Where can I go shoot near me?
I looked around central Alabama for you and compiled a list of ranges, their amenities, and fees. Once you shop the FOP Range against all your available choices, the decision to join the FOP Range and get access to a really good place for you to enjoy your firearms with family and friends. All references to prices, hours, amenities are from info obtained by visiting them, conversations with people who have used them, or each location's web site and may change.
Commercial range vs Gun club
Commercial ranges exist to provide you with a safe place to shoot for an affordable fee. They are staffed to ensure safety and provide customer service for range users. Commercial ranges allow anyone who can legally possess a firearm to use their facility.
Gun clubs have membership event participation, maintenance requirements, work day requirements, mandatory range officer service requirements, and mandatory competition participation requirements. Gun clubs have elected officers who run things, make and enforce rules, and see to range management. Gun clubs have membership requirements such as being sponsored by an existing member, membership committee review, and a probationary period.
Outdoor vs Indoor range
Outdoor ranges are just that, outside, where you may have to deal with the elements such as rain, heat or cold. Outdoor ranges have a supply of fresh air at all times and are somewhat quieter to use. The better outdoor ranges have all their shooting positions covered with an overhead structure to give you shade and keep you dry.
Indoor ranges offer protection from the elements but expose you to recycled air that may cause an increased exposure to the heavy metal pollution that comes with firing lead bullets. Indoor ranges sound levels are much higher than those outdoors as the sound has nowhere to go but back at you as it is reflected off the walls, floor and ceiling.
The list...
The commercial ranges:
FOP Range Inc.
91 1st Street Pleasant Grove AL 35127
205-744-2600
Hours: Open 7 days a week 9 - 6 Mon - Sat & 12 - 5 Sun. Closed only Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Amenities: 76 positions
1 100 yard rifle / pistol range with targets at 10, 25, 50, and 100 yards with steel plates at 100 yards.
1 100 yard rifle range with targets at 50 and 100 yards and steel plates at 100 yards.
1 10 - 25 yard pistol steel plate range with 160+ plate targets.
1 10 - 25 yard 22 LR steel plate range with 200+ steel plate targets.
2 12 yard pistol ranges.
1 50 yard multi purpose training range with classroom.
office with ammo, targets, safety gear, restroom.
All shooting positions are covered.
Fees: Requires an Annual membership.
* Annual Membership = has full facility access and has 3 levels, Single, Family, and Limited. Single covers you. Family covers you, your spouse and kids. No age limits for your kids, can be 8 to 80 years old.
* Limited is the same as Family but is limited to Monday through Thursday range use. All plans may bring guests. Guest fee is only $20 each.
There are 2 tiers. Tier 1 members have a $10 range use fee but cheaper annual dues. Tier 2 has no range use fee.
Tier 1 =
Single membership = $150 yr / $15 mo
Family membership = $200 yr / $20 mo
Limited membership = $100 yr / $11 mo
Tier 2 =
Single membership = $250 yr / $22 mo
Family membership = $300 yr / $25 mo
Limited membership = $200 yr / $18 mo
Notes: Range membership is available to anyone who can legally possess firearms. Only range in the area with steel plate ranges and a dedicated 22LR range. $20 firearm transfer fee for your online firearm purchases. Consignment firearm sales. No gun rentals. Shotguns limited to buckshot and slugs. No matches to interfere with your ability to go target shooting on weekends.
Hoover Tactical
1561 Montgomery Hwy, Hoover AL 35216
205-822-3600
www.hoovertactical.com
Hours: Open Mon - Sat 10 - 8, Sun 1 - 6.
Fees: $18.26 hr., $10 kids, $10 archery target, $15 archery 3D. Memberships available, Single $350 (1 card with memb + 1 guest), Family $425 (2 cards with 1 memb + 1 guest access), Mil/LE/EMT/FD $275, Corporate $500 (5 cards with 1 memb + 1 guest access).
Notes: gunsmithing and archery repair available. Gun sales onsite. $10 gun rental program. Google says closed Sundays but website says open.
Sentinel Firearms
906 40th Street N Birmingham, AL 35222
205-592-3004
https://www.sentinelfirearms.us
Hours: 10 - 6 Monday - Sunday.
Amenities: Indoor 9 position 25 yard pistol range
Fees: No memberships, $16.50 range fee
Notes: No rifle or shotgun allowed. Onsite gun sales. Classes. Read the online Google, Facebook and Yelp reviews.
Cullman Shooting Sports
593 AL Hwy 69N, Cullman AL 35055
256-736-9950
Hours: 10 - 6 Mon - Fri, 9 - 7 Sat, and 1 - 6 Sun
Amenities: Awesome indoor range with 8 110 yd (100 m) rifle positions and 9 27 yd (25M) pistol positions. Onsite gun sales. Classes.
