Bullseye Range and Guns located in Duncanville, TX

[bwilie]

I live in Waxahachie and am looking for a good range that is a reasonable drive. I went by Bullseye Range in Ducanville to check things out. Seemed like an okay place. The guy that I talked with was very nice. Mentioned that had been around a long time but weren't very well known. Anyone shot here and care to share experiences and/or opinions?

[Kadelic]

I live within a couple miles of Bullseye range and recently became a member. Keep in mind that I'm a total newb so my experience with shooting ranges is limited to three visits to Bullseye and only one visit to one other range. The guys I've talked to are very friendly and helpful. Fred is the only one I know by name so far. My only complaint so far is that they don't open until 11:00 but that's only a complaint because I work third shift and I prefer to go shoot and 7:00 or 8:00. The other range I've been to in Grand Prairie http://www.greatsouthwestgun.com/ features a state of the art ventilation system which recycles all of the air every minute or something like that. I don't think the ventilation is as good at Bullseye, but like I said I don't have a lot of experience to compare to. I will say that when I took my CHL class at Great Southwest Gun there were 7 or 8 people shooting at the same time in my group and I didn't notice any irritation from the smoke. On one visit to Bullseye there were 4 other folks shooting and after I left I did notice some mild irritation in my nose and throat from the smoke. I used to smoke over a pack a day so I'm more sensitive than I used to be, YMMV. The range fees at Bullseye are less than any of the other ranges in the area that I've seen online. Also, please see my thread here if you might be interested in offering a newb some pointers sometime: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=53360

[jmra]

Live not too far from you (Midlothian). The wife has been to bullseye a few times. Said it was ok. I think there is an outdoor range in Ferris. If you ask around you can usually find someone who lives a little out of town with a little land who would let you shoot on their property once they get to know you a little.

Are you going to the gun show Saturday at the Civic Center?

[bwilie]

jmra.....I am taking my CHL class on Saturday so I will not be able to attend the gun show.

I'd love to find some land to go shoot on. I grew up in a small town and we just went out into the country and shot. Didn't have to pay range fees, join clubs, etc. I kinda miss the old days.

[bwilie]

Kadelic....I am very much a newbie (at 48 years old) so I am in the same boat as you. I have taken an introductory handgun course and will be taking my CHL March 17. I'm very interested in getting more training and developing my skillset in shooting. Heck, I might even consider trying some competition stuff (IDPA, etc) down the road.

[equin]

I just shot there today. Been shooting there on occasion for the past year or so since it's relatively close to me (Lancaster). Folks are nice, and the few times I've been it's never been crowded. The lighting for the 3 yard line isn't the greatest, but 5 yards and out it's much better. I also noticed the same about the ventilation compared to Great Southwest Gun and Archery, which is a great indoor shooting range by the way. They sell firearms, but the prices on their used stuff is a bit high. Not much selection, otherwise, with the exception of single-action Ruger revolvers, which I'm glad to see they've always had plenty of the few times I've been (but again, their prices are a little high). All in all, it's a pretty decent indoor range, and I hope to go again soon sometime.

[cbunt1]

Live not too far from you (Midlothian). The wife has been to bullseye a few times. Said it was ok. I think there is an outdoor range in Ferris. If you ask around you can usually find someone who lives a little out of town with a little land who would let you shoot on their property once they get to know you a little.

Are you going to the gun show Saturday at the Civic Center?

I grew up in Ferris, my mother still lives there. As far as I know the only outdoor range in Ferris is between the Ag. barn and the old brick yard (not the golf course, but the yard where they used to store brick). That range is (or at least used to be) the local Police range...I've never been able to get onto it except when they did the annual turkey shoots many moons ago...don't know if any of that has changed.

If it has, or if anyone knows who can get someone on that range, I'd sure like to know about it! I've got some potential CHL students up there, and I'd like to find a decent place to qualify them close to Ferris.

--Chris

[Rpetty10]

Yes. The range in Ferris is still private until they do the turkey shoot. I live on the east side Red Oak close to Ferris. The best and closest to Ellis county for now is Bullseye in Duncanville. My wife and I were planning to try out the one in Mesquite (Gibsons) until we read the reviews on every site! Yikes! The guys at Bullseye are very nice. The don't stand over you. They do keep an eye on shooters,but do it kindly from outside the range. It is a little warm in the range, but I would rather be in there during the summer than outside in the sun! If anyone has a big place, or knows someone with land where I could shoot let me know. Bullseye is also the cheapest around (once you get the range card the first visit) but free would be better!

