Midlands Shooting Range

PSXDupe

Anyone know the cost of membership to this range.

I've heard figures quoted of €600, is that the cost

Thanks a million

German pointer

That's a joining fee and your first years membership together. Its only €295 per year after that which includes your insurance.
For the facilities that they have to offer its I think value for money
Pistol, shotgun and 25 to 1200 yard rifle range

Rimfire Shooter

Great facilities but limited access to the long range ranges unless your shooting F Class according to a buddy of mine who paid the €600 and wasn't allowed out to the 600 yard range with his 6.5x55 despite asking on numerous occasions :eek: He was well qualified (military) to shoot at 600+ yards too.

nastros

Midlands as German Pointer said is 600 just for the first year and then drops to 300 each year after that. There is also never an issue shooting 600 yards unless there is work being done on it or there is a competition on at the time. In fact there is a new league running for all members of the Midlands at 600 yards its held once a month.

Cass

As said above the only reason you'd have "limited access" to any range is if there is a competition happening that day or if there is shooting at a shorter range. IOW if people are shooting (whether in a compe or not) at 300, 400 or 500 yards then you cannot shoot 600.

Same with the Creedmoor range. If you want to shoot 1,000 yards and there are people shooting at 800 or 900 then you cannot fire over there head.

Other than that you're more than welcome to shoot any range you want and with 20 target boards there is more than enough room to accommodate numerous shooters.

So the be clear there is NO limited access to ANY range. Your mate either took up wrong what he was told or passed it onto you in a way that you took as being limited. Your membership entitles you to use any of the 10 ranges on site.

patsat

I keep meaning to join the range. I use it quite a bit for the sporting shoots and it's a great set up.

But the initial cost of €600 is a killer, I can never manage to set aside that amount for the fee without spending it on something else!!

Cass

I know it's of little comfort, but i've been a member of a range and know off others that cost up to €800+ per year, every year, and don't have even a quarter of the facilities of the Midlands.

Plus it's just that first year push. After that it's the same or cheaper than other ranges, and with a hell of a lot more than just one or two ranges.

PSXDupe

patsat wrote: »

I keep meaning to join the range. I use it quite a bit for the sporting shoots and it's a great set up.

But the initial cost of €600 is a killer, I can never manage to set aside that amount for the fee without spending it on something else!!

I suffer from the same complaint, too much to buy, not enough money to buy everthing

patsat

PSXDupe wrote: »

I suffer from the same complaint, too much to buy, not enough money to buy everthing

I was just about to become a member... But I now have the need for a new scope, stock and barrel to finish off a project on top of feeding my other one!!

PSXDupe

Anyone know their opening times etc, I've tried ringing both the numbers of their site, no answers.

My membership is up this month with Harbour House and ctrying to decide to renew or change, but I need to do it in the next couple of days.

Cass

patsat wrote: »

............. I can never manage to set aside that amount for the fee without spending it on something else!!

PSXDupe wrote: »

I suffer from the same complaint, too much to buy, not enough money to buy everthing

A condition we all suffer, unfortunately.

PSXDupe wrote: »

Anyone know their opening times etc, I've tried ringing both the numbers of their site, no answers.

Closed Mondays (used to be Monday and Tuesday). Open Tuesday through Friday by appointment/pre booking, and for members only.

Saturday and Sunday it's open for everyone. Summer hours are 9:30 to 16:30, and Winter hours 9:30 to 15:30.

The number on the website is JPs. He receives dozens of calls per day and so may not always ring. Your best bet is to text him with any query. If it's something simple i might be able to help or answer it for you.

My membership is up this month with Harbour House and ctrying to decide to renew or change, but I need to do it in the next couple of days.

I'm not one of these people that say to join range "A" simply because i'm a member. I always tell people to join the range that best suits their needs. If Gallery and pistol is your thing then HH is the place to be. If you want Long range (800+), medium range (400 - 700), short range (300 and shorter), pistol, shotgun/clay, benchrest then the midlands is the one to pick. Having said that there will be a 60 target system gallery range going in over the coming months.

PSXDupe

Thanks Cass

I'd love to be in a position to join this year but funds have been well spent at the minute. Do you know what the minimum age requirement is down there. I know some ranges at 14 and other are 12+ (12-14 must have a adult memeber with them)

Do you knowthe cost to the public if I was to drop down on Saturday to see what the place it like?

Cass

For the Fullbore range(s) i know its 14+.

PSXDupe

Cass, is it the same as with Harbour House etc, you need a range officer on the line before you can shoot.

This is a pain if you have a day off and want to head to the range as most of the time there are no range officers around other than on Saturdays

Cass

If you want to shoot mid week you must be a member with either 3 or 6 months (cannot remember which it is) membership. You must also ring a minimum of 24 hours to book the ranges/activity you wish to shoot. This allows the RCO to be there and to either RO himself or organise an RO to be there.

BattleCorp

PSXDupe wrote: »

Cass, is it the same as with Harbour House etc, you need a range officer on the line before you can shoot.

This is a pain if you have a day off and want to head to the range as most of the time there are no range officers around other than on Saturdays

As far as I know this is the same with all ranges and to be fair it is a good rule.

As soon as some gobsh1te accidentally shoots himself or someone else due to not clearing a gun properly, that's the range closed and our sport gone from us.

PSXDupe

Yes I believe the rule is good but.can be challenging when the RO are.only available at the weekend

Cass

There are plenty of ROs in the midlands and as said above if you ring ahead and book your day someone will be there to accommodate you. Cannot speak for other ranges, but that is the reason for ringing ahead. Make sure you don't travel pointlessly.

Grizzly 45

One other thing that is forgot in this membership is,it covers your insurance both on and off the range.[Countryside Alliance or Ireland[??] Can never rember which one.] And it covers you shooting abroad too.There arent ASFIK many ranges that add in insurance into your annual membership.So yeah it might be abit steep but you are insured automatically as well.

goz83

That would be a right pain in the butt. When I go to the range, it's not a set time and rarely a set day. It's been a couple of weeks, as i've been out shooting pigeons much more regularly, but I could stop by the range anytime and shoot. Maybe the fact that the range is only 100 yards makes a difference, but there is no need to ring ahead

homerhop

If you ring HH and let them know you want to shoot mid week

scwazrh

goz83 wrote: »

That would be a right pain in the butt. When I go to the range, it's not a set time and rarely a set day. It's been a couple of weeks, as i've been out shooting pigeons much more regularly, but I could stop by the range anytime and shoot. Maybe the fact that the range is only 100 yards makes a difference, but there is no need to ring ahead

What range are you shooting in ?

goz83

scwazrh wrote: »

What range are you shooting in ?

Courtlough

Cass

goz83 wrote: »

That would be a right pain in the butt.

Why? It's only a phone call plus most people that shoot midweek either know they are or plan it in advance.

Maybe the fact that the range is only 100 yards makes a difference, but there is no need to ring ahead

Could be. With 10 ranges (the midlands) catering to all calibers, and seeing as how a lot of members shoot multiple calibers when there, you have to make sure there are ROs available. As none are paid (all volunteers) you cannot expect the range to have multiple ROs on "duty" throughout the week.

Each range has it's own practices, and some have rules set out in the conditions of their license. It rare you would drop into the midlands and there would be no one there. However to avoid disappointment you are asked to ring/tex ahead.

goz83

Cass wrote: »

Why? It's only a phone call plus most people that shoot midweek either know they are or plan it in advance.

Honestly, alot of the time it's just spur of the moment rather than planning in advance. I try to plan a day and time, but then something important can pop up and leisure time on the range is trumped by business needs. Thats why the permission I have locally is such a good thing. Takes me only a few minutes to get out for a bit of shooting.

Rimfire Shooter

Cass wrote: »

Your mate either took up wrong what he was told or passed it onto you in a way that you took as being limited.

So one or both of us are somehow limited in our comprehension abilities?

He has since confirmed in the 12 months he was a member attending on average every two weeks on a Saturday he was fobbed off whenever he tried to get access to the 600 yard range. He also said there is a €10 charge to use the 600 or 1000 yard range even as a member. Or did he take that up wrong too?

PSXDupe

I am also a member of Courtlough and will not be renewing it.

Ok, you can shoot whenever you want BUT

1. You have to use their ammo and they have very little selection of ammo.
2. Everytime you go up there they charge a different price for ammo. They charge a huge amount over retail prices for ammo, €20/€22 per 100 22LR rounds
3. They tell you one thing and then complete change their minds on a lot of topics, pistol range, ammo etc.

I think the rule should be in place to have ROs on the ranges, even the most experienced shoot can make a mistake.

goz83

PSXDupe wrote: »

I am also a member of Courtlough and will not be renewing it.

Ok, you can shoot whenever you want BUT

1. You have to use their ammo and they have very little selection of ammo.
2. Everytime you go up there they charge a different price for ammo. They charge a huge amount over retail prices for ammo, €20/€22 per 100 22LR rounds
3. They tell you one thing and then complete change their minds on a lot of topics, pistol range, ammo etc.

I think the rule should be in place to have ROs on the ranges, even the most experienced shoot can make a mistake.

I buy shotgun ammo when I am there, but have used my own, no problem. I have purchased 22LR ammo twice and have used my own otherwise.

I did ask about use of own ammo and one of the lads said there was a rule in place where you could not use your own ammo, but they have relaxed it for members. Supposedly, non members were coming along with members and using the facilities without buying ammo.

There does seem to be some contradictions on what is ok and what is not with regards to ammo, but I just carry on as normal and without a bother.

Cass

Rimfire Shooter wrote: »

So one or both of us are somehow limited in our comprehension abilities?

Don't. Just don't.

You're bastardising what i said to turn it into an insult so you cane take, what to you must surely seem like, the moral high ground.

I'm not starting an argument with you so don't start one with me.

LB6

PSXDupe wrote: »

Cass, is it the same as with Harbour House etc, you need a range officer on the line before you can shoot.

This is a pain if you have a day off and want to head to the range as most of the time there are no range officers around other than on Saturdays

That's simply fixed. You make a phone call to the range and tell them you're coming down and Toby or Tommy will be around to RO for you, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to accommodate you. You can be sure that if you go down of a Sunday, there will also be Ro's there, so you're not just restricted to Saturdays.

It's a pity that you find safety and security "a pain". :eek:

PSXDupe

LB6 wrote: »

That's simply fixed. You make a phone call to the range and tell them you're coming down and Toby or Tommy will be around to RO for you, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to accommodate you. You can be sure that if you go down of a Sunday, there will also be Ro's there, so you're not just restricted to Saturdays.

It's a pity that you find safety and security "a pain". :eek:

What's a pity is you don't read the entire thread before posting a smart ass comment. I've already said I agree with the rule, the issue is not having flexibility to turn up if you manage get time from an otherwise busy work life.

Again someone (ie you) taking the wrong message. Time to unfollow this thread. Thank you to those who posts helpful information.

Cass

Folks as i said to the other poster lets not turn this into something its not and try keep it friendly/civil.

I'm sure PSXDupe is not advocating the circumvention or avoidance of the necessary safety steps. I understand where he is coming from. A lot of ranges have their ROs from a volunteer/membership basis and so if none are available on a day that person wants to shoot it can be frustrating.

The other side of the coin is most ranges have ROs that are available. Either on short notice or advanced notice, and then always on the weekend. So a call the day before is not much to ask for either.

I know from personal experience its irritating when someone books the range and never turns up. You still have to sit there for the day in case they turn up late.

Rimfire Shooter

Or just do one of the RSO courses that are run at harbour house if your a member there. Only takes a day in class & a few hours practical on range and you can be your own RO if there's none around.

PSXDupe

Rimfire Shooter wrote: »

Or just do one of the RSO courses that are run at harbour house if your a member there. Only takes a day in class & a few hours practical on range and you can be your own RO if there's none around.

As far as I am aware you cannot do that, I have taken the course and am working my way thru the practical hours on range. However my understanding and what I been told by the range owners is that you still need an RSO. You cannot be RSO and shoot

Rimfire Shooter

PSXDupe wrote: »

As far as I am aware you cannot do that, I have taken the course and am working my way thru the practical hours on range. However my understanding and what I been told by the range owners is that you still need an RSO. You cannot be RSO and shoot

Scratch that so

scwazrh

LB6 wrote: »

That's simply fixed. You make a phone call to the range and tell them you're coming down and Toby or Tommy will be around to RO for you, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to accommodate you.
:

Have to say that Tommy is the most obliging person I have ever met .If he's not available he will find someone else to RO or button push for you if your into clays.Not once have I been left unable to shoot due to no RO being available.

BattleCorp

PSXDupe wrote: »

As far as I am aware you cannot do that, I have taken the course and am working my way thru the practical hours on range. However my understanding and what I been told by the range owners is that you still need an RSO. You cannot be RSO and shoot

^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is correct. You cannot RO yourself on the line no matter what RO courses you have taken.

jb88

goz83 wrote: »

I buy shotgun ammo when I am there, but have used my own, no problem. I have purchased 22LR ammo twice and have used my own otherwise.

I did ask about use of own ammo and one of the lads said there was a rule in place where you could not use your own ammo, but they have relaxed it for members. Supposedly, non members were coming along with members and using the facilities without buying ammo.

There does seem to be some contradictions on what is ok and what is not with regards to ammo, but I just carry on as normal and without a bother.

would it not be easier for the club to charge a range fee for non members and if they have their own ammo they can use it or if not purchase it at the range, seems to be standard practice in every other range I have ever been too.