Where do Ranges make their money?

[Sander77]

Do big, outdoor ranges like Chabot and Los Altos make most their money off of selling ammo (combined maybe with having low overhead)?

[chiefcrash]

i think so. I know that the small range fee they charge doesn't do much for them. Ammo, targets, ear plugs, and other consumables are where they make their money...

and the occasional person who buys a membership and never goes shooting...

ETA: i should probably make it more clear: i'm just speculating

[marksbb]

Actually, at The Sunnyvale rod and Gun Club, we do make our money off range fees.

[ocabj]

Right now, our range charges $15 for non-members to shoot all day.

On a Saturday and Sunday, the amount of shooters that show up that are non-regulars can exceed 100 people a day. That's $1500. What's quite a bit of money. I can't imagine the amount of money they pull it from the non-members during hunting season. There are tons of once a year shooters who hit the range around Sept/Oct who go to the range and pay non-member range fees to put 10-20 rounds down range to sight in a rifle.

Targets are only 25-50 cents and while there is a profit on each target, it's only slight and it probably helps the range to break even on all the destroyed target boards (wood strips).

Many outdoor ranges are 'non-profit' insomuch as they operate only to be self sustaining. Any money made stays with the club itself to fund improvements, upgrades, and operating costs, as well as to promote club interests (sponsoring shooting activities such as Boy Scout troops, junior shooting teams).