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  • blipper

    Active Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 4, 2017
    380
    Dundalk (Baltimore County)
    I've gone to Free State about three dozen times in the last year and only had to wait (about fifteen minutes) once. Generally, I go in the afternoon, 2-5pm period, on weekdays.
     

    THier

    R.I.P.
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 3, 2010
    4,998
    Muscleville
    I got there about 1pm. I usually get there around that time since weekends are the only time I can get up that way. Most times I wait an hour on average, but that is about the max I'm willing to stand around. When we walked in, it did not look like a lot of people and definitely less than the days I've waited for an hour. Not sure what was going on to make it close to 3.

    .

    They had security guards certifying early while I was there. Scarey how they cant follow simple instructions. "Strong hand single handed" "support hand single handed" "THREE rounds" c'mon, these men and women are carring loaded firearms?
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    They had security guards certifying early while I was there. Scarey how they cant follow simple instructions. "Strong hand single handed" "support hand single handed" "THREE rounds" c'mon, these men and women are carring loaded firearms?

    I used to shoot in a winter bullseye league. When I started, they shot at a range in Laurel that did security guard training. A couple of the guys shooting were instructors.

    One evening, the one was telling about a student that day.

    The student was firing, but not hitting the target. Instructor keep emphasizing look at the front sight, focus, on the front sight.

    Finally instructor finally went over for a close look.

    The student had the revolver pointed vertically in front of them, and they were looking at the front sight. FROM ABOVE.

    There was ceiling tile dust ALL OVER THE PLACE. The rounds were impacting the ceiling about the firing point.
     

    Sundazes

    My brain hurts
    MDS Supporter
    Nov 13, 2006
    21,287
    Arkham
    I have seen the security guards miss a human sized target at 7 yards with a shotty. I packed up and left....
     

    ezracer

    Certified Gun Nut
    Jul 27, 2012
    4,759
    Behind enemy lines...
    I've gone to Free State about three dozen times in the last year and only had to wait (about fifteen minutes) once. Generally, I go in the afternoon, 2-5pm period, on weekdays.

    U R a LUCKY man!!!! That's amazing. I've never had that much luck there.

    I think I have discovered the problem as to why there's Homeland Security at Freestate whenever I go there.....


    THEY ARE FOLLOWING..... "ME"

    :lol:
     
    Last edited:

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    I have seen the security guards miss a human sized target at 7 yards with a shotty. I packed up and left....

    Years ago I was shooting with some people I know. A couple were non-armed security guards.

    One completely missed a full sized silhouette target at about 5 yards. With a full cylinder of ammo.
     

    RolfeJr

    Member
    Oct 23, 2018
    20
    A lot of date nights happen at free state and thugs in training also. I have seen a lot of gangsta stances you know glock point down range with grip in the 3 or 9 o clock position.

    When I see "That Guy" with his girlfriend, and her girlfriend, with three rentals and house ears and eyes roll into the range, we roll out.
    Same when sidewinders show up.
     

    Laj

    Active Member
    Dec 5, 2016
    126
    When I see "That Guy" with his girlfriend, and her girlfriend, with three rentals and house ears and eyes roll into the range, we roll out.
    Same when sidewinders show up.

    I went on a Friday night last summer, and ^that guy had rented the FA, somehow without staff supervision, and had his girlfriend tearing up the ceiling. I got out of there like the place was on fire.

    I think the staff there see so much of this crap and no injuries that they are desensitized to how dangerous it actually is.
     

    71Chevelle427

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 19, 2015
    3,298
    B'More County, Maryland
    Went to Freestate yesterday after work (3pm) to finally try out my new AR pistol...

    I was so mad, I had to wait like 37 seconds to get a lane... :rolleyes:
    12 lanes, and 11 lanes open...

    Common knowledge, for YEARS, that if you do not want to wait, then you do not even go there between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.
    I am a member there, but if my sons want to go shooting on a weekend, we head to Belair and guess what? WAIT, for one of their FIVE lanes to open up.

    A safe assumption would be that Freestate is there to make money.
    Between Homeland Security, and other LE related daily weekday training, they make steady, guaranteed money, unlike the spotty, inconsistent money they make from ones who may go there 1 or 2 times a year, without making a phone call first. They post on Facebook everyday saying if they have training there or not, if the lanes are opening up late, or closing early, so if you don't have FB, then make a 10 second phone call...

    As for the date night/rent-a-gun people...

    I think ANYONE who rents (or otherwise has never shot), a firearm should absolutely, positively have to take some sort of a crash course on how it functions, and at least some basic range safety. They used to have them in one of the rooms, lasted about 15 minutes, for like $10 or something.
     

    sleev-les

    Gata Needs His Gat
    Dec 27, 2012
    3,144
    Edgewater, MD
    Went to Freestate yesterday after work (3pm) to finally try out my new AR pistol...

