K house here...or more, depending on where. I'm in Arlington...you can guess the rest hehehe. 2 years ago, they got $409K for a 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath house accross the street...and that's before the last 2 years of crazy shit here.
I'll bet that house would sell for $550K now, easy. The guy I bought my Garand from lives around down the street a bit...he told me of several of the houses around the corner from us both that sold for $650K...and trust me, those of you from out of this area would be STUNNED at what you get for that kind of cash. I made that southward migration...Shivan is dead right about the commute from down around Woodbridge and further south...it's hideous. I don't know that in/out on 66 is much better; 66 backs up around Falls Church/Lee Highway every friggin' day around 5:00pm...looks like a parking lot. I used to get caught in it when I was coming home from the range, during the weekdays, when I was out of work. Kinda ruined the whole zen of the range hehehe. Traffic around here just blows, not a whole lot else to say. Now a buddy of mine has a studio apartment down the road in Arlington..he pays 800/month; I don't know what it looks like inside...he never invites me in. Of course, judging by his jeep, I don't WANT to go in lol. |
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Posted: 7/29/2003 5:16:55 PM EDT
[#9]
here's what $499,000 will get you in Arlington (it's on a busy street):
 Here's $290k: It's the cheapest house in Arlington right now. It looks like it would make a great crack house. 
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Posted: 7/29/2003 6:45:49 PM EDT
[#10]
My wife and I bought a house about a year and a half ago just inside the beltway north of the Mixing Bowl (395):
3 Bedroom 2 bath Bi Level for $272,000. It assesed for $302,000 last month. YMMV |
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Posted: 7/29/2003 8:23:28 PM EDT
[#11]
Hey, NoVaGator...you're not a real estate agent by any chance are ya?
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Posted: 7/29/2003 8:52:14 PM EDT
[#12]
I lived in Falls Church, McLean and Manassas for almost 15 years.
I will never go back to Northern Virginia. Traffic Crime Cost of living If you're white, you're a minority Traffic Homeowners associations Outrageus property taxes Traffic Crime Did I mention the worst traffic I've ever encountered? And that I lived in southern California prior to Northern Virginia, so I know world class traffic when I see it. |
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Posted: 7/30/2003 4:15:45 AM EDT
[#13]
I have RE license, but I don't pratice. I do have a pretty deep background in R.E., but I've been out of the business for about 3 years |
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Posted: 7/30/2003 4:47:04 AM EDT
[#14]
Just curious where these apartments would be? I haven't found anything less than $1000/month for a single unless it was a subsidized apartment (max income around $39,000/yr). I live around the 28-29 intersection. Do they get that much cheaper further west? |
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Posted: 7/30/2003 5:38:03 AM EDT
[#15]
Squib:
Since I have only ever owned, I'm not sure, but people are always talking about their $800 apartment in Centreville, or whatever....you know the drill on secondhand info. Sorry if it is an error.....I know they are out there, not sure of the fine print on the lease agreement. NovaGator: The shittiest little house down Ravensworth Drive in Annandale is about $350K start, the ones on the East side of Ravensworth are about $600K+..... The houses right across the street in "North Springfield" are starting in the $400K range and they are 30-40 years old, but some are VERY VERY nice. Arlington is a joke. One guy I know had his assessment come back from the county at $190K, but the same house across the street from him sold for $345K..... Sounds like PT Barnum was right. I bought my townhouse in Kingstowne on the absolute lowest point of the scale. It has since gone to 2x my buying price. Yummy.... HTH.....YMMV...... |
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Posted: 7/30/2003 6:39:23 AM EDT
[#16]
No problem, just honestly surprised and curious. I am more than willing to save that $$ if I can.  Hoping to get a decent townhouse in the next few years, but the prices around here are a tad high.At least working in Annandale gives the option of living a little further south, which I always heard is a little cheaper. However, you'll definitely find no help with the traffic. Centreville isn't too bad of an area to live. A little further from the city pace (for a year or two longer, anyway), but good access to some major roads. There seem to be some nice places to spread in Manassas/Gainsville area, but not sure how much of a drive you can tolerate, or what the prices are like out there. I've only been here three years, so I could be totally wrong. |
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Posted: 7/30/2003 6:48:25 AM EDT
[#17]
With his possible employment in Annandale, Centreville is PERFECT.
