NorCal ranges past 600 yards?

[Wykyd]

Howdy guys!

I went to go practice the other day drove 2hrs and found they barricaded the entrance with large boulders to a spot I have been going to for many years. The other spot I have is down at Panoche Hills but its only open a few months a year and last year with fire danger was shut down so I wounder what the future is for that area.

With that said I know people are not going to give up their secret spot now moreso than ever. So other than Sac do we have any ranges in NorCal to shoot past 300 yards, although I would prefer 600+? Also, I would prefer reactive targets like steel but don't care at this point. I know that private range is down by Panoche but I think its full? I did look at the sticky about ranges but nothing jumped out in NorCal everything looked to be in SoCal.

Cheers,
Matt

[ar15barrels]

Coalinga Rifle Club

[parap1445]

Sacramento Valley Shooting Center is good if you join matches with the various clubs with access to the 1000yd or 500m range. Just check their website under the Clubs tab.

It's a haul, but the public range by San Luis Obispo has targets out to 1400yd.

The rest are private clubs including Coalinga, Avenal, Gonzales (Swiss Rifle Club). Coalinga has 1000yd range, generally easy to join. Avenal runs a waitlist and opens up membership once a year. You can shoot out to 900yd there. Gonzales has a 500m range. You might need to join the Swiss Rifle Club or shoot silhouette matches to get access.

[NYT]

def sac valley

[Wykyd]

Awesome I appreciate the responses. Pretty much what I was thinking already we have very slim pickings up here!

[ghostrider]

https://www.astoriarange.com/
New rifle/pistol range opened up in Soledad and they have a 700 yard lane

[acourvil]

In addition to matches at Sac Valley, the NCPPRC club also does practices, generally on the first Friday and Saturday of the month where you shoot for ~10min at each of the 200, 00, 425, 500, 600, 800, 900 and 1k lines.

[Wykyd]

Originally Posted by ghostrider

https://www.astoriarange.com/
New rifle/pistol range opened up in Soledad and they have a 700 yard lane

Thank you hopefully they will get some more info up with prices etc. or at least the website legible soon.

Originally Posted by acourvil

In addition to matches at Sac Valley, the NCPPRC club also does practices, generally on the first Friday and Saturday of the month where you shoot for ~10min at each of the 200, 00, 425, 500, 600, 800, 900 and 1k lines.

Thanks, have you participated in one and do you know price or any other info? l go check out the NCPPRC website to see if they list anything.

[smoothy8500]

Originally Posted by Wykyd

Thanks, have you participated in one and do you know price or any other info? l go check out the NCPPRC website to see if they list anything.

NorCal events are reasonably priced for non-members. It's been a few years (before Covid) but the range fee was something like $20 plus the club match/practice fee is around $20 if I recall. Good bunch of members that are super helpful with tips and info.

Not sure if they still do their classes, but the "Intro to Long-Range" and "Wind Reading" classes are awesome.

[acourvil]

f you are interested in shooting with the NCPPRC club, sign up for their forum at http://forum.ncpprc.com/index.php?si...1ab282003ccebb

There is a fair amount of info posted on how the practices and matches work, and all practices and matches are posted on the forum, usually about 2 weeks before.

They generally do long range practices Friday and Saturday at the beginning of the month, a long range match that Sunday, and steel matches (PRS style) the middle weekend of odd months. They also did a couple of 22 steel matches this year. The practices and matches are generally open to the public, and fees are reasonable.

[shooterx10]

Other than the Astoria Gun Club in Soledad, are there ranges with steel targets at long distances that are open for practice?

Yes, the hourly charge at Astoria for the 700 yard bay is a bit pricey.

[cz74]

OP, it is 3+ hours drive but a nice public range with steel out to 500 yards is San Luis Sportsman. Took a weekend trip there couple months ago and it was lot of fun. The targets are arranged up a steep hillside, good practice to adjust elevation and windage.

[Paul_R]

Shoot whatever you want in Nevada without any nosey California regulation junkies.

https://www.washoecounty.gov/parks/s...g_facility.php

[sheshotme]

I am not traveling half a day just to shoot at a range. But damn, State run shooting range out to 1000 yards for $9 a day. It'll be a cold day in hell when CA does that for us. Be careful though, Nevada is purple.

[CSACANNONEER]

Originally Posted by sheshotme

I am not traveling half a day just to shoot at a range. But damn, State run shooting range out to 1000 yards for $9 a day. It'll be a cold day in hell when CA does that for us. Be careful though, Nevada is purple.

