Buying A Private Rifle Range

Winchester · Feb 14, 2016

I've been living in Maryland for 10 years and (gun laws aside) it's not a bad place to live. However, I'm SO tired of driving to a range (usually Hap) in order to shoot rifles. The South Dakota Libertarian in me hates everything about the experience: range officers, line hot/cold restrictions, other shooters, time pressures, etc., and I'm not hacking-on the safety needs for group shooting; I get it. However, when I want to shoot, I want to do it my way, for as long as I want without anyone looking over my shoulder, handling my weapons, etc.

So, my question is this: How much land would I have to buy, in Maryland, and with what zoning considerations, in order to legally create my own 200 yard, private rifle range?

Obviously, I would need to be a certain distance from other structures, public roads, etc. and be outside of any city limits. I'm just worried that, if I make such a large investment (doubling as bug-out land, etc.), some A$$h@l$ would still find a way to shut me down. I'm just looking for thoughts from law-savvy Marylanders. Thanks!

GottaEat · Feb 14, 2016

Check up on you local laws. No one can shut you down as long as you are doing it legally. Cops have been called to my dad's house several times while we were shooting. Officer said after the 2nd time that he knows we are safe and legal and only comes down cause he has to. Neighbors bitching would be the only concern as they are usually the ones calling the police.

brianns · Feb 14, 2016

I'd find a place for at least 500 to 600 yds. If you're going to go to the trouble and investigate the zoning and laws, etc. I think you should get a good chunk of land to buffer things(besides the projectiles). Especially if it's going to be a bug out place too. Also try and see what kind of people your land is next to, as in if they might be the litigious types. Willing to make your property ownership or various property uses problematic.

Also check out VA and WV.

dontpanic · Feb 14, 2016

From where we live, PA is your best bet. York or Adams counties. Land is cheaper and restrictions are fewer. Not really much more of a drive than Hap Baker.

Baltimore County is much more expensive and has a no auto firing restriction. That covers most of the county. I think the line is around Hereford, but I cannot quite remember.

Better prices and fewer restrictions in Carrol or Cecil counties if you want to stay in MD.

My guess is you will need a minimum of 3 acres for your range. 5 would be better. It matters what's around the property.

Lots of good info here:

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=45906

MRA · Feb 14, 2016

An acre is 43560 square feet. Roughly, that is 210 ft by 210 ft. So, if you buy 3 acres (210 ft wide by 630 ft long), you barely get your 200 yard range with no buffer at the end and very little buffer on each side. Of course, topography and shape of the property affect your final layout. Bigger is better when setting up a rifle range.

5.56blaster · Feb 14, 2016

I have 3 acres in Westminster and have a 100 yard range set up. I shoot all the time and nobody says anything about me doing it. It's nice but I still can't wait to get out of Maryland because Maryland is not the "Free State" and really SUCKS!

Mark75H · Feb 14, 2016

I know of a prime 15 acre property in lower Calvert County that is probably going on the market sometime in the next 5 years. Mostly wooded that backs up to another mostly wooded property that is access restricted and no hunting allowed. Just off center of the property is a 4 acre cleared meadow ... perfect for a rifle range. We lost our shooting there when the owner's dogs got spooked by fireworks one 4th of July.

Winchester · Feb 14, 2016

Mark75H said:
I know of a prime 15 acre property in lower Calvert County that is probably going on the market sometime in the next 5 years. Mostly wooded that backs up to another mostly wooded property that is access restricted and no hunting allowed. Just off center of the property is a 4 acre cleared meadow ... perfect for a rifle range. We lost our shooting there when the owner's dogs got spooked by fireworks one 4th of July.

Calvert County would probably be too far for my liking but it sounds perfect. 15 acres of woods would create some options for noise buffer and privacy that a smaller lot would not. For me, the sweet spot will lie between enough acres for privacy and seclusion but not so many that I go broke. I'd also consider some agricultural land with the possibility to rent it out for a hay crop if that's done around here (i.e. enough to help pay the property taxes).

