Visiting the States in July. East coast - where to shoot?

[Dr. Strangelove]

Hey all,

Towards the end of July I'll be spending a week around the East coast, in between visiting friends/relatives in NYC and a friend in Milwaukee. I'd like to take advantage of America firearms legislation and go shooting!

Can anyone recommend anywhere? Preferably somewhere that I can use an AR15 type rifle (ideally in different positions, I'd like to compare it to an L85) and somewhere for pistol shooting as well.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Regards,


Dr. S

[Porcupine]

I don't know of anywhere in NY state or WI that rents ARs. Fletcher Arms in Waukesha (a satellite town of Milwuakee so only a short drive) have a 9mm AR to rent on their indoor range, but that's not the same.

Probably the quickest way to rent an AR would be to drive out to Classic Pistol in PA. That's about an hour and a half from NYC and you can have a Philly cheese steak to build up your strength after all that shooting! If you have time to actually fly somewhere else the sky is the limit. Plenty of places like Virginia, New Hampshire and Kentucky have multiple rental places, including machineguns, tourist stuff so an overnight stay wouldn't be a waste, and are within or not much more than a one hour flight away.

Problem is that the north east is not big shooting country (plus several states have bad gun laws) so there aren't a whole lot of ranges anyway, and for rentals you're looking at gun shops with indoor ranges attached. Not many of those can handle rifle rounds and not many people want to rent rifles anyway. Outdoor ranges, which are more common, can't really do rentals since you could just run off with it.

Another option is to look up carbine classes nearby at the time you'll be there, then contact the instructor, explain that you're an experienced shooter but won't have any guns with you, and ask if he could provide one for you. That way you might be able to find somewhere in WI itself and will have the fun of a gunfighting class which will include shooting from different positions which you won't be able to do on an indoor range. You could also ask your friend in Milwaukee if he knows anyone who owns an AR who could take you shooting.

[Chuck]

or take a trip to Az and visit Scottsdale gun CLub, everything from a .22 pistol to belt feds....

I would normally have said pop over and see me but not sure if I will be in Az at that time

[Dr. Strangelove]

Another option is to look up carbine classes nearby at the time you'll be there, then contact the instructor, explain that you're an experienced shooter but won't have any guns with you, and ask if he could provide one for you.

Just done that. I'll actually be finishing off my trip with a two week stint in Twin Falls, Idaho, and I've sent an email to a company out there. Thanks for the tip!

I would normally have said pop over and see me but not sure if I will be in Az at that time

Ah, I don't think I'll be able to make it down to Arizona, thanks for the offer though!

[Chuck]

pity, but as suggested just googl what you want and where..that's how I got started...and look what happened LOL

[Porcupine]

Just done that. I'll actually be finishing off my trip with a two week stint in Twin Falls, Idaho, and I've sent an email to a company out there. Thanks for the tip!

Two hours away in Boise you'll find the Impact Guns store. One of the best gun stores in the world and with a range where you can rent an AR and also machineguns.

[Holds Tight]

Try,
http://sunsethill.slvrcreek.com/home.htm

Nice people! Good selection.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Two hours away in Boise you'll find the Impact Guns store. One of the best gun stores in the world and with a range where you can rent an AR and also machineguns.

I've had a reply stating that a day of instruction and shooting will cost $800! A lot more than I wanted to spend! I'm flying out of Boise so I might leave Twin Falls early and spend a while at Impact!

[Porcupine]

Hm, from Impact Guns it should be around $20 an hour for the rental plus the cost of ammunition which shouldn't be more than $50 per 100 and could be as low as $25 per 100, for 5.56. Depends how much you want to shoot and how much time you want to spend doing it, as well as what brand of ammunition they make you use.

A good carbine class like Magpul should cost something like $300 a day but that does not include ammunition. You'd have to work out with the instructor a deal where he'll bring enough ammo for you to use and you'll pay him for it (actually I'm not 100% on whether tourists can buy ammo, but even if it's legal you might have a hard time getting any without a US driver's license etc). You'll need about 1,000 rounds per day. So $800 is about right for one day, but only if they mean an actual carbine class where you'll be running and gunning. If they just mean lane rental with a safety brief then they're over charging.

If it's a class then obviously speak with the instructor about other gear you'll need and the possibility of borrowing some of his. Off the top of my head, aside from the gun, ammo, mags, and eyes and ears, you'd also want appropriate clothing for the weather and activity, a way to carry mags (I like belt-pouches for two mags plus a vest/plate carrier with additional pouches - enough to carry at least 8 mags), and knee and elbow pads aren't a bad idea to spare you some wear and tear.

[majordisorder]

You can buy ammo in the USA if you have a hunting licence. I bought an Alaska hunting licence (the cheapest available in the US) and that then allows aliens to buy ammo from a regular store (and import your own firearm if you want to take one with you ;-)