Fees: $25 1st shooter and $15 2nd shooter per lane per hr. / Rifle $35 1st shooter and $15 2nd shooter per lane per hr.
Standard memberships =
Initiation Fee (non-refundable) $40
Single Membership $540 Yr / $48 Mo
Couples Membership $640 Yr / $55 Mo
Family Membership $755 Yr / $65 Mo
Premier memberships =
Single Membership $1200 Yr / $100 Mo
Couples Membership $1300 Yr / $110 Mo
Family Membership $1500 Yr / $125 Mo
Corporate Memberships =
$2,500/Year for 4 Primary Members
Initiation Fee – $500 Non-refundable
2 Additional Primary Members - $750 each
Notes: Very nice facility located just east of Cullman near the hospital. Its the only indoor range with a proper rifle range. Prices reflect the area it serves and the quality of the facility. I had a good experience while talking to staff about the facility. Its where I would go (since I now live near Cullman) if I did not have the FOP Range to run.
CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park
4387 Turner Mill Rd, Talladega, AL 35160
(256) 474-4408 ext. 460
http://thecmp.org/competitions/talladega-marksmanship-park
Hours: Closed Mon and Tues, Wed and Thurs 11 - 5, and Fri Sat and Sun 9 - 5
Amenities: 500 acre facility with a 600-yard rifle range with targets at 200, 300 and 600 yards, a 100-yard multi-purpose range, and a 50-yard pistol range. It also includes 15 action pistol bays and a trap field, 5-stand field and a 15-station sporting clays field – all with automated trap machines.
Fees: Rifle and Pistol Ranges $30 day or $12.50 per hour. Shotgun ranges are $8 to $45 with golf cart rental available. No memberships are available but you can get a 10 day pass for $250.
Notes: A range safety video is required before access is granted. You must qualify to use the longer ranges by demonstrating marksmanship skill on shorter range. The rifle ranges have electronic scoring devices that shot your hits on a video screen at each position. The CMP Range is a well done outdoor shooting facility worthy of the drive to see.
Larry's Gun and Pawn / Ammo Dump Range
2405 North Memorial Parkway, Huntsville, AL 35810
256-534-1000
http://www.pistolandpawn.com/wp/huntsville-indoor-range/
Hours: Closed Sunday & Monday. Open 10 - 6 Tues - Fri, 9 - 4 Sat.
Amenities: Long established indoor range in Huntsville with 12 positions for shooting 25 yards.
Fees: $10 which includes use of safety gear and a target. No memberships required or available.
Notes: Rifle calibers up to 30-06 ok there. See website for range special days. Onsite gun store. Gun rentals available.
Last Resort Gun Range
10849 County Line Road Madison, AL 35758
256.774.5741
Hours: Mon - Fri 10 - 8, Sat 8 - 8, Sun 1 - 6
Amenities: Indoor range in Madison. 6 positions with 25 yards. Onsite gun store. Gun rentals.
Fees: $24 single one day / $12 additional person on same lane. Four membership levels, Trial, Regular, Premier and Life.
Trial runs 3 months = $
Regular single = $37 monthly / $400 annually
Regular family = $55 monthly / $600 annually
Premier single = $480 annually
Premier family = $720
Life =$5000.
Notes: prices listed above are from their web site a few months ago. Current web site info does not have membership pricing.
That's it for the commercial ranges. Now for the Gun Clubs...
Magic City Gun Club
7089 Narrows Road, Pinson AL 35126
(205) 807-5187
Magic City Gun Club
Hours: Open 7 days a week 9 am to 9 pm.
-
100-yard rifle range with several concrete benchrest style benches and plenty of open areas to shoot 3-position.
-
100-meter Silhouette range with berms at 40, 50, 60, 75 and 100 meters.
-
50-yard utility range.
-
50-yard pistol range with paper target frames at 25 and 50 yards.
-
2 trap fields.
Notes: Heavy match schedule (10 per month) on weekends. Range shared with local national guard unit which gets use when they need it. Long hours if needed. No onsite supervision.
Update: 10/24/23
BGTC has sold their property in Hoover and is moving in 1 year. Hoover location will remain open during this time. The club has purchased 870 acres between Leeds and Talledega to construct a new facility on, 50 miles east of its current location. Plans include a 1400 yard rifle range. Link to map with new location...
Brock's Gap Training Center
3721 South Shades Crest Road, Birmingham, AL 35244
(205) 516-6600
Hours: 9:30 am to 9 pm.
Amenities: Large outdoor facility with tons of ranges for the 24 monthly matches they hold on weekends. One 600 yard rifle range is available at certain times when staffed by range officers.
Fees: Annual membership is $275 plus $75 range maintenance fee (unless you participate in a scheduled range work day) plus a $150 non-refundable application fee.
