outdoor range in Manor -- Austin skeet and rifle range

[j1132s]

executive summary: public, run down, unsafe range offers unique practice opportunity.

details:

I've been wanting to try out this range since Feburary after hearing about it from coworkers and fellow shooters. Finally, today, I decided to leave work a few hours early and go shooting. At the spur of the moment, I drove over to Manor and gave this range a try.

It's actually a pretty good experience and I think I'll be going back in the near future. True to what I've hear, there's no RO and you can do whatever you pleased. My coworkers actually didn't like this situation and tried to warn me about it... but I, after years of strictly indoor range shooting, was actually trying to seek out something like this.

This is my first time shooting at an outdoor range on my own. I've only previously shoot outdoors as part of competion or instructional class so I wasn't well prepared (like not having tape or targets :) But nothing a 30 minute drive can't resolve.

I think it was great, I can draw from holster. I can draw from holster while turning. I can move about while shooting and engage several targets. I can break the 180. I was also (finally) able to use my shoot timer... And I was able to shooting without hearing protection! (I've always wondered what a gun sounded like w/o hearing protection so I did it. Only for one shoot because it was _VERY_ _LOUD_; but I now know.)

Now, thanks to this range, I think I'm nearing a small breakthrough in my shooting... just need to hit this range maybe 3 more times. (Hopefully I won't get injured while using thie range :)

Ok, back to the range descriptions:

This range has 4 bays. One of the bays is really large because it is the skeet with an ajoining rifle range (I counted it as one since there's no separation besides distance). All shooting areas are covered. The pistol bay is 7, 25 yards. Rifle, I think is 100 from looking at it (although I remember the owner/range manager may have mentioned 200?), I might find out if I bring my rifle next time. There's also an empty bay that is setup for CHL tests (based on the lines drawn on the ground).

Overall condition is run down with a lot of brass on the ground (fortunately the they are packed into the dirt so there's little possibility of slipping on them). The size maybe 10acres?? (I'm not good at estimating large area), but this is by far the smallest outdoor range I've been on.

As you enter the range, there's a small hut near the entrance where you go in and pay, the cost is $7 per person or gun. Ammo is sold but no targets or tape. The gentleman manning the shack was friendly (in his own unique way) and highly recommended me not to step in front of the firing line to change targets since there's no RO. (The problem is that all the targets he hung up in the morning already have lots of holes in them.) Anyway, I was able to coordinate with the other shooters to have cease fire periods.

Final thoughts, this is a great find. Although I can't imagine going there when they are busy (just a bit too risky for me). Today, while I was there, only 2 other people were shooting pistols... and I already feel unsafe. It'd be great if I'm the only 1 there, I'll probably go during work to maximize this posibility.

I know about some private ranges that's a lot safer, but they are also way too far a drive for me. This one is far enough at 30 minutes from Austin.

[flintknapper]

I have not been to that range... having moved from Austin in the mid 80's. I grew up in Austin, and can remember when the rifle range was off of FM 2222. Talk about small!

There was never a RO in those days, nor was one necessary. People were generally courteous toward one another, and those few displaying unsafe practices were simply "policed" by the other shooters.

A cease fire to check or mark targets was done by agreement, and no one was in a big hurry or thought that their time on the range was the only time that mattered.

For the most part, I find "gun people" to an agreeable lot, but I do find the occasional bad apple.

Have fun, be safe.

[j1132s]

After reading my own post, I think I wasn't too clear on a couple of things.

1. I broke the 180 when I was the only 1 on the range. I don't think other shooter would appreciate this :)
2. The 2 other pistol shooter were not present simultaneously (just a few minutes overlap).
3. If there were more than 1 other shooter on the firing line, I'd not feel safe going forward even if there's a cease fire called. I'd much prefer everybody go forward and nobody stay behind.
4. This range is great for practicing. I think I want to head back 3 more times to work on something. (If anybody's interested in going w/ me, feel free to PM me.)
5. I forgot to mention how to find this range: It is 3 miles east of Manor on hwy 290 and on the north side. You can see a sign w/ a US flag on it from the hwy.

Now I think I'm getting interested in shooting again. Hmm, have to find some time and hit the range today.

[flintknapper]

After reading my own post, I think I wasn't too clear on a couple of things.

