Gun Club Recommendations Springfield area

[HorizontalHunter]

My wife and I live in the greater Springfield area and are looking for a new gun club. This is what we are looking for in a club:

The club must be female friendly.

Able to shoot rifle, shotgun (skeet and slugs), ML, and pistol.
Guests welcome so that I could take the nephews and nieces once in awhile to plink with the .22.
No stupid (IMO) kid age/caliber restrictions.

Thank you for your recommendations.

Bob

 

[RichM]

Springfield Sportsmans Club in Monson fits those bills nicely.

Agawam Revolver Club has a nice indoor range, but a small (and short) outdoor rifle range, with a shotgun range, but I don't think they're set up for much organized shotgun (trap, skeet). Indoor range allows 24-hr access.

Chicopee Sportsmans Club in Granby has excellent facilties, but they have (and I recently heard that they're increasing) very onerous rules regarding visitors and children shooting. They also have a very nice archery set-up.

Fairview Sportsmans Club in Granby also has decent facilities: plinking handgun range, 300-yd rifle range, and skeet / trap. Liberal visitors policy.

Ludlow Fish & Game has a nice indoor range and a very vigerous trap and skeet membership, but no rifle range. Visitor rules are fairly strict (once a month on a designated day).

Springfield Sportsmans Club has a 300 yd rifle range, a 100 yd rifle / shotgun / handgun range, 3 action pits for handguns, and a very extensive skeet / trap range separated from the other ranges. They also have a private, stocked game preserve with pheasant, grouse, chukars, etc. Very liberal visitors policy ($5/visitor), anytime.


I'm a member at Ludlow F&G and Springfield Sportsmans Club.

 

[HorizontalHunter]

Chicopee Sportsmans Club in Granby has excellent facilties, but they have (and I recently heard that they're increasing) very onerous rules regarding visitors and children shooting. They also have a very nice archery set-up.

Thank you Rich for the information. My wife and I will have to go look at the clubs you suggested.

The new onerous rules are why I am shopping for a new club. They never said a word and just "slipped" them in on the renewal application. I hope the members read the applications before the sign them and send in a check. This is the reason I left the Westfield club. It seems like it is a freaking epidemic.

These are the new rules on the membership application:

Long Guns (Rifles and shotguns):

Minimum age to shoot: 8 years

Caliber/Gauge Restrictions:
8 to 12 years old: 22 Rim fire/410 only. Must be under the direct supervision of a properly licensed (FID or LTC) parent or legal guardian. Only one gun between them allowed at the shooting position.

13 to 14 years old: May shoot larger caliber rifles and larger gauge shotguns, but must also be under the direct supervision of a properly licensed (FID or LTC) parent or legal guardian with only one gun between them allowed at the shooting position.

15 to 18 years old: May own gun if he/she is properly licensed (FID) (Hunter Safety) and strictly complies with all Range Safety Rules.

Hand Guns:

Minimum age to shoot: 12 years

Caliber/Gauge Restrictions:
12 to 15 years old: 22 rim fire only. Must be under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian who is properly licensed (Class A or B LTC) with only one gun between them allowed at the shooting position .

16 to 20 years old: May fire larger caliber handguns under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian who is properly licensed (Class A or B LTC) with only one gun between them allowed at the shooting position

15 to 18 years old: May own gun if he/she is properly licensed (FID) (Hunter Safety) and strictly complies with all Range Safety Rules.

The funny thing is that I do not have any kids and these inane rules do not apply to me but I can't be part of a club that does not support getting our youngsters involved at an early age. If we don't introduce our children to shooting at a young age many will be lost to the shooting sports forever; as will their votes.

Some day I may be forced to be a member of a club with these restrictions but not while there are other options.

Once again, thanks for the info Rich,

Bob

 

[RichM]

This part of their rules killed them for me:

Chicopee Sportsmans Club Rules:

Members may bring guest once to the club grounds. However, guests are not allowed to fish or discharge firearms or arrows. A member must ac-company guest at all times.

[Emphases THEIRS, not mine!]

 

[wildwest]

I've been looking for a club myself.. live in the 'Hilltowns' with Southampton and Westfield clubs being closest. Been shooting on private property since I got my LTC in October but would like to belong to a club with an indoor range and decent outdoor range. Working in Holyoke I've thought of Chicopee as well...decisions decision!

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[Ol Doc]

I've been looking for a club myself.. live in the 'Hilltowns' with Southampton and Westfield clubs being closest. Been shooting on private property since I got my LTC in October but would like to belong to a club with an indoor range and decent outdoor range. Working in Holyoke I've thought of Chicopee as well...decisions decision!

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I too live in the Hilltowns and belong to both Agawam Revolver Club and Hartford Gun Club (in East Granby). PM me if you'd like to visit them as my guest. Also have belonged to Easthampton R&G but mostly shot night skeet there (their handgun range leaves a lot to be desired).

 

[wildwest]

I too live in the Hilltowns and belong to both Agawam Revolver Club and Hartford Gun Club (in East Granby). PM me if you'd like to visit them as my guest. Also have belonged to Easthampton R&G but mostly shot night skeet there (their handgun range leaves a lot to be desired).

Thanks for the offer I just may take you up on it! CT is too far away where I wouldn't head that way often. Agawam may work... outside of my job I travel East to the Worcester area often.

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[Snow]

Some of my family belongs to Agawam, and it has a more-than-adequate pistol range and liberal guest rules, but shotgun/rifle seems to be a bit wanting, and I've never gotten any feeling of it being a "club" and more just a range. Depending on what you're looking for that may or may not be important.