Houston - ASC or Bayou Rifles?

[llanite]

Hi everyone - I'm mostly a lurker just getting back into shooting after a long hiatus. Am looking for an outdoor range close (relatively close) to the Richmond/Great Wood area and I'm trying to decide between the Bayou Rifles and ASC. Haven't been to the Juliff range yet, but have shot at ASC. Mostly we are shooting at Top Gun right now - which is great, but getting expensive!

I'm hoping for feedback from the fine readers here - for those of you that belong to one or the other - why do you prefer it?

I and my wife are mostly hand-gunners, but Christmas isn't that far away for rifle purchases too ....

Thanks in advance!

[Skiprr]

Impact Zone.

[llanite]

Impact Zone.

mmm - - non-starter unless they allow camping on their site. I was thinking someplace I could actually get to after work...

[Skiprr]

Impact Zone.

mmm - - non-starter unless they allow camping on their site. I was thinking someplace I could actually get to after work...

Sorry. I was thinking someplace you could actually practice defensive skills. You didn't specify what you wanted to accomplish.

[rgoldy]

If you shoot a bunch, the Yearly at ASC is still worth the money. Up to 4 family members, no limit on time, guns, or trips.
I used to be a member of Bayou Rifles but found them VERY un-defensive pistol friendly. Tried to start an IDPA group within the club and got a BUNCH of obstructionism. Yearly fees etc at Bayou Rifles are not out of line, but you will have to use the ranges alot to justify the costs. They are oriented toward bullseye pistol, and rifle users primarily.

[BobCat]

It is true that Bayou Rifles is mostly oriented to traditional shooting sports - Highpower Rifle and Bullseye Pistol. There is a rule against drawing from the holster and firing, because of the fear that someone will shoot himself in the leg. Bayou Rifles has been around since 1936 and has no record of anyone ever being injured with a firearm. This safety record is a consequence of having pretty rigid range safety rules. The only one I personally think is foolish is the no-drawing rule - the rest are pretty standard and reasonable.

A few years ago they did allow some "demonstration" IDPA matches to be held, and observed by Board of Directors members. It went very well and the club was on the edge of establishing an IDPA division and waiving the no-drawing-from-the-holster rule. At a Board meeting about this, one of the folks proposing the new division spoke of the fun and excitement of the IDPA match. All was well until he spoke glowingly of the adrenaline-rush of the sport. At that point some of the Board members eyes glazed over, their faces turned paper-white, and they looked about to faint. The new division was not approved.

If you only wish to shoot IDPA style, drawing from the holster and firing, I agree Bayou Rifles is not a good choice. If, however, you can make do with practicing your draw at home, and want to shoot targets without drawing, it is a pretty good deal. If you shoot a rifle at all you will like the range, whether or not you shoot competitively. If you want to try Bullseye, go to the Addicks range on the fourth Sunday and just sign up for the .22 match. You will meet nice people and have a ball, even if you do not post a great score.

Disclaimer - I am a member at Bayou, was membership director for two years, and call the Long Range rifle matches (first Sunday, at Juliff). So I am biased and admit it.

Regards,
Andrew

[Skiprr]

If you only wish to shoot IDPA style, drawing from the holster and firing, I agree Bayou Rifles is not a good choice. If, however, you can make do with practicing your draw at home, and want to shoot targets without drawing, it is a pretty good deal. If you shoot a rifle at all you will like the range, whether or not you shoot competitively.

I'm only a few miles north of the Addicks range on Eldridge. Bought the house eight years ago and immediately looked into Bayou Rifles.

I think your comment needs to be clarified in that not just draw-from-holster is forbidden, but also moving while shooting and engaging multiple targets. The same is true of the rifle options: static target only; no defensive scenarios.

I'm not dissin' conventional target shooting. I'm an NRA Endowment Life Member and wholly support conventional marksmanship shooting.

I guess what tweaks me sometimes--and this by way of explanation to responding to llanite's eye-rolling reply the way that I did--is that this is a CHL Forum. On this Forum, my first assumption about someone's interest in shooting will be that their primary goal is defense of self and family.

