Target shooting / range?
 

My son is coming up for the week of vacation. He asked that we go shooting. Being new to the area, is there a range that offers rentals?

We do this often when I'm back in CT.

http://www.belmontfirearms.com/

You can rent weapons there. The ammo is really expensive though. I'd see if its at all possible to buy some and take it in.

Yes, you can rent GUNS there.

Most gun ranges that have rentals require you to use ammo purchased from them instead of ammo that you bring in yourself.

Yes, it's not cheap, but for liability reasons they want to be sure that you don't blow up their guns using hand loads, etc.

Guns, firearms, sidearm, weapon; whatever. I always use weapon or sidearm. Gun is just a media buzzword to me. I got stopped the other day in the grocery store. Guy walked right up to me. "Why are you carrying a, GUN?!" My answer? Because I can't throw a rock at 150fps. I simply turn around and went on my business as this guy went off. It took a ~70 year old lady telling him he should move about 80 miles south if he felt that scared. :laugh:

But yea, back on topic. I'd call to see about the ammo part. It makes sense that they wouldn't let you, but I'd call and see. It was something like $30 for 50 rounds of 9mm. I rented one sidearm, bought a box of ammo, and a lane for 1h. It was something like $95. This was about three years ago.

Were you open carrying?

Next time someone asks you why you carry a gun....tell them it's because a cop is too heavy.
Seriously,though,no one should see your gun if you are carrying.It defeats the purpose.If someone meant harm they would take you out first.

$20 or $25 for a box of 9 mm would be a very high price, but $30 is double the normal price (fair price is about $15 per 50). But if you want to shoot, and have to rent, then just check your prices before you show up and are surprised.

I suppose they could build in the price to the firearm rental, and then make the ammo cheaper, but I'm sure all of this goes towards their liability costs, plus their profit.

I guess you like to open carry if someone saw your firearm.

Yes, I was OC. I had just finished several hours of yardwork. Went to the hardware store to grab something real quick. While I was there, went to the grocery store to grab something for dinner. I don't always OC, but I will if I just have to zoom to the store real quick. If I'm out for the day, yes I conceal. Also depends on where I'm going. Bank? Conceal. Movie theater? Conceal. Any place with high concentration with kids (ex girlfriend had a young kid and we'd often go to playgrounds)? Conceal. Quick run to the hardware store for a spark plug or auto store for some oil? Slap it on my belt and run in.

As far as the OC vs conceal in regards who targets who, its a wash. Yea I can be a target. Or, they see someone carrying and they back down.

Oh boy. I feel like I just opened a discussion that is going to lead on for ten pages. :o

Yea, it wasn't cheap at all. It was in the $90s for one lane, a Glock, and 50 rounds.

Yes, it will never be cheap. This is about the going rate at local ranges to rent and shoot for an hour.

Expect to pay about $100 an hour or more, one way or another.

....and for about $50/month, or $10/class .... you can go to the www.thefitnessedgenh.com next to the Meredith roundabout, open 7-days/week; .....and you'll get a lot more out of it than ....going to a shooting range....and inhaling all that bad air loaded with fumes from burnt gunpowder and pulverized lead bullets.

Ummm... what the heck does a fitness gym have to do with someone asking about a shooting range? Talk about Off topic! :rolleye1:

Note: (because you mentioned it) all ranges these days have very good air systems with filters. At a club I belong to, the air is tested and I'm told the air in our inside range is cleaner than the air out on any road in NH.

nhboat61,

If you want to go to a larger, state of the art range, drive down to Manchester and visit the Manchester Firing Line on Brown Ave (next to the airport): http://www.gunsnh.com/

This is an impressive modern range with a large variety of firearms to rent (including some full auto firearms if you feel the need to shoot something that not many can afford to own).

It's about an hour drive straight down Rt 93 from the lake, but I think it would be worth it for a fun outing like this.

Then, on your way home, stop at their gun store "Shooters Outpost" on Rt 3 just minutes off Rt 93 http://www.gunsnh.com/shooters.php, then go north a few miles and Visit Riley's Gun shop. This make for a fun shooting day.

Thanks...peeps.

Those prices are in no were near what I pay for an hour, 150 rounds of 380 and a sig in the most regulated, taxed and controlled state-of Connecticut.

