My experience with Bailey's House of Guns

[xpur3l0g1cx]

I used to go to baileys house of guns till I found out about Carters Country. First time there I brought out my m1 garand. Of course had to load 1 round at a time and didnt have a sled. Then here came the lady on the golf cart and had the range officer put a cage around me. That was not really a big deal. Then went over to the pistol range and there was 2 people my age constantly laughing bc there brass was hitting everyone and didnt give the courtesy to move down or anything. Had to wait for the guy to change all 25 yard targets and this is only 25 yards. I left shortly after that. Then came back a few days later to do some skeet shooting. Had 200 rounds and a box of clay, started walking to go pay and here comes the lady on the golf cart again complaining that we cant use our skeet there and had to buy it from them. That was fine and we get over to the skeet range and here she comes to make sure were not using our own. After she left us alone it went pretty good and as were walking back this huge snake( it was some light brown snake kinda like a rattler without the rattler) had to wait till it went by then finally left. Never came back.

[BobH]

Don't think i'll be visiting this range. I go to Carter's for outdoor shooting for my rifles also

[lawrnk]

Baileys was the reason I joined PSC. The only good thing is 3 people can can shoot for the price of one. Seriously though, Baileys attracts the worst sort of people.

[xpur3l0g1cx]

Baileys was the reason I joined PSC. The only good thing is 3 people can can shoot for the price of one. Seriously though, Baileys attracts the worst sort of people.

where is this PSC everyone talks about. I would like to get into some competitions and such. I think it could be a great start

[tomneal]

http://www.psc-range.com/

In Friendswood, near the city of Alvin
on FM 528

About halfway between I45 and US288

Full Disclosure
I am membership director of PSC.

Bailey's is a place if your a once or a once a year shooter
If you are a regular shooter, like most of the folks on this board, and you live in the Houston Area, PSC is your range.

[lawrnk]

http://www.psc-range.com/

In Friendswood, near the city of Alvin
on FM 528

About halfway between I45 and US288

Full Disclosure
I am membership director of PSC.

Bailey's is a place if your a once or a once a year shooter
If you are a regular shooter, like most of the folks on this board, and you live in the Houston Area, PSC is your range.

Thanks for your help this weekend on the extra guest Tom.

There are many members on this board, myself included who might meet interested parties to give them a tour I bet. Charles Cotton, who runs this forum, is a PSC director as well. He runs the pistol ranges.

[carnaco]

I like American Shooting Center, but have per gun charge.

[tomneal]

If you're on the West side of town and shoot Pistols a lot

Impact Range may be your spot.

[jrmcc999]

I agree with several of the opinions here. The place is OK; I haven't run into any gangsters, but if you look at the range's location, who would be surprised? At least you're showing up with something to defend yourself.

I like the gentleman that's usually behind the counter, but some of the range masters are a bit difficult. I usually shoot compact automatic pistols there, and I think I've gotten on a 5-yard lane once, and I had to ask twice. Last time I went, somebody had a gun sitting on that lane, which they never actually used the entire time I was there, which annoyed me to no end. I don't care to practice at 25 yards with my pistols suitable for concealing. If I'm shooting at somebody 25 yards away, it's likely I'll end up in jail over it.

It's funny how the different range masters are. One time I had a guy hovering over me giving me tips I didn't ask for. He was trying to be helpful, but I was just rusty and wanted to be left alone. Another time, there was a woman practicing for CHL next to me who had no clue how her gun worked. She was kind of scaring me, but there was no helpful range guy for her that day. I eventually helped her some, even though I had never used the Bersa model she had. I don't like giving pointers with weapons I've never used, especially what looked like a SA/DA model.

I don't like the per-gun charge either, especially when I can rarely get the 5 yard lane. I go there only because of proximity.