Notes: The BGTC is a private shooting club. Candidates for membership must have an active email account, be members of the NRA, GOA, or 2nd Amendment Foundation, possess a valid Conceal Carry Permit, have a valid driver’s license, and be legally able to possess and acquire firearms. Application approval is based on ONE of the items below.
-
Applicant attends two Training/Match events at BGTC and returns the completed participation form with the Trainer, Match director or Range Officer signature on their application as sponsor.
-
An active Board member signs the application as a sponsor.
-
Applicant meets with two active members at the range, and they sign application as sponsors after witnessing the applicant’s firearm proficiency, appropriate safety-oriented attitude, and safe gun handling skills.
-
Current members represent every segment of our community, including business owners and professionals, members of law enforcement, the military, and public safety organizations.
The above is straight from the BGTC website. Most in the know consider the BGTC the "white collar" range. The best way to get in is to become a regular participant at one of the 2 dozen match formats, make friends with a member and get him to sponsor you in. This range has been closed for some time to new members with a waiting list you had to get on once you qualified. The web site indicates they are currently taking new members and waiving the application fee.
Heritage Gun Club
110 Country Living Circle, Odenville, AL 35120
Heritage Rifle & Pistol Club
PO Box 772
Leeds, AL 35094
No phone number
Hours: 9 am to sunset, Closed any match day.
Amenities: several pistol ranges and one 200 yard rifle range, all uncovered. Unsupervised.
Fees: Private members only gun club. Not accepting new members. $100 application fee, $150 annual dues, $25 late fee, $50 missed work day fee.
Notes: Membership is capped at 200 members. Applications only accepted during March. Membership requirements are pretty involved, to include an applicant furnished Alabama Criminal Justice System background check criminal history report dated less than 90 days old. See website.
Graysville Gun Club
Alden Road Northeast, Graysville, AL 35073
(205) 648-9600
www.shooting.org/ranges/alabama/graysville/graysville-gun-club
Hours: Unknown
Amenities: The map shows a 25 yard pistol range and a 200 yard rifle range, both covered.
Fees: None published.
Notes: Little is known about the Graysville Gun Club except that it is a members only private gun club. I have been told that membership is closed, not accepting new members. It was created as the Graysville Gun Club Inc. on 05-31-94 by Ralph Moore.
Hobbs Island Shooting Range
3689 Hobbs Island Road, Huntsville, AL 35803
256-426-8554
Hours: Spring/Summer
Monday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fall/Winter
Monday – Saturday 9:00 AM – Dusk/5:00 PM
Sunday 11:00 AM – Dusk/5:00 PM
* Range Office and Range Store closed Monday – Tuesday
* Range goes cold 15 minutes before closing
Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Amenities: covered 25 / 50 yard paper range with 20 positions, covered 100 / 380 yard rifle range with 18 positions, three pistol / carbine action shooting bays, a range they call their Steel Park which is a 25 yard wide by 90 yard deep range with about 60 steel plates arranged around the end, uncovered. Classroom and office.
Fees: members only private range with 3 levels of membership, Basic, Silver, and Gold.
Basic single = $135 quarterly / $420 annually, $35 guests
Basic couple = $208 quarterly / $660 annually, $35 guests
Silver single = $225 quarterly / $720 annually, $25 guests
Silver couple = $300 quarterly / $960 annually, $25 guests
Gold single = $335 quarterly / $1080 annually, $20 guests + 6 free guests per year.
Gold couple = $422 quarterly / $1360 annually, $20 guests = 6 free guests per year.
Dependent kids 12- 19 are $30 quarterly / $120 annually each.
Notes: HISR is a relatively new outdoor range. Prices fit the area it serves. Not sure what to think about the steel range setup, shooting from one of the 33 plastic drums arranged in a semi circle. See pics on their website and Facebook page.
Sand Mountain Shooter's Club
626 Bloodworth Rd, Boaz, AL 35956
256-593-8027
https://sandmtnshootersclub.com/
Hours: Closed Monday, Open Tuesday - Friday 10 - 7, Saturday and Sunday 10 - 6.
Amenities: Looks like 3 or 4 small bays for shooting firearms. Living room furniture on the ranges for your lounging pleasure. Primarily a paint ball range. See pic below and on their web site.
Fees: Not listed anywhere.
Notes: Its a place to shoot near Boaz if you need it. Has favorable reviews online.
Greenridge Shooting Range
3221 County Highway 13, Cleveland, AL 35049
205-281-0841
https://greenridgeshootingranges.com/
Hours: Mon - Sat 8 - 5, Sun 1 - 5.
Amenities: 2 covered 25 yard pistol ranges, 2 covered 200 yard rifle ranges. Restrooms.
Fees: Private members only outdoor shooting range. Single membership = $200 year. Family =$300 year. Seniors over 65 = $150 year, $30 one time application fee.
Notes: Pics online look pretty good. Not fancy but has positive online reviews. Offers training classes with John Deloach (really good instructor) and practical shooting matches.