He can stay on one side of the county without much drama. He can chose to come down 7100 the Pkwy or down Braddock all the way to Annandale, or use 66 to 7100 to any one of the exits that shoot through Springfield, or just get off at Braddock.... If in Springfield, there is Backlick, or 495 to Braddock, since 495 doesn't back up until after Braddock on normal days. Or the circuititous route of Old Keene Mill to Rolling to Braddock to wherever in Annandale. Still not sure about the rent though, that may be an issue with finding an apartment/condo for less than an actual mortgage payment. Ed |
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Posted: 7/30/2003 9:52:25 AM EDT
[#18]
Centerville is a good option for most parts of the area except maybe Crystal City. I personally prefer the west side towards Centerville/Manassas over the southern Dale City/Woodbridge area. Most of the crime in PW County is down om that area, not up here in Manassas.
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Posted: 7/30/2003 11:08:23 AM EDT
[#19]
Centreville? Yeah, it is a nice area, but there are a few things wrong with it. First, if you have to travel on 28, it is a nightmare. Its better now that they built the new interchange at 28 and 29 but it is still rough. Next is the issue of I66 at rush hour. You can't drive inside the beltway unless you carpool and then, it is 2 lanes. This means you have to get on to the beltway and the ramps can be stopped all the way back to Vienna or worse.
The commute up 95 can be a bitch but at least you can drive all the way in and you have alternatives like 123, Route 1 and a few escapes through Lorton. |
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Posted: 7/30/2003 11:24:47 AM EDT
[#20]
See above....from Centreville; Annandale is cake. I work right at 495 and Braddock. My fiance had a condo in Centreville and my CFO lives out by Stone Rd. It took me 21 minutes to get in this AM at 8:15am.... Got on 66East at 28 and scooted down to 7100 South, got off at Braddock South, then Braddock to Port Royal. 21 minutes. I am right on the cusp of Annandale. We eat at Silverado's and Fuddruckers for lunch often. They are about 12 minutes away in the lunch hour rush. Ed |
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Posted: 7/31/2003 4:37:58 AM EDT
[#21]
Excellent stuff in the above posts. Don't have much to add cept like Ed said, being very familiar with the area and the side streets help a lot in commuting. I can get to Georgetown, DC from West of Chantilly in 50 minutes or less in the morning(granted fairly early in the morning but HOV in effect), and 50 minutes or less in the evenings(leaving at 5pm) without carpooling.
Also, i usually drive to Dale City(down the dreaded I95) 1-2x a week from work and since i've discovered slugging, it only takes about 35 minutes or so (compared to 1.25 hrs). It's not too bad - all are professional working folk and many are in our armed forces. DD |
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Posted: 7/31/2003 6:48:22 AM EDT
[#22]
Slugging is VERY safe, I don't think there has EVER been an incident of violence, robbery, theft, harassment, rape, etc EVER since they started to "formalize" the pickup spots, etiquette, etc. Excellent choice if you can be without your car during the day. Ed |
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Posted: 7/31/2003 7:03:56 AM EDT
[#23]
Group BUY !!!!!!!! Come on guys haven't you always wanted a Crack House
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Posted: 7/31/2003 7:32:21 AM EDT
[#24]
Yup.. in my case - i actually pick up the slugs @ Rosslyn and drop them off at Tacketts or Horner. DD |
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Posted: 7/31/2003 2:19:48 PM EDT
[#25]
I'll tell you how bad it is...I'm gonna have a new rifle waiting for me tomorrow at VA Arms...I'll be off work around 5:30 in Arlington...I wont' even TRY to make it to Manassas before VA Arms closes, even though I'd LOVE to get that rifle to play with tomorrow before I head to the range Sat. I'd need a police escort to even have a chance of making about a 20 mile trip in 90 minutes. Pitiful.