Most people in this country are more than "half a day's travel" from a 1000 yard public range. I'm sure glad that most people think like you and don't go to those ranges. It leaves openings for those of us who are willing to do what it takes. BTW, due to weather, I've personally travelled 12 plus hours to shoot at the Washoe County range. Normally, it only takes me about 8-9 hours each way unless there's snow.

[mattt]

zamora past winters on 505 out to 1341 quail hill

[sheshotme]

Originally Posted by CSACANNONEER

Most people in this country are more than "half a day's travel" from a 1000 yard public range. I'm sure glad that most people think like you and don't go to those ranges. It leaves openings for those of us who are willing to do what it takes. BTW, due to weather, I've personally travelled 12 plus hours to shoot at the Washoe County range. Normally, it only takes me about 8-9 hours each way unless there's snow.

I would have figured most people were a lot closer to a 1000 yard range as long as you didn't live in a major city.

[the_tunaman]

Originally Posted by sheshotme

Be careful though, Nevada is purple.

Far better than indigo.

[Paul_R]

Originally Posted by sheshotme

I am not traveling half a day just to shoot at a range. But damn, State run shooting range out to 1000 yards for $9 a day. It'll be a cold day in hell when CA does that for us. Be careful though, Nevada is purple.

You can't camp at the range but there's plenty of free camping nearby. Bring all your off road toys and make it a weekend or more.

[shooterx10]

Originally Posted by Paul_R

Shoot whatever you want in Nevada without any nosey California regulation junkies.

https://www.washoecounty.gov/parks/s...g_facility.php

I have shot at Washoe before. Awesome place! They allow rapid fire too. Pretty cool seeing the shooters with suppressors on their guns.

Aren't the long distance steel plates up like a steep hill?

[shooterx10]

Originally Posted by mattt

zamora past winters on 505 out to 1341 quail hill

HI Matt. Do you have a map (or a link to one) of this location?

[supermoto917]

Avenal: Have to be a member or go with a member But you have access to over 300+ gongs in random distances from 200 yards out to 908y.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFPKj2...blishsharelink

[fish45]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Coalinga Rifle Club

Definitely not Northern California. Anywhere north of LA is not northern California.

Sac Valley is the only range that has what you're looking for. You're going to have to look for a new spot on BLM land if sac valley doesn't work for you.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by fish45

Definitely not Northern California. Anywhere north of LA is not northern California.

Sac Valley is the only range that has what you're looking for. You're going to have to look for a new spot on BLM land if sac valley doesn't work for you.

Coalinga is about 40 miles south of the north/south dividing line.

[fish45]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Coalinga is about 40 miles south of the north/south dividing line.

Still doesn’t make it Northern California… especially since it’s 470 miles from the Northern California border…

[sheshotme]

Originally Posted by Paul_R

You can't camp at the range but there's plenty of free camping nearby. Bring all your off road toys and make it a weekend or more.

Definitely. A few buddies, camping, multi-day shooting, worth the trip!

[Jimboecv]

Originally Posted by Paul_R

Shoot whatever you want in Nevada without any nosey California regulation junkies.

https://www.washoecounty.gov/parks/s...g_facility.php

We go out east of Gardnerville on BLM land. Two days camping and you won't see anyone. All the distance you want to shoot. We hang steel on T-posts, a couple of poppers and smoke cigars.

I'm in the east bay and it's about 3 hours.

[CSACANNONEER]

Originally Posted by fish45

Still doesn’t make it Northern California… especially since it’s 470 miles from the Northern California border…

San Francisco and Sac are both more "Central California" than "Northern California" but, most people consider them both "Northern" due to populations instead of geography.

[CSACANNONEER]

Originally Posted by Paul_R

You can't camp at the range but there's plenty of free camping nearby. Bring all your off road toys and make it a weekend or more.

It sucks that the good old days of camping on the 1000 yard firing line are gone. Yes, I've actually set up an air mattress right next to the bench with my rifle and gear on it and slept right there.

[CSACANNONEER]

Originally Posted by sheshotme

I am not traveling half a day just to shoot at a range. But damn, State run shooting range out to 1000 yards for $9 a day. It'll be a cold day in hell when CA does that for us. Be careful though, Nevada is purple.

NV didn't just decide to make a range there. In fact, the state had little to say about it. It was the County that made the range. They were forced to either make and operate the range or loose the property that was bequeathed to them with the stipulation that they were required to build and continually operated a public range. If the range ever closes, Washoe County will loose the property.

