TexasCHLforum.com

Hello,

Well, I've been back in Texas for some months now after "retiring" from the USAF. My last duty assignment was in California and despite their absolutely TERRIBLE firearm laws, I was lucky enough to live in a small farm town with a decent range nearby. They kept it safe but pretty informal and it wasn't over-crowded during the week (I worked a lot of swing and night shifts)...well, anyway, I'm looking for suggestions on a good range in the Fort Worth area, particularly the northwest side...I have teenagers I want to take to the range, so I'm looking for something family-friendly. I understand safety and the necessity for range rules, but I keep reading horror stories when searching the 'Net about this. Either that the range is TOO lax and unsafe OR that the place is run by (I hate the phrase) "range nazis"...I don't have a lot of spare cash so I can't join a private range and I hear the waiting lists are crazy anyway. Finally, I also have seen that FMJ is pretty much not allowed in this area (even the range in CA didn't have a problem with this, just a nice big berm for a backstop)...I tried to make a search on here, but the info was either spotty, old, or I just stink at searching (very possible). Thank you all in advance.

I honestly don't know of any in that part of town.
The only one I can recommend in Tarrant (Johnson?) county is the one owned by CTD on Hwy 174 in Joshua. It's an indoor range.
I also like the little range on 28th st., but I never get by there since they shortened their hours.

Winchester gallery at 820 and E Lancaster comes to mind, but it seems small to me.

There are only two outdoor ranges - Alpine (public) and (Haltom City Rifle & Pistol Club (private).

I usually go up to Quail Creek, just off of I-35, 1 or 2 exits north of Texas Motor Speedway. No FMJ, no rapid fire, but I've never had a problem with the RSO's being too overbearing. I've been gently reminded to slow my ROF, but never yelled at or anything like that.

@Warhammer:

Okay, Quail Creek, that is pretty close by to me...no FMJ (not concerned with rapid fire anyway), but what about stuff like Wolf HP? It has a steel alloy jacket over a lead core...do they do the "magnet test" looking for "steel core" which is mostly in old Soviet surplus and thus ban ANYTHING that a magnet sticks to? I'd LOVE to shoot nothing but soft tip copper clad Remington or Winchester in brass case, but that gets REALLY pricey really quick...and shooting enough for practice has the ability to rack up some real costs. Thanks for the above info, though.

Warhammer wrote:I usually go up to Quail Creek, just off of I-35, 1 or 2 exits north of Texas Motor Speedway. No FMJ, no rapid fire, but I've never had a problem with the RSO's being too overbearing. I've been gently reminded to slow my ROF, but never yelled at or anything like that.

After my experiences there, I'd never go back again. Whole thread: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=13537" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ....

....my experience: I've been shouted at by "RSO"s for imagined offenses; I've had boxes of FMJ ammo positively snatched out of my hands by the RSO and impounded in the back of his Mule, even though all I was doing was moving boxes of ammo around in my range bag so that I could get to the ammo I was actually going to shoot; had the RSO try to correct my rifle shooting (I've been shooting rifles for years, and I am a fine rifle shooter) by offering patently ridiculous "corrections," indicating that he had no clue about proper rifle technique. At every other range I've ever been to, including the first couple of times at Quail Creek, upon arrival and checking in with the RSO, I always set my SKB rifle case on the shooting bench, open it, remove the rifle, set it on the bench, muzzle pointing down range. The second or third time I was there at Quail Creek, I did exactly the same thing, but apparently the range-Nazi had made up a new rule, and he started shouting at me to case my rifle and get away from the firing line. He then had me set my rifle case down in the dirt, in the baking hot summer sun, about 10 or 15 yards behind the firing line. He told me to uncase my rifle there, and then carry the rifle forward to the firing line — which is patently less safe. What if my rifle was not unloaded? He had no way of knowing that. Fully 80% of the words spoken to me by Quail Creek RSOs have been belligerent, and most often, shouted. Personally, I think they are drunks. That is what they act like.... a bunch of drunks.