I can only imagine what prices were like down there after SH.

I have a Mass LTC have for years. I'm not sure why you always need to walk around with a pistol but whatever?

Rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Well I suppose but how many times (realistically) are you going to "need" a pistol out in public? In my 50+ years of living I've never "needed" one while out shopping, working, going to lunch, etc. Again to each his own I suppose. ;)

Never been in a car crash either, but yet I wear my seatbelt the moment I get in it. :)

Something else going on....
 

1. I am totally comfortable with lawful carry.
2. Bro in law is retired 20 yr Chicago patrolman.
3. To me, perpetually carrying is, how should i put it, a little odd.

I get it, its your right. And legal. But you carry all the time?

My brother in law, by rule, was always carrying while he was on the force. At home, on the road, our family vacations together. I assume he most always has a sidearm arm with him after his retirement, at home, while driving, on family vacations, e.t.c. I dont feel safer or less safe because of it. I guess I "get" that.

I do wonder about perpetual carry for a civilian. Sure, something could happen, but equating sealtbelts to sidearms is a bit odd. Brother in law never used his gun in 20 years of patrolling the south side of Chicago. He was in 2 or 3 car accidents in a criuser.

I always wear a seatbelt in the car, but never a helmet, or a 5 point restraint.

+1 there. Not sure I agree with the open carry though....

Some people don't see a need, but others do!

There is nothing strange about wanting to be able to protect yourself, no matter where, no matter when. These days there are more and more stories of all sorts of violent crimes:

Home invasions
Car jackings
Muggings
People hurting others just to do it for no reason or to record it on youtube for their amusement.

Do you have a fire extinguisher at home? how about a carbon monoxide detector?

Have you ever been in a fire? NO? Then why do you have a fire extinguisher or CO detector in your home? By some of the logic mentioned, only those that have already been in a fire should have these things, no?

Do you wear your seat belts? If you have never been in a bad car accident, why do you wear it?

It's all about being able to protect yourself.

Same thing about a firearm. It's our God given right to protect ourselves from those that want to do us harm. It's been this way since we were tadpoles.

Perhaps you don't think this area of NH has the sort of issues that may require someone to defend themselves?

What about the people in the news that have been killed in their own home? What about those that have been killed in a 'gun free zone' like schools or churches? These areas should be renamed 'self defense free zone'.

How about all the new crop of heroin addicts that are breaking in and stealing anything they can to fund their addiction? Some of these people are violent.

If you don't understand the need to protect yourself, I wish you best of luck if you ever need to. Or if you are lucky, perhaps someone nearby can help you.

As you know, you can always call 911, and the police will be there within 10 minutes or so if all goes well. If you are lucky, you will still be alive when the police show up, as the bad guy will most probably be long gone by then and the damage will have already been done.

Sorry we're getting off topic of local shooting ranges. Please, if anyone else has suggestions for the OP, let's get back on topic.

The way I look at it, I have very few things in my life that are important to me.

First and foremost, my wife. I am 100% willing to put my life on the line to make sure she gets home safe. I will not let anyone interfere with that and I would hope every other husband out there would do the same. If there was ever a situation where my wife's life is in jeopardy, I would not hesitate for a moment to do what is necessary.

My life. Its the only one I've got. And I'll do whatever it takes for me to get home safely.

My property. That is the place where one should feel safe. Anyone that should ever breach that, I will defend it as long as there is a breath in my body.

With that said, am I looking for trouble? Not at all. I'm the nicest guy you'll ever meet. I help old ladies cross the road. I volunteer with the elderly. I love to teach children. If its 2am and your furnace stopped working, give me a call; I'm on my way.

I wish to die an old man without ever having to pull my weapon on someone. Do I open carry? Sometimes I do, yes. Don't like it? Write about it on Facebook. Chat with your coworkers. But don't approach me, holler at me that I'm wrong, and make a scene. I chose to have the necessary tools to defend myself if a situation should ever occur. If you feel bothered by someone legally carrying a sidearm, CC or OC, I suggest you travel about 90 miles from here; south.

-TG

to add, sorry for the off topic. That was my fault.

Nobody "plans" the exact time to need a firearm for protection. It WILL happen when you least expect it. Choosing not to be a victim is a state of mind and constant state of awareness.