[shooterx10]

Is there a range out in Hollister? This year, the PRS had a qualifier match there: https://www.precisionrifleseries.com...ier-hollister/

Avenal and Hollister are two cities 120 plus miles apart. Was the location on the PRS website incorrect?

[fish45]

Originally Posted by CSACANNONEER

San Francisco and Sac are both more "Central California" than "Northern California" but, most people consider them both "Northern" due to populations instead of geography.

People from LA tend to think of the state as norcal and socal. I think of the state as norcal, socal, the bay area, and the central valley. I personally think thats the most geographically and politically accurate.

Both SF and Sac are north of the literal middle, but I wouldn't call them northern California. I'd call them the bay area and central valley respectively.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Originally Posted by fish45

Definitely not Northern California. Anywhere north of LA is not northern California.

Sac Valley is the only range that has what you're looking for. You're going to have to look for a new spot on BLM land if sac valley doesn't work for you.

Originally Posted by CSACANNONEER

San Francisco and Sac are both more "Central California" than "Northern California" but, most people consider them both "Northern" due to populations instead of geography.

Bear in mind that it's a game of perception more than one of accuracy. For instance, 20-something years ago, I was speaking with the CEO of an international corporation with headquarters in Honolulu and Los Angeles who definitively declared that anywhere north of the Grapevine was "Northern California." Let's just say that my efforts to set him straight fell on deaf ears.

Thus, it depends on how the OP is defining "NorCal" and what the criterion/criteria is/are vis a vis 'accessibility.' (Most "Northern Californians" tend to draw the line north of Sacramento, somewhere around Marysville/Yuba City; but, then 'extend' it to include Marin County. Otherwise, you're into "Central California." It all depends on your point of reference.)

Here's how the CLETS User Group defines it (pretty close to public perceptions)...



For instance... TEHAMA SHOOTERS ASSOCIATION in Red Bluff...

Tehama Shooters Association is a private member supported Non-Profit 501(c)(7) shooting club with a focus on youth shooting sports. Through membership dues we are able to provide our membership with several shooting disciplines. These disciplines include; Trap & Skeet, Pistol, Rimfire and Centerfire. The Centerfire range has a short-range from 100-500 yards and a long-range of 600 yard and 1,000 yards where many benchrest shooters compete twice a month and on special events. Our youth shooters include 4H Shooting Sports and Claybusters.

Tehama Shooters Association has a monthly Service Rifle match where you can show off your skills with a military style rifle with Iron sights.

Show off your long-range precision shooting skills in one of our scheduled Long-Range Benchrest matches.

But, as they indicate, it's a private members club; thus, requiring an invite and accompaniment by an existing member.

[fish45]

Originally Posted by TrappedinCalifornia

Bear in mind that it's a game of perception more than one of accuracy. For instance, 20-something years ago, I was speaking with the CEO of an international corporation with headquarters in Honolulu and Los Angeles who definitively declared that anywhere north of the Grapevine was "Northern California." Let's just say that my efforts to set him straight fell on deaf ears.

Thus, it depends on how the OP is defining "NorCal" and what the criterion/criteria is/are vis a vis 'accessibility.' (Most "Northern Californians" tend to draw the line north of Sacramento, somewhere around Marysville/Yuba City; but, then 'extend' it to include Marin County. Otherwise, you're into "Central California." It all depends on your point of reference.)

Here's how the CLETS User Group defines it (pretty close to public perceptions)...



For instance... TEHAMA SHOOTERS ASSOCIATION in Red Bluff...



But, as they indicate, it's a private members club; thus, requiring an invite and accompaniment by an existing member.

Like I said above, north of LA doesn’t mean Northern California.

Even based on your map, coalinga still isn’t in Northern California…

Perception over accuracy is an excuse, and a poor one at that. Anyone with a smart phone and 30 seconds of time can clearly see coalinga is in the bottom half of the state…

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Originally Posted by fish45

Like I said above, north of LA doesn’t mean Northern California.

Even based on your map, coalinga still isn’t in Northern California…

Perception over accuracy is an excuse, and a poor one at that. Anyone with a smart phone and 30 seconds of time can clearly see coalinga is in the bottom half of the state…

I'm not and wasn't arguing that Coalinga is part of Northern California. What I was pointing out is that everyone's definition of what constitutes North, Central, South, etc. California is as much a matter of perception as it is defined delineation and demarcation.

