Starting a gun range

[topgun99]

So I have had it in mind for some time that I want to open a gun range when I get ready to retire. I'm starting to look at purchasing a piece of property large enough for a nice pistol range and rifle range possibly up to 500 yards and possibly a trap shooting area. What advice, tips and suggestions would any of you have as to lay out and supplies to keep on hand that you have seen or wished that were available at the various ranges you have been to.
Thanks.

 

[Bill Larson]

Check on prices of liabilty ins.

 

[Sixfivesavage]

Check on prices of liabilty ins.

This, and become a llc to distance yourself further just in case. You never know what can happen with gun laws and what people do at a range. A buddy of mine owns a store/range and has had three people commit suicide there. He knows his insurance agent well...I would look into holding training classes from reputable instructors too if there are few opportunities in you area.

 

[pawprint2]

Make yourself very familiar with Lead Abatement rules, regs, laws, state and fed. A new facility may not have any grandfathering.

 

[bogeybrown]

The NRA has a range development program. They offer seminars on range construction and have a team of NRA certified range development people that are available to do site assessment and offer guidance on range construction. Not only does it help with the range itself, but having outside "certified" help should also help with insurance and liability issues down the road.

 

[ZLBubba]

The NRA has a range development program. They offer seminars on range construction and have a team of NRA certified range development people that are available to do site assessment and offer guidance on range construction. Not only does it help with the range itself, but having outside "certified" help should also help with insurance and liability issues down the road.

^This. Great advice, get synced up with the NRA and attend their range building/management seminars. It's in their best interest to help new ranges open and stay open so you can bet that they'll have lots of good information for you.

 

[rjacobs]

What size acreage are you looking for? Layout is more important than size imo. I am building a private range on 200 acres. Sounds like a lot of land but most is not suitable or would require major work to make into a range. the topography can kill what you are trying to do and require so much work that it eats you up unless you own a large hi-lift or dozer and can work the land yourself. I have free use of a dozer and its 250 a day in diesel. Our current project is turning 1ish acre into a 150x250x10 shooting pit and its 3+ days with with the dozer. Then ground cover is expensive to. Lots of money into it.

 

[long range newbie]

I think you should try to have different sections, such as 1k here, 100-300 here, silhouettes here, pistol/ rimfire here, and trap has to have a big area so I'd make it like sections. I would also have a shop with basic stuff like targets, various ammos, mags, tools, and maybe even some type of service of rifles.

 

[topgun99]

Thanks for all the advice and tips. Keep them coming. This is not something that will happen overnight to be sure. Acreage will obviously be a huge determining factor especially here in eastern Oklahoma. I already thought of having a small shop and supply store just not sure what the best things to stock would be.