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Opening a new gun range indoor/outdoor
ctrenks
Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
I am looking into creating a business plan for an indoor/ outdoor range and gun shop in my area (ohio) and of course would like some advice from others in the industry.
I would love to create the following
7-10 stall indoor range with 50 yard depth
10-15 stall outdoor range to 200 yards
2000 SQFT gunshop / office
In my searches so far I see the NRA hosts gun range seminars quite often and I may attend on within the next 4-5 months unless I am told otherwise by any sound advise.
My concerns are of course location, regulations that may prevent either an indoor or outdoor range, noise issues, equipment costs.
Thanks to anyone with any assistance in my venture!
-Chris
I would love to create the following
7-10 stall indoor range with 50 yard depth
10-15 stall outdoor range to 200 yards
2000 SQFT gunshop / office
In my searches so far I see the NRA hosts gun range seminars quite often and I may attend on within the next 4-5 months unless I am told otherwise by any sound advise.
My concerns are of course location, regulations that may prevent either an indoor or outdoor range, noise issues, equipment costs.
Thanks to anyone with any assistance in my venture!
-Chris
Comments
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor! And if you are near the Canton OH area I will be by to use your range weekly! I can't give you any advice except to get hold of the Chamber of Commerce in the area you are targeting (nice play on words) for your range and let them assist you. OH is "drying up" (IMHO) and any business wanting to get started should get the attention of the C of C. I opened a shop years ago in Florida so my advice is dated as well as geographically challenged. I do know that PERSISTENCE will be your greatest asset in bringing your vision to fruition. Good luck and work out a business plan 1st - a template of how you see this operation unfolding. We need more entrenpreneurs (sp) like you!!![:)]
Yearly membership/ or hour based
Gun rentals
Training
Amuunition sales
In store gunsmith shop (will seek qualified smithing person or training)
Competions
Clubs (hopefully multiple clubs competing together)
target sales
Brass / lead recycling
-
Cleanup I have considered indoor water catch, outdoor I am planning dirt backed cinder block wall with sandbag face, can sift sand every 2/3 years depending on ammounts and re-bag sand.
I will attend a NRA seminar as the cost is tiny compaired to the investment in the facility.
ctrenks,
We have a small / short indoor range. Definitely not a great area to shoot....but many people have nowhere to go shoot...not even check gun function. The below describes some topics to consider, AFTER you wade through all the bussiness stuff, there can be operational problems.
There are 3 independently isolated areas to shoot that share a backstop but it looks like they are all fully different walled-in areas.
Construction is concrete floors, cinder block walls filled w/concrete (parallel to bullet travel), ceiling is 1/4" overlapping steel plates of separate panels stagger-hung at 30 degree angle from real the ceiling.
Area 1 is PISTOLS ONLY, but can be of any caliber, except "Contender's" or others that are chambered for firing rifle cartridges.
Electric target carrier to any distance, but max distance is 50 feet (like I said, short).
Target holders are not frames, just clip-ons but do fine indoors. They are stainless with the angle towards the shooter. We have not had `hit failures' on the carriers.
The next (adjacent) area is for 8" steel plates as knock-down targets. You reset remotely on your own from the firing line. This area is the same size as the 'pistol only' area mentioned above but only 1 shooter at a time (there are no stalls/partitions). We had bowling pins at one time but that didn't last... some shooters did not act in a responsible manner.
The 3rd bay is the same as the first, 5 pistol only stalls..like I said, short.
The last area is the `rifle tube' since it is only 15 feet wide and 100 feet long, it has only 2 stalls. If things are not busy, many people do 25yd target pistol shooting in there. Since it is smaller, the air handlers do a better job of moving the smoke out. ( We don't have to "scrub" our exhaust, just keep inside ventilated). Indoors are Air Conditioned when in use..really a must for the membership. There is a separate backstop for this area. Anything up to 50 cal is OK, but not 50 cal. There are two "lead sleds", bags, etc. for anyone to use.
We rent a wide variety of Pistols from 22 revolvers to the 50 cal Desert Eagle.
The only rifle we rent is a full auto in 9mm, and a staff member is right behind you all the time. I forget the backstop make, but it is a series of steel baffles with hard rubber chunks in the base. Nothing has ever gone through it (we check for holes in the metal building , outside). Also, we have never had anything come back to the to the line.
NOW, the rifle area is different. The target holders take a beating.one spot is critical, and it gets hit often by some * whole.
Our membership runs is about 400 +/- people .
Membership dues are $ 350.00 a year.
Non-members can shoot for $ 25 a day.
LEO's have a special reduced rate.some are free.
Any ammo except AP, API, or tracer is OK. We sell A LOT of ammo.
We no longer allow non-members to shoot AK, Mini, etc. due to rate of fine - control problems.
Open 7 days a week, 7am to 10pm.
Ladies shoot free on Mondays , except Federal Holidays.
We no generally longer allow a guest with a member for no charge.
We no longer have a gunsmith associated with us, but 2 of us are FFL's . We receive a lot, transfers, and do special orders.
We do have concealed weapon training and permit issue opportunities 3 times a year.
We are located in a light industrial area within a mile of business districts. We get a lot of `lunch shooters' and `client entertainment lunches' .
PLANNING AHEAD
There was a large chain grocery store that closed up shop and was put up for auction.
It would take a bunch of backstop work, but 100 yard stations were possible.
Trap / Skeet would be possible.
We ( 3 owners ) said our limit was $ 590,000. We didn't make it.just wasn't in the cards I guess..
We have a guy that picks up all the brass for free, he gets " paid" on sale as scrap. At one time he quit because of the metal and aluminum cases, but he got things resolved and is back.
OUR LAST BIG TRANSACTION
We sold the place..everything for just a bit less than our grocery store limit. Four gun-nut Lawyers bought it and has one of us `manage it'. That turned out really sweet.
SO .CHECK WITH THE LOCALS ON ORDINANCES, POLLUTION, ETC.
AS ALWAYS, ALLOW FOR 50% OVERAGE AND INCIDENTALS.
GOOD LUCK. YOU WILL MAKE VALUABLE FRIENDS AND CONTACTS.
AND ENJOY YOURSELF !
That was a very motivating post and of course informational, thanks again!
This is usually what breaks us in two...