Long distance ranges in Southern Ontario

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ted_dent

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I recently got a request from a club member asking about southern Ontario ranges that have long distance shooting (300-500yards+). Nothing in the Niagara area comes close (Silverdale is the longest at 200 yards).

I know the military ranges are longer but assume you have to belong to a designated group to use them.

Any other ranges that meet this requirement without travelling to the prairies?

Thanks.
 
Nope. Silverdale has been selling their members of false hope of a 500-yard range for the past forever, so never believe it.
 
FEDGE2.0 said:
Nope. Silverdale has been selling their members of false hope of a 500-yard range for the past forever, so never believe it.
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Many many years ago they used to shoot 600yds at Silverdale. From the office to the 200yd berm....after hours, the owner & a few select friends.
 
The military generally doesn't shoot beyond 300m for qualifications anymore. Their range planners and designers don't keep maintaining unused spaces. Borden has long ranges and you can shoot there by joining the Ontario Rifle Association. The range at Kingston goes to 600, but there are some restrictions as I recall.
 
w ww.osacanada.ca.
Access to approved ranges 100-600m. 100m range is set up for firing at 0-25, 50, 75, 100. 600m range (firing mounts at 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600m) is military style with concrete shelters for target pullers. Only private range in ON so equipped. 2024 schedule will be posted in the New Year. There will be snowshoe and shoot events in January, February and March, prior to the April start of the regular season. The snowshoe and shoot days are open to everyone, subject to prior registration.
 
As maple_leaf_eh said, join the ORA and shoot out to 1000 yards at Borden. I used to live 15 minutes from a very nice 1000 yard range, until the DND “improved” it. They turned it into a 600 yard range, then a few year’s later “improved” it again to a 300m range. Yes, in their wisdom they actually move the firing points from yards to metres. They did this at both Cedar Springs and Winona.
ORA access to Borden is limited to booked dates on weekend and sometimes one afternoon/evening a week, from Apr/May until Oct. So you can’t just show up any day and shoot on you own for a few hours and roll out. Shooting is usually scheduled for a full day from 8am-4pm. And in some disciplines electronic targets are used.
 
Lots of spots on Crown Land, no need to go to the prairies. You just need to do some leg-work on Google maps. Sadly, people from the GTA have done this (or by word of mouth) and more of the easily accessible spots are slowly being flooded out by citiots. Also: ticks have shown up this past summer... that said it's still worth it to me to shoot alone or with close friends.

Depends also on what you mean by 'long range'.

You don't need to join the ORA to shoot at Borden, there a few clubs that do this. Primarily, check out the 'Base Borden Rod and Gun Club', where you can join as an 'associate member' if you aren't CAF, RCMP, or other Fed employee. They hold routine shoots at various ranges on the base. Or join both and max out your range time.
 
Join the ORA/DCRA. Shoot at CFB Borden, it's well worth the drive. Lots of events, from precision to F-class, and some intro days. Another option is taking a course at Milcun, and shooting their OSA matches to 600 yards. Again, well worth the drive.

If you can punch at 100 yards, acquire good dope and load consistently, you'll be competitive in these events, and meet some great folks.

Enjoy the journey.
 
Mangun said:
Can the public shoot a Cedar Springs?
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Since the DND now charges for range use at Cedar Spring the costs are out of reach for such a small club. The other problem is that you need at least 5 people there in order to have one person shooting. One RO, one Butts/target puller, 2 beach sentries and one shooter.
So it has been about 6 years since we have shot there. What was once one of the nicest 1000 yard ranges in Ontario has fallen into a shadow of it's former self. At one time the Cedar Springs Rifle Club had free access to the range every Sunday from May until Sept. Then the DND reduces the range to 600 yards. Then a few years later reduce it again to 300m, and build a repel tower and obstacle course down the middle of the range between the 500 and 1000 yard firing points. Much the same way Winona was butchered by the same people in the DND.
Cedar Springs is 17 km from my door. Now if I want to shoot 1000 yards, I drive 4 hours to Borden
 
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