Weighing my club options

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

  • No ad networks!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • toppkatt

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 22, 2017
    1,185
    Stoney Creek requires Hunter Safety and NRA membership. There is a meeting this Friday and dinner (usually under $10, check out web site under kitchen). The meeting starts 8PM. There are some club competitions (AR/M1 league, air gun league, pistol league, trap league) and a few others throughout the year (i.e. Military Rifle and pistol shoot, sniper shoot, buffalo shoot, etc.). There are not a lot of 'sanctioned' competitions. Most of the shooting done is for your self, by yourself. There are qualifying certifications to have this autonomy on the range and as a new member you must shoot with your sponsor or 'senior' member until they feel you are aware of the safety rules and the range rules. Once they are confident you are safe and adherent to the range rules you will meet with the range officer and he will put you through a 'quiz' (not enough for me to call it a test or exam even. If you pass then you get your range card.
     

    photoracer

    Competition Shooter
    Oct 22, 2010
    3,318
    West Virginia
    All this is true of most clubs these days. Everyone has to be careful who they let become members. My first club was the Monocacy Pistol Club in Frederick. I moved so close to the club I could have walked there on a good day. My late wife got me to shoot Bullseye matches there on Wednesday nights. Later I joined, discovered they are mostly a steel target shooting handgun club, found out I really liked doing that and action pistol. Got very good at it, then started going outside to shoot IDPA, USPSA, 3-Gun, Steel Challenge, Rimfire Challenge, you name it. In fact I have shot at AAFG and AGC in the past. Still belong to MPC even though I live in WV now, and I also belong to Peacemaker NTC in WV.
    You may find that if you belong to a well rounded club, that there are other things in the shooting sports that interest you. Which will end up requiring a bigger safe for more guns in many cases.
     

    Chem

    Member
    Aug 1, 2018
    96
    Stoney Creek requires Hunter Safety and NRA membership. There is a meeting this Friday and dinner (usually under $10, check out web site under kitchen). The meeting starts 8PM. There are some club competitions (AR/M1 league, air gun league, pistol league, trap league) and a few others throughout the year (i.e. Military Rifle and pistol shoot, sniper shoot, buffalo shoot, etc.). There are not a lot of 'sanctioned' competitions. Most of the shooting done is for your self, by yourself. There are qualifying certifications to have this autonomy on the range and as a new member you must shoot with your sponsor or 'senior' member until they feel you are aware of the safety rules and the range rules. Once they are confident you are safe and adherent to the range rules you will meet with the range officer and he will put you through a 'quiz' (not enough for me to call it a test or exam even. If you pass then you get your range card.
    Man that seems like a long process. Thanks for the info. I feel like it will pretty difficult to have a member find the time to go with you multiple times until they feel you are ready to shoot alone. Again my schedule isn't the best so maybe i don't have the time for such a process. Definitely have some thinking to do.
     

    ClutchyMcClutcherson

    Active Member
    Aug 29, 2016
    703
    Odenton, MD
    You wouldn’t have a problem finding a sponsor. Most guys are retired. As far as the length of the process, it’s 2 meetings that last maybe an hour. The background meeting takes about 15 minutes. As far as the safety rules, it’s about how fast you can grasp the concepts. There are adjustable eyebrows that need to be adjusted before shooting, and it’s 5 seconds per shot.

    If your goal is to find a place to show up and shoot, you’d be better off at select fire in Glen Burnie, or on target in Hanover.
     

    ClutchyMcClutcherson

    Active Member
    Aug 29, 2016
    703
    Odenton, MD

    Here's an except from the AAF&G Range Rules:

    A. Centerfire & Muzzleloaders
    1. Monday - Friday: 10:00A.M. to 4 P.M.
    2. Saturdays & State & Federal holidays: 10:00A.M. to 1:00P.M.
    3. Sunday: NO CENTER FIRE OR MUZZLELOADING SHOOTING (except sanctioned weekends).
    4. Sanctioned weekends: 10:00A.M. to 8:00 P.M., daylight permitting.

    B. .22 Caliber Rimfire Short/Long/Long Rifle Only
    1. Daily: 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., daylight permitting.
    2. Sundays there is no shooting on the Bullseye Range at Positions 17 through 24, except sanctioned weekends

    In general, each of the disciplines has become very adept at optimizing their events to fit within the hours restrictions. And part of the membership process is to be certain that prospective members understand their obligation to respect those hours.

    JoeR

    How much does this club cost? I’m a member at SCHFC but I’ve been thinking about trying to join AAF&G too because of the various disciplines they have. And I’d like to get more into the competitions.
     

    Ronan

    3D Printing Guru
    Jul 30, 2018
    194
    Annapolis, MD
    I was approached by the Baltimore Rifle Club. They seem the most sensible of the bunch so far.

    Only thing that puts me off, I believe I have to join them plus another club to actually have facilities to use... Doubles the process, increases fees, etc...

    Makes me wish I live where my brother is. I think he pays $50 a year, ranges up to 600 yards, no 'must join this and that, pee in the cup' ordeal.

    But BRC did not come off with that elitism attitude a lot of clubs have (really despise that attitude). So that's a juge plus in my bookm They are about an hour away from me though, urgh...
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,721
    Socialist State of Maryland
    You can join the Bridgeville, DE club. It is pretty cheap, I think around $70 a year. It is about an hour from MD but then you have a reason to stop in some gun shops in DE to pick up stuff you can't get here.
     

    rseymorejr

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 28, 2011
    26,002
    Harford County
    I was approached by the Baltimore Rifle Club. They seem the most sensible of the bunch so far.

    Only thing that puts me off, I believe I have to join them plus another club to actually have facilities to use... Doubles the process, increases fees, etc...

    Makes me wish I live where my brother is. I think he pays $50 a year, ranges up to 600 yards, no 'must join this and that, pee in the cup' ordeal.

    But BRC did not come off with that elitism attitude a lot of clubs have (really despise that attitude). So that's a juge plus in my bookm They are about an hour away from me though, urgh...

    Baltimore Rifle Club is an AGC affiliated club. If you join them you would be able to buy an AGC range badge ($180 per year) to be able to have unlimited access to all the AGC facilities. You also need to complete a one time range orientation to buy the range badge.
     

    Ronan

    3D Printing Guru
    Jul 30, 2018
    194
    Annapolis, MD
    Baltimore Rifle Club is an AGC affiliated club. If you join them you would be able to buy an AGC range badge ($180 per year) to be able to have unlimited access to all the AGC facilities. You also need to complete a one time range orientation to buy the range badge.

    Yepp which indicates the BRC doesn't have any facility meaning I must join the AGC to have a place to shoot and tack on their fees on top.

    Can't join the AGC unless I join the BRC (or another club).
     

    JoeRinMD

    Rifleman
    Jul 18, 2008
    2,014
    AA County
    Yepp which indicates the BRC doesn't have any facility meaning I must join the AGC to have a place to shoot and tack on their fees on top.

    Can't join the AGC unless I join the BRC (or another club).

    But some of the affiliate clubs can be very inexpensive. IIRC as low as $20/yr. I belong to the Goddard Gun Club and it's down at that level. But, just like you, I live close to AAF&G and hated the almost hour-long drive to get to AGC. Basically it burned off most of a day to go each way and have some time to shoot.

    JoeR
     

    Ronan

    3D Printing Guru
    Jul 30, 2018
    194
    Annapolis, MD
    But some of the affiliate clubs can be very inexpensive. IIRC as low as $20/yr. I belong to the Goddard Gun Club and it's down at that level. But, just like you, I live close to AAF&G and hated the almost hour-long drive to get to AGC. Basically it burned off most of a day to go each way and have some time to shoot.

    JoeR

    Exactly. If there's an accident or traffic, it can double or even triple the trip.

    And it's a small range, i believe 200 yard. So it's not like 'spend the day at the range' kinda deal.
     

    Chem

    Member
    Aug 1, 2018
    96
    I think agc looks very nice but the distance is just too far. Aafg and stoney are certainly viable options but I have to find the time to go through the process to join either or. I guess another question I have is as far as the rules of each, how forgiving are the range officers to minor mistakes? Not saying I will make a mistake I'm a pretty smart and careful guy, but what if a minor mistake was made? Will I be immediately voted off the island ?
     

    Overboost44

    6th gear
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 10, 2013
    6,619
    Kent Island
    I think agc looks very nice but the distance is just too far. Aafg and stoney are certainly viable options but I have to find the time to go through the process to join either or. I guess another question I have is as far as the rules of each, how forgiving are the range officers to minor mistakes? Not saying I will make a mistake I'm a pretty smart and careful guy, but what if a minor mistake was made? Will I be immediately voted off the island ?

    After catching up on this thread, my offer stands but if you think the process to get into Stoney Creek is a pain, you won't like AAFG. Send me a PM if you would like to talk more.
     

    Chem

    Member
    Aug 1, 2018
    96
    After catching up on this thread, my offer stands but if you think the process to get into Stoney Creek is a pain, you won't like AAFG. Send me a PM if you would like to talk more.

    To be honest they are equally lengthy processes but I am willing to give it a shot. I'll pm you when the time comes I appreciate it very much.
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,876
    AGC isn't a Club per se , it is an Assocation of the Clubs themselves . Some of them are associated with AGC to give their members additional options to their own facilities . Some Clubs don't have a seperate physical presence outside a file cabinet at AGC ( they probably did 50 plus yrs ago , but their original ranges since became no longer viable ).

    Some Clubs have very active comprehensive club activities. Some specialize in one discipline . Some are very no frills , little more than a vehicle to get access to a Range Badge .

    The Range Badge is same cost for everyone . The individual Clubs have their own dues structures , but for no frills clubs , its about like fast food lunch for two .

    Baltimore Rifle Club is indeed a no frills Club . Or Md State Rifle& Pistol Ass'n became affiliated a few years ago , and is a worthwhile organization to support even if it wasn't affiliated .

    The reality check is this is a very densely populated region . Even more than the real estate cost , is the very harsh zoning and political landscape . Start up clubs , or meaningful expansion or lengthening just can't happen . Rather , existing Clubs are in a fight to continue to exist .

    The bottom line is the number of availability of range access is finite , and the potential demