What's the best outdoor range for rimfire? I'm in MoCo near the ICC and NH Ave, but would travel up to an hour for a good venue. I liked AAFG when I shot Appleseed there but I've been told they can be very crowded due to their limited hours.
Best outdoor rimfire range
- Thread starter joppaj
- Start date
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engineerbrian
JMB fan club
Personally I like Monocacy Pistol Club. They have a great range with steel, pins, and paper
You can use pistols, .22 rifles, shotguns with birdshot and PCC’s
You can use pistols, .22 rifles, shotguns with birdshot and PCC’s
hillbilly grandpa
Active Member
The smallbore range at AAFG is crowded when formal events such as Appleseed or CMP are taking place. Otherwise it is generally devoid of activity, except for the occasional user. That's a 50 yd range. For 100 yards I shift up to the high power range where rimfire RIFLE is permitted. Rimfire--rifle and handgun--are both welcome on the plinking range.
Except for when formal events are taking place you will find very little crowding. If you want to shoot frequently it would make sense to join the club. If that's a consideration for you, let me know. I'd be happy to help you accomplish that.
J.
The .22 Rifle range is probably the least crowed range. The only time it is busy is 1) when there is an Appleseed shoot and 2) when the juniors practice on Sunday. Both events are posted on the club calendar which is viewable by the public.
.22 hours are from 9AM to 8PM daily.
Regards,
StantonCree
Watch your beer
- Jan 23, 2011
- 23,932
Jim talk to Greg about issac Walton Damascus. Him and mike both shoot there. It’s just right up New Hampshire or 108 i can’t remember if it’s before or after where they join. I havent taken the plunge because i have zero time but they both really enjoy it.
Thanks everyone, that's good to know about AAFG and their range. My 10/22 is my favorite gun to shoot but I hate going to indoor ranges with it.
I'll ask Greg about IWL. I shot there once with a friend and had a bad experience with a club official. Might be worth a repeat visit though.
I'll ask Greg about IWL. I shot there once with a friend and had a bad experience with a club official. Might be worth a repeat visit though.
echo6mike
Ultimate Member
Rockville IWLA is also pretty nice (imho as a member). Our pistol range allows just about any rimfire, goes to 50 yards, and I’ve only once had a bad experience at the range (I was DRO that day and one member was just being a jerk, but he calmed down).
Echo6mike, going mobile...
Echo6mike, going mobile...
ken792
Ultimate Member
I shoot my .22 at 100yd at BCC-IWLA in Poolesville. It's also members and escorted guests only. The wind doesn't get bad there. The rifle range is nine firing positions with holders at 50yd and 100yd. The downside is that the range faces south, so the sun is often in your eyes. It's rarely crowded, but if you shoot at 9AM like I do, you can avoid both any potential crowds and the sun being in your eyes.
It's not within an hour, but Peacemaker's Independence Range is popular for .22 as well if you happen to be into .22 PRS. It's 100, 200, and 300yd and always windy, so great for practice.
It's not within an hour, but Peacemaker's Independence Range is popular for .22 as well if you happen to be into .22 PRS. It's 100, 200, and 300yd and always windy, so great for practice.
Are you looking for some place to occasionally shoot outdoors or a membership? Membership prices vary greatly. The IWLA facility in Poolesville is fantastic, but the annual is relatively high. I don't know if there's an option at Peacemaker to pay for the day you visit (but I seem to think there is as it's on my list of places to shoot at).
Certainly if it's occasional, MDSers would be happy to host you. I tend to shoot my rimfire rifles at IWLA Frederick (there's a 25 yard zero, with 8 mounting positions for 50 yard, and 8 for 100 yard shooting). Almost all the rimfire rifle evaluation threads that I post pictures of are from there. There's usually no wind issue, and the angle of the range as well as covered shooting positions ensures there is no sunlight in the face issue. It's infrequently used if you go on days they're not teaching classes. Similarly, I think Cresap in Frederick is just as good for 50 and 100 yard shooting, with even greater capacity. IWLA Frederick is closer to my home, otherwise I was seriously considering applying to Cresap. I also shoot at Monocacy Pistol Club, but tend to shoot pistols there as the longest shooting position is 50 yards. As EngineerBrian mentioned, they do have a nice variety of ranges and what you can shoot there. MPC, Cresap, and the police range are all next to each other in Frederick.
