First visit- Good job, guys!!!!

[Can Can]

Today was my very first visit to any shooting range ever. We're new to ranges, but not to shooting. My wife, Father-in-Law, and I spent a couple of hours in the pistol range shooting our new 870 shotgun and sighting in the new Bushnell on our 10/22. The FIL opted for the 9mm Taurus and 100 rounds.

Your staff were professional and courteous. Our Range Officer was very friendly and willing to answer questions. I've never used a handgun before, and your RO was patient and more than willing to give me some pointers to help me improve my shooting. IMHO, this guy went above and beyond. I'm sorry that I didn't get his name.

At no time did any member of our party feel intimidated or out-of-place, and I attribute that to the structured yet relaxed surroundings at your range. For that I thank you. My only "complaint", if you could call it that, is that you don't have a rate for people who bring in their own firearms and ammo(and don't need the supervision of a RO). I would be more inclined to return if guys like me with their own firearms/ammo got a slightly discounted drop-in fee.

Anyhow, I thought I should give you some feedback. Thanks for the awesome afternoon!!!!

Paul

 

[smak_daddy]

For that I thank you. My only "complaint", if you could call it that, is that you don't have a rate for people who bring in their own firearms and ammo(and don't need the supervision of a RO). I would be more inclined to return if guys like me with their own firearms/ammo got a slightly discounted drop-in fee.
Paul

Buy a membership.

I agree. its a great place to shoot.

 

[harbl_the_cat]

If you plan to shoot there more than 10 times in a year - the membership is well worth it.

Plus you get discounts on guests if you do.

 

[Can Can]

Unfortunately, it's a 45 minute drive from Cochrane when the traffic is good, so I don't find myself in that corner of the city too often. I honestly don't think I would be able to take advantage of an annual membership.

I'm not really that upset about the cost- it's not unreasonable and doesn't come with a time limit. I also realize the Shooting Edge has a LOT of overhead to cover- my wife runs her own business in Crowfoot and I completely understand the whole "small business" thing.

That being said, I just wanted to let the guys know what was on my mind.

Paul

 

[srpiasta]

I am pretty sure you can pay the day fee and you can shoot your own.

 

[srpiasta]

whoops i seen it was march 1st but didnt notice the date

 

[ccwcanada]

Buy a membership.

I disagree. $600 for a membership is just more than I can afford, ever. I really don't know where all the gunnutz work in order to be able to afford that.

For me and my wife to come for two hours of shooting, it costs $80, with our own guns and ammo. No one spends an entire "day" shooting at the range, so the concept of the "day pass" is a little inaccurate.

$600/$80 is equivalent to coming in about once every 7 weeks per year. We don't come in that often. And we can't come in that much because 1) we can't afford the $80, 2) we can't afford the $600, 3) we can't afford the amount of ammo we'd shoot coming in more often to make it worth it, 4) we won't skip shooting for over a year to save the $600 to finally get a membership for one year which we won't use to its full potential 5) it doubles or triples the cost of reloading my brass.

If a pass for two hours of shooting was $20 or $25 per person, that'd be fine, and we'd come in more often then. I would think you'd attract more people too.
I also think a membership of $350 would be fine, without any ammo price privileges or something.

Anyway, I've been waiting all winter for the snow to clear so that I can go back out to the free range at Homestead, because I just can not afford shooting 200-300 rounds of ammo for reloading at $80 which therefore more than doubles the cost of my reload brass. I'd have to shoot over 1000 rounds per visit to make reloading my brass shot at TSE to be worth it.


Flame away if you want about coughing up the money...we really can't afford it. We share one car, live in a small condo, and eat cheap food, and there's just no money left. Although, I guess I have been able to pay for my guns and reloading equipment. But that was with a small amount of bonus money which no longer exists or will be forthcoming.

The $600 membership leaves it open only to the nuttiest of gunnutz, who shoot upwards or greater than 10,000 rds per year. Now maybe that's the POINT, which is fine. If that's a model that works then that's good for business, and I support that.
But I think there's likely lots of people like me who love shooting too, but shoot only around ~1000-2000 rds per year, in batches of ~200 rds at a time.

But anyway, I do love the TSE, the people there really are great, I agree, especially the owner guy who's a lot of fun. And it's a great facility too with lots of recent improvements.

People will always complain about the price of anything, even if it was free, so I apologize for contributing to that

 

[Grizzly Guy]

I disagree. $600 for a membership is just more than I can afford, ever. I really don't know where all the gunnutz work in order to be able to afford that.

For me and my wife to come for two hours of shooting, it costs $80, with our own guns and ammo. No one spends an entire "day" shooting at the range, so the concept of the "day pass" is a little inaccurate.

$600/$80 is equivalent to coming in about once every 7 weeks per year. We don't come in that often. And we can't come in that much because 1) we can't afford the $80, 2) we can't afford the $600, 3) we can't afford the amount of ammo we'd shoot coming in more often to make it worth it, 4) we won't skip shooting for over a year to save the $600 to finally get a membership for one year which we won't use to its full potential 5) it doubles or triples the cost of reloading my brass.

If a pass for two hours of shooting was $20 or $25 per person, that'd be fine, and we'd come in more often then. I would think you'd attract more people too.
I also think a membership of $350 would be fine, without any ammo price privileges or something.

Anyway, I've been waiting all winter for the snow to clear so that I can go back out to the free range at Homestead, because I just can not afford shooting 200-300 rounds of ammo for reloading at $80 which therefore more than doubles the cost of my reload brass. I'd have to shoot over 1000 rounds per visit to make reloading my brass shot at TSE to be worth it.


Flame away if you want about coughing up the money...we really can't afford it. We share one car, live in a small condo, and eat cheap food, and there's just no money left. Although, I guess I have been able to pay for my guns and reloading equipment. But that was with a small amount of bonus money which no longer exists or will be forthcoming.

The $600 membership leaves it open only to the nuttiest of gunnutz, who shoot upwards or greater than 10,000 rds per year. Now maybe that's the POINT, which is fine. If that's a model that works then that's good for business, and I support that.
But I think there's likely lots of people like me who love shooting too, but shoot only around ~1000-2000 rds per year, in batches of ~200 rds at a time.

But anyway, I do love the TSE, the people there really are great, I agree, especially the owner guy who's a lot of fun. And it's a great facility too with lots of recent improvements.

People will always complain about the price of anything, even if it was free, so I apologize for contributing to that

Ur right about the free part.I think U have the wrong idea about members paying whatever for a membership in a gun club.It takes a lot of money in this day and age to run a small buisness.One thing is Liabilty Insurance alone is enough to make most people want to throw in the towel for running a range.There are cost,ranges have to meet government regulations and have them approved and sometimes they are costs to do this.If U love the sport like U say U do membership shouldn't be a problem,and if a day here and there is all U can afford,Ur not alone in Ur misery.Also if U belong to a Gun Club thats another vote for the pro gun.I'm sure if I'm not right in what I'm saying then someone will correct me for sure.Glad to hear U reload.It can be a lot of fun.

 

[srpiasta]

600 bucks a year I think it's well worth it..... It's 600 bucks work it out thats less then 60 bucks a month. If you smoke or drink at all then you CAN afford the membership. It blows me away how people say they can't afford stuff but can always have the full cable, big flat tv, the PPV's the drinks and smokes. Not starting a rant!!!!! I guess I am lucky to be able to afford the things I want now but I also went to school and sacrificed alot when I was 18 and 4 years later and making a 6 figure income was woth it. I am now 32 and very lucky I can afford these things, I know we all are not rich but remember the day pass covers the staff to help you, insurance, rental of the guns, building to shoot in, ect. I know it's not a day long event but they have to cover the costs also why would a business go into business if they knew they wern't going to make money. You say you would rather shoot for free at Homestead but I have to dissagree here, you still have to drive out, pay fuel, pay for the maintance of the car ect.... Plus there is absolutly no controll at homestead I've seen too many times there guys just walking out onto the range assuming everybody will just stop shooting or people are reloading their guns whil others are down range changing targets. I'm sorry but I don't care if its free out there but I am willing to spend money on a 40 dollar day pass where at least there is controll with every person in the range. experinced or not.
Just my .02

 

[Heavydxd45]

Anyway, I've been waiting all winter for the snow to clear so that I can go back out to the free range at Homestead, because I just can not afford shooting 200-300 rounds of ammo for reloading at $80 which therefore more than doubles the cost of my reload brass. I'd have to shoot over 1000 rounds per visit to make reloading my brass shot at TSE to be worth it.

Dude you can't shoot handgun at homestead. You should read the rules no handguns or restricted guns allowed.

 

[gyates93]

I don't think I would pay 600 dollars per year to become a member of a shooting range, especially one that's always crowded.. I just renewed my FAMILY membership at the Rod and Gun Club here for $55..

And it's not that people can't afford to pay out 600 dollars over the course of the year, but many cannot afford to hand over 600 in a lump sum. The only way I would be able to justify spending 600 dollars to shoot would be if I shoot over 600 dollars worth of ammunition each year, which I do not.
Saving up your ammo money all year to pay for a membership to the range? Not likely.