    I was so mad, I had to wait like 37 seconds to get a lane... :rolleyes:
    12 lanes, and 11 lanes open...

    Common knowledge, for YEARS, that if you do not want to wait, then you do not even go there between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.
    I am a member there, but if my sons want to go shooting on a weekend, we head to Belair and guess what? WAIT, for one of their FIVE lanes to open up.

    A safe assumption would be that Freestate is there to make money.
    Between Homeland Security, and other LE related daily weekday training, they make steady, guaranteed money, unlike the spotty, inconsistent money they make from ones who may go there 1 or 2 times a year, without making a phone call first. They post on Facebook everyday saying if they have training there or not, if the lanes are opening up late, or closing early, so if you don't have FB, then make a 10 second phone call...

    As for the date night/rent-a-gun people...

    I think ANYONE who rents (or otherwise has never shot), a firearm should absolutely, positively have to take some sort of a crash course on how it functions, and at least some basic range safety. They used to have them in one of the rooms, lasted about 15 minutes, for like $10 or something.


    It would be great if I had a range close enough to be able to shoot on weeknights when crowds were next to non existent. Some of us only get the weekends to shoot because of location and work. Only close spot is 12th precinct gun club which I'm thinking about joining to have that ability (plus they have archery so a reason to get back into a bow).
     

    Laj

    Active Member
    Dec 5, 2016
    126
    Went to Freestate yesterday after work (3pm) to finally try out my new AR pistol...

    I was so mad, I had to wait like 37 seconds to get a lane... :rolleyes:
    12 lanes, and 11 lanes open...

    Common knowledge, for YEARS, that if you do not want to wait, then you do not even go there between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.
    I am a member there, but if my sons want to go shooting on a weekend, we head to Belair and guess what? WAIT, for one of their FIVE lanes to open up.

    A safe assumption would be that Freestate is there to make money.
    Between Homeland Security, and other LE related daily weekday training, they make steady, guaranteed money, unlike the spotty, inconsistent money they make from ones who may go there 1 or 2 times a year, without making a phone call first. They post on Facebook everyday saying if they have training there or not, if the lanes are opening up late, or closing early, so if you don't have FB, then make a 10 second phone call...

    As for the date night/rent-a-gun people...

    I think ANYONE who rents (or otherwise has never shot), a firearm should absolutely, positively have to take some sort of a crash course on how it functions, and at least some basic range safety. They used to have them in one of the rooms, lasted about 15 minutes, for like $10 or something.

    Freestate still makes all new shooters take a quick (free) safety/operation class before renting or shooting. The problem is you have to honestly admit you've never shot before. So a lot of the people come in and say "oh yeah I've done this before" and are set free to endanger everyone else.
     

    71Chevelle427

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 19, 2015
    3,298
    B'More County, Maryland
    It would be great if I had a range close enough to be able to shoot on weeknights when crowds were next to non existent. Some of us only get the weekends to shoot because of location and work. Only close spot is 12th precinct gun club which I'm thinking about joining to have that ability (plus they have archery so a reason to get back into a bow).

    I hear ya. I'm a little spoiled, as far as an indoor spot goes. I'm only 10 minutes from Freestate, but quite a bit further away from Belair.

    Freestate still makes all new shooters take a quick (free) safety/operation class before renting or shooting. The problem is you have to honestly admit you've never shot before. So a lot of the people come in and say "oh yeah I've done this before" and are set free to endanger everyone else.

    No argument here. I've left while shooting, or walked out before even requesting a lane, due to what was obviously newbies and an container full of rental guns. Not a fan of that either. A way to ensure some sort of safety would be to REQUIRE a safety class for anyone who is not registered, as having shot there before. They have the means to do so, since all, even members, are required to log onto their I-pads and update their info every year, and new visitors are as well.
     

    Laj

    Active Member
    Dec 5, 2016
    126
    No argument here. I've left while shooting, or walked out before even requesting a lane, due to what was obviously newbies and an container full of rental guns. Not a fan of that either. A way to ensure some sort of safety would be to REQUIRE a safety class for anyone who is not registered, as having shot there before. They have the means to do so, since all, even members, are required to log onto their I-pads and update their info every year, and new visitors are as well.

    Now THAT would be common sense gun control.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,723
    Socialist State of Maryland
    It would be great if I had a range close enough to be able to shoot on weeknights when crowds were next to non existent. Some of us only get the weekends to shoot because of location and work. Only close spot is 12th precinct gun club which I'm thinking about joining to have that ability (plus they have archery so a reason to get back into a bow).

    We need to convince someone to open an indoor range at the old Giant on Route 2. It justs sits there and rots except for Halloween and Christmas. :sad20:
     

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