TFP Gun Range Trip (NC / VA Area)
 

LOCATION: Blacksburg, VA - Blacksburg Shooting Range

DATE: 17 (Sat) or 18 (Sun) January 2009

TIME: 1130 hours (roughly)

Bring your own guns, ammo, eye and ear protection, cleaning kit and tools, snacks, toilet paper.

Also bring targets, target stands, stakes, hammer, etc. I'm thinking the 2x4 crosses or saw horses.

It will be cold. Dress accordingly.

so how did yesterday's excursion go? any pics?

i would possibly have joined you guys, with my old seven-shot .22 revolver, but it's not really a "day trip" for me...

We cancelled at the last minute after Cromp and I realized we were likely to be the only people there. Most everyone else had school obligations. Turns out it was in the middle of finals.

Excuses! Pfft, I had finals and I was willing to piss away my GPA to go shoot with some friendly TFPers. Priorities, brother.

Whiners better be there on the new date. I'm sitting on an increasingly large pile of rounds that I'm saving for this event.

I need to remember to get some of those "hot hands" things for my skinny badger paws if its going to be 30-something.

"Tactical" gloves never keep my hands warm.
-----Added 18/12/2008 at 07 : 20 : 56-----
It should happen. You can dispense your various gems of wisdom while we load magazines.

Anyone have any idea where I can locate some cheap, M1A appropriate 7.62x51? And maybe some 5.56 as well? =P

:orly:

I think he really means 2009.

/swats Crompsin for spending 10 minutes writing (and editing) that post and missing that glaring mistake

Dude. Im sure M14 mags and 5.56 ammo are out there to be had but I doubt it will be cheap. Everyone is freaked out and hording at the moment...try Wal-Mart for the cheap 5.56. I

Bastards won't show up to shoot... but they'll be critical of little annoying details!

I can't help it man. I've got this condition... post traumatic calendar disorder.

Aaah, deployments. Miss a few holidays and can't distinguish seasons or years anymore.

...

2009. January. 17-18.

I just didn't know if you meant January or December.

You're more than welcome to come frequent one of my local ranges...probably won't need more than a long sleeve t-shirt if the sun is out :thumbsup:

And here I thought that I would have to travel back in time to go shooting with these guys. Thank god it's next year, the time machine isn't 100% yet.

I'll be there BTW.

I don't own a gun, I've never fired one, I'm very scared of firearms!!!

I have never been able to understand why rational adults fear inanimate objects.

I mean, I'm not fond of needles, but I know without a doctor to jab me... I'm safe.

...

I'm looking forward to this range trip and I'm hoping the weather cooperates.

If not, I'll have to rig my USP to operate while I'm wearing my mittens.

Too bad it's so far...James and I would love to come to this. We shot the hell out of our pumpkins following halloween...Mosin Nagant, .45 Ranger II, 12G Shotgun, AR15. Boo the east coast being so far!

You dont understand, my fear of guns is not rational at all.... It's not wheather it's right or wrong to own one or all that political stuff........ The way you fear needles but you're at ease when they arent coming at you, because they wont, I believe the guns will just spring to life and start taunting me to sing before they shoot me!!!! :eek:

But I wasnt threadjacking though, I might come to because I'm in the area ..... to just watch you big men shoot guns around because I think they look cool on TV..., but I won't join, and I didn't think you want someone like that to tag along!!!

Oh Xerxys, guns might seem intimdating at first (as it surely did to me when I was shooting a .30 cal at age 14), but after shooting a couple, it becomes pretty darn enjoyable, especially if you start getting better at it. I always enjoy dispelling the 'scary-evil-gun' myth with new shooters.

For those that need it, I have some 5.56 I would be willing to trade for 9mm or .45 acp at the range. If you are looking for 5.56, let me know if that would work for you.

You and I should talk. I've got quite a bit of 9 and .45. How much 5.56 are you sitting on?

Misspost? I am completely confused by your post IIIUUU.

It's spam, disregard. Carry on.

Probably important to mention that target stands need to be created / brought if they're not out at the range and the range description said "bring your own."

I don't have any laying around and this needs to be addressed so range day doesn't consist of creative improv construction. Obvious need for at least one target holder per shooter / lane.

I'm not sure if the range has paced out holes in the ground like McKellar's at Bragg, so the wide-base "hat rack" target hangers or saw horses will be necessary.

Any ideas or suggestions?

I have 15 extra CRT monitors laying around the office that no one will miss....

