Riverside gun club

[cad]

I'm a member of NLRG, but recently my fiance and I just bought another house in Hudson, so I'm trying to decide whether I should join Riverside. I know there are some complaints about the smoke, but other than that, is it a good club? It's literally within 2 miles of our new home, so it'd certainly be convenient.
I mainly use the rifle and archery ranges. If there are members that could show me around, I'd certainly show my gratitude with some ammo, few beers, etc. If Riverside is a no, are there other clubs within a 20 minute drive that will offer a nice archery/rifle ranges? Thanks guys.

 

[cad]

So Riverside sucks, and nobody here is a member. Thanks for the help, it means a lot to me.

 

[Cross-X]

Try Worcester Pistol and Rifle in Boylston. It is a great club -- not fancy, but decent ranges, and the indoor range is open 24/7!

 

[MisterHappy]

Southborough Rod & Gun is "just down" route 85....not sure if it makes the 20-minute cut, but it's a good club

www.srgclub.com

 

[Manomet]

I have shot skeet/pistol/rifle at riverside many times as a guest and always was treated well and enjoyed it especially the shotgun on sunday mornings. The indoor is terrible with poor ventilation. Can't speak for the rest of it

 

[P-14]

It has a very nice campus and nice ranges. It depends on what you want in a club.

It is very active in shotgun and target pistol, but the Executive Board drove IDPA out to Harvard.

I am a member and I use the club to sight in my guns and teach others to shoot. I shoot IDPA at WPRC and Harvard.

(I didn't see this thread until today)

 

[USMA-82]

I have hesitated about responding, but here goes:

Riverside is a social club that just tolerates shooters. The main focus is on the bar, the party rental space, billiards, gambling devices, and smoking. The club "leadership" could give a damn about shooters, and only spends the minimum amount of time and money necessary to keep them quiet. Nobody runs for election to change the leadership because the people there are well-entrenched and aren't going anywhere - at least until they die.

Yes, the outdoor ranges are pretty good, and there are a few good folks who continue membership there because it's convenient to where they live. But SHOOTERS will go to Harvard, Worcester, or Southborough to join a real gun club.

Probably the only reason the club does anything for shooters is because the Firearms Instruction program is well-attended, and brings in THOUSANDS of dollars every year.

No offense to smokers, billiard-players and felons who frequent the club - just stating the facts as I see them. Of course, I've only been a member for about 6 years, so maybe I've missed something....

*

 

[dwarven1]

I'm a member of NLRG, but recently my fiance and I just bought another house in Hudson, so I'm trying to decide whether I should join Riverside. I know there are some complaints about the smoke, but other than that, is it a good club? It's literally within 2 miles of our new home, so it'd certainly be convenient.
I mainly use the rifle and archery ranges. If there are members that could show me around, I'd certainly show my gratitude with some ammo, few beers, etc. If Riverside is a no, are there other clubs within a 20 minute drive that will offer a nice archery/rifle ranges? Thanks guys.

If all you want is a 26 point roving archery range, and a 20 yard indoor archery range (30 if you're alone and you back up to the back wall to shoot), and a 100 yard rifle range... and you DON'T mind stinking like a cigarette every time you use the indoor range, then yes, Riverside is fine for you.

I can't show you around, because after EIGHTEEN YEARS of membership, I'd had enough when President Jack Vezau ignored a motion that I'd made, which was seconded, to put in a card reader on a door that didn't go through the bar (or close off the back door to the bar to avoid the smoke) with the casual dismissal of "we talked about that a few months ago; we're not going to talk about it again". Jack made it abundantly clear that he runs the club like his own fifedom and will not listen to anything he doesn't personally agree with.

I never renewed after that little episode and joined Harvard instead. It takes me about 5 minutes more to get there from Marlborough, and there's an indoor range, pistol ranges from 7 yards to 50 or more, action pits, rifle ranges from 100 to 300 yards, archery ranges, etc... and I don't have to deal with petty dictators like Jack.

I'd be happy to show you around Harvard.

So Riverside sucks, and nobody here is a member. Thanks for the help, it means a lot to me.

That should tell you something, no?

 

[jdubois]

Riverside is ok. I'm not a member there, but shot there a bunch of times. As Manomet says, the guys shooting trap/skeet are very friendly and a nice bunch of guys. The rifle ranges are usually pretty empty, but when there are people there I've gotten harassed by range nazis a number of times (your gun isn't legal, you're shooting too fast, your shooting too close to the edge of the target stand, etc).

I've been a member at Harvard for the past three years, and have had nothing but good experiences.

 

[News Shooter]

I was a member for six years and can only echo what others have said here.
Beautiful facilities, but a really lame attitude at the leadership level.

Range nazis are rampant. Skeet guys are great. Inside is a joke protected by Hilda the bartender who screamed at me the first time I visited. I had finished shooting with my son and came out to have a soft drink in the bar area. I had my gun inside a locked metal container and she started screaming at me that I had to get out of there. I left and kept going.

I mentioned it to one of the officers later and he laughed and said.."Well that's Hilda for you."

 

[cad]

Thanks for the responses guys, sounds like Harvard may be a better choice. Let me look into it, and I may be asking one of you guys for a tour, if you'd be willing. Thanks again.

 

[notwithoutmyglock]

I've been a member of riverside for about 8 years now and I find it to be a great club. I am there every Monday night and I would be happy to give you a tour of the facilities. I can't denounce some of the complaints about the club but I can say alot has changed in the years I have been there. The outdoor archery ranges are in the process of being revamped and the club archery coach is one of the best in the state if not new england. There were a few RO's that had nothing better to do sometimes but that has all been fixed and all new RO's with propper training are being introduced. Drop me a PM and I will be glad to give you a tour and even send some lead down range with you if time permitts.

-Steve

 

[News Shooter]

Good. Things do change. Worth taking a look.

I've been a member of riverside for about 8 years now and I find it to be a great club. I am there every Monday night and I would be happy to give you a tour of the facilities. I can't denounce some of the complaints about the club but I can say alot has changed in the years I have been there. The outdoor archery ranges are in the process of being revamped and the club archery coach is one of the best in the state if not new england. There were a few RO's that had nothing better to do sometimes but that has all been fixed and all new RO's with propper training are being introduced. Drop me a PM and I will be glad to give you a tour and even send some lead down range with you if time permitts.

-Steve

 

[dwarven1]

The outdoor archery ranges are in the process of being revamped and the club archery coach is one of the best in the state if not new england.

I do remember that the roving range was considered one of the three best in the state - again, if that is something that is important to you, then you should consider this club.

 

[kengog]

I've been a member at Riverside for 5 or 6 years. I have never run into a range Nazi, but have definitely met some interesting characters. I shoot on the pistol team, have shot at the skeet/trap fields and dabbled with IDPA, before they went to Harvard. My kids are in the Junior rifle/air pistol program and junior Olympic archery program. I have worked with Head archery coach Larry Sullivan who is top-notch. I have never had an issue. Feel free to PM me if you would like a tour.