Building a new range in Texas?

M

mike cockcroft

New member
I have been trying to secure land for a range for several years. I am putting together a proposal for a land owner here in Hunstsville, Walker County, Texas.
My idea is to put in a range with covered benches and be able to shoot up to 1000 yds. In front of the benches will be area for prone shooting.
The idea is to have benchrest matches, F class, and tactical matches out to 1000 yds.
Located on the ranch now is a camp house with a 100 yd. berm and pistol range located directly behind the camp house.
The camp house has a restroom with shower, A\C, kitchen, bunk beds.
If you have seen some of the pictures of my rifles you will see that I am shooting off the back porch of the camp house. The manager also lives on the ranch.
This section of the ranch is about 1000 acres. Lots of hogs, more about this later.
Now the meat of the matter. How to raise enough money to pay the land owner.
Here are my ideas:
1) Sell yearly passes to range to SELECTED persons.
There would have to be enough yearly passes sold to make this worth while to the owner.
This will not be a club with a board of directors. There will be two persons in charge, the ranch manager and me. Passes will give you access to the rifle and pistol range.
You will be allowed access 7 days a week to shoot during daylight hours.
What will the yearly fee be? Give me your feedback. What is it worth to you to have a place to shoot pistols and LR rifle for a 12 month period.

2) Hold matches. Benchrest, F-class, tactical, clay pigeons, ground hog, egg shoots. I would have to make enough money from the matches to pay expences for match plus help offset lease fee to owner. Match fees will not be covered by the yearly fee. What are resonable match fees? I know that fees will be higher for matches with pay backs then trophy only matches.
At some point have BR matches sanctioned by IBS, NBRSA, or Williamsport?

3) Hog hunting and camphouse rental. Camphouse will be available for overnight stays for a fair fee. Hog hunting will be available for a fair fee with a kill fee. If you don't kill one you will not be out a lot of money.

4) Pistol range/camphouse has been used for concealed carry classes since the law was passed. Still listed as DPS certified range, as far as I know. Owner would like to find instructor to hold classes there. Would rent facility for a flat fee per class.

5) Allow qualified instructors to use range and camphouse for training classes.


My interest in this endeavor is to have a place where we can shoot LR matches.
I have access to shoot and hunt on this ranch now, so I am not doing this for personal gain. I have a more than full time job as a custom home builder.
I do have my own bulldozer to use to help develop range.
I am willing and eager to get this going if I can convince myself that it will work financially. The land owner is not interested in donating land and building a range for free. Can't blame him. Anyone know about range insurance? Liability insurance will play a big role in making this happen.
I am hoping there is enough interest for a range in this area. We are one hour from Houston, 2.5 to 3 hours from Austin, 3.5 to 4 hours from San Antonio, 3 to 3.5 from Dallas/Ft. Worth.

I realize there is a lot left up in the air on this deal.
Please feel free to give your opinions, pro and con on 1 thru 5 above.
I need input on yearly fees, match fees, etc. What do other ranges charge?
Please make your remarks and ideas as constructive as possible. But if you think i'm an idiot for trying let me know.
Would really like input from owners of other ranges across the country.
My email is mcockcroft@sbcglobal.net
If you would like to talk to me about this, email me with your phone number and I will call you.

Thanks for your time,
Mike Cockcroft
 
It seems to me that Tam Sarver would be a great person to contact on theis subject. As far as I know, he is the owner/operator of the Thunder Valley Club in Ohio. An absolutly AWSOME range. Pretty much just as you described. Tom is a regular on this website.
 
The potential civil liability issues with range ownership (and clean-up requirements if they try to ever sell the land) are pretty daunting, and I believe the NRA has information on range construction, as well as information about insurance companies.

If you create a private club, not open to teh public, some of the rules may not apply, but you'll need a lawyer to tell you about that part of it. Good news is Texas has statutes specifically designed to protect ranges.

My old Range, Bayou Rifles, is south of Houston, has a 1,000 yard range, and has +/- a thousand members. We've been around since the late 1940s. Our iniation is (or was when I joined) $150.00, then there is an annual fee of roughly $125.00.

