Range fees????

[squirt]

I am trying to understand the logic in paying range fees AFTER paying yearly dues.

Do all ranges follow the same rules and ask you to pay x-amount per visit? So if yearly dues are one hundred and fifty dollars, and the per visit fees are three dollars per. If I visit the range 100 times that year, I would have paid an additional THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS to the range. If I take the wife and we visit together 100 times, we would have paid an additional 900 dollars ON TOP of the yearly dues.

I am really just trying to understand why bother if it is going to cost OVER 500 dollars for the range in a year?

 

[lord1234]

as far as i know most clubs charge a initiation fee(first year) and then membership dues. No range fees on top of that.

 

[jdubois]

as far as i know most clubs charge a initiation fee(first year) and then membership dues. No range fees on top of that.

Right. The only place I know of that charges an (optional) membership fee and then (reduced) range fees is Manchester Firing Line. Who are you talking about, squirt?

 

[Big_Red]

Do all ranges follow the same rules and ask you to pay x-amount per visit?

Not the clubs I belong to.

 

[JonJ]

I'm a member at Plymouth R&G. In addition to the yearly dues there are range fees. $2 for members, $6 per guest.

 

[terraformer]

Most places with ROs charge for guests, and just about everywhere charges on the trap/skeet fields but these are not range fees per se, but fees for the materials (clays) when they provide them (places with launchers and no clays don't charge).

 

[squirt]

Right. The only place I know of that charges an (optional) membership fee and then (reduced) range fees is Manchester Firing Line. Who are you talking about, squirt?

As JonJ has stated, Plymouth Rod and Gun does this. The wife and I expect to make at least 100 trips to the range this year, which means an additional 800 DOLLARS.

I think that although I am only five minutes away from Plymouth Rod and Gun, I may have to look elsewhere. Hanson Rod and Gun is approximately 15 minutes away and may be an option.

 

[houdini]

try to find a club that meets your needs my club just a menbership and goal member. we have events to shoot that coast momey to cover there expense.and we have an indoor range for pistol that 24/7.

 

[lord1234]

yea, find another club

 

[KMaurer]

While it's harder to make the distinction, since the clubs of which I've been a member don't charge extra for range time, all of them treat family members essentially the same as members, not as guests. The only difference is that they can't use the facilities on their own, but have to be there with you.

Ken

 

[Len-2A Training]

While it's harder to make the distinction, since the clubs of which I've been a member don't charge extra for range time, all of them treat family members essentially the same as members, not as guests. The only difference is that they can't use the facilities on their own, but have to be there with you.

Ken

. . . and some like Braintree R&P and Mansfield F&G allow the spouse to join as a Family member for very short money (BR&P is $25/yr for Spouse, I think that Mansfield F&G may be the same). In those cases, the Spouse gets a cardkey/membership card/key/badge/whatever and can use the facilities on their own.

 

[squirt]

. . . and some like Braintree R&P and Mansfield F&G allow the spouse to join as a Family member for very short money (BR&P is $25/yr for Spouse, I think that Mansfield F&G may be the same). In those cases, the Spouse gets a cardkey/membership card/key/badge/whatever and can use the facilities on their own.

just so that there is no confusion, that family member would need to have an LTC or FID as well!!!! otherwise how could they legally transport a firearm to that range on their own?

 

[jar]

just so that there is no confusion, that family member would need to have an LTC or FID as well!!!! otherwise how could they legally transport a firearm to that range on their own?

Correct.

IIRC at Westford spouses are half price and initiation is waived. Ken will probably correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Ray-500]

While it's harder to make the distinction, since the clubs of which I've been a member don't charge extra for range time, all of them treat family members essentially the same as members, not as guests. The only difference is that they can't use the facilities on their own, but have to be there with you.

Ken

Same with my club. My wife can come in with me (no fee), but I cannot shoot while she is shooting, (must supervise) and she cannot shoot anything above my qualification. Given .45, that's no problem. Her .22 and .38 will pose no problems.

 

[Manomet]

I was going to join Plymouth for summer use but it was way to expensive . Let me know how Hanson works out.

 

[Cuz]

Why not attend one of the club's monthly meetings and bring the subject up for a vote? Explain it just the way you did here and say it's just too expensive to actually use the club facilities. Maybe you could suggest some kind of frequent user pass that costs a flat $50 and allows you unlimited uses for a year? Or something similar, you have to be creative. Or, start your five year plan now by joining and becoming active at the club and get yourself elected to the board and change the rules? That may be a longer term plan than you want, but I have seen it done.
-Cuz.

 

[squirt]

Why not attend one of the club's monthly meetings and bring the subject up for a vote? Explain it just the way you did here and say it's just too expensive to actually use the club facilities. Maybe you could suggest some kind of frequent user pass that costs a flat $50 and allows you unlimited uses for a year? Or something similar, you have to be creative. Or, start your five year plan now by joining and becoming active at the club and get yourself elected to the board and change the rules? That may be a longer term plan than you want, but I have seen it done.
-Cuz.

I would think that the current members would have thought about this issue well before now. I would think that anyone whom uses the range enough would realize the increased expense due to range fees.

I will be attending their meeting Monday night, I hope that I will not get my butt kicked by posing this question.

 

[eisenhow]

IIRC at Westford spouses are half price and initiation is waived. Ken will probably correct me if I'm wrong.

That's correct. I've got to get my wife started on the joining process.

 

[Len-2A Training]

just so that there is no confusion, that family member would need to have an LTC or FID as well!!!! otherwise how could they legally transport a firearm to that range on their own?

I would hope that most would see this as a "given" due to MGLs in the matter of possession of guns/ammo/hi-cap mags. W/o an FID/LTC you can't do much at a gun club! BR&P (and I think MF&G too, but not certain) won't give you a cardkey/key until you produce an FID/LTC and that goes for everyone attempting to become a member.

 

[Cuz]

I would think that the current members would have thought about this issue well before now. I would think that anyone whom uses the range enough would realize the increased expense due to range fees.
--
I will be attending their meeting Monday night, I hope that I will not get my butt kicked by posing this question.

You'd be surprised, many members only use the range 2 or 3 times a year so they don't care. When you explain that because you live so close you plan to make frequent shorter trips when ever you want and their "per visit" fee plan just isn't practical you may get them to at least consider other options. Since you live close by, maybe you could offer to volunteer to help out in some way in exchange for free visits. Perhaps you could offer to empty the trash when you're at the range in exchange for free range visits. While my club does not charge per visit, I do know that most clubs need help and may be willing to consider options. Your best bet may be the $25 or $50 range pass because it gets the club a chunk of money up front and gets you unlimited visits for a year.

Good luck,
-Cuz.