MPC, Cresap, and IWLA Frederick are relatively good deals for annual memberships too (even without putting in work hours).
I believe Catoctin Fish and Game in nearby Myersville is even a better deal. I've shot there with a friend who's a member, and although they have less lanes, they're not busy. I've heard that the IWLA in Damascus as well as the one in Mt Airy are also reasonably priced.
ken792
Ultimate Member
BCC-IWLA is not bad at $185 per year, plus $50 if you don't do the service hours and $35 if you want to be a range officer (no $7 per day fee to use the range and can open it on your own, but you do two duty days a year). There is an initiation fee for new members though.
Peacemaker is $35 per day for nonmembers. The general public can only go to the Independence range. Escorted guests can be taken to the other ranges.
Agree. That's lower than I had heard (was quoted around $400). Huge facility and nice lodge.
ken792
Ultimate Member
The first year costs between the dues, the initiation fee, and other fees will put it around $400.
Cryptotek1
Active Member
- May 1, 2017
- 181
FYI, general usage of AAFG ranges are restricted to members and their guests. There are, however, several events open to the public including a monthly rimfire match. No sign up is required for the rimfire match.
I assumed the OP knew that since he shot the Appleseed match there.
Cryptotek1
Active Member
- May 1, 2017
- 181
No worries, just making sure OP wouldn't be disappointed after a drive to shoot some rimfire.
All good info, thank you. I did realize that AAFG was members only, but I didnt make that clear. I really liked their rimfire range but they are probably the far end of where I'd want to drive. I don't want to put anyone on the spot, but if you're comfortable telling me about your membership experience there I'd be grateful.
Fidelity, you ask a great question. I accept that my hatred of crowds outweighs my desire not to join something. In short, I'll likely only shoot a few times per year but I'd rather pay for a membership and have a great experience than fight the mess that is a crowded public range. There's a chance I may wind up working 4 days a week, so that third day off would be my hiking/ shooting day. That makes places with weekday hours very attractive.
Fidelity, you ask a great question. I accept that my hatred of crowds outweighs my desire not to join something. In short, I'll likely only shoot a few times per year but I'd rather pay for a membership and have a great experience than fight the mess that is a crowded public range. There's a chance I may wind up working 4 days a week, so that third day off would be my hiking/ shooting day. That makes places with weekday hours very attractive.
engineerbrian
JMB fan club
If you dont like crowds, Monocacy is a great option. 9 times out of 10 i have the range to my self.
I live about 20 minutes from AAF&G and am retired. If you want to come over and shoot as my guest during the day, let me know and we'll make it happen. Monday and Wednesdays there are no scheduled matches and centerfire hours are 10 to 4. As I said earlier, .22 is from 9 to 8.
I do need advance notice due to my, dog and wife appointments.
I do need advance notice due to my, dog and wife appointments.
Huh, that’s odd. Club officers seem nice to me. At any rate, it’s treat me well last two years. Membership isn’t that expensive, just have to do your two service events each year for two years. Then it’s optional, but I’ll probably keep trying to do one or two to help out. Everyone I’ve run in to is nice. My neighbor who is a member took me for about a year and a half first. Maybe half a dozen times. I won’t name names as you are really only supposed to bring a guest twice if they are local and not a family member as they want people to join.
Can’t shoot steel. You can setup plastic spinners which are perfect for 22s. Also throw clays out on the berms. 25yd pistol range, 50yd covered pistol range. Can use 22s and anything pistol caliber on it. Which includes 30 carbine. Which I like so I can take my 10/22 and M1 carbine to the covered range and shoot clays on the hill if the rifle range is busy. Rifle range is 100yds with a 50yd berm and some 75yd targets plus a shotgun patterning board at 30yds.
Me too, when I shoot at MPC, but also when I shoot at IWLA-Frederick (especially when I take a weekday afternoon off). Between the two, the advantage of IWLA-Frederick over MPC for rimfire rifle is that you can shoot 100 yards and the shooting bench area is covered.
MPC has the Jim Moore match this Saturday from 11:30am to 1:30pm, in which members can take guests to shoot on all ranges (critters, bullseye, steel, and pins). Good way to get a lay of the land.
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