Entirely depends on where you are.  Here in STL county it's masks everywhere, when I go to Lake of the Ozarks (there just last weekend) it's like 15% masks and nobody cares or says anything.   Really a nice change from all the mask nazis around here.

Seems like you'll fit in great in Missouri.

Other than at nation chain stores its been pretty much business as usual since early summer here in the Ozarks.

Most people not wearing masks where we live. At church, let's say out of 300 people, there might be 6 people wearing masks. At big box store, even with a big banner saying you must wear masks, about 50% do and sometimes much less than that. At Farm type store, even at the early stages of the plandemic, pretty much around 10% of the people wore masks and less now. I think those that live in fear, the elderly and the folks with immune deficiencies will probably always wear masks from now on due to the fear our government spread during their plandemic.

Lincoln county decided to do that apparently... in December. Who knew... apparently nobody in Lincoln county; unless we're all just rebels spoiling for a fight of course.

Nope I didnt know until I was checking what iowa was doing for a trip last weekend.

you would think we would all be dead by now the mask rebels...

One thing I've not seen mentioned in this thread is proximity to health care.  I'm not talking about a Dr/Dentist or having the sniffles.  But if you or someone in the Fam needs to see a specialist of some type ongoing, then you may want to stay with in an hour or so of a Metro area.  That would be STL/KC/CoMo/Springfield and/or maybe count Rolla too.  Although now with Covid many places can handle doing a virtual visit and I expect that be happening for the forseeable future.  If you stick with a commutable suburb the remote hospitals are tied in with a Metro and you can get a specialist appt locally a few times a month.

Internet is CRAP in Rural MO.  Best is typically 5Mbps DSL, check availability before you buy property.  Although StarLink is getting rolled out in North MO and moving South through SpaceX which will change availability.  I'm an hr West of STL and just got my beta invite.

College Towns offer a more diverse culture and cuisine options.

I've lived in MO all my life, Family goes back to EARLY 1800s, but I've traveled A TON through the US and UK.  MO has a few shortcomings (mostly methbilly's and the humidity) but its a great place to raise a Family.  I'm in Franklin County - 10 acres and 3bd/2ba Ranch with a decent sized Shop is $1500 for real estate taxes.  Personal Property you claim the vehicles that need a license - we have 3 from 2-10yrs old and its about $500/yr.  2yr License Plate Registration is about $60.

Another thing about jobs, if you can handle an hour commute, you can make great pay in a Metro and within 30-60 mins be living a rural as you like.  MO goes from "City" to "Rural" pretty quick.  Commute time is great for phone calls and podcasts.  Pickup groceries on the way home and not leave the "compound" all weekend.  The Southern part of the state in the Ozarks are great, but also a lot of "wild" hills/hollows areas minutes off I-44 between STL and Springfield or off I-70.  From my area look at New Haven/Hermann/Rosebud area which is just over an hr to either STL or Jeff City but plenty rural.  Or Salem/Vichy/Vienna which puts you close to Rolla and within 2hrs of either STL or Springfield.

Bold.

I live in rural SWMO and have fiber through the local electric coop.

One thing about the well water, if you get sulfur water, you won't have to worry  about the ticks and chiggers.

Constitutional carry and SAPA?  

Are there any 1,000 yard public ranges in Missouri?  Or a club that's accepting new members?

Don't know if they go 1,000 yards, but check out Bench Rest;  (I've never been there)

http://www.shootingstl.com/

Moved from Seattle to MO 15 years ago.

Never looked back.

Thanks guys! I appreciate the info.

Thank you.  I don't mind driving a bit - I used to drive 275 miles one way.

I did a little research on MO last night and woke up thinking it's the right move for me.  I hope to list my home this week.  I'm psyched.

There’s a range near Lake of the Ozarks (Iberia) with +1000yrds now too. I haven’t checked it out yet but I have some in-laws with adjacent property. All I know is that It sounds very active.

So they get an idea, here's my mom at that bridge before I was born. (Late 40s/early 50s).



I haven't been there since the late 70s.

Thanks for the welcome and the good information everyone has shared.

I've never stepped foot in MO so I don't really know.  I just want to be in the part that isn't NY with NY laws and NY people.  

I've started looking online - I'm wide open at this point.  I'd like to be fairly rural (yeah I know - growing up on Long Island has given me an altered view of rural).  I hope to avoid crime.
What I want property wise is 5 - 10 acres with no more than 2 acres cleared.

I'm single so a 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1,000 square foot house is OK fine by me.  I do want at least a single outbuilding that's 20x40 or thereabouts.

I'd like to be within 40 minutes of a WalMart, public hunting land and a shooting range.  I'll take a ride for a 1,000 yard range, that I'm fine with.

I like to canoe, ride my motorcycles, camp, hunt and shoot stuff.  Maybe get back into fishing at some point.

