Outdoor range membership: Worth it?

[Javi]

Kind of a weird question but lately I've been thinking of getting membership at my closest outdoor range to me. It would be $150 + $10 each visit instead of $20(all day). At first, I wrote it off because I thought it was lame you still had to pay but $150 a year is pretty cheap haha. Only thing that's really keeping me from doing it is the weather. That range was flooded for weeks not too long ago(Prado shooting range) and it's raining right now as well so I'm sure they're not open. Should I get membership at an indoor range instead? I really like Prado but it sucks that your visit is at the mercy of the elements. If anyone with a membership could chime in, that'd be awesome!

[BigFatGuy]

it's a simple calculation to my thinking: Do you visit Prado 15 times/year? Or, do you really like the benefits and do you visit... say... 10 times per year?

I like indoor shooting, but you are not me, and I am not you.

Also, SoCal is blessed with sunshine the vast majority of the time, today's weather being the exception.

[Merc1138]

It's quite simple really. Figure out the cost of the membership compared to the discount, and figure out how many trips it'll take a year to break even.

The range you mentioned costs $150/year from the sound of it, and saves $10 a trip. This means if you go there 15 or more times within that year, then it's worth it. If you only go twice a year, it's pointless. Also some ranges let you bring guests for a discount sometimes, include that in your "cost analysis" as well.

Also, some ranges have a more expensive 1st time fee and then renewals are cheaper, so you might want to consider that difference as well. Like a local range of mine charges a $40 one time fee plus $6 a month left in the year. So a first full year would be $112, so it'd be 16 trips before I break even on the savings. The year after that it's only 12 trips to break even, and additionally I can bring guests for a discount.

Now that's just purely looking at cost, whether or not your range offers other benefits like classes or member only days, that's something else to consider.

[JaMail]

sounds like a lot to me, corona sportsmans club, is only 150 a year with no visitation fee's.

i go about 15 to 20 times a year.

http://www.coronasportsmensclub.com/

[Merc1138]

Actually I just checked their website, I'm guessing you mean shootprado.com

$20 a day for 50 yards and rimfire only? screw that. Even at $10 I wouldn't pay that, especially since they charge you more if you want to switch and shoot pistol also. You had better like trap or pistol shooting I guess, or find somewhere else to go.

[Javi]

Actually I just checked their website, I'm guessing you mean shootprado.com

$20 a day for 50 yards and rimfire only? screw that. Even at $10 I wouldn't pay that, especially since they charge you more if you want to switch and shoot pistol also. You had better like trap or pistol shooting I guess, or find somewhere else to go.

$20 a day for pistol is pretty good to me. Last time I was there, I stayed for 3 hours or so with my .22 rifle and I should have been at $30 at an indoor place. Beats the hell out of that Raahauges place, I'd say. That place seems expensive! even if they have a 100 yard range. I'm near sided so at 50 yards, it's far enough for me at the moment haha. I just got my first handgun so I haven't tried the pistol/rifle thing but yeah, I don't like the extra $10 as well. I have no clue if that is voided with membership as it doesn't mention. I would go at least 15 times a year. Hmmm

[Merc1138]

$20 a day for pistol is pretty good to me. Last time I was there, I stayed for 3 hours or so with my .22 rifle and I should have been at $30 at an indoor place. Beats the hell out of that Raahauges place, I'd say. That place seems expensive! even if they have a 100 yard range. I'm near sided so at 50 yards, it's far enough for me at the moment haha. I just got my first handgun so I haven't tried the pistol/rifle thing but yeah, I don't like the extra $10 as well. I have no clue if that is voided with membership as it doesn't mention. I would go at least 15 times a year. Hmmm

Well since the rifle limitation isn't a problem for you, and your alternative indoor range costs even more, and you think you'll go often enough, then do it.

The worst case is you find that you didn't go quite as many times as you thought and you're out a few bucks. We've all made bad guesses/mistakes that have cost more.

[Javi]

I'm going to email them about their membership, if there's any other perks to it.
I was also wondering if it would be a problem choosing a membership at an outdoor range that's vulnerable to bad weather and even goes under water sometimes haha but I guess if I get my 15 visits during Spring-Fall, I'll be okay.

[Merc1138]

Bad weather down there? Come on. I was at Disneyland in the end of December and it was 85. If it's raining one weekend just go next week

[Javi]

Hahah, I know I know. But when they looked like this a few months ago:




I'm a little hesitant to give up my money! They were out for weeks, fyi. I don't mind some rain but I don't know how picky they are about it, if they shut down the range with some drizzle or what. I've been going to a indoor range in Rancho Cuca. but I miss the wide open space of Prado. I like being outdoors more

[DaveFJ80]

IMO, paying $150 plus another $10 on each visit seems like a lot just to save $10 per visit. You would have to go 15 times in a year to break even, and more than 15 to start to see the savings. But by that time, you've already spent $300 to go to the range 15 times... no different than if you didn't get the membership.

Depending on what you're shooting (assuming from your avatar and what I've read in the rimfire forum), if you are shooting rimfire or handguns for the most part, then I would look into other ranges in your area that offer memberships but do not make you pay any extra for shooting. OC Indoor in Brea is one example, as they offer a membership of $190/year and you can go there and shoot as much as you want and not pay anything more for your range time. Plus you can rent any gun they have for free (you'll need to buy their ammo), but at least you don't have to pay any more out of your pocket just to go shoot. Their lanes may not be as nice as Prado's outdoor ranges, but it really depends on what you want to do.

[Javi]

IMO, paying $150 plus another $10 on each visit seems like a lot just to save $10 per visit. You would have to go 15 times in a year to break even, and more than 15 to start to see the savings. But by that time, you've already spent $300 to go to the range 15 times... no different than if you didn't get the membership.

Depending on what you're shooting (assuming from your avatar and what I've read in the rimfire forum), if you are shooting rimfire or handguns for the most part, then I would look into other ranges in your area that offer memberships but do not make you pay any extra for shooting. OC Indoor in Brea is one example, as they offer a membership of $190/year and you can go there and shoot as much as you want and not pay anything more for your range time. Plus you can rent any gun they have for free (you'll need to buy their ammo), but at least you don't have to pay any more out of your pocket just to go shoot. Their lanes may not be as nice as Prado's outdoor ranges, but it really depends on what you want to do.

That makes sense =/ Wish they would drop the fee altogether. I just really enjoy the environment of this particular outdoor range than [I]n an indoor but that does sound pricey. I really like OC indoor but as I live only 3 miles away from Prado, that range is a good drive. When Prado flooded, I found out about Magnum shooting range in Rancho and have been going ever since. I may get one of their two memberships there.

[asgalindez]

Love the outdoor range (South Bay Rod & Gun Club) near my home.

1st target is free. $20 per visit, or $75 yearly membership with no additional fees. Makes sense to become a member if you shoot there more than 4 times a year.

Plus, the .mil guys sometimes bring out their toys to play so you get to see some cool stuff!

[Zdiddy]

well prado doesnt always get flooded like that. that was due to the extreme rain conditions we had at the time. you should contact them and see if slight range cause the range to close. what about the west end gun club?

http://www.wegc.org/wordpress/?page_id=40

[BigFatGuy]

I was "this" close to starting towards becoming a member in the WEGC, until I read a thread on this board about all the legal issues between members and management.

No thanks...