First Visit To AFS

[jason1029]

Hi Everyone:

I just so happen to be out in the Attleboro area today for work so I took a ride over to AFS to see about checking out their facility and getting a little time in. I checked the web and they said it was reserved in the morning but open to the general public after 1:00pm. I got there just a little after one and was surprised at how many people were waiting to get on to the range. Most of them had rifles and a few had both handguns and rifles. whoever researved the range until one went about 45 minutes over their time I believe because they did not get the line moving until about then.

I recently got my license and have a Glock on loan from my brother and never been to any formal shooting range. It's a pretty smooth operation as long as everyone knows the rules I guess. I have shot many times in Vermont where my family is from and with friends when I visit but like I said never at a range. I think I did pretty good for myself first time out.

I managed to get in about a half hour of time before I used up one box of ammunition and decided I had better get back to work. I hope now that I have my Class A that my work will have me near there more frequently.

I am sure others have been to AFS... Anyone have any comments on them?

Thanks!

 

[Stratocaster1422]

There's a few threads about them already for you do a quick search. I went there before I joined a private club. In the winter, it's tough to get time during normal hours. I would go from 7-9pm on a weeknight and it was pretty quiet and the douchbaggery was kept to a minimum. If you go on a weekend, get there as they open or you could be waiting for an hour or more. Wait times are the worst in the winter. I do like to go when I have a newbie that wants to rent a bunch of different stuff to try out many types of guns, my arsenal is somewhat limited.

 

[Keystone]

I went there before purchasing a gun/joining a club. Prices seemed rather high, they gave my girlfriend and I a shared lane despite us asking for separate lanes (and they had them open at that point), then charged us two hours each even though we were there like 1.25. They seemed friendly enough, otherwise. I didn't return because MFLR was a hair closer and slightly cheaper...and you could look at all the non-MA friendly pretties. The folks shooting rifles there were LOUD, especially the guy in the lane next to me with an AR. Started wearing both foamies and muffs on indoor ranges...

I didn't take any classes there, perhaps I'd have a better experience with those.

To each his own.

 

[Make It In Mass]

I took my Massachusetts Basic Firearms Class there a few years ago, a good experience. I'm a member, and also belong to a private club. I was there that same day after work and they were still backed up with the reserved lanes. The following day was indicated as partially closed on the schedule, I hope they are doing lane maintenance. Several lanes were down, and the one they gave me quit mid-session.

Members can now reserve lanes on the weekend, which is a benefit. I generally avoid the place on the weekends, even during the winter when I don't shoot outdoors. After work is my preferred time, as most of the unlicensed crowd is off doing other things. Except for last Tuesday, where six knuckleheads were sharing the lane next to me, renting everything they had out front, big revolvers, an AR15, a shotgun, etc. I always double-up with muffs and plugs, you never know who will end up next door.

 

[Tim94gt]

I've been there a few times, I liked it. The first time I went they had me and two friends share 1 lane which sucked but we were only charged $20. The second time they charged $20 per person and still would only give 1 lane.
I did notice a lot of new shooters there, that should have had more supervision but it is not my establishment. I also found out that people do not like it when I shoot an AR inside, its LOUD. I managed to piss off a few guys that forgot their tampons, but for the most part the people were Ok.

 

[Loyalist]

I've been a member there for a year and just renewed for another year. When I'm in between contracts I can go weekday mornings during the wintertime and I've never had to wait (I think I went 5x last year)...I usually bring a friend with me as a guest which as a member they give you 3 guest passes. I also saved 50% of their Basic Firearms Safety Course and used it to apply for my ME non-res CCW permit.

 

[ChevyGuy91]

Its been hit or miss there for me. I have been there 3 times this year. The first time, I was rather disappointed with the general attitude of the employees, bunch of prima donnas as far as I was concerned. The second time was great. The place was empty, everyone was very professional, shot way longer then an hour and didn't get charged for it. The third time I went, there were a few D-bag's acting like retarded gangbangers while I was trying to zero a few 10/22's for an Appleseed. That last time, we were actually told our time was up and had to leave. So I guess one out of three ain't bad.

 

[TonyDedo]

The guys at AFS have always been really good to me - about once a year I host a "newbie shoot," and I'll bring 15-30 new shooters now for the morning, and the guys there have always been helpful and obliging. We're probably the ones who were on the line an extra 45 minutes and kept Jason1029 waiting.

AFS has without a doubt the nicest facility in the area - not just the range, but the classroom, lounge, cleaning room are all top notch.

There's always going to be a douchebag factor with any public range, and I don’t like how little AFS does in terms of safety briefings or oversight before they let unlicensed shooters on the range (this isn't just AFS - I pretty much have the same complaint for every public range I've been to).

The other downside is crowds and price - it's both crowded and expensive. Not a practical choice for a shooter with his own gun, but a great option if you want to try out a couple rentals, bring a guest and not have to front the ammo, or your guest load exceeds your private club's guest policy..

 

[james13]

I've been a member at AFS for about a year and a half and in general I've never really had a problem there, but I try to shoot when the crowds are sparse. One or two of the employees are very active in monitoring the range and will reprimand incorrect/unsafe actions and offer tips, but like others have observed most of time the guys working stay out in the front and are not seen on the line.

The club is understandably busy in the cold weather and wait times can run over an hour on weekends. They have also significantly increased the cost of their ammo in the time that I have been a member. However unlike most indoor ranges in the area there are really no caliber restrictions or the need to use frangible rounds.

 

[jason1029]

Great input guys... I don't really have much to compare the range to as I am mostly a beginner and did all my other shooting in the back yards of family and friends in VT but as I am now officially licensed in MA and deciding what would be the best private club for my needs I plan on using AFS or trying to get to Bob's in Salisbury when I am in those areas as they are both just over an hour away from me. I did read something the other day about a range opening in Leominster this spring which would be closer and more convienient for me.