Big Spring Shooting Range
Hwy 79 Blountsville AL
(256)609-2405
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054343166194
Hours: Open 7 days a week 9 - 5. Closed all holidays.
Amenities: One 30 yard pistol range and one 350 yard rifle range. Pics indicate both are covered and in good shape. Steel plates are on both the pistol and rifle ranges with plates every 50 yards on the rifle range.
Fees: $150 a year, family deal.
Notes: Golf cart provided to check your targets. Range is staffed and supervised. Many positive online reviews.
And now for the State's Free Ranges.
Alabama and the Federal Government fund several public use free shooting ranges and locates them on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA's). Entry and use requires a valid hunting or fishing license in your possession. All the ranges are maintained and occasionally monitored by possum police. Target stands are not always provided, restrooms are not guaranteed, and some pretty sketchy shenanigans are reported from time to time. Many go and swear to never return, not because of the facilities but because of the people's actions using them. None have full time staff to control safety and address issues. With that said, here are the ones around our area...
Hurricane Creek Shooting Range
Bankhead National Forest
205-489-5111
National Forests in Alabama - Hurricane Creek Shooting Range (usda.gov)
Hours: 7 am - 10 pm 7 days a week.
Amenities: 25, 50, and 100 yard ranges, restroom.
Fee: $3 a carload park fee plus hunting / fishing license required.
Notes: none of pics show any protective structures.
Swan Creek Shooting Range
18936 Harris Station Road, Tanner, AL 35671
There is no telephone at the Swan Creek Range itself.
Swan Creek WMA Shooting Range | Outdoor Alabama
Hours: Closed November 19, 2022 - February 5, 2023 (hunting season), Closed Mondays and Tuesdays,
Open: Summer Hours (April – September) Wednesday - Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Winter Hours (October – March) (Closed during dates of open duck season as noted above) Wednesday – Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Amenities: The Swan Creek WMA Shooting Range provides shooting opportunities at distances up to 100 yards. There are four ranges (25, 50, 100 yards) located side by side with a dividing berm to allow shooters to go down range independently of each other. An area to shoot shotguns at clay targets is located to the north of the 100 yard rifle range. All ranges are wheelchair accessible and have concrete walkways for downrange access to the target lines.
Fees: Valid hunting / fishing license required
Notes: As far as WMA ranges go, Swan Creek is one of the better ones. The only negative is the closure during hunting season, (when you would want to use the range for sight-in purposes).
Cahaba River WMA Shooting Range
Coalmont Road, Helena AL 35080
There is no phone at the range.
Cahaba River WMA Shooting Range | Outdoor Alabama
Hours: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open Summer Hours (April – September) Wednesday - Sunday 8 AM to 6 PM Winter Hours (October – March) Wednesday – Sunday 8 AM to 4 PM
Amenities: The Cahaba River WMA Shooting Range provides shooting opportunities at distances of 25, 50 and 100 yards. A shotgun range for shooting at clay targets is located east of the rifle range and is on the left side of the gravel road as you drive into the rifle range. The rifle range is wheelchair accessible and has a concrete walkway for downrange access to the target line.
Fees: Valid hunting / fishing license required.
Notes: Range also closes without notice when gas wells in the area are being serviced. Gas wells surround the facility. See aerial pic below.
Etowah Owls Hollow Shooting Range
8302 Owls Hollow Rd Gadsden, AL 35901
There is no phone at this range.
Etowah Public Shooting Range | Outdoor Alabama
Hours: Daylight hours only.
Amenities: The Etowah Public Shooting Range provides shooting opportunities at distances up to 200 yards. There are four ranges (25, 50, 100 and 200 yards) located side by side with a divding berm to allow shooters to go down range independently of each other. A small concrete pad to shoot shotguns at clay targets is located to the south of the 25 yard pistol range. All ranges are wheelchair accessible and have concrete walkways for downrange access to the target lines.
Fees: Valid hunting / fishing license required.
Notes: One of the larger WMA ranges.
And that's all folks!
I hope this comprehensive list has given you the info you were looking for. Of course, I hope you decide that the FOP Range in Pleasant Grove best fits your needs, is conveniently located just 15 minutes from the 59/65 interchange, and fits your budget.
None of the ranges have anything like what we provide at the FOP Range... such as a huge pistol steel plate range, a dedicated 22LR only range, or the hundreds of steel plates we maintain for our members. One other thing we do for our members is sell ammo at wholesale, for about what we pay for it, making your time at the range even more affordable. We work hard to provide our members with a place to shoot they will be proud to belong to.
As you can see, some of these ranges cost substantially more than others and all are not created equal. When you get serious about deciding which one near you to go with, be sure to study their guest policies, rules and regulations, restrictions, firearm transfer fees, and online reviews.
If we can help you, give us a call 205-744-2600.