15 replies to this topic

[citrix_guy]

So I have decided that I just dont shoot enough. I spend an hour a day working out, I spend a couple hours a week playing with my cars "tweaking it" as I tell the wife. But I have only been finding about an hour a month to shoot. And then only pistol...

I need to become more proficient and I need to practice with my rifle. I am not a hunter. I have a couple of shotguns from when I did hunt, but the rifles I have are all shooters, .22s an AR, etc.

So I am looking for someplace to shoot these rifles a couple of times a month. Do I have to join a gun club? are there any decent ones to recommend? Very curious as I am generally not a particularly social fellow. I go to shoot, and focus on what I am doing and get some "quiet time" in my head. Would a club be the right place for that?

Thanks for any feedback guys. Really want to start to practice with these rifles. The reason for the two locations is that I live in Plainfield IL, but I have a week place up near Janesville/Edgerton Wisconsin. So if there is a better place behind the Cheddar Curtain I am good shooting up there.

[Jeffrey]

Oak Park Sportsmans club is on 126 just before I55.  Go there on a tuesday afternoon and spend the late afternoon at the car show downtown.

[Hatchet]

If you up for a little drive (about an hour) Jasper-Pulaski in Indiana has a nice range and its free. Its run by the IDNR. You go to the main office, sign in and go to range. They have 25 yard pistol, 50 yard rifle, 100 yard rifle, 225 rifle, and a shotgun trap. I mite be heading there this weekend actually.

[Jeckler]

I'm a big fan (and member) of the Saint Charles Sportsman Club. It might fit your needs and isn't too far away.

[citrix_guy]

The one in Indiana seems nice, but i its almost 2 hours from my house... too far.

But Oak Park Sportsman club is really close. Looks like you get there from 143 rd street off of 126. I live like 5 miles from there. Are Tuesday nights open night to check out the club?
Would love to stop by and check the place out.

Edited by citrix_guy, 27 July 2012 - 12:26 PM.

[TyGuy]

St Charles will only allow 22lr rifle fire.  At least that was the rule the last time I was there.  You can check their websit though.

[mikew]

How about the ISRA Range at Bonfield?

http://isra.org/range

[citrix_guy]

I will look into the ISRA range also, the club in plainfield is nice since its soooo close.

Whats sad here is that when I spent time in Colorado, Indiana and Texas, it wasnt unusual to find public ranges operated by the DNR... Illinois. Well I guess Chicago's hate for guns has kept that out of the budget.

[sleepercaprice1]

I'm a member of Oak Park Sportsmen's Club. OPSC in Plainfield is a members only club. I believe there is a waiting list for menbership. I don't know of any public activities that take place on Tuesday afternoons or evenings.

There is a club meeting on the first Tuesday of each month at 1900 hrs if that's what Jeffrey is referring to but the club is not open to public shooting.

[Jeffrey]

sleepercaprice1, on 27 July 2012 - 02:23 PM, said:

I'm a member of Oak Park Sportsmen's Club. OPSC in Plainfield is a members only club. I believe there is a waiting list for menbership. I don't know of any public activities that take place on Tuesday afternoons or evenings.

There is a club meeting on the first Tuesday of each month at 1900 hrs if that's what Jeffrey is referring to but the club is not open to public shooting.

Sorry to confuse the tuesday night thing.  I was only refering to the fact that you liked to tweak the car in your spare time.  Downtown Plainfield hosts a nice carshow every Tuesday night through the summer.

[Jeckler]

TyGuy, on 27 July 2012 - 01:19 PM, said:

St Charles will only allow 22lr rifle fire.  At least that was the rule the last time I was there.  You can check their websit though.

Yes, St Charles is 22 only on the rifle range...most of the time. Once a month, they have "high power" days. The rifle range is then open for most everything on those high power days.

[TyGuy]

If you can only shoot your rifle once a month you're better saving your money and going to a pay per visit range IMHO

[obfd13]

Aurora Sportsmen's Club in Waterman has ranges out to 600 yards.  The next opportunity to join is August 11th.  Orientation starts at 10:00AM.  The club website is http://www.aurorasc.org

[cherryriver]

Just to fill in on Oak Park SC in Plainfield...
There is a waiting list to join due to the capping of membership at 300 a few years back.
The waiting time is estimated by the membership secretary Phil Proietti at 2-3 years.
That doesn't mean it's not worth getting in line.
While beset by club politics like every other club, it is still a good range, with eight pistol bays, a rifle range, a trap range, and a pretty nice 21x75' indoor pistol range (that can be used 24/7/365).
I waited three years, then was recruited in to produce action pistol matches (as I do at other clubs).  Openings do pop up every September during renewal season.
There are public competition events several times a month when you can visit and shoot: first Sunday, IDPA; second Sunday, USPSA; and third Sunday, Cowboy.
www.opsc.ws

[TJ McLuvin]

Wow. This place is real close to me also. I'll have to go check it out on a Sunday.

[citrix_guy]

Too bad the oak park one has a waiting list... Really too bad Illinois sucks for shooters.