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Posted: 7/31/2003 2:28:55 PM EDT
[#26]
I used to date a girl in Centreville...about 15 years ago...she lived about 2 miles down 29 on the right in some townhouses. On the nights I crashed at her place, it would take 15 to 20 minutes just to get to the light at 28 in the morning!! I guess things are better now with all the construction they've done, but DAMN that was annoying.
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Posted: 8/4/2003 11:05:49 PM EDT
[#27]
I've never been to this range, but it's at the top o' the list on the NRA's listing for VA:
Annandale Small Arms Range 7203 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003. (In the Giant Food shopping center, across the street from the Firehouse.) Phone: 703-658-7089 Facilities include: Indoor Pistol (50 feet), Archery, Airgun Range Access: Public Email: [email protected] |
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Posted: 8/5/2003 6:04:58 AM EDT
[#28]
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Posted: 8/5/2003 6:50:45 AM EDT
[#29]
Dawson's is gone, moved to Woodbridge  I have never been there, but yes it is in the basement of some house there and supposedly you feel like you are going in to a scene from Silence of the Lambs. 
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Posted: 8/5/2003 4:25:01 PM EDT
[#30]
I've been there a long time ago and that is a very accurate depiction of that range. Well, it was about 10 years ago... no idea on how it looks now.
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Posted: 8/5/2003 4:43:29 PM EDT
[#31]
Put it this way..my wife and I both vowed to NOT move to NoVA. 60k apeice doesn't cut it up there for my standards. I'd love to do do some of the jobs/missions up there, but Tidewater VA is much better for my tastes.
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Posted: 8/5/2003 4:56:08 PM EDT
[#32]
Dont you just love those 300K "Starter Homes"... Well Annandale does have some great Korean bars and Resturants... You might just want to take a short term rental at the Oakwood Apts Duke street to scope out the area. As an ex NY'er I'm still amazed a the driving/drivers here. 1 tip-Never even contemplate living in MD. |
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Posted: 8/5/2003 5:09:45 PM EDT
[#33]
Dawsons and that range are gone IIRC looks like a Korean Resturant is there now...The range was a rathole and you had to use their ammo...I used to fill my pockets w/ ammo and sneak in some good stuff... |
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Posted: 8/5/2003 5:11:45 PM EDT
[#34]
TS/SCI with si/tk and I've got a job for you! |
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Posted: 8/5/2003 8:59:04 PM EDT
[#35]
I saw their store in Woodbridge, wasn't sure if they moved or opened a second location or what. Whatever, they never impressed me with their prices or selection the few times I went so I didn't miss them.
I only went there once because it was near where I lived at the time. The next time I went shooting I went to this really well lit range with great ventilation that's out in Chantilly...
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Posted: 8/7/2003 4:47:50 PM EDT
[#36]
Got em all and then some. We REALLY don't want to move to the PRNoVA. Although I LOVE to do some of those missions up there. I had an interview Tuesday and will find out something in ~1.5 weeks. If I can't get shit by early Oct. I'm headed to MD/DC/NoVA coem hell or highwater. Well maybe Dahlgren if I could swing it. IM me if ya want we can talk details and whatnot. |
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Posted: 8/7/2003 6:29:38 PM EDT
[#37]
Yeah, the one where the people were friendly and called you by your first name when you walked in the door? [homer] You're living in a world of make-believe [/homer] But seriously, yes it's all relative. Then you discovered the NRA HQ range and never drove to Chantilly again. |
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Posted: 8/8/2003 6:07:08 AM EDT
[#38]
Actually I stopped there and picked up a couple of things in the shop while I was in the area. You're right about the range though. I haven't used their range in years. |
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