There are sand pits around that you can shoot in as well.

There is a nice outdoor range in moultonborough. 50 bucks a year. http://winnisportsmensclub.org/

Nhboat, pm me- you buy some 22,.40 and 12 guage and ill meet you there as my guest. You can shoot all you want!

And in todays society 9 out of 10 times if you shoot someone YOU'LL be in jail for it. If they live they'll find a reason to sue the crap out of you and if they don't, well that's a whole other story. Yup it is our right I get that and I also have a LTC but as someone else stated I guess I also find it a little odd that's all.

This is a case where that old adage is true... I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6!

No Exceptions
 

If you rent a firearm at Belmont Firearms you must buy and use their ammo. If you take your own firearm, you can bring your own ammo.

Same at Manchester Firing Line.

Your right but!!
 

The two guys from Mass who were riding their bikes in Conway a few years ago didn't need one, that is until they went into the army barracks store!! Then they paid the price for not having one with their lives. Like you said each to their own.


ToW

If you go to Belmont rent something cool like a MP7, best bang for your buck. And remember, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away. BTW, nhboat61, are you a member of CCDL?

That Guy, please help me with your math.

The gun rental is at Belmont Firearms is $20 and the lane is $16 for an hour. One target costs $1.50 - $2.00, eye and ear protection cost $1.00 each. That comes to $40. That means you must have paid $55 for ammo if your total cost was $95.

Are you sure you didn't buy TWO boxes of ammo?

Not a member, live in NH fulltime now.

... Fryburg, Maine town pistol & rifle range
 

Believe the Town of Fryburg, Maine, which is just down the road from North Conway, has an outdoor, open all year, rifle and pistol range; free to use by anyone, and is usually totally empty.

It has shooting tables, about 42-inches high, nicely made with pressure treated lumber just like outdoor patio furniture, and just the right height so you can fiddle and diddle with the bullets, sights, scopes, shells, primers and everything else that goes with the Religion of Handgun & Rifle worship...... bless you ...and bang-bang!

Pemigewasset Rod & Gun Club in Holderness...
 

$30 for a single membership/year. $40 for a family membership. Nice club!

http://www.pemi.org/

It was a glock, ammo, and one hour lane time. It was $90something. I swear it was one box of ammo, but maybe you're right and it was two. This was about four or five years ago so who knows. :confused:

I have more to comment on the subject, but I'll keep it to myself. :)

Get together?
 

Vita Bene:

'Just got the wife a Judge for walking the dog. We will have to go to the range and try it out.

Misty Blue

Nice... but knowing your pup, she wont need it soon!

But anytime!!

Thank you for the information everybody, sorry this topic got a little off-track.

Your choice: dead and buried or alive and take your chance in court.

Were you really saying you would give up without a fight to avoid legal fees?

Most that have a LTC know it's a tool of last resort to be used ONLY when you know your life is on the line. There will be no question if I need to defend myself with deadly force.

Went to Belmont today. We had a good time. Place was awesome... Prices were better then ct except the gun rental, but the quality, cleanliness was far superior.

Ammo was 1/2 the prince we paid in ct.... So again thank you. Today was one of those priceless days a man can spend with his son.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

You should try to experience Manchester Firing Line also. It's impressive.

That doesn't address the rental they requested.

Total BS. Back it up with some facts and data. UIf the shoot is during the course of a drug deal, then you are correct. The problem is too many simply buy a firearm and a holster and think they are actually capable of protecting themselves and family without an issue. They don't bother to actually get some knowledge in the law of self defense. While there are seminars and some great books, too many rely on some unknown screen name on the internet.

Spend a few dollars and attend a seminar or read the book,.
http://lawofselfdefense.com/

Back to the original question. A hundred in fees is not going to be out of line. No one is going to travel that far and only buy 50 rounds of ammo . I watch many simply load up the magazine to full capacity and fire away not learning a thing. Three magazines later, they are out of ammo. So figuring in at least two boxes is a reasonable assumption.

Another option is the new range in Hudson.

http://www.granitestaterange.com/

They have rentals and the range fee is for the entire day. Both the manager and owner are great people.

I spend time here... one of the best schools in the US...

www.sigsaueracademy.com

While not cheap, they will supply any of their products to use while at their course.