Jason21237 · Feb 14, 2016

PA is your best bet. From Lutherville to the Pa line your looking at 35-40 minutes. There are plenty of 10 acre lots available not far over the line. Im talking Fawn Grove and Delta area. The prices will surprise you. Restrictions are extremely minimal here. Basically don't hit the neighbors house and your are good to go.

Engine4 · Feb 14, 2016

5.56blaster said:
I have 3 acres in Westminster and have a 100 yard range set up.

I know how you can make a little money..... :innocent0

Pinecone · Feb 14, 2016

Each county will be different. So you need to check the requirements of each county that you might be interested in.

lowoncash · Feb 14, 2016

Suggest you attend the NRA range development conference. Not cheap but may save you money in the long run if zoning approval is required. NRA also has a handbook for this function. Wish you the best of luck.

P.S. A .308 (or was it 30-06) has a bullet fall range of just over 3 miles.

54rndball · Feb 16, 2016

Maybe you have plenty of cash, but it seems like there are enough 300+ yd rifle ranges in the area. That would be a lot of work, besides buying property and then setting it up. Maybe go to WV and buy up 100 acres of woods in a hollow somewhere and you can probably do whatever you want with it.

Pinecone · Feb 17, 2016

Why a lot of work??????

If you don't have a hill to work as a backstop, just build one or two berms.

My boss has 7 some odd acres in WV, and set up a 50 yard range in his backyard.

abcabc · Feb 17, 2016

I have a 7 acre lot with 4 bedroom, 3 bay garage house and warehouse with dock in the back. I have 100 yards measured out with a great range and can stretch it to 200 if I need to.

If interested in buying let me know, no real estate agent needed so there would be no closing costs. Right outside of frederick, less than 10 minutes to a grocery store, less than 15 to downtown frederick.

good guy 176 · Feb 17, 2016

My Ranger buddy of 52 years is ready to open his gun shop and range complex on the outskirts of Warren, PA. He did not encounter any county restrictions, but he owns 100 acres and neighbors are at least a quarter mile away. He does , however, have to pass ATx requirements for sales of firearms, ammo and powder storage .

Lew--Ranger63

Sirex · Feb 20, 2016

I WISH I had my own private range here in Westminster. The wife gets so pissed when I shoot the Mosin in the basement.

Tungsten · Feb 20, 2016

Sirex said:
I WISH I had my own private range here in Westminster. The wife gets so pissed when I shoot the Mosin in the basement.

Me too!! I will say those 600yd simulated targets work great on my 8 foot basement range.

MigraineMan · Feb 20, 2016

If you're determined to stay in Maryland, I would recommend looking at Agricultural properties. Understand the difference between "zoning" and "use" ... some realtors use the terms interchangeably, and they're not. I live on an Agricultural-zoned Residential-use property. The "use" is subordinate to the "zoning." Ag-zoned properties generally have the least restrictions.

I've lived in MoCo and FredCo, so I can only really speak to those. Avoid cities, towns, and special/taxing districts. Basically, you want to be in the sticks of whatever county you choose. As mentioned previously, you'll probably want 3+ acres. Topography will dictate some of the details.

I hope you find success.

lazarus · Feb 22, 2016

If 200yds you are probably looking at closer to 10-20acres realistically. Depends on your neighbora, shape of the property, terrain and what the neighbors' properties and dwelling locations look like. Keep in mind can't shoot from or too within 150yds of an occupied dwelling unless you have written permission. A square property edge to edge for 200yds is 11.4 acres and then you've gotta be sure all points of the range are 150yds from any building on the neighboring properties (I would never trust permission from a neighbor as something that wouldn't get taken away later). Of course if it is all a bunch of 10+ acre properties you could probably be fairly sure no house/structure will be too close.

100yds or even 50yd range room is much easier to find. Of course you've gotta worry about A-hole neighbor's trying to spoil your fun, so the more acreage the better.

My dream is still 40-80 acres in western Maryland as a hiking, hunting and summer retreat property. Of course I'd setup at least a 100yd range too as well as some trap shooting.

Buying A Private Rifle Range

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