Hi All,

I am located in Alexandria, VA and so most of my target shooting is done at the Arlington-Fairfax Izaac Walton League range. This range, with a maximum of 100yds, is a great facility and us NOVA shooters are very lucky that it is available.

I use the A-F IWLA range to do most of my load development. This load development is mostly for my Colorado elk hunts. Since I sometimes encounter shot longer than 100yds on these elk hunts, I like to do a little target shooting at 200yds and 300yds just to check bullet-rifle performance at these longer ranges. However, 200yd and 300yd rifle ranges are quite scarce around NOVA.

I know there are at least one private club in my area (Fairfax Rod and Gun) with longer ranges, but I shoot the longer ranges so infrequently that I hate to pay all the fees to join a club just to shoot one day a year. I also know about the Quantico Shooting Club on the Quantico Marine Corp Base, which has a beautiful shooting range (as you would expect of the USMC), but it has a looong waiting list and I hear that the long-range shooting facility is infrequently open.

I usually drive the 100 or so miles to one of the WMA's in West Virginia with a 200yd range, but it is limited to only 200yds.

Can anyone suggest a location within about 150 miles of NOVA that has both 200yd and 300yd public rifle ranges?

In a worst-case scenario, since I already know of a 200yd public range within a few hours of my house, can anyone recommend a facility that has a 300yd public range?

TIA!

--shinbone

You mite check with Quantico, I know at one time the 50cal shooters where shooting there

I'd be surprised if any public 300 yard range exists in your area. I go to the Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club in Charlottesville. PM me, if you're interested maybe I can help before your hunt. It's about 75 miles from my house so I only manage to get there a few times a year. RRPC has a 300 yard range, no guest charge.

gmack - thanks for the heads-up on the RRPC. I went to their website and it is a nice looking club. Also, Google Maps says Charlottesville is 117 miles from Alexandria, so the drive is do-able for me.

I may take you up on your offer. I'll let you know how things pan out with my search for shooting ranges. Thanks!

--shinbone

Sorry. My club is 216 miles from you. Membership is only $40 a year, though. Target boards at 100, 200, and 350yds; swingers at 200, 300, 400, and 500 metres.

The Mt. AIry (MD) IWLA has a 300 yard rifle range. Not sure if they would make it available to IWLA members from other facilities though.
http://www.mtairyiwla.org/home.htm

antietamgw - thanks for the tip on Mt. Airy. They've got a great facility! However, it is my understanding that you can't cross from one IWLA chapter to another - you gotta be a direct member of any chapter to use its facilities.

--shinbone

shinbone,
You are correct about IWLA membership in a particular chapter is necessary to use the chapter's facilities.

I belong to the Mt.Airy chapter, and will be glad to take you as a guest. However, since I'm retired, I almost always go to the range during the week, and frequently have it to myself.

PM me if you want to pursue this. I hunt in Wyoming every year, and find it very helpful to shoot at 200 and 300 yards. If fact, that's why I joined this chapter.

Steve

I would be pleased to invite you as my guest to the Fairfax Rod and Gun Club on one condition. If you would attend the Range Safety Orientation (which is open to non members) before hand.
It is given at 7:30pm on the first Monday of each month. I have to start getting ready for a mule deer hunt out west and need to do the 300 yard range myself and would love the company. I am about to become the President of the Fairfax Rod and Gun Club.
You can email me direct at [email protected].

Mike

7x57STEVE and scorekeeper03 - Thanks for the very generous offers. I would certainly appreciate the opportunity to visit both clubs. Plus, it would be great to shoot with someone. PM/email have been sent.

Thanks again.

--shinbone

Another idea.

Both my clubs are open to the public for a nominal fee a few weeks before hunting season. Membership typically volunteers as range officers for this communtiy service. You just need the dates.

gmack - That's a good suggestion. I'll send a PM to get the dates.

--shinbone