In that regard, slow-fire, controlled-breathing marksmanship is the equivalent of a middle-school diploma. It got ya to the point you can stand still and hit a target some distance away that is also standing still. Ain't no SWAT snipers asking for advice here.

Odds-on probability in the city is that if you ever have to deploy a weapon, it will be at close range...as in 15 feet or less. Maybe much less.

A well-dressed man approaches you, saying he is a tourist: "Please, Sir. If you can just take a look at this map they gave me. Please. I know it must be close by..."

Standing stock-still to punch holes in stock-still paper targets at 25-yards is self-deception if you think you're learning self-defense. IMHO

[llanite]

Thanks to all for their replies - you've given me exactly the information I was looking for. I do have to agree with skiprr - my intention is someplace where I can practice defensive skills more cheaply that $15 a pop at Top Gun or Shiloh.

That said, I would have to think about Impact Zone carefully for a full-time membership - and likewise for PSC - though they are a bit closer. The time commitment for those makes it tough with a 10 month old...

ASC at least has IPSC a couple nights a week.

Any other thoughts? Maybe someone wants to open a range in Rosenberg????

Thanks again everyone-

[rgoldy]

There is or used to be an IDPA group that shot in East Bernard I think. The range was on private property owned by a club member. Pretty good facility. Don't know about practice time, but they had matches every month with a smallish fee for entry.
The idea of a public range in Rosenberg area is very attractive, but with EPA, etc regs I would expect it is a non-starter.
PSC is a VERY good facility and well worth the yearly if you live anywhere near it. IDPA monthly matches there as well, club members get a discount on entry as I recall. I just live to far away to make the yearly, cost effective against how many times I could go. ASC ain't close and I wish there was a section for drawing from holster, but otherwise it is a good well run SAFE public range.

[BobCat]

There was (still may be) an IDPA group in Eagle Lake - about 20 miles West of East Bernard (where I live) on 90A. They would be worth checking out if you are on the West side of the city. They used to have matches there but I do not recall that the range was open for individuals to shoot on non-match days.

Skiprr,

I do not wish to argue about the utility of shooting slow-fire, precision - Bullseye - as practice for defensive pistol shooting. It is an old topic and there is little to add.

All i said was that Bayou is not the club to join, if you wish to practice defensive shooting to the exclusion of all else. I shoot a lot of pistol ammunition, but I also shoot quite a lot of rifle ammunition. I like to shoot and have been happy with Bayou Rifles.

The only objectionable rule of which I am aware is the prohibition on drawing and firing. I am not aware of any written prohibition in the Range Rules on moving while shooting, rapid fire, or engaging multiple targets. I often hang 3-4 targets and shoot them, and no one has ever said a word to me.

Regards,
Andrew

[bat0man007]

asc

[joseba1969]

ASC still they way to go , nice people, safe an low prices.

[philip964]

The main reason for the post is that the Bayou Rifles range at Addicks dam and Eldrige has been closed now for two weekends because of high water. I really miss shooting. Yes I could drive to the Juliff range but I am lazy and it is a ways South of me.

I have never shot at ASC, so I can only talk about Bayou Rifles. Most complaints in this thread seem to be about not drawing from a holster and yes that is against the rules.

A lot of the shooters seem to be shooting bull eyes and most are very very good. I seem to be one of the few that likes to shoot rapidly at multiple targets with personal defense in mind.

I have found generally I am by myself or may be there is one other person shooting at the 7 and 15 yard range on any given weekend. Its really kind of nice that its not crowded. No one cares how long I shoot and I usually bring three guns and shoot 50 rounds each.

Everyone I have met (RSO's and other shooters) there are very nice and most are much more experienced than I am. One extremely nice RSO let me shoot his antique 1911A1, to date that is the only 45 I have ever fired.

I guess I couldn't be happier with my decision to join Bayou Rifles in January. I suppose after I get my first rifle I will even be happier, even if I do have to drive South to the Juliff range to shoot it.