O7/ SOT in Gilbert, AZ anyone else out here?

[audiophil2]

Any idea of what a berm would cost to make? I've been in search of a chunk of land around here but none of it has a natural berm. All the land in the canyons is highly populated.

I guess that depends on how elaborate and the size. Plus access to the property. My 40 acre lot is an easy drive on paved and graded roads. Not much vegetation so berms will be easy to make. I'm thinking of doing 3 or 4 stalls so multiple people can be there safely.

The 10 acre lot is close to a guy that has a large dozer so I might just pay him to update it than rent a skid steer or tractor. He could do the work in 1/10 the time since he is a pro and has a much larger bucket.

[sigstroker]

I guess that depends on how elaborate and the size. Plus access to the property. My 40 acre lot is an easy drive on paved and graded roads. Not much vegetation so berms will be easy to make. I'm thinking of doing 3 or 4 stalls so multiple people can be there safely.

The 10 acre lot is close to a guy that has a large dozer so I might just pay him to update it than rent a skid steer or tractor. He could do the work in 1/10 the time since he is a pro and has a much larger bucket.

I would just want a single stall for myself to use. Mostly as a cya so that neighbors that complain about noise, and they will complain, won't get any traction from LE because it will be legal for me to shoot there.

The area I'm thinking of is flat and sound travels a long way. I'd probably be within earshot of 40 or 50 different neighbors.

So do you think it would be 3 figures? 4 figures? 5 (gulp) figures?

[audiophil2]

I would just want a single stall for myself to use. Mostly as a cya so that neighbors that complain about noise, and they will complain, won't get any traction from LE because it will be legal for me to shoot there.

The area I'm thinking of is flat and sound travels a long way. I'd probably be within earshot of 40 or 50 different neighbors.

So do you think it would be 3 figures? 4 figures? 5 (gulp) figures?

in the mid 4 figure area since you need a big dozer to get berms at least 8 ft high. it is an issue of a tru k and trailer that can haul a dozer and driver amd insurance. a skid steer rents for $250 a day but it won't build berms. those are limited to clearing brush.

[Beatone]

Once I get settled into my new home i'll contact some of you to go shooting. In the 70's I'd go shooting in the old river bed. Not anymore.

[sigstroker]

Around here the "old river bed" sand wash got declared a riparian reserve because an inch long frog lives in the river that's 5 miles away.

[DanB]

I left CA in 1989 and now I've just moved to the Phoenix area from Florida. So I get to bring all my class 3 stuff with me. I haven't had a chance to go shooting yet because of the temps, but I went up to Ben Avery and you can shoot to 1K yds if you join the "Desert Sharpshooters" and pass a prequel. shooting class. I 've heard of a range called "Cowtown" and an indoor range you can shoot rifles to 50yds. I'd be interested in getting in on a semi private range. I'm retired and can run a backhoe and a bobcat pretty good for some sweat equity. Dan

[audiophil2]

I've been trying to think of a fair way to share out my private range so the price is low and there is a enough available time for each member to get fair amount of use.

I wanted to limit it to under 50 members. 20-30 would be ideal.

There are 2 semi private clubs in Phoenix area.

Phoenix Rod and Gun CLub is $100/yr and has a lot of members. The pluses are that is hosts a lot of organized shooting events and during the week it is empty. The negatives are that is does not allow machine guns and is still a very structured environment. It is great for zeroing a gun or working on load data out to 500 yards.

Cowtown is more like what I want to do but in a much smaller and exclusive environment. Cowtown charges $420/yr just to access the range. A family membership is $960/yr. You still have to pay for range time and to rent steel. I have no idea how much those fees cost. Plus you only get 2 hours of range time with no stacking of hours.

My range is 10 acres of no holds barred shooting fun.
I follow the 4 basic gun safety rules.
Since it is in the desert and there is scrub I only expect the use of tracers and tannerite to be done with prior approval. Rainy season is no problem.

I have considered a yearly membership like cowtown. I just cannot figure out how to make sure every member has a fair and equal amount of range time. I know the weekends are always in demand. Weekdays not so much. Then the hot season of June through October keeps even the hardcore enthusiasts at home.

I was thinking of only focusing on the weekends. 4 hour blocks.
0600-1000
1030-1430
1500-1900

that allows 6 slots per weekend and 6 members could shoot 1x a month 12 months a year.

I could then open up weekdays to additional members (retirees/no traditional jobs). That would open up an additional 15 4 hour blocks.

I would also allow overnight camping. We do not shoot from 9pm until 6am unless it is with suppressors and subsonic ammo.
Overnight camping would be a separate fee from the yearly membership.

With only 6 weekend slots for 6 members I am thinking of charging
$800/yr single member
$1200/yr. for a family in the same household (2 adults/3 children under 18) That $800/1200 will include:
4 hours of range time every month.
right to overnight camp
access to steel plates (any damage beyond normal use will be charged)
onsite run and gun course
onsite long distance range set up for 100-1200 yards
first come first serve open reservations for free additional time during weekdays that are not reserved by other members.

additional guests will be allowed at $50/guest per session.

I would discount the week day memberships.
Fridays $600/1000 per year
Monday through Thursday $500/800 per year

I don't know if that type of membership would be ideal or if I should charge a smaller yearly membership like $400 and then have a first come first served reservation system of $50 per 4 hour block.


Then there is my 40 acre lot. I could make that more like a typical public gun range where more than 1 member can use it daily. The lot is 1320x1320ft. I could easily make 20 bays 20 feet wide that would be protected on each side from the other bays. Maybe 200 yard deep bays. It would allow 20 memberships to use the land at the same time and still be reasonably protected from other members.

[laabstract]

I am in Gilbert if anyone wants to get together to shoot now that it seems to be cooling off.

[audiophil2]

Was a great day yesterday. Spent 6 hours on my range with my son and friend. My kid went through about 400 rounds of 9mm testing out machine guns while the adults were mapping out new run and gun lanes and a driveway to access a camping spot I want on top of a hill.

[DanB]

PM sent

[Bruiser12]

My Family and I will be escaping California at the end of May 2020...We are moving to Queen Creek,Az.

[sigstroker]

Are you sure? I think you would be much happier in NV.

[Bruiser12]

Are you sure? I think you would be much happier in NV.

Was this response to me? If so, we have Family in Chandler and Queen Creek Az. Plus my job is letting me transfer to our Phoenix yard. I wont be taking a pay cut either.