Range membership: Evan's Gun World or La Puente Firing Range?

[shojivic]

Having enjoyed the convenience of OC Indoor Shooting Range in Brea for years, I'm debating where I should go for indoor shooting needs.

For those more familiar with these locations, what factors should be considered regarding these two different ranges? I'm obviously considering health/safety conditions, amenities, etc. The costs are pretty similar. I don't usually need anything from the counter besides the occasional target.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance GalGuns think-tank


Edit: I only need a pistol range for now. I'm pretty much equidistant between the two above.

FT3 is too far away with family/work demands, but I agree it's preferable, given the opportunity.

Rifle/shotgun training is Burro Cyn.

[9Cal_OC]

What area do you live in?

Evans is fine but a bit small and can only do pistol or rimfire, unless you go to their rifle nights.

[Hk996]

Location and what type of shooting you do should help. Which one is cheaper? I used to be a member at ft3, but after their prices kept rising, I switched to Evans. Evans is smaller and doesn't go as far, but it's never crowded (unless they are doing a course or class) and people are friendly there. La Puente looks like you can only go up to 44mag which would be a problem for me since I have some big bore handguns. I also only use to test reloads and do main shooting at ourdoor ranges like Angeles.

[Dirtlaw]

I have memberships at both. Evans is close and handy. FT3 allows more options.

[rodralig]

I am a annual member at LPFR, which is just 5~10-mins from home. Since the range is open until 11pm, it makes it convenient… In part, since those who flaunt firearms safety are usually not going to stay past 9pm to shoot.

While range lightning is something that needs to be desired, the length at 25-yards makes for good practice.

My only qualm is some rules like size of targets, not able to use a bench (say for zeroing) and no RSO.


On the other hand, FT3 is far and not enough flexibility for what I really want (holster draws) that it does not make it commensurate to the cost.

YMMV.


PS: I just got inducted last night as a “conditional” (my 1st year) Full Member at one of the local private outdoor shooting clubs! It may be a drive for me - but, considering the state of Komiefornia, this is a woot!


_

[jarhead714]

Evan’s treats you like dirt unless you’re a policeman.

[Dirtlaw]

Originally Posted by jarhead714

Evan’s treats you like dirt unless you’re a policeman.

My experience differs.

[shojivic]

Originally Posted by jarhead714

Evan’s treats you like dirt unless you’re a policeman.

I've been there once, and the younger guy at the front counter seemed to be inconvenienced that I was arriving later in the evening (8:30pm-ish?) and was hardly welcoming or polite; more like terse and somewhat agitated. Didn't phase me, just an observation.

I don't need much, but a little pleasantry goes far in my book. I'm hardly a problem child.

On the other hand, the young lady/blonde gal was polite when I paid the tab afterward.

I'm hardly easily offended, but just want to make a decision based upon more than just my single visit experience.

[Dirtlaw]

Making a very long story short, my wife has been active in bringing a performing arts center to the City of Orange. We have no children so we want what we have accumulated to benefit our local community. I have been considering a number of community endeavors including the performing arts center favored by my wife . But I am starting to play what if. And the what if is the possibility of a community shooting range. Given the people we know and the community in general I believe it is a doable project. I mean we have a dog park, so why not a community range?

[jarhead714]

Field Time is the best indoor range in Orange County and possibly in all of Southern California. To a man, they couldn’t be any more pleasant over there. They did however recently drop the 2 hours to one hour on the weekends but I think that had as much to do with the 2 hour wait times customers were experiencing to get a lane as it did with paying the bills and payroll. It’s still 2 hours for $25 during the week, though. Can’t really say enough about the place. It’s a model for what an indoor range is supposed to be.

[jarhead714]

Originally Posted by Dirtlaw

Making a very long story short, my wife has been active in bringing a performing arts center to the City of Orange. We have no children so we want what we have accumulated to benefit our local community. I have been considering a number of community endeavors including the performing arts center favored by my wife . But I am starting to play what if. And the what if is the possibility of a community shooting range. Given the people we know and the community in general I believe it is a doable project. I mean we have a dog park, so why not a community range?

I think that’s a tall order given the influx in the past 10-15 years of douchey whiners that paid cash for all their decrepit old houses in and around the Circle and Chapman.

[SenorBandito]

Bullet holes on either side of the lane dividers at La Puente aren't very reassuring... Also bummed out that they won't let me shoot my pistol caliber carbine.

.22LR rifles = Fine
Pistols = Fine
Carbines that shoot 9mm = Not fine

Kind of silly rules but it really is the only reasonable range near me. There really kind of is a lack of good ranges in most southern california cities. Always need to go for a drive. La puente has my vote by default since I haven't found anything closer/better.

[smoothy8500]

Originally Posted by SenorBandito

Bullet holes on either side of the lane dividers at La Puente aren't very reassuring...

Hmmmm, they seem to have holes at just about every indoor range I've ever been to.....

[Zenderfall]

Depending on exactly WHERE you live, Insight Shooting Range in Artesia (605 and 91) might not be far off. Comparing LPFR to Insight:

Insight has a larger rental gun selection

Insight allows you to shoot off the bench. one of the lanes has a desk and chair so you can bench shoot from a lower sitting position.

Insight does not charge per hour, like LPFR does. You pay one price, shoot as long as you want, except on busy weekends they ask you to keep it short to about two hours or so.

Insight allows you to shoot smaller paper targets, unlikes LPFR, which requires you shoot their sized targets. Some people might not care about this, but many NRA standard pistol targets just happen to be smaller than LPFR's.

Insight is also an FFL, LPFR is not. You can have guns shipped there. The neat thing about this place, is during the 10-day wait, you can shoot the gun in their range.

Insight allows PCC's (and has them for rent, too)

From where I live, Insight is an extra 15 minute drive, but it's the 15 minutes I gladly make due to the reasons above.

[9Cal_OC]

Originally Posted by Zenderfall

Depending on exactly WHERE you live, Insight Shooting Range in Artesia (605 and 91) might not be far off. Comparing LPFR to Insight

Isn?t that the range that sponsored the gun buy back a while ago?

[Zenderfall]

I don’t participate in gun buybacks, so I don’t know. Then again, what would a gun range sponsoring a gun buy back have anything to do with how it operates its business?

[SenorBandito]

I tried Insight today and they were helpful. You can bring your own ammo despite what the website says. Feels a bit nicer than La Puente. You can rent a firearm and try out as many as you want as long as you bring the first one back and they allow rifles/carbines unlike la puente and I think it's cheaper too. Might go back if I want to go to an indoor range.

[tuna quesadilla]

Now that it's been a few months I'm curious (and I bet the group at large would be curious) to hear where OP ended up.

Before I moved out of state I was a member at Evan's. I never had any issues with customer service. Range was never too busy if I went on weeknights after work. I enjoyed shooting there. Just my $0.02.

[revy]

i like that ft3 has.a $40 90min class . work from concealed , work on the move, low light, etc.

its training that i can re-do once a month. im not about spending $1000 for a 2-day course for perishable skills