The Next Generation of Super Gun Ranges

By John Farnam

Nuxus Range, Davie, FL
The Next Generation of Super Gun Ranges IMG : Nexus Range, Davie, FL
Defense Training International, Inc
Defense Training International, Inc

Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- Super Ranges:

The trend in indoor ranges today is the “Super Range” Three I’m familiar with are:

There are doubtless more that I haven’t yet visited, and I apologize in advance for not mentioning them by name.

These are upscale, modern indoor range complexes, combined with attractive retail sales areas, that are bright, well-staffed, well laid-out, and designed to attract upscale clients, particularly women.

Jeff Gonzales
Jeff Gonzales : The Range in Austin, TX

Ranges themselves are bright and well ventilated, with individual controls at each booth. Booths are spacious. A host of pre-set training programs are available at a touch.

At the LFI Range in Colorado, there is a 100-yard indoor rifle range, with video cameras at distance, so shooters can see their bullet placement without having to retrieve the target itself.

At The Range in Austin, TX, Jeff Gonzales is head of the Training Division and lends considerable credibility to the facility.

All have a heavy emphasis on tactical guns and gear, so they can be seen as a resource for Operators and a local gathering point for serious practitioners of the Art.

The former business model for indoor ranges was similar to the old business model for casinos. Casino restaurants used to be little more than a concession. It was a way to get customers through the door and walking past slot machines. That has all changed! Today, casino restaurants are nice, but expensive. Casino restaurants are expected to be profitable, just like gaming operations.

Likewise, indoor ranges used to be merely a way to get people through the gunshop door and interested in buying guns and accessories. Ranges themselves were often dingy, cramped, dungeon-like, poorly-maintained, poorly supervised, and poorly venerated. Clearly little more than an afterthought. and unattractive to all but the heavily dedicated!

By contrast, these new ranges are bright, attractive, modern, and well-maintained, but shooting on one is expensive.

Memberships are expensive. These facilities represent enormous investments by their owners, in addition to substantial overhead, and owners are trying to attract mostly upper, middle-class customers.

Liberty Firearms Institute, CO
The Retail floor, at Liberty Firearms Institute, CO

Accessories still have the highest mark-up. Mark-up on guns is a good deal less. Mark-up on range use is less than that, but everything still must be profitable, or the front door will not remain open for long!

These super-ranges are leading the way forward for our industry, and we all need to support them. They are attracting new people to our Art and thus protecting the cadre of American citizens who support our Second Amendment.

It a good thing!

/John

About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent and unlawful lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance, if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or inactions.

It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com

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Jim

Nexus range, have you considered creating a range in Las Vegas, nv?

BamaBubbleHead

CMP or Civilian Marksmanship Program says it all with their range in Talladega Alabama.

Randy Dellis

Fort Worth, Texas is home to a large well maintained range called Defender Outdoors. With six eighty four yard rifle lanes with cameras at the end also allow shooters to see their target without retrieval, and multiple pistol lanes. Range rates are reduced by 50% for law enforcement, fire fighters, first responders, military, and veterans. For non-shooters a large well lighted lounge with multiple TVs is available while waiting for their “shooters” to finish. Very well run and Range Officers are very good.

Bewater

Ann Arbor Arms in well….Ann Arbor, MI is another “upscale” indoor range/retail/optional membership levels originization. Great staff, a large majority of which are Veterans. Gone are the days of poorly lit gun shops with cranky staff who treat questions as annoyances, and your lack of experience opportunity to sell you anything. Despite the buyers needs. This emerging business model is a refreshing, if not critical, step forward in the evolution towards “mainstream acceptance”, with the goal being education, not “They look scary and that media guy said shooting one was scary and gave him the PTS thingy. Guns are killers… Read more »

Wwalker

San Diego county is lucky to have two. Poway weapons and gear range is a fantastic. Iron Sights is also a great choice. Both have rentals of handguns. Iron Sights also has a huge slection of rifles mostly “black” of course. Poway has been open for about two years and is State of the art with monitors and programmable traing routines available on some lanes. They also cater to events especially corporate events and birthday parties Ect. Both are spendy!!! Iron sights only allows range and ammunition purchased their and if you don’t bring your own weapon two or more… Read more »

Dr Dave

The reason for two to rent is so someone who knows nothing about guns doesn’t come in rent a gun and commit suicide on the spot
The assumption is if one is going to commit suicide that their buddy either won’t allow it or will try to notify someone
Our range here in Orlando does the same thing

Ben Doerr

Thanks Dr. Dave, even at 56 I had no earthly idea what the Objective of that rule was. Thanks for the heads up. That’s SAD

james

We are fortunate to have a nice new state of the art indoor range here in Raleigh, NC,
Triangle Shooting Academy, in Charlotte, NC we have Point Blank Range.

If you are in NJ – NYC Metro, check out Gun for Hire.

Ben Doerr

Elite Shooting Sports in Gainesville Virginia is now just a little over 2 years old and is also a Super Range that does everything right. Beautiful, well lit, well ventilated. Their staff is courteous and seem to really enjoy their jobs. Great rates on yearly memberships too.

Ted Eng

“…and poorly venerated.”

JoeUSooner

Oklahoma City’s new Wilshire Range is an excellent example of the trend in “Super” ranges. I joined a couple of months ago, and found it to be technologically advanced, affordable, and staffed with terrific people. I hope to see this trend continue, in a lot of cities.