Finding a range

[ShotgunDave]

As most of you know, I live in the People's Republik of Kommiefornia. Finding somewhere to shoot, specially black powder, is an exercise in frustration. There are a couple private clubs locally, but the wait to get in is several years. And the yearly cost is a factor.

The local BLM access has been blocked for over a year now. They claim fire hazard and road damage from the storms as the reason. Unforunately, I think that's a lie. Every public BLM area has been closed, and they keep moving the re-open dates further out. It was supposed to be February 2nd, now they're saying May 22nd. I don't believe they will ever re-open.

So I started doing some serious research, and think I've found a place! When I was younger, we used to go to a place called Lytle Creek. It's in the foothills of the local mountains. When I lived at home, it was only about a 30 minute drive. It was basically just public land, bordering a creek, that you could set up targets and shoot all day. Well as you can probably imagine, people ruined it. After years of crazies going up there and dragging all manor of garbage with them to shoot at, the place became a dangerous dump and was closed. It remained closed for many years.

Fast forward to now, and there's good news! A few years ago, someone took it over and has opened an actual range there. It's clean and safe, and open to the public. They allow any legal firearms to be shot, including black powder. I'm kind of excited about it! it's about an hour drive, one way. But that's not a big deal to me. I'm going to go up there this week and check it out. If it works out, I'll be doing a lot more shooting!

If I can get up there a couple times a month, I'll be happy. I will start making videos and taking lots of pictures. I got a couple GoPro type camera for Xmas, and I want to put them to good use. So stay tuned!!

[Captainkirk]

Best of luck to you, Dave! It seems that the socialist/commies have a new plan; since they can't seem to repeal the 2nd Amendment, make shooting and hunting an exercise in frustration, hoop-jumping, and wallet-grabbing. I have a related story to tell you but I'll get to that later...
I guess they figure if they can't repeal 2A, they'll make shooting so inconvenient that nobody except the die-hard/wealthy will be able to participate. You know, like in many European countries?

[ShotgunDave]

Best of luck to you, Dave! It seems that the socialist/commies have a new plan; since they can't seem to repeal the 2nd Amendment, make shooting and hunting an exercise in frustration, hoop-jumping, and wallet-grabbing. I have a related story to tell you but I'll get to that later...
I guess they figure if they can't repeal 2A, they'll make shooting so inconvenient that nobody except the die-hard/wealthy will be able to participate. You know, like in many European countries?

You're absolutely right Capt. They are passing more and more laws to try and price us out. They recently passed the ammo background check here. It essentially makes it near impossible to buy ammo. You have to pass the background check and pay $1.00 for the privilege. The kicker is all the documents you have to have. You must have the new "RealID" and two other forms of ID. Like a utility bill or car registration. Something that shows proof of your address. Which is absolutely redundant, because you need those same documents to get the "RealID" in the first place. It's absolute madness. On top of all that, the only ammo you can buy, is in the caliber of guns you own. Don't have a .22? Can't have the ammo. When they do the background check, they look to see if you have the caliber gun registered. If it ain't there, you ain't getting the ammo. That my friends is life if good ol' Cali!

Thankfully, the law doesn't apply to components or black powder......yet. So if you reload, no need to pass the check. Just another reason I only have the one cartridge gun for protection. I have enough ammo for it, that I won't need to buy any. It's not a plinking gun, so I don't worry about it.

Don't even get me started on the new hunting regs. It is now illegal to use ANY lead ammunition for hunting. Must use "leadless" ammo. That stuff is 5 times more expensive then lead bullet ammo. The number of hunters in the field, dropped 30% this year. Fish and Game is worried about it too.

[sourdough]

What "leadless" ammo is approved? Bronze or bismuth or?

What a bunch of crap...

[ShotgunDave]

What "leadless" ammo is approved? Bronze or bismuth or?

What a bunch of crap...

I'm not actually sure Jim. I haven't dug that deep into it yet. I'm sure most is solid copper with a bismuth or steel core.

[Hewy]

Once we get you in the shooting club I belong to , your dilemma will be over, unless the State bans private clubs.
Hewy

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello Guys,

With all the "anti-gun people" out there it's really funny that the fastest growing High School Sport is Trap Shooting.

Did you see the Church Shooting in Texas? Guess one will have to carry, just to practice one's faith.


AntiqueSledMan.

[ssb73q]

Hi, there is an advantage living on the Left-Coast, the warm weather. Even though I have my own steel target range, it is pretty useless during the winter with feet of snow on the ground. Then when the weather improves there are the black flies, then the deer flies, then winter again. One nice thing about black powder shooting is that the smoke pisses off the flies.

Regards,
Richard

[Yolla Bolly Brad]

Don't even get me started on the new hunting regs. It is now illegal to use ANY lead ammunition for hunting. Must use "leadless" ammo. That stuff is 5 times more expensive then lead bullet ammo. The number of hunters in the field, dropped 30% this year. Fish and Game is worried about it too.

Just my opinion but I think a lot of people are giving up on deer hunting in California because of the low success rates. The deer population is down to half of what it was at it'd peak and that seems to have come as a result of banning mountain lion hunting. I see more bears now than legal bucks so have pretty much switched to hunting the bruins.

[Pustic]

The nearest shooting range to me is right outside of my door.

[ShotgunDave]

Don't even get me started on the new hunting regs. It is now illegal to use ANY lead ammunition for hunting. Must use "leadless" ammo. That stuff is 5 times more expensive then lead bullet ammo. The number of hunters in the field, dropped 30% this year. Fish and Game is worried about it too.

Just my opinion but I think a lot of people are giving up on deer hunting in California because of the low success rates. The deer population is down to half of what it was at it'd peak and that seems to have come as a result of banning mountain lion hunting. I see more bears now than legal bucks so have pretty much switched to hunting the bruins.

I absolutely agree. They outlawed hunting the big cats, and they're decimating the deer herds. There are still deer up on Palomar Mountain, which is where I go. A friend of mine took a nice little fork there doing archery season.

[mazo kid]

I sympathize with those not having easy access to a shooting range. Even here in Wi. some ranges that have been in existence for decades have been shut down because developers have built houses next to them. The new owners complain of noise, lights, danger, etc. and that's the end. Like Pustic, I can step outside and shoot any time I want. Lots of the neighbors do to. There is a free public range 45 minutes from me that is now quite nice. It is on State land, maintained by a local Sportsman club. About 3 years ago, an Eagle Scout took it on as his project, designed and built berms, covered lines with benches, funded by the Sportsman club. There is even a porta-potty! When I go, I usually come home with more brass than I took. Also, dumpster diving usually yields several empty boxes for storing my reloaded rounds.

[Miguel Loco]

I sympathize with those not having easy access to a shooting range. Even here in Wi. some ranges that have been in existence for decades have been shut down because developers have built houses next to them. The new owners complain of noise, lights, danger, etc. and that's the end. Like Pustic, I can step outside and shoot any time I want. Lots of the neighbors do to. There is a free public range 45 minutes from me that is now quite nice. It is on State land, maintained by a local Sportsman club. About 3 years ago, an Eagle Scout took it on as his project, designed and built berms, covered lines with benches, funded by the Sportsman club. There is even a porta-potty! When I go, I usually come home with more brass than I took. Also, dumpster diving usually yields several empty boxes for storing my reloaded rounds.

Great to see a youngster taking on a challenge! Atta boy!!!

I'm a brass whore as well. Even calibers I don't shoot find homes eventually. Customers bring them to be in garbage bags so I can sort and clean.

No problem pistol shooting close to the house for me. There are a couple fairly nice rifle ranges nearby as well.