Charlotte Shooting Ranges?

Toby_H

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Please share your experience with Shooting Ranges in or around the metro Charlotte area. The more detail you can offer the better. Pros and Cons please.


I've had a membership at BlackStone Shooting Sports since just after moving back to Charlotte a little over 2 years ago... Despite having a lot of Pros, I'm asking about other ranges because of the Cons...

https://www.blackstoneshooting.com/

Location is basically the middle of Charlotte. Great for me as it's half way between home and work.

Blackstone is open 7 days a week... Huge for me as I work long hours and Sunday is often the only day I can get to the range.

$40/month after a $300 one time fee (wow! I paid a $30 one time fee when I joined)
Includes:
-Unlimited Range time for member ($0 instead of $25/hr)
-Half off second shooter ($7.50 instead of $15)
-Half off Firearm Rentals ($10 instead of $20)
-Membership Lounge Access (useless)
-Other promotional hype type stuff that didn't interest me...

27 lanes, 3 bays with 9 lanes each... All lanes 25 yards... All lanes host handgun, shotgun or rifle... Modern, digital target retrieval controls. Well lit. Air conditioning and ventilation handle the facility very well.


Cons:
-Heavy influx of non member shooters. The are frequently very inexperienced and I sometimes don't feel safe being around while they shoot. They often carry a very different vibe from casual target shooters.
-Members and non-members line up separately. Members are supposed to get helped first. We often aren't.
-Despite having 27 lanes, it's somewhat common for a full bay to be down for service or for a full bay to be used for an event.
-The retail side is painfully overpriced. I completely understand that local retailers cannot compete with online pricing. But anything they sell in their store I can get for 5-20% less at Hyatt's a mile down the road.
- A year or two ago the staff went out of their way to make members welcome. Lately I feel like just another customer at some busy retail space. Prices going up, quality and customer service going down...
 
Not to be a wise guy, have you spoken with management, they can't fix problems if nobody brings it to their attention.
I use the range by the hour when I'm in town visiting my daughter at the university.
 
Is there a part of town thats better for you? Charlotte Rifle and Pistol has the indoor range down in the SE part

@Brian Zins
 
The retail side is painfully overpriced. I completely understand that local retailers cannot compete with online pricing. But anything they sell in their store I can get for 5-20% less at Hyatt's a mile down the road.

Wow, if Hyatt’s is cheaper, then you know the place is expensive.



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Depending where in CLT you are, Piedmont Handgunner's Association may be an option. It's one of the best ranges I've ever been to. I've been a member for about 5 years or so. $300 up front and $125 per year for unlimited us. Membership is a "family" membership which includes the wife and any kids under 18. You can bring two guests per member.

http://phashoots.net/

About 30-45 minute drive from CLT straight up I-85.
 
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Charlotte rifle and pistol club.

I forget exact prices but about $500 to join and 250 dues. Gets you outdoor pistol, action pistol, shotgun and 300yd rifle in Waxhaw plus 24 hour indoor pistol in Indian Trail.

Heavy on the rules and training but zero tolerance for idiots. It was a frustrating process but with it behind me I'm 100% glad I joined.
 
Not to be a wise guy, have you spoken with management, they can't fix problems if nobody brings it to their attention.
I use the range by the hour when I'm in town visiting my daughter at the university.

Not a wise guy comment at all. It's a great point for being constructive.

Yes, I sent an email to management. I believe it was a level headed reasonable complaint and not a rant.

As a member, I've seen a decline in customer service starting about 6 months ago. I'm friendly with several employees who have suggested a shift in management attitudes about the same time. My assumption is they shifted from a risky new business to a profitable established company around that time. But that's speculative on my part. I by no means have inside info.
 
Is there a part of town thats better for you? Charlotte Rifle and Pistol has the indoor range down in the SE part

@Brian Zins

Charlotte rifle and pistol club.

I forget exact prices but about $500 to join and 250 dues. Gets you outdoor pistol, action pistol, shotgun and 300yd rifle in Waxhaw plus 24 hour indoor pistol in Indian Trail.

Heavy on the rules and training but zero tolerance for idiots. It was a frustrating process but with it behind me I'm 100% glad I joined.

I've been to the Charlotte Rifle & Pistol indoor range as a guest. It's not conveniently located for me, but the 24 hour access to the indoor range is a huge plus... Also having an outdoor range is huge...

My hesitation is the location and it's a bit pricey to try if it doesn't work out to be my long term range.

It's definitely a top contender...
 
For $750 I just built my own range. A couple of dump trucks worth of fill dirt and some voluntary labor and I don't have to worry about idiots at all, can shoot anytime I like, and everyone's happy.
 
Depending where in CLT you are, Piedmont Handgunner's Association may be an option. It's one of the best ranges I've ever been to. I've been a member for about 5 years or so. $300 up front and $125 per year for unlimited us. Membership is a "family" membership which includes the wife and any kids under 18. You can bring two guests per member.

http://phashoots.net/

About 30-45 minute drive from CLT straight up I-85.

I'm currently near center Charlotte, but have a pressure tempting me to move toward Concord Kannapolis. If I move that way this will become a strong option.

I'll look into it more. Thanks.
 
http://foothillspublicshooting.cc/

It's about a 45 min drive from Charlotte, that's about the only con.

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I've been there... Great facility.

Distance is a Con, though reasonable.

Additionally, they have limited hours that rules them out as my primary option. Most of my shooting is Sunday late afternoon/evening or a quickie after work.

That said... on the occasion I can make it there, it's well worth the visit as a guest.
 
For $750 I just built my own range. A couple of dump trucks worth of fill dirt and some voluntary labor and I don't have to worry about idiots at all, can shoot anytime I like, and everyone's happy.

That's the long term plan. But for some odd reason they won't let me do that in Plaza Midwood (my current dense neighborhood in Charlotte).
 
That's the long term plan. But for some odd reason they won't let me do that in Plaza Midwood (my current dense neighborhood in Charlotte).
Understood. I would take advantage of that real estate boom in the area and gtfo
 
You're not going to get any more convenient than Mecklenburg Wildlife CLub near the airport and whitewater center. Back when I tried to join, 5-7 years ago, they were topped out at 550 member and had a 100+ waiting list.

Charlotte Rifle/Pistol is the next closest.

Then there's Eagle Gun Range in Concord--another indoor place with indoor clientele and rules.

Foothills and PHA are the next outside of that. There's also Rowan County Wildlife Club. @Bailey Boat could tell you more about them; not sure if they have non-shotgun ranges.

There's Effird's in Albemarle, but I don't know the status of that place since he died last year.

There is no "easy" solution in the greater Charlotte region. They all come with several pro's and con's as you're experiencing.
 
No wait list for PHA, at least when I joined back in June (or July?). Emailed them on Sunday, attended meeting that Thursday and joined.
 
Has anyone mentioned Firepower in Matthews?
Don't go there.

Edit:
I thought I should say why. Just thinking about it now pisses me off.

I went to the range, to try it out. I like to think I'm a nice guy. Always a ready smile, and I am polite. Go up to the counter, ask to use the range. Guy behind the counter, acting like Billy Badass, wants my license to scan. After he does, looks at my address, says, "I know that area, nice area." Then he says, and it's hard to remember the exact phrasing,"Follow the rules of the range, if you do something illegal, I will shoot you."

I was stunned that he would threaten to shoot someone wanting to use their range. Never going back.
 
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These threads really grind me! No matter what any, outdoor range mentioned is approximately an hour away! I would love to be a member at a nice outdoor facility, but with the commute and fees I might as well just go to Foothills. Any ideas in east Lincoln County for outdoors?
 
Don't go there.

Edit:
I thought I should say why. Just thinking about it now pisses me off.

I went to the range, to try it out. I like to think I'm a nice guy. Always a ready smile, and I am polite. Go up to the counter, ask to use the range. Guy behind the counter, acting like Billy Badass, wants my license to scan. After he does, looks at my address, says, "I know that area, nice area." Then he says, and it's hard to remember the exact phrasing,"Follow the rules of the range, if you do something illegal, I will shoot you."

I was stunned that he would threaten to shoot someone wanting to use their range. Never going back.
Only one response to that level of idiocracy...
 
Point Blank range in Matthews and Mooresville.
$20 range fee per person, that is ALL DAY. Shoot, keep your receipt and come back later you do not p ay the fee again.
$20 Gun rental for ONE Caliber ( all guns in that Caliber) $10 upcharge to hoot all guns on the wall from any caliber (excludes the full Autos, they are a separate fee)
Membership pricing varies. $39 - $99 Initiation fee individual and family and there is a discount for Military and first responders
Monthly fee fees from $25 - $60 again depending on member package.

All members get free range time, a # of guest passes that vary depending on the membership package, a discount on all training classes, plus a %50 discount if they take a class a second time. One free class when they start their membership.

Patriot Gun Club members $2,000 initiation fee $60 - $80/ monthly 24/7 access to the range
One free class a year
12 Guest passes per year
Discount on FFL transfers and NFA Transfers


We are currently reviewing some of this and there may be some changes in the near future.

Plus you can hang out wit that guy from History Channels Top Shot.....hahahahha
 
I rarely go to indoor ranges but if I have a gun I really want to test like right now and I can't wait for the weekend, I go to The Range at Lake Norman. They are open 1-6pm on Sundays.

Piedmont Handgunners Association has been my go to for the last few years. It was $300 initiation and $125 per year membership. One of the best deals in our area for an excellent outdoor range. We have 5 stand shotgun, 5 or 6 pistol bays with lots of steel targets, 4 tactical bays(bring your own targets), 100 yard rifle, 200 yard rifle and an 80 yard 22 rimfire with tons of steel targets. All of the members that I have met have been top notch guys and gals. 45 minutes from Charlotte but well worth the drive. If highway 85 is backed up, there are backroads for alternate routes.
 
If highway 85 is backed up, there are backroads for alternate routes.
I haven't had that issue, yet...but should probably figure out a backup route.
 
I haven't had that issue, yet...but should probably figure out a backup route.
There’s not much, coming from your part of town. Maybe get out to 601 somehow and ride it into Concord.

Coming from the north side of town opens up some other zigzag options.

The best option is to just hit it on an early Saturday morning!
 
The best option is to just hit it on an early Saturday morning!
I usually plan on Friday mornings, and try to be set up to fire the first shot at 8am. Haven't had too much trouble getting there so far.
 
I don't think anyone has mentioned Shooter's Express in Belmont. Don't know if that's too far away or not. As for the guy at Firepower. I think I met him at a gunshow once. I took the mag out of a new at the time gun and counted the holes in the mag to find out the capacity. He made some snarky comment about me being able to count. I remember thinking that with an attitude like that, it's probably good that they don't allow people to carry in the shows....

Not a business I'd ever frequent.
 
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