A number of board members here have been to various shooting ranges with me, and I feel no need to apologize for my safety record or the manner in which I carry myself at those ranges. Those buffoons at Quail Creek are no better than hairless apes. They have the social skills of a positive Ferengi and the manners of a crack addict. Few people can arouse my contempt as a Quail Creek RSO. And I would like to point out that at no time did I ever argue with them, and I always followed their directions, even when they were being ridiculous. I never raised my voice. I simply determined the last time I was there that I would never go back there again, and that I would always warn people away from that godforsaken and misbegotten gang of thugs at every opportunity. It's not even a great facility. In the above linked thread, one of the respondents maintained that they are just "good people, without any competition." I replied that good people don't act like deliberate jerks just because they don't have any competition.

If there are enough irate Internet posts like this one, and their business is impacted because enough people are warned away, then they will either correct their behavior, or they'll go out of business. Frankly, I don't care which they do. They have permanently lost me as a customer.

Today is Thanksgiving day. Quail Creek is not one the things I am thankful for.

Elk Castle on I-30 and Cherry Lane. They run a tight ship there.

Heartland Patriot wrote:@Warhammer:

Okay, Quail Creek, that is pretty close by to me...no FMJ (not concerned with rapid fire anyway), but what about stuff like Wolf HP? It has a steel alloy jacket over a lead core...do they do the "magnet test" looking for "steel core" which is mostly in old Soviet surplus and thus ban ANYTHING that a magnet sticks to? I'd LOVE to shoot nothing but soft tip copper clad Remington or Winchester in brass case, but that gets REALLY pricey really quick...and shooting enough for practice has the ability to rack up some real costs. Thanks for the above info, though.

You won't be given any trouble over any sort of hollowpoint. They don't do any sort of magnet test, but a RO may walk by and check your ammo/magazine. It's really no big deal. If you have something that may be misconstrued for FMJ but is actually not, just talk to Ron up at the main office first and get him to "OK" it so the RO's are on the same page.

Quail Creek is a great facility. I know some members have had some poor experiences in the past with RO's but I am there almost 3 times a week and I can promise you that the offending RO's no longer work there.

TXBassGuide wrote:Quail Creek is a great facility. I know some members have had some poor experiences in the past with RO's but I am there almost 3 times a week and I can promise you that the offending RO's no longer work there.

It's a so-so facility, and I don't care if the offender is there or not (there was more than one, by the way, who was a jerk). They let the situation go on for so long that I'll never go back. Ever.

Heartland Patriot wrote:@Warhammer:

Okay, Quail Creek, that is pretty close by to me...no FMJ (not concerned with rapid fire anyway), but what about stuff like Wolf HP? It has a steel alloy jacket over a lead core...do they do the "magnet test" looking for "steel core" which is mostly in old Soviet surplus and thus ban ANYTHING that a magnet sticks to? I'd LOVE to shoot nothing but soft tip copper clad Remington or Winchester in brass case, but that gets REALLY pricey really quick...and shooting enough for practice has the ability to rack up some real costs. Thanks for the above info, though.

They just visually inspect the ammo; no magnet test. I've shot Wolf HP 7.62x39 with no problems.

Also, I've heard the horror stories about folks being treated badly at Quail Creek, but I've never been treated badly or witnessed anything untoward while I've been there.

@Warhammer:

Well, I took your advice and went up there today...it was a decent time...the only folks I saw that had even a slight issue were those who wouldn't step back during ceasefires...but I didn't see anyone get "chewed out". I put a hundred rounds through my new Springfield Government Model .45...I LOVE that thing...I just shot pistol today, but next time I'll take the AR...and some hollow-tips...I think I have some Wolf that fits the bill. Thanks for the information.

@TAM:

I have read bad things about QCR before and was pretty leery of going there even with Warhammer's recommendation. But as I said, I didn't have any issues. If it has been a while since you were there, maybe they got rid of the overbearing guy(s)? I'll keep going there until I have an issue OR I can find someplace to shoot FMJ. I've got quite a bit of it in 5.56mm and it sure seems a shame to let it just sit there in the can, ha ha. I am open to any suggestions from experienced locals such as yourself, of course. I'll try to stay alert for issues out there, so thanks for the heads up.