40 dollars for a one time thing though? If it's a nice spot, as this range sounds like it is, I'd check it out.

 

[ccwcanada]

Dude you can't shoot handgun at homestead. You should read the rules no handguns or restricted guns allowed.

No #### Sherlock!

I was referring to shooting my black-rifle XCR .223 at Homestead.

And YES, the XCR is unrestricted.

Anyway, I got the membership at TSE and LOVE IT!!!!!

NOTHING LIKE being able to walk into a range with your badge and just scan yourself into the shooting lanes WHENEVER you want! Best money I have spent aside from purchasing the guns themselves! Very easy to pick up your brass too, especially if you go when it isn't busy...

Hands down, get the membership! I go shooting pretty much every single weekend now. It is great!

 

[ccwcanada]

40 dollars for a one time thing though? If it's a nice spot, as this range sounds like it is, I'd check it out.

Go check it out...I guarantee you will like it. If you shoot pistol/restricted and especially if you live in Calgary or surrounding area, then a membership at TSE is basically something you can't put a value on, as I have discovered.

I used to groan and moan about spending the day-pass fee for me and my wife to shoot for a couple of hours, and so we would go only about once every two months. Now with the membership, I go almost every weekend and she comes with every 2nd or 3rd time, and when she doesn't shoot with me she either goes to the Farmer's Market (adjacent next door now!) or to the shopping area just down the hill less than 1km away and does girl shopping. I mean you just can't beat the location convenience for everyone involved and the TSE Range itself is, without qualification, first rate.

 

[TSE JR]

I don't think I would pay 600 dollars per year to become a member of a shooting range...

Our yearly memberhsip is $450 for the first year and $400 for renewals.

Our membership has a ton of benefits as well:

Standard “Full Club Membership”

Cost: $450 plus GST (first year) and $400 plus GST for renewals
$120 + GST for a spousal (related adult – same address) add-on

• Unlimited use of the facility during normal operating hours for an entire year.
• Exclusive “Members Only” shooting times.
• Free use of all of the training firearms that are offered for use in the facility.
• Professional supervision if you are not licensed or want to use a firearm you do not have the proper permit to lawfully acquire.
• Complimentary use of safety equipment for you and any guests accompanying you.
• 50% discount on the first guest pass every visit.
• Free guest passes for all youth (under 18 years old) accompanying you. ($20 Value per person per visit).
• Complimentary On-site storage (pending space availability) for up to two (2) firearms ($30/month value).
• Option to rent a personal storage locker (pending availability) for $50 per year.
• Free to participate in “member’s only” events.
• 20% discount on range ammunition.
• Special member pricing for all in-house courses and TSE hosted courses.
• $15 discount off of a set of “Custom” Earplugs.
• Complimentary visiting privileges at “CRAFM” in Montreal and “Target Sports” in Toronto.
• Four (4) Complimentary “Day Passes” (which also can be used by guests not accompanying) ($160 Value).
• Six (6) Complimentary tokens for use in the “Cowboy Shooting Centre”.
• Two (2) Complimentary Guests on your birthday.
• One (1) hour of private instruction with one of our qualified instructors.
• 25 “Airmiles”.

Premium (VIP) “Full Club Membership”

Cost: $1000 plus GST (first year) and $900 plus GST for renewals
$120 + GST for a spousal (related adult) add-on
Includes all of the features of the Standard “Full club membership” plus;
• Complimentary guest privileges for your first three (3) guest every visit. ($40 value per guest)
• 50% discount for the next two (2) guest passes every visit. ($20 Value per person per visit)
• Firing lane reservation privileges for up to two lanes per visit (24 hour notice required). Subject to availability.
• Complimentary Premium size storage locker.
• Six (6) Complimentary tokens for use in the “Cowboy Shooting Centre”.
• Two (2) Complimentary Guests on your birthday.
• One (1) hour of private instruction with our Chief Instructor. (By appointment)
• 50 “Airmiles”.

Professional User “Full Club Membership”

We recognize that those in society that are required to carry and potentially use a firearm on a daily basis, need to have continuous training and practice. This offer is limited to current (I.D. required) Military, Law Enforcement, Armed Security only.

Cost: $450 plus GST (first year) and $400 plus GST for renewals
$120 + GST for a spousal (related adult) add-on
Includes all of the features of the Standard “Full club membership” plus;

• An in-store credit of $100 will be given to assist you with your training costs. This credit cannot be applied towards your membership cost.

 

[00Buck]

JR runs a great operation in Alberta and his place in Ontario is great too. Good to know you had a great time.