Location for indoor range near GTA?

My vote is for Mississauga or Brampton (or nearby). Easy enough to get an exemption for the discharge by-laws and ample number of industrial areas where this could be done (North-West corner towards Georgetown). Heck, there is still farm-land in the area. 401 and 407 highways nearby for easy access.

Just my $0.02
 
Somebody is planning a big new facility north of the city, I suspect in King Township. They are a long way from achieving their goal, which is very ambitious, as well as expensive. They're planning indoor and outdoor ranges, trap and skeet, CQB training, long range precision and 3Gun and other shooting sports. I would think one of the more rural industrial areas (like Target Sport's location) might be more doable. It can't be near residential areas, that would be the kiss of death. The other consideration (as a former industrial landlord myself) is the cost of leasing and maintaining your space. Out of the way locations are less expensive and, usually, taxes are lower. Good access to the highway system, either the 400 or the 404, would probably be essential and that is a bit MORE expensive.

This is a worthwhile project to consider, but you will need some deep pockets to pull it off. And lots of patience.

One thing I'd suggest, is not to be too close to or to compete with an existing range. That would not only split the customer base, it might lead to both ranges failing. While we're daydraming, a 50m range capable of at least medium (.308) calibre rifle fire) would be nice. Or even a 100m outdoor range?
 
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bacardi said:
Not necessary. In this case, more routes to accommodate high traffic. High traffic means longer travel time. Longer travel time means more stress and little time to shoot and more time on the road. This means little interest means lesser money.

As the others said, Toronto development is moving north east and east end. Great opportunity to tap into this market. See how Target Sports Canada can charge double or triple than the other clubs and still going. More people with money live in these areas. :)
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"As others have said..." you mean those living out east? :p Just as many people here have pointed out all the growth, development, potential and opportunities in the west as well. Let's face it... people out east want the new range out there, people out west want it by them. However, if you want take the 407 out of the equation, then in the east you are solely relying on the 401, which (in the east or west) is a nightmare at the best of times. It ranks as one of the (if not 'the') busiest highways in North America... that is saying a lot when you take all of the US into account. I wouldn't want to rely on the 401 only to get to my club. Normal congestion aside, one accident - you're screwed, any construction - you're screwed, bad weather - you're screwed. Toronto also doesn't have the same great secondary routes cutting east and west like you find going from Etobicoke through Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington. Along with the 403 and QEW, are also hwy's 2 (Lakesore), 5 (Dundas) & 7 (Queen), and other roads like Upper Middle, Eglinton/Lower Base, Britannia, Derry, Steeles, etc. I've travelled these roads A LOT, well over a million kms worth, (and directed traffic over them as well) and one thing is for certain... bad traffic is everywhere. The most you can hope for is to have as many alternate routes as possible, and in that regard, the west wins... hands down.
 
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Cookstown: Shooting competitions at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto were held from July 12 to 19 at the Toronto International Trap and Skeet Club (Pan Am Shooting Centre) in Innisfil. The competition was split into three disciplines, pistol, rifle and shotgun.
 
CanAm said:
Back of the napkin:

25ish lanes
rubber backstop
target retrieval
pro-shop
lounge
classrooms with PAL courses

no idea baout the contractors. Get bids and go from there, the usual.
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Can be a fire hazard. It has happened.
 
Finch/Albion/Hwy 50 area would be great! lots of ways to get there, its an industrial area with open spaces close to 427/407! We have a range in Burlington, and another one or two north of the GTA by Newmarket, that leaves a 100km gap in between, and south Brampton, North Etobicoke is right in the middle of the void! On the sidelines, lots of people there could use some FA and safety training;)
 
People from Toronto Drive all the way to Frankford to shoot so I don't think it matters. If you build it with in 1hr of Toronto people will come...
 
Dsiwy said:
People from Toronto Drive all the way to Frankford to shoot so I don't think it matters. If you build it with in 1hr of Toronto people will come...
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And to Silverdale which on a good day is 1.5 hours.. This thread is now just about everyone trying to get the range built on there side of the city and as close as possible ;) Regardless within 1 hour of the city I think you are right, membership will fill up extremely fast.
 
NickVR said:
And to Silverdale which on a good day is 1.5 hours.. This thread is now just about everyone trying to get the range built on there side of the city and as close as possible ;) Regardless within 1 hour of the city I think you are right, membership will fill up extremely fast.
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You are right, of course. There are plenty of great locations all around the GTA, from the west to the north to the east. And wherever it's built, it's sure to draw people. One of the big deciding factors will be all the approvals, another is getting the best location at the best price and yet another will be access. We don't know how the first two will play out, only CanAm does. But the third is pretty straight forward and factual... there is simply more ways to get to the west than either the east or the north. I live in the west, but I have a cottage in Muskoka and the in-laws cottage is in the Kawarthas. And I dread taking either the 400 north or the 401 east to get to either. The same would go for any club in those directions. I thank gawd for shift work, as I don't have to drive up on Friday and back on Sunday, but even then I usually go late at night or early in the morning to avoid the traffic. The traffic in the west isn't much better, but at least there are more alternative routes to get you where you're going.

Anyway, wherever this club ends up being located, I'm just glad to see a new range coming to the GTA. That is absolutely a good thing.
 
Bad Lieutenant said:
You are right, of course. There are plenty of great locations all around the GTA, from the west to the north to the east. And wherever it's built, it's sure to draw people. One of the big deciding factors will be all the approvals, another is getting the best location at the best price and yet another will be access. We don't know how the first two will play out, only CanAm does. But the third is pretty straight forward and factual... there is simply more ways to get to the west than either the east or the north. I live in the west, but I have a cottage in Muskoka and the in-laws cottage is in the Kawarthas. And I dread taking either the 400 north or the 401 east to get to either. The same would go for any club in those directions. I thank gawd for shift work, as I don't have to drive up on Friday and back on Sunday, but even then I usually go late at night or early in the morning to avoid the traffic. The traffic in the west isn't much better, but at least there are more alternative routes to get you where you're going.

Anyway, wherever this club ends up being located, I'm just glad to see a new range coming to the GTA. That is absolutely a good thing.
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It's ironic that even given the 401 and 404 that transit to a range location just outside the city is such a large obstacle..but we have money for bike lanes and HOV lanes. Traffic congestion along the 401 between Mississauga and Yonge Street eastbound from 2:00-7:00 is a nightmare as is going North/South on the 404 between Eglinton and Hwy 7 when one is going in the direction of rush hour traffic. The decision of North, West or East for location needs to take traffic into consideration since the range will want to draw members for the entire extended GTA area. Given the level of demand and the fact that most shooters will be active primarily on weekends and after hours, I think there is more flexibility in location than otherwise.
 
Good point... Hey CanAm, will this range be 24 hours?

A 24/7 range would be awesome. I would prefer to go in the middle of the night when there's hardly anyone there.

I go to a 24hr gym for the same reason. I usually go around 1am. My workout is almost 3 hours long as is, so waiting for equipment sucks.
 
NickVR said:
And to Silverdale which on a good day is 1.5 hours.. This thread is now just about everyone trying to get the range built on there side of the city and as close as possible ;) Regardless within 1 hour of the city I think you are right, membership will fill up extremely fast.
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What...? :) Some truth to that for sure, as I think there has been such a LACK of good opportunities for so many shooters...we've grown weary of the long drives to Silverdale, a private club you have to buy a share in to join, reasonably priced clubs you can't join...but can be added to a waiting list, etc. etc. I've personally given-up on gun clubs of ANY kind and only shoot in the spots I hunt for the most part. Affordable, but a long drive.

If I could bend the ear of whoever is actually considering this... (CanAm, CanAm on behalf of other parties?) ...I'd love to say;

1. Make it big
2. Make it accessible from a $ point of view**
3. Plan on making it accessible well into the evening (indoor range)
4. If at ALL possible...an outdoor range out to 300 yards would be great, but within a 1 hour radius of Toronto~maybe impossible

**by "accessible" I mean it would be nice to see a fee structure that might have some flexibility. For instance, I don't have an RPAL...but would like to own a .22 handgun and use it 1-2 times a month from about October to March. Perhaps a limited membership (for example, a quantity of range passes) option would be good with the option of buying extra passes.

A retail store with a nice variety of guns, optics, scope rings/bases, ammo, reloading supplies~would be superb. See rows and rows of black guns isn't all that thrilling, even for a young fella like me. :) Seeing a well-staffed gun counter, minus any attitude, would be a bonus as well. I honestly think people will pay as much, possibly a little more for goods (over online) if they can walk into a shop, get what they need, and deal with someone positive/friendly behind the counter.

One last request~this thread is getting huge, I hope CanAm will start a new one if/when any decision or news becomes available.
 
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