If someone will send me the airfare, I should be able to make it...
I'll bring me trusty SMLE .303

.

As this date draws closer I have some questions about a few of these items. Eye and ear protection? Sunglasses alright or do they have to be glasses as if I was working in a zone OSHA said I needed eye protetion? I have some old plastic saftey glasses and ear buds from when I visited an engine room of a ship and had to wear the stuff. Would that work?

Cleaning kit? Where would I buy one of these? Wal-mart? All I have personally is that 9mm.

Targets? I'm extremely confused about what I need to bring for that. Someone said something about cardboard and if that is needed I got all kind of computer case packaging laying around the office. I just want to show up with everything that I would need so I'm not "that guy" again. Crompsin I think said something about "the guy who shows up with a $20 for the bar" and I want to bring everything I need too.

Real quick, 9mm ammo... walmart or a gun shop? Best price?

Walmart usually has ammo that is cheaper than the gun shop. Usually. They have massive economies of scale that trump that of a gunshop (Case in point, Blazer brass ammo in .45ACP [Clean, hot stuff that never causes a jam] $14.87 at walmart, Magtech .45ACP [Crap dirty ammo, always causes jams in my gun] $18.47 at gun shop.

I'm not too clear on target stands, either =\.

At our range:
Eye Protection = "Safety Glasses", similar to workshop specification, as a minimum.

Ear Protection: Plugs OK, Muffs better.

Cleaning kit, 1 for every caliber gun you have. You should have that anyways...

Targets: Paper/Cardboard= easier cleanup/disposal.

.

Lord Eden, you can make great, simple target stands out of cardboard boxes and tape. For targets regular 8" paper plates are cheap and more than adequate. You can always draw a smaller circle in the middle if you want.

Any eye protection you are comfortable using should be 'adequate' though of course the super tough giant glasses provide more protection.

You shouldn't 'need' a cleaning kit. You should probably have one if you own a pistol, and I will be happy to show you how to clean your pistol, but it won't be crucial for this trip.

You talking about the triangles-with-slots target stands? I never have much luck with those.

No, I'm talking about a cardboard box with a plate taped to it. If you want to get fancy, you can stack two boxes on top of each other.

If you want cardboard boxes, I'm about to build 8 computers so I will save the boxes the cases come in. They are made from thick cardboard and should hold up well for the shooting range. I'll break 'em down and take them with some packing tape to the range. If I get anymore nice boxes at work I'll keep 'em and I might have enough for everyone.

I'd love to go, but you people just had to live on the other side of the country...

Hah, they still let you have guns in California?

No wonder you're so angsty.
-----Added 11/1/2009 at 06 : 09 : 36-----
Sounds like a plan. Cardboard boxes and packing tape. Simple'd!

They've confiscated guns here before and I wouldn't be surprised if it happens again. And the bad news for you non-Californians is that, for better or worse (usually for worse), the rest of the nation sometimes follows the lead of states like California when it comes to policy.

Anyone got the exact address to this place? I was hoping to have map quest directions for the trip and I can't seem to find an address to the actual firing range.

"The Blacksburg Shooting Range is located approximately 3 miles north of Blacksburg. From Blacksburg, take US 460 west to SR 621. Turn right, then follow signs to the shooting range on the left.

This range is handicap accessible and offers two facilities. The rifle/ pistol range features 18 positions, 10 of which are sheltered. It is designed for firing at stationary paper targets up to 100 meters. Shooters must bring their own targets, such as a cardboard box or commercial paper target with frames. The single position shotgun (trap) range is designed for shooting at clay targets, which also must be provided by shooters. Archery is also permitted at this range.

Blacksburg Shooting Range is open seven days a week, dawn to dusk and costs nothing to use. A donation box is set up to help defray the maintenance and operational costs of the range. The Blacksburg Shooting Range is managed by the Eastern Divide Ranger District in Blacksburg."

Holy Cow that place is 5 hours away from Baltimore.

You just Google'd it now? Hah.

...

Ya know... I live right south of you.

Your car is probably bigger than mine.

It seemed more or less mid-way between most of the people who are planning on going.

I believe at least three of us are coming up from NC.

Speaking of which, who is still planning on showing up? I'd like to get a rough head count.

~Greg

I'm buying my bullets, cleaning kit, and other stuff on thursday to be ready for saturday. I'm totally down. I have 7 nice sized cardboard boxes to use and a roll of duck tape.

Im in.