I'll need a job, not to get rich but to cover the bills.

I consider myself conservative, I'm sure the left thinks I'm a right wing terrorist.  

600 is triple what is commonly offered here on Long Island.  300 is rumored to exist but you can't just show up and shoot 300.  I would travel to PA to shoot beyond 200.  Long range is cool stuff.  I still get excited to do it.

It’s the one off of EE. I think they had a FB page which is probably where I heard of it first. I got rid of FB a while back though. Seems like there was some chatter on here about it a while back. I know they are pretty active because my SIL complains about the noise constantly.

Knowing the area, I really doubt there is much of a country club atmosphere

Lol, this is very true. It's a great range for long distance shooting and also the site of Cola Warrior Flyover if you're into that sort of thing.

Whew, the country club thing scared me a bit.  I'm too old and slow for Cola Warrior

I've always lived in town so I'm probably talking out my ass here, but I seem to recall you need a minimum of five acres for a septic tank. Most of the places you're looking at won't be on county water or sewer.

I believed I would have my own water well and septic system.  I have no experience with wells.  I just had a new septic system put in at my current home.  I wish I could take it with me

Big Piney Sportsman's Club goes out to 750, but there are restrictions on shooting it as that part of the range crosses over the main drive into the club. More accurately, the 750 yd range platform is elevated and behind the main drive in. People coming into the club will drive forward (and under) the 750 platform so they close the main drive when matches are being held on that platform.
The 600 yard benches are always open.
Owensville goes out to 1K I believe.
Arnold Rifle and Pistol Club just built a 400 yard range.

Well this state is full of opportunities for all of that. Take a look at the areas around Eminence. Jack's fork and Current rivers. Nice conservation areas and state parks. Beautiful scenery and some of the best floating in the country.

I believe Owensville is 550 yards.

I keep a membership at Owensville, but almost never go there. Hey, it's $20 a year. I send in my check just to support them. They have a strong CMP program.

Thank you.

We moved to SW Missouri from the Chicago metro area. I was able to retire and we couldn't stand the taxes and politics any more. We bought a place about 40 miles NW of Springfield near Stockton Lake. We have a 2100sf house and a shop building that's bigger than the house on 20 acres. It's about 50-60% wooded and our taxes are around $1000/yr. I have a range in the yard that gives me about 250 yards. I've killed several deer within 100 yards of the house.

There are adjustments from urban living. Shopping is much further and we don't have the variety we had in the Chicago suburbs. The ethnic foods we were used to are pretty much non-existent. On the plus side, traffic is also non-existent unless we go into Springfield or Kansas City. I've been told there's only one intersection in the county with traffic signals. People are friendly and tend to mind their own business. All in all, I'm very happy we made the move and wouldn't go back to Illinois for anything.

Sounds like EXACTLY the atmosphere I'm looking for.  I'll have a smaller home and less land but I'd love a big shop I could put a car lift in.  

I'm glad you're happy and everything has worked out for you.  Thanks for the reassurance.

I haven't been there since 2011, but I liked it.

A year or so ago i heard there was a plan to develop the old Rock Island rail line into another rails-to-trails park, much like the Katy Trail. The rail line is right behind the firing line (between the club grounds and the highway). That can’t bode well for the club. Imagine a bunch of city folks riding their bikes 30 yards from a rifle range.

That looks nice, peaceful (as far as ranges go) and private.  I like it.
I'm sorry to hear this.  Hopefully it won't get off the ground.

I know a few guys that shoot there (actually members here, but not very active) and they speak highly of it.

The founder/owner is also a member here, but I don't think he posts much.  Hardcore shooter.  AirbornRanger, or something along those lines.

So I was researching Missouri's stance on Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine I was happy to stumble across this:

CONCLUSION On behalf of all Missourians who wish to exercise their right to keep and bear arms in self- defense of their persons, homes, families, and property, the Attorney General respectfully requests that the Court dismiss this case at the earliest possible opportunity. Dated: July 20, 2020 Respectfully submitted, ERIC S. SCHMITT Attorney General

That's the coolest thing I've read in some time.

People always talk about Texas for good gun laws, but we've been ahead of them for a long time.

Washington was better than Texas in most ways(if you exclude nfa stuff) for a long time.(we got ruined fairly recently).

We still have shall issue CPL with no training requirement, but in the last few years we lost private sales and they came up with some BS training requirement to buy "assault weapons" and the fbi no longer does nics background checks here because of some bs requirement for mental health to be part of the investigation and the fbi doesn't have access to it(or some bs like that)

Absolutely!...going to visit my sister and brother-out-law in Texas in a few weeks. I always tease him about how Leftist their gun laws are in the Big 'T'.

I'm glad to see it.  

It's cool that they expect you to have a gun and use it if needed.