We host NRA sanction High Power and F-Class matches for $20.00, so that fee is, at least to me, reasonable. My current range, Boulder City Rifle and Pistol club in Nevada, charges the same match fee for our NRA sanctioned events.

I know there is demand for your location, as lots of folks drove down from your region for our matches.

JeffVN
 
mike cockcroft said:
My idea is to put in a range with covered benches and be able to shoot up to 1000 yds. In front of the benches will be area for prone shooting.
Click to expand...
Good idea if you NEVER plan on mixing groups of shooters. BAD idea otherwise. I, for one, am not comfortable with the thought of someone handling a loaded rifle behind me. And I'm probably not alone.

A solid line of benches behind a prone firing line is a bad idea. Access to the prone firing points is restricted. Depending on how close the bench and prone lines are, the match director's/RSO's view of the prone line may be obstructed as well.

Do LOTS of planning, and get all the needed permits in order before you ever move that first shovel of dirt. Otherwise, you'll wind up spending a lot more to fix it afterwards. That is, if you're even allowed to use the facility at all.

Hope this helps, and good luck.
 
I guess I was not clear. The prone firing line in front of the benches is for matches held seperately (on different) days from bench rest matches.
I did not mean that there would be people laying in front of the benches while shooters were at the benches.
Would like prone or tactical matches to have a place to shoot also.
Depending on how I can lay out the firing line, I might be able to extend the roof to the left or right past the benches for the prone shooters. Which means more money for roof structure.

I'm worried that if the range is set up for bench rest only I can not raise enough money to keep it going.
Thanks for your input.
Mike C
 
mike cockcroft said:
I guess I was not clear. The prone firing line in front of the benches is for matches held seperately (on different) days from bench rest matches.
Click to expand...
What about practice days, where groups of shooters from both disciplines show up? Seldom will there be an even number of the two.

Food for thought.
 
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Covered Line

A covered firing line with moveable benches would be a very workable solution.
 
Long Range in Texas

Mike- Sent you an email regarding an affiliation with Williamsport. We have a member who's been looking for a facility in Texas.
 
Email address

Just sent you an email and it came back.
Please whatever you do, consider the shooter when designing your range. The range designs at both Ohio and NC are less than shooter friendly with cleaning shooting being done under the same roof. I personally dislike walking around all day with ear protection on, even when I'm cleaning a rifle.
 
You could also include rimfire benchrest. You will have everything they need. You just need to have target backers at 50 yards. They are having ARA rimfire benchrest matches at Madisonville, but they have been having trouble with the range. Eddie Wells bugs@tconline.net runs the matches, you might contact him to see if he would be interested in moving the matches to you.
 
oneflyer,
I have talked to Sam a couple of times. I intend to get back with him soon.
Try my email again so i will have yours also.
mcockcroft@sbcglobal.net

criver600
moveable benches might be the best solution.

Trying to make the range usable for several different disciplines might be a problem. With enough thought and planing it might be doable.

Now if I can figure out how to pay for it I'll have it made.

Have to get back to preparing for the hurricane.

Mike C
 
I am close if you need a little help?

Mike,

I live in Conroe, just South of you and am interested very much in this range getting established in a big way.

If there is anyway that I can help to get this range off the drawing board let me know. I've got several friends and relatives that would also be interested.

Don't know what I would be able to do but, will do what I can.

Let me know,
Bulletpusher
(Richard)
 