[zeke80]

I went to Bailey's right after I bought my first handgun, a Springfield XDm 9mm. I have fired friends' guns but never owned my own and by no means do I know a lot about guns. I bought some cheap ammo at Academy and set out to Bailey's. Apparently, Monarch shells don't eject properly from the XDm and I needed to be shooting Winchester (according to the springfield rep on the phone). After a few casings didn't eject properly, I went inside to ask for some help. The guy working there laughed at me and asked if I was new to guns. I didn't know some people are born with all encompassing gun knowledge but I am not one of those people. He sold me some other junk ammo for an exhorbitant price that didn't work either. I spoke to Springfield later that day and they told me I needed better ammo for the match grade barrell. I haven't had any problems with Winchester. The slow, rude rangemaster and the inconsiderate people working inside the shop have no business dealing with the public. I work in a fine dining steakhouse and enjoy the opportunity to help people learn about good food and wines. I don't treat them like idiots. Being in a hospitality business, it frustrates me when a business that treats its customers like garbage is still operating. I'd never go there again and not only will I not recommend it to anyone, I'd try to persuade them to go somewhere else. I'll drive 45 minutes to marksman indoor range every time I shoot because the guys there are helpful and respectful.

[canvasbck]

The biggest thing I have learned at Bailey's is that if a gang banger is shooting at you DON'T MOVE!!! You will be safe that way........I have yet to see a gang banger who could shoot his way out of a wet paper bag.

The rifle range at Bailey's is pretty good, there is a lady that is sometimes the rangemaster and she is very helpful if you are having trouble getting a rifle zeroed. Mrs. Bailey (the older lady) is also pretty nice, when she can hear you.

For pistols, go somewhere else unless you are entertained by watching gangbangers hit the ground half way to the target (as I am).

[tomneal]

The correct analogy is that the gang bangers can't hit the side of a barn...
from the inside.

Bailey's is-what-it-is. Mrs Bailey and her family have been running the range for 60+ years and she hears about as well as you might expect for someone that has spent that many years on the firing line. The store has a lot of reloading components as well as guns and ammo. I think their gun prices are better than Collectors Firearms but maybe not as good as at a gun show. I shoot two USPSA / IPSC monthly matches at Bailey's. (The combat range to the right of the "pistol" range.) See. http://www.texassouthsection.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for details about USPSA match locations in the Houston area.

While Bailey's is an ok place to shoot if you only want to shoot one gun, once a year. If you to shoot more than that, you might consider joining a membership range. Full Disclosure: I am Membership director at http://www.psc-range.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I am a member at Greenwood Gun Club http://www.greenwoodgunclub.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Both are close and cheap enough for me (I live new the 610 Loop and US 290). The other thing about Membership clubs is, the folks there are willing and able to pay a years worth of range fees all at once. I think that means they are safer shooters than the average guy at the public range.

If you want to learn about shooting you might consider finding a match. PSC has three that come to mind. USPSA on the 3rd Saturday. IDPA on the 4th Saturday. And, Steel Challenge on the 2nd Sunday. These are all matches that will test your abilities.

[ExMarlboroMan]

This is sad to hear about bailey's.

I grew up shooting there, skeet and rifles that is. I have been there once to shoot my pistols about 8 years ago and it seemed like a normal range. In fact I bought my first handgun there, a bersa thunder 380 for $259 when i turned 21!

I know the owners, been doing work for them as far back as i can remember, and they are very nice people. When i told them i lost all my deer sausage during IKE they said just bring a cooler over and they would load me up! Ultra nice people!

Yeah they are surrounded by houses now, and are probably under enormous pressure for "safety" reasons. As well I'm sure the land would be worth a fortune for a developer, who might get it at a cheap rate after the range had been closed down due to "safety" reasons.

The stories in this thread are NOT how I have experienced Bailey's House of Guns at all. But then it has been several years since I've been there to shoot.

[lawrnk]

Let me state, not sure if I brought it up, when firing an AK, of any variant, no mags allowed. You must feed single bullets. I'm so glad I found PSC.