Looking to join a gun club in MA.

[KennyLoggins]

Hey Guys, I'm looking to join a gun club in eastern MA. I live in Somerville, work in Lexington, and though proximity isn't the end-all-be-all it would be nice not to have to spend a lot of time driving. I'm trying to get involved in competitive clay busting and Minuteman in Burlington seems like the best choice for that. However, Minuteman is shotgun-only and I was wondering if anyone has any first hand information on the number of clubs in the area that have trap fields in addition to pistol ranges. I prefer shotgun sports but I think joining two ranges is overkill. What are the good clubs and which clubs should I stay away from? I've only had my license in MA for a month or so and I've never been a member anywhere. Any first hand experience or suggestions are welcome and would be a huge help!

 

[M1911]

A lot of us belong to more than one gun club.

Woburn Sportsmen's in Bedford has an active trap program. They also have rifle and pistol ranges. In the past their range rules pretty much prohibited practicing defense pistol shooting (no drawing from a holster, etc.). They may have improved that as they now have an active IDPA program.

Hopkinton Sportsmen's Association is further away, but accessible from the Mass Pike to 495. They have great rifle and pistol ranges and also an active shotgun program. You can draw from a holster.

Harvard Sportsmen's Club is out Route 2, just past 495. They have great rifle and pistol ranges and you can draw from a holster. No shotgun program, however.

 

[KennyLoggins]

Thanks for the info.

 

[HiCap]

I belong to Medfield Sportsmans Club in Medfield Ma. Its awesome.

 

[milktree]

I'm a member of Woburn Sportsmen's Association in Bedford, and Mass Rifle Assoc. in Woburn.

Woburn Sportsmen's is much better for outdoor sports, you can use the trap field whenever the sun is up with a manual thrower, they have a 200Y range that doesn't suck, 50Y outdoor pistol range and a 50' indoor pistol range. They also have a really good archery setup, indoor, 3D, and a walking range. Really nice.

Mass Rifle has a 25Y/75' indoor range that is open 24/7 that you can shoot nearly anything in (other than shotguns with shot and .50BMG) It's really nice to be able to go punch holes in targets at 3:00 AM on Christmas. They do trap and 5 stand outdoors, but only when it's scheduled by the club (Sat. and Sun mornings I think) 5 Stand is wicked fun. The only gotcha is that you have to buy the ammo from the club because they require steel shot; so $10 gets you a round of trap or 5 stand, including the ammo. They're rebuilding the indoor air/rimfire range, which should be really nice. However, the 200Y range is limited and kind of annoying, and you need to qualify for the 50Y outdoor range (pistol and rifle)

 

[JimO]

I'm also a member of Woburn Sportsmen and shoot trap there. It's pretty active. We have two trap fields, the indoor and outdoor pistol ranges, a black powder range and 200 yd high power rifle range. Among other times the trap fields are open Saturday 9am to around 1 pm and Sundays from 10 am to around 1 pm. I shoot a couple of rounds of trap most weekends. We also have a fall handicap league and a winter doubles league.

I've been to Minuteman on several occasions, but never shot there. The membership cost is above my budget. That said, if you want to practice shooting specific positions, it's easier there than at Woburn, as we're pretty busy when open. If you'd be interested in shooting a round or two and checking it out PM me and could probably arrange a weekend meet up.

 

[boiler_eng]

I am am member at Andover, its likely a bit out of your way but I shoot trap there every Wednesday. I live in Somerville, but work in Haverhill so its on my way home and kind of half way. If you are interested let me know and we can hit the trap field some time there and also I can show you around the club. Its a good group of guys that shoot over there.

Trap Field (in process of building a second)

Outdoor 100 yrd rifle and 25 yrd pistol (pistol getting moved to its own range and the existing range expanded to 200 yds)

Indoor 50' range open 24/7 minus specific meeting times or team practice sessions.

 

[MisterHappy]

Check out Southborough Rod and Gun Club www.southboroughrodandgun.com

We have active Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays committees. Very inclusive, welcoming club, with monthly pistol, rifle and Trap events. We're a shooting club with plenty of social stuff, too.

PM me for more info. There's at least one NESer that's a Somerville resident, that's an SRGC member.

 

[mike01824]

If Trap is your initial focus with plans to expand into other shooting sports than WSA is it! The Trap activity is VERY active and has all the other major shooting food groups covered as well. Plus the location in reference to Lexington is awesome!

 

[Bigcat]

Check out Holbrook This promo is a couple years old.
The outdoor rifle ranges have been rebuilt, Skeet is up and running and 5 stand is in the works.
We also have 5 trap fields and hold registered shoots.
http://www.hsc1.camp7.org/Aboutus

 

[KennyLoggins]

Thanks to you all!. I've got a lot to think about, I'm going to try and visit a few of the suggested clubs this week.

 

[johnnymac101]

Woburn Sportsman Association is about 25 minutes from Somerville. Great club with lots going on!

 

[mike01824]

Thanks to you all!. I've got a lot to think about, I'm going to try and visit a few of the suggested clubs this week.

Fair warning. Most clubs in MA are private clubs. You're better off arranging with a member here or calling the office number for a tour. You likely wont get a full experience without a tour.

 

[Arto]

Leominstah Sportsmen's is an hour out Rte 2: www.lsa-ma.org
Come on out on a Sunday morning - everything's running then, & you can get a nice "Triple-Bypass" breakfast for ~$6-7

 

[boiler_eng]

Fair warning. Most clubs in MA are private clubs. You're better off arranging with a member here or calling the office number for a tour. You likely wont get a full experience without a tour.

Yeah most are not a "drop by" kind of place. I know Andover is gated with key cards. I would say email membership chair over call because I don't know what hours someone is really around and answering the club phone. (Exception being times like Sunday breakfast at Andover that interested people are encouraged to come, and I know many have specific open to public events)

If you say what club you were interested in might be able to work out an informal tour with a forum member.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[geoguy8]

check out Maynard rod and gun. Everything you're looking for and great people. Im a member, would be glad to help. Check our website for details.....