Go SLow

Hello:
Some concerns I belonged (Past Tense) to a local "club" here in Colorado. First problem; Land owner invited half of his local buddies ( 50 plus people suddenly were related or the best friend of the land owner) to come shoot for nothing. People not belonging to the "club" had the combo to the range while I was a paying customer I began documenting the issue. Make sure this access is all clearly understood by and agreed upon by both parties.
The Land owner realizes what value there is in having a range begins to squeeze you out and range fees increase from $100.00/yr to $250.00/yr overnight.:( After your hard work building everything.
Again LIABILITY:eek: Make sure the lawyers all agree as to who pays "club" and whom is covered " club". Look at surrounding land owners make sure there won't be major issues with the range. Clearly post on large signs "Range Rules" that way everyone gets the same word.
"If" something happens the club is covered. Oh and even if you don't refer to it as a "club" it is what you practice not what you call it.
Firearm Safety; everyone no matter how experienced goes thru a training course before being allowed on the premises and signs a release.
No 50 BMG allowed they caused the biggest headache on the range (no pun) and the most damage to frames etc...
GOOD NEWS the range I currently belong too owns the land.
(Not sure how you would do this without money source Rent to own maybe.).
We all belong to the club, visitors allowed with a club member three times per year. Yes visitors must sign a release to be allowed on the range, again a big sign stating this rule.
Biggest source of money for our club the "cowboy shoots" they show up in droves to come shoot. You already have a pistol range it maybe a source of cash for your club. Yes many of the old time members toes curled when they allowed the "cowboyers" on the range put are you here to promote shooting sports? Divided we fall etc... :D Don't give me that stump! Sorry for the length.
Good Luck GO Slow cover all bases and you will come away with a nice range.:)
 
Range

Thought of something you may help the farmer get CRP money for setting aside the land instead of using the land for planting. Also our range fees are $180.00/yr the club allows people to work repairing and preforming maintenance , this reduces the fee to $80.00/yr. The club has five ranges on the property,it is really a nice set-up.:D Also be aware of any developers looking to build a subdivision out in the middle of nowhere that will become a problem in the future. With the housing the way it is you may have nothing to fear here.
 
Range

Thought of something you may help the farmer get CRP money for setting aside the land instead of using the land for planting. Also our range fees are $180.00/yr the club allows people to work repairing and preforming maintenance , this reduces the fee to $80.00/yr. The club has five ranges on the property,it is really a nice set-up.:D Also be aware of any developers looking to build a subdivision out in the middle of nowhere that will become a problem in the future. With the housing the way it is you may have nothing to fear here.
 
Mike,
I encourage you to keep working on it. Our 2nd amendment rights depend on a cultural atmosphere where safe and legal firearm use is encouraged. We need all the ranges we can get, so many have been shut down over the years I'm sure we have a net loss.
I live in Pearland Texas and am a member of PSC gun club (psc-range.com).
It was the 1996 NRA gun club of the year.
Our range #1 is set up with a line of covered benches. There is an area just ahead of these benches contoured for prone shooting. When all shooters are using benches then the benches are the firing line. As soon as one person moves forward to the prone position just ahead of the benches, this prone area becomes the new firing line and no one can shoot from a bench. Simple as that.
Since I have never been interested in prone position I normally don't use this range for the reason above.
We have another range we call range #4 with covered concrete benches that is designated benchrest only. Shooters can shoot no other position so a shooter who shoots only from a bench doesn't have to worry about the firing line moving to the ground. Works at our club
Russell B
 
f21ish
Thanks for your insight.
I could buy 150 acres of land at $4,000.00 per acre,which is the going price around here, but doubt a shooting range would make the payments on $600,000.00.
No such thing as government checks for taking your land out of use in our area. No farming here, just cattle or timber. If you stop raising cattle or trees, you lose your agriculture tax exemption and your taxes go from a few hundred dollars a year to many thousands.
I have a friend with 2000 acres who seemed willing to work with me but there was no suitable place for the range due to topography of the land.
Still working on it, hav'nt given up yet.
Mike C
 
CRP Land

They have CRP land there in Texas. The rancher would set the land aside (not grazing cattle on it...) Here is a link demonstrating CRP land in Texas.

http://media.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2005/jul/crp/crpmaplarge.jpg
The green dots are CRP land. Many green dots.
Old data, but still demonstrates you should be able to have him apply. You will not be able to hunt the land because it is set aside for wildlife habitat. However you do get the range built maybe and it is fun to have the bunnies sit there in the dirt next to the bench in the shade while you are shooting your big magnum, they act as if it does even annoy them.:p ie they don't even flinch.
 
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