[equin]

I'm also a member of the private range in Ferris since it's also relatively close to me. It's an outdoor range, and I prefer it unless it's raining, in which case it can get fairly muddy. The outdoor heat in the summer time doesn't bother me so much since the Bullseye Range in the summer doesn't seem to be that well ventilated anyway. Plus, as a member, you can go anytime during the daylight hours. It can get crowded on some weekends, though, especially if the weather is nice. I haven't been to Elm Fork yet, which I understand is another outdoor range, albeit a public one, but I have been to one other private outdoor range (Big Rock Gun Club I think it's called). The Big Rock range is nice and scenic compared to the Ferris one. To me, the Ferris one is kind of ugly compared to Big Rock, but it's still very practical and functional. Just bring some insect repellant since the mosquitoes can get pretty bad at the Ferris one. Also, the Ferris one has a small rifle range that I think goes out to about 200 yards. But you have to qualify for 100 yards or more. Otherwise, you can use the 50 yard range until you qualify.

[equin]

Forgot to mention that the Ferris range has recycled a bunch of old, used tires to use as berms and walls, which I think is genius. According to the owner, those old tires can supposedly stop a .50 cal bullet from penetrating. Not sure if one can, but the way they're collapsed and stacked amongst each other definitely can.

Anyway, didn't mean to stray too off-topic from the Duncanville indoor range, which I still think is a decent range at a decent price. Just don't lose or forget your membership card; otherwise they charge you for a new one.

[sjfcontrol]

Forgot to mention that the Ferris range has recycled a bunch of old, used tires to use as berms and walls, which I think is genius. According to the owner, those old tires can supposedly stop a .50 cal bullet from penetrating. Not sure if one can, but the way they're collapsed and stacked amongst each other definitely can.

There are issues using tires in backstops/berms. Hope they're not steel-belted!
If you're interested, go to this NSSF site, and search for "tires" to find the relevant info...

[equin]

Forgot to mention that the Ferris range has recycled a bunch of old, used tires to use as berms and walls, which I think is genius. According to the owner, those old tires can supposedly stop a .50 cal bullet from penetrating. Not sure if one can, but the way they're collapsed and stacked amongst each other definitely can.

There are issues using tires in backstops/berms. Hope they're not steel-belted!
If you're interested, go to this NSSF site, and search for "tires" to find the relevant info...

Interesting information. Thanks for the link. I misspoke earlier about their use as berms. At least the pistol bay areas appear to be earthen berms, but he may have buried some tires within to help with the earthen berm structure. I don't know. I think the rifle range lanes may use the tires as backstops, but it's been so long since I've seen the rifle range, I just don't know. I do know he uses collapsed tire columns as walls for the rifle range. The range itself is mostly surrounded by collapsed tires several columns thick. I don't know if they're steel belted, but from my layman's perspective, they don't look like they would fall or collapse.

Anyway, I'm wondering why the NSSF recommends not using steel belted tires? Is it because a hit could cause a spark and ignite the rubber?

[sjfcontrol]

Forgot to mention that the Ferris range has recycled a bunch of old, used tires to use as berms and walls, which I think is genius. According to the owner, those old tires can supposedly stop a .50 cal bullet from penetrating. Not sure if one can, but the way they're collapsed and stacked amongst each other definitely can.

There are issues using tires in backstops/berms. Hope they're not steel-belted!
If you're interested, go to this NSSF site, and search for "tires" to find the relevant info...

Interesting information. Thanks for the link. I misspoke earlier about their use as berms. At least the pistol bay areas appear to be earthen berms, but he may have buried some tires within to help with the earthen berm structure. I don't know. I think the rifle range lanes may use the tires as backstops, but it's been so long since I've seen the rifle range, I just don't know. I do know he uses collapsed tire columns as walls for the rifle range. The range itself is mostly surrounded by collapsed tires several columns thick. I don't know if they're steel belted, but from my layman's perspective, they don't look like they would fall or collapse.

Anyway, I'm wondering why the NSSF recommends not using steel belted tires? Is it because a hit could cause a spark and ignite the rubber?

More likely a ricochet concern. You really don't want bullets striking metal. They tend to fly in unexpected directions.

Here's a guy shooting a .50 caliber at something steel...

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