Take the Spanish Period. You had Baja (lower) and Alta (upper) California. Baja's northernmost reach was San Diego, which is where Alta California began, with the northernmost territory being a source of some debate. During the Mexican Period, the northern 'border' expanded; but, how far it actually 'reached' is, again, subject to some debate. By the time of the mountain men's arrival and the Bear Flag Revolt, the Oregon/California border had pretty much been established by treaty. However, the 'debate' revolves around how much of a 'presence' and, thus, 'control' either the Spanish or the Mexican governments had over that area.

Thus, "Northern California," at one time, did begin in San Diego. Even by the time of the State Constitutional Convention, there was debate over whether to include what most people think of today as "South California" as part of the State. In fact, in a very real sense, the boundaries of California, as we know them today, were, arguably, more 'accident' or 'happenstance' than design. (It's an interesting history to look into.)

What constitutes what portion of the State has remained a subject of debate and contention. It's something which has been a major bone of contention with regard to proposals for splitting the State. What criterion or criteria is going to be used to create the boundaries? Economic, cultural, physical, etc. or some combination?

Thus, there is some 'truth' to...

Originally Posted by CSACANNONEER

San Francisco and Sac are both more "Central California" than "Northern California" but, most people consider them both "Northern" due to populations instead of geography.

But, again, it becomes a matter of perception. I tend to think of California along the lines of the map I provided above from the CLETS User Group. However, if you watch/listen to the news, there exists a wide array of 'boundaries' which are used. Let's just say that those who live in Northern California are constantly driven nuts by the Bay Area being referenced as Northern California. In fact, back in the mid-90's, Assemblyman Statham was forced to 'redraw' his proposed division of California to garner support from the counties and eventually came up with something close to the map above dividing the State into three parts.

It's just like your reference to Coalinga being in "the bottom half of the State." Who made that official? By the standards/perceptions of many, it is in Central California. (In fact, it is almost dead center and a little West in 'Central California' according to the map provided above.) Might that suggest that even you are operating based on perception, something you claim to be a 'poor excuse?'

Just something to think about.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by TrappedinCalifornia

It's just like your reference to Coalinga being in "the bottom half of the State." Who made that official?

Probably California DOT.
They stuck a couple trees at the diving point between north and south so you know when you are crossing from one side to the other.
https://www.mercedcountyevents.com/s...meets-the-pine

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Probably California DOT.
They stuck a couple trees at the diving point between north and south so you know when you are crossing from one side to the other.
https://www.mercedcountyevents.com/s...meets-the-pine

Well, if we disregard - "everyone's definition of what constitutes North, Central, South, etc. California is as much a matter of perception as it is defined delineation and demarcation" - then the official center of California is... Exact Center of California: North Fork...

...The geographic center of the state of California is located between North Fork and Italian Bar. The point is about 7.1 miles (11.4 km) driving distance from the United States Forest Service office in North Fork. The location is marked by a sign and a survey marker. NAD83 coordinates for the exact center of California are 37°09′58″N 119°26′58″W / 37.16611°N 119.44944°W / 37.16611; -119.44944 The Fresno County line is less than one mile (1.6 km), (straight-line distance), from the site's survey marker...

Again, the point is that, for many, including a lot of people on this site and throughout the history of the State, "California" isn't defined by the artificial boundaries we currently have. In fact, one of the things we need to remember is that Alta (Upper or North) California once encompassed a considerable portion of the Western United States...



Even the three 'divisions' based on population and culture that I shared earlier is an artificial construct and, in particular, temporary in the grand scheme of things; including being 'official.' Remember, there have been 220+ attempts to split the State.

So... again... "everyone's definition of what constitutes North, Central, South, etc. California is as much a matter of perception as it is defined delineation and demarcation"

[CSACANNONEER]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Probably California DOT.
They stuck a couple trees at the diving point between north and south so you know when you are crossing from one side to the other.
https://www.mercedcountyevents.com/s...meets-the-pine

I guess I'll be taking 99 on my next trip to Sac, Tahoe, Reno, etc. It's longer but more scenic than the boring 5.

[CSACANNONEER]

Originally Posted by TrappedinCalifornia

Well, if we disregard - "everyone's definition of what constitutes North, Central, South, etc. California is as much a matter of perception as it is defined delineation and demarcation" - then the official center of California is... Exact Center of California: North Fork...

Be careful visiting North Fork. I heard there's a sod buster living near there with a fancy rifle.

[kcstott]

This is like arguing over the southern states civil war era, that damn Mason Dixon line way the hell north at the base of Pennsylvania. Calling anything that's 3/4's of the way north a "Southern" state is a bid ridiculous.

And No CSA I most certainly am not trying to pick a fight.