Pemigewasset Fish and Game - "The Pemi" in Holderness, NH
Sorry to bump an old thread, but, I wanted to chime in on the Pemi, and give my review of sorts. I'm a very proud and happy Pemi member, going on my fourth year this year. I live in Providence, and it's 2.5 hours from my house.
I absolutely LOVE IT at the club. I was there for ten hours yesterday, and stayed overnight in Manchester last night. I just got back home a couple of hours ago, and it made me think of making a post here.
Some background... I got my first guns, rifles, in early spring of 2013, during the "Obama rush". I then did some looking around to find an adequate outdoor (covered) range with low membership dues. I've found I'm not much of a fan of indoor ranges, due, in large part, to restrictions on what can be fired inside. There are some clubs here in RI with outdoor ranges, but from what I gather, they're not easy to get into, and they're not inexpensive. I think there's a state-run .22-only range here, too. Because I primarily fire an AK and AR, going to CT or MA was out of the question for me.
I said, OK, southern Maine, or NH. I came across the Pemi online, and joined. I did the "me plus one" for my girl and I for $40/year with the $5/day range fee. A total steal. Almost too good to be true. There are one-day memberships available for guests - when accompanied by a member only - at $10 per person, the day of, as you sign in. Another total deal. Each year I toss in a little extra cash to the club, either when I renew, or as I go, I'll toss an extra couple bucks in with my daily $5 range fee. It's totally worth it.
When I get to go up during the week, I usually have the whole place to myself, which is phenomenal. Weekends tend to be busy with events, and for the first half of the day there may be a wait to shoot at the covered ranges. This typically subsides mid-afternoon, though, and the place clears out.
As you'd expect for the price, not much besides access to the range is included in your membership, but there are well-built benches with built in seats to shoot sitting down. This is a great, as I have "bodily structural issues" and have issues standing for any length of time. When I had first joined the club, as someone mentioned, the Pemi used to use and provided a strange "wire based" hanging target stand system which has since been eliminated. Now, occasionally you'll find a stand base someone's left there that'll accommodate 1x2's or the like. Even if there isn't anything there, Stand bases aren't expensive to buy/build these days and just bring. There is no power, running water, and very little (if any) cell service. The way it should be, right? There is, however, a porta-toilet (and plenty of woods for us guys)
As soon as you drive up past the gate to the range, the 200 yard (and longer, I hear) range is in front of you. Down to the right, there's a 50 yard covered range on one side, 100 yard on the other, and each accommodates 6-ish people at any given time. I generally shoot on the 50 yard range, and it's very cozy. Even if the weather's awful, the range is covered, so the only bummer is going down range and back to get your targets, and it's a minor price to pay. Be advised, though, the bugs tend to be brutal, all the time. But hey, it's the great outdoors. Bring your Deep Woods OFF! Check.
The club's open 8 AM to sunset. If I embark from my place on the red-eye during the week and aim to get up there for 8, the traffic is minimal. It's a beautiful ride. Once you're through Mass
![[smile]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/001.gif "Smile [smile]")
Generally, there are no range officers on duty. I really prefer to either shoot alone anyhow, or with a friend or two. Better concentration, more relaxation.
![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
Everyone I've met at the club has been absolutely awesome. I've encountered two or three of the guys who run the place and they're all great, as well. Very forthcoming, very nice. I've fired probably 30 different firearms other shooters there owned, when they've offered. A neat benefit of being a member of a shooting range, that's for sure. There are very few restrictions on what types of ammunition you can fire there, which is also great. The only one that sticks out to me right now is no tracer rounds, for obvious reason.
For someone like myself, the club is absolutely perfect, it's in a beautiful area. Each visit is like a mini-vacation for me. This time of year I tend to go up at least once a week, and when I'm not there, I'm wishing I was there.
Yeah, the Pemi gets an A+ from me. I just wish it was, say, in Johnston, RI, a town away
What you see in the picture is the benches at the 50 yard range, and a glamour shot of (from the front) - my Ruger 10/22, a Mossberg MMR Tactical 5.56, and a Romanian M&M M10-762 AK.
