Project Appleseed

Your Appleseed State Board => Illinois => Topic started by: ItsanSKS on September 12, 2012, 08:50:51 PM

Title: Full-Distance ranges in your state?
Post by: ItsanSKS on September 12, 2012, 08:50:51 PM
To all Appleseeders:

Trying to pull together the current Appleseed venues that offer distances in excess of 300 yards.  If your state has one, please respond to this thread with the range name*, maximum distance available, and the number of shooters that it can accommodate at one time. 
*= Please list the range name as it appears on eventbrite

Thank you for your prompt attention,

-ItsanSKS
Title: Re: Full-Distance ranges in your state?
Post by: Prairie Eagle on September 13, 2012, 10:42:46 AM
The Waterman, IL (Aurora Sportsmans Club) facility has a 600 yard range. Appleseed has used it in the past for 200 yard KD, there may be special arrangements needed as even club members need to be 600 yard certified to shoot at that distance (or at all) on the 600 yd range. I would estimate its shooter capacity at approximately 75 on a standard line.
Title: Re: Full-Distance ranges in your state?
Post by: 2 clicks low on September 13, 2012, 11:34:06 AM
I'm not a member of ASC but I've read their rules requiring ALL users of the 600 to be voting members and certified.

They have been reluctant to issue an exemption.

What I think we need is a couple of members of ASC to approach the board. Maybe we could find a couple of Seeders who are also range RSO's or qualified to certify members to use the 600?

2cl
Title: Re: Full-Distance ranges in your state?
Post by: Prairie Eagle on September 14, 2012, 12:11:19 PM
Quote from: 2 clicks low on September 13, 2012, 11:34:06 AM
I'm not a member of ASC but I've read their rules requiring ALL users of the 600 to be voting members and certified.

They have been reluctant to issue an exemption.

What I think we need is a couple of members of ASC to approach the board. Maybe we could find a couple of Seeders who are also range RSO's or qualified to certify members to use the 600?

2cl

Yes ASC rules require all shooters on the 600 to be both members and certified on the 600. A member may not, for example bring a friend as a guest and have them shoot with them.

As I understand it special considerations can be made. During 3rd party shoot (i.e. Appleseed) the RSO on duty can grant permission to a group to move to another range if conditions permit, and I believe this includes the 600 and is how AS has on occasion used it for KD. Additionally, and probably the preferred route is in advance of an event a member can seek board approval to utilize the 600 for an upcoming event so that it is scheduled from the start on that range.

As a voting ASC member, seeder, 600 yard certified, and RSO myself, I'd be happy to approach the board seeking that approval if there was an appleseed event that could benefit from it. I know there are at least a few other appleseed instructors (George63, Karl) that could help with the case as well.
Title: Re: Full-Distance ranges in your state?
Post by: 2 clicks low on September 14, 2012, 01:26:26 PM
If you could approach the board that would be great.

Let's start out small and ask for the 600 for a one day instructor only KD class.

If it will help we can include any interested club certified 600yd. shooters.

After 1 or 2 of these we can then up the ante and ask to include students who have shot rifleman. Then full 2 day KD classes.

2cl
Title: Re: Full-Distance ranges in your state?
Post by: OutaAmmo on September 14, 2012, 03:14:38 PM
Other ranges in Illinois that are used by the Illinois High Power shooters

Barry             600 yds
Milan             600 yds
New Winsor  1000 yds


http://www.illinoishighpower.org/ranges/Barry/barry.htm
http://www.illinoishighpower.org/ranges/milan_rifle_club/milan.htm
http://www.illinoishighpower.org/ranges/rivoli/rivoli.htm

Also Effingham I believe has a 400 or 500 range.  I have only shot at Milan which is a really nice range with pits.
Title: Re: Full-Distance ranges in your state?
Post by: olefido on September 22, 2012, 08:44:56 PM
There has been talk of putting in a 1000 yard range at the Sparta World Shooting Complex by the Illinois National Guard for sniper training. Don't know what the status of that project is with the draw down going on currently in the ops tempo. Also, don't know if it will be open to the public although I would not see it as a problem with IDNR to use it.
Title: Re: Full-Distance ranges in your state?
Post by: George63 on September 23, 2012, 03:05:14 PM
Quote from: 2 clicks low on September 14, 2012, 01:26:26 PM
If you could approach the board that would be great.

Let's start out small and ask for the 600 for a one day instructor only KD class.

If it will help we can include any interested club certified 600yd. shooters.

After 1 or 2 of these we can then up the ante and ask to include students who have shot rifleman. Then full 2 day KD classes.

2cl


IMO opening up the 600 yd range to the public is not in the best interest of ASC  - this is a club that is servicing substantial debt and is need of revenue (the best/most stable source of which is increased membership) the facilities to shoot distance is what sets ASC apart from other ranges in the region and potentially makes it the most attractive to join.

Other activities that are open to the public, such as practical rifle drills are attended month after month by non-members for a nominal fee (that will never add up to a membership) not only are the members paying the lions share of the yearly budget but are also doing the thousands of hours of volunteer work yearly that builds/ maintains the facilities and accomplishes all of the necessary administrative work

Absolutely I am in favor of running KD at ASC - under the existing guidelines of certified members

the other issue is closing the 600 yd range on a weekend day so we can have exclusive use - this means that members who joined/payed/travelled to use this range are excluded for the day - not right IMO
Title: Re: Full-Distance ranges in your state?
Post by: Prairie Eagle on September 24, 2012, 05:17:48 PM
Quote from: George63 on September 23, 2012, 03:05:14 PM

IMO opening up the 600 yd range to the public is not in the best interest of ASC  - this is a club that is servicing substantial debt and is need of revenue (the best/most stable source of which is increased membership) the facilities to shoot distance is what sets ASC apart from other ranges in the region and potentially makes it the most attractive to join.

Other activities that are open to the public, such as practical rifle drills are attended month after month by non-members for a nominal fee (that will never add up to a membership) not only are the members paying the lions share of the yearly budget but are also doing the thousands of hours of volunteer work yearly that builds/ maintains the facilities and accomplishes all of the necessary administrative work

Absolutely I am in favor of running KD at ASC - under the existing guidelines of certified members

the other issue is closing the 600 yd range on a weekend day so we can have exclusive use - this means that members who joined/payed/travelled to use this range are excluded for the day - not right IMO

George63 I agree with, and see your point in many aspects. The 600 is a big draw of new members at a club that needs them and that should not be forgotten or discounted. I go to so many great public events at ASC (AS, CMP, Practical Rifle, skills drills, other) that sometimes I think one could go 2 days of every weekend through out the year and never become a member, which in that instance isn't fair to the range (or members) IMO. I see some of the same faces at these time and time again and wonder why they don't become members. I love that there are many public events at ASC it allows a lot of people to see all the range has to offer and hopefully get some to become members along the way.

Maybe one of the ways to address it would be limit the amount of public shooting letting people get a taste but not be gluttons. Maybe only allowing a very limited number of public long range events (i.e. one or two a year), or limit the number of public events that a given shooter can attend in one year. Regardless I think priority should be given first to club members that want to attend those events.

To be honest I don't know the answer as I find myself torn a bit between my support of the club and my support of Appleseed.