1. I broke the 180 when I was the only 1 on the range. I don't think other shooter would appreciate this :)
2. The 2 other pistol shooter were not present simultaneously (just a few minutes overlap).
3. If there were more than 1 other shooter on the firing line, I'd not feel safe going forward even if there's a cease fire called. I'd much prefer everybody go forward and nobody stay behind.
4. This range is great for practicing. I think I want to head back 3 more times to work on something. (If anybody's interested in going w/ me, feel free to PM me.)
5. I forgot to mention how to find this range: It is 3 miles east of Manor on hwy 290 and on the north side. You can see a sign w/ a US flag on it from the hwy.

Now I think I'm getting interested in shooting again. Hmm, have to find some time and hit the range today.

It sounds alright to me, and what you're doing is not unsafe. I don't mind going down range with others still behind me as long as ALL actions/breeches are open, and no one is touching their weapon.

That is how we did it at the old range. Never any problems that I'm aware of, and I shot out there for 18 yrs.

By all means hit the range. Be safe.

[O6nop]

I've been thee several times the past year. Each time I go it seems to be more and more run down. I haven't been for almost 2 months.
The target stands are 2x4s fahioned in frames with refrigerator box cardboard attached. The targets are stapled to the cardboard. Some of the locations have holes shot in them big enough to drop a baskeball through.
The long rifle range is 100 yards. It seemed to be inhabited by the more sensible shooters. The 50 yard range target stand was mostly fallen down. That's where the AK, AR and milsurp shooters hang out. Sometimes they shoot at the 25 yard range, too. Not many handgunners at the 25 yard range, but you'll see a shotgunner occasionally blasting out slugs or 00Buck. The seven yard range often is the most crowded. Most of the time, shooters shoot a magazine into one target then shoot at the next target with the next mag, then choose another target for the next and so on. At that rate, if you aren't the first one there, you shoot at a target that already has holes in it. Not often, you get someone doing rapid fire, but this is the first time I've heard of anyone being able to draw from a holster. It is supposed to be ready position only. There is a sign posted with the rules as you cross the swaying wooden bridge to the range from the parking lot. I can't remember if that was covered there.

Also, whenever I was there there was a teenage kid in charge of changing targets and only he or the old guy could call a cease fire. I guess you go into the little shack by the range to get the targets and the staple gun?

The overhead shelters look as if they'll fall down, if you'r over 6 foot tall, expect to scrape your head on it.

I've only been on weekends, so that may be the difference. And, it's so hot right now, you don't get many people showing up. When it gets cooler expect bigger crowds.

$7 per gun sounds OK if you are only going to bring one or two guns or spend all day out there, what do other ranges charge?

I'll probably go back there again, but I wish they'd fix it up a little.

[j1132s]

Well, I went there again today; a lot more people shooting than the previous time. After I mentioned this range to my wife, she wanted to see a picture, so I took a snapshot:



Since there are so many people this time, I didn't do any forward/backward movements while shooting, and my shot timer can't work since it registers other folks' shots as well. I.e. not much practicing so I left after a few shots.

[j1132s]

<snip>
this is the first time I've heard of anyone being able to draw from a holster. It is supposed to be ready position only. There is a sign posted with the rules as you cross the swaying wooden bridge to the range from the parking lot.
<snip>
quote]

Hi O6nop,

I'm not saying you're wrong (espectially since I've only been there 2 times), but just want to say why I think they may allow drawing from the holster:

1. I talked to the old man in the shack taking my range fees and mentioned that I'll be drawing from holster when I first went to the range.

2. Today, I was wearing my OWB holster and mag carrier in plain view when I went into the shack to pay for my range fee.

3. While shooting, I noticed the old man from the shack (owner?) would drive by in his pickup around the range at intervals and I'm pretty positive he saw my drawing since I was doing 2-shot draw drills :)

4. I didn't see anybody else usinga holster, but a lot of guys at the local IPSC match mentioned that this is the range you can practice draws. Although they (and my office coworkers) refuse to shoot here due to safety issues.

5. I read their rules and don't remember seeing anything about holsters/draws. I remember "norapid fire" and this was also posted separately.

I sure hope drawing from holster is allowed, because this is great practce for steel shooting.

<snip>what do other ranges charge?

The only other range I shoot at is Red's indoor range, and I think that's ~$13/hr (can't remember since I have a membership, anual membership is $350). There's no per gun charge, just per person. (Interestingly, this indoor range charges "per person" and not "per lane w/ extra people added cheaply" like all the indoors ranges I've been to in CA.)

A private range Texas Tactical in dripping Springs has annual membership at $75. This range shooting is pretty much free form and not many rules as long as you're a safe shooter.

Those are the only ones I have been to besides this Manor range.