Choosing a range subscription: outdoor VS indoor

lebnic

lebnic

New member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Newbie here,

Cleaned the rifle last week and hit the indoor range yesterday evening for the first time since getting my PAL (last spring) — put 130 rounds through it and got it zeroed at 50y. Had a blast, and the location is hard to beat: 20 minutes from home (14km), $450/year.


Next step might be an outdoor range membership. It's member-only registration right now, but it opens to everyone next month — hoping I can grab a spot. That would unlock 100y+ and skeet, and at $165/year it's actually the cheaper option too.


But honestly, I'm torn. The indoor range's location is really hard to beat — 20 minutes from home is just so convenient. The problem is, how long before 50y gets boring? There's only so much you can do at that distance...


The outdoor range has everything going for it on paper — longer distances, skeet, cheaper — except it's 50 minutes away (57km). And to make it worse, it closes around 6pm. The indoor is open till 8:30, a few evenings a week. That's a big deal when you're fitting sessions around work and family/kids.


How about you guys ? What would be your pick, and why ? How are you guys organized ?
 

Attachments

  • 20260527_200641.jpg
    20260527_200641.jpg
    118.2 KB · Views: 11
Depends on what you're shooting the most. Pistols? Indoor... Centre fire rifles? Outdoors ... 22lr plinking 50? Your indoor option sounds fine if you're ok with 50 yrd.

My range has both but is an hour drive. I use the outdoor way more because I can shoot anything and when the weather is nice, you can't beat it.

After my third kid, I haven't been. It's too hard to find the time, so proximity may be the determining factor for you..
 
I guess it really depends on what you want to shoot and how often you intend to go. Only you can figure that out.

I don't have the indoor option. Just a 500m range 15 minutes from home for $80/year.
 
I live in the city, and belong to an indoor range under 20 mins from my house. Very limited hours though, so not super useful for all my interests.

I also belong to two outdoor ranges, with the closest being almost an hour away. The other is farther. They have enough differences between them that it’s worth it for me to belong to all three.

The membership at the indoor pays for itself just in gas savings, even though it has limited use.
 
I was in a similar situation years ago ( the distance vs the time I had). The longer drive would have been the longer range (300m). I ended up joining the club that's less than 5 min from home. I'm able to make it out there more often and make way better use of my time while I have it. That said, my range has 100m outdoor and indoor as well. I seldom use the indoor unless it's a bitterly cold, sideways blowing day or I have some time on a weeknight after dark.
 
Does outdoor close at 6pm 365 days a year? Seems weird as sunset is basically 9pm now.


If I only had a rimfire, I'd go indoor. The fees will be paid for with gas savings.
 
lebnic said:
Oh cool. What makes outdoor better than indoor for you ?
Click to expand...
Lead poisoning/or high lead levels ( Yes I experienced high lead levels from indoor clubs )
Quieter. I found indoor ranges echos soo bad, I get headaches. Then if it is the type that allows centerfire rifle. Oh man that even worse.
Option to choose which range you shoot at. Though 50 yards is most I shoot lately with rimfire.
Any indoor range here is 20yard and I shoot pistols no less than 25 yards.


But where I live now is 15mins from the outdoor club.
 
I'm an outdoor guy all the way.
Can shoot any distance from 7m-500m
I also love the feeling of being outdoors and just dress for the weather.
Winter or summer. I'm out there
 
I have access to two outdoor facilities.
No indoor range within a reasonable distance.
If there were an indoor range, I would join it as well.
 
True Shadows said:
More variety in distance and targets.

Shooting paper or steel targets depending on what guns and calibres your shooting that day.

I have a bunch of steel targets of my own I like to bring and shoot at too.
Click to expand...
+1. Not mentioned yet is many outdoor ranges have bays that let you shoot to the sides as well as straight ahead. That opens up options for IPSC/multi-gun type practice and is a lot more fun than just sitting on a bench and shooting a paper bullseye target.


Mark
 
This time of year is wonderful outdoors (unless there's a thunderstorm happening) but in winter indoors is nice. And an option to zero your .22 at 50y indoors without wind before learning to reach out further in real weather is an advantage of access to both facilities.

Some comes down to people there, activities and matches you want to be part of, and closer distance makes it easier to be there more often.

I have memberships at both, despite prices being higher locally.
 
I'm a newbie as well.
Most are far far or further away. I do have a local rod and gun club. I have been a non shooting member of for years, it's not expensive but only has a short Pellet or 22Lr only indoor range. I only have a Canada Tire pellet gun and shot MT beer cans in back yard.
I went to an indoor range before I got my PAL. Once just to try it out see if I was interested in going further. It was quite a bit more expensive in the end than I expected. None I know of nearby over 20 25 Yds. Wasn't a great experience. Each to our own. If I had a hand gun?
Just joined a bigger Rod & Gun. A bit further away. Two ferries and a bit of a drive. I have somewhere to stay. Within an hour or so drive depending on traffic. It can be twice that. The indoor ranges are similar, ball park distance.
My son and I went for our first time today. We had a great day. Fired my own rifle for the first time. Can't say I know much about what I'm doing. Nobody lost an eye. We had fun. Even hit the fat side of the barn. Truthfully I was happy just not getting balled out for a screw up.
Completing a trip to the range and getting signed of by the range master was our goal.
50 yds might be different.
 
Location counts for a good deal but indoor ranges are normally limited to handguns and rimfire whereas outdoor ones are much more versatile for calibres and include shotguns. Plus, you get the healthier outdoor conditions and learn to shoot in the wind and all types of weather and levels of cold and, I don't care what they do or say, the outside air is a hell of a lot healthier to breathe and ear pro is more effective.
 
JMacd62 said:
I'm a newbie as well.
Most are far far or further away. I do have a local rod and gun club. I have been a non shooting member of for years, it's not expensive but only has a short Pellet or 22Lr only indoor range. I only have a Canada Tire pellet gun and shot MT beer cans in back yard.
I went to an indoor range before I got my PAL. Once just to try it out see if I was interested in going further. It was quite a bit more expensive in the end than I expected. None I know of nearby over 20 25 Yds. Wasn't a great experience. Each to our own. If I had a hand gun?
Just joined a bigger Rod & Gun. A bit further away. Two ferries and a bit of a drive. I have somewhere to stay. Within an hour or so drive depending on traffic. It can be twice that. The indoor ranges are similar, ball park distance.
My son and I went for our first time today. We had a great day. Fired my own rifle for the first time. Can't say I know much about what I'm doing. Nobody lost an eye. We had fun. Even hit the fat side of the barn. Truthfully I was happy just not getting balled out for a screw up.
Completing a trip to the range and getting signed of by the range master was our goal.
50 yds might be different.
Click to expand...
It's always a good day when nobody loses an eye, he he
 
Jahnj0584 said:
Does outdoor close at 6pm 365 days a year? Seems weird as sunset is basically 9pm now.


If I only had a rimfire, I'd go indoor. The fees will be paid for with gas savings.
Click to expand...
Yes, right ? I mean, if the drive is 50 minutes, plus i got to be there around 4pm... seems like i can only go on the weekends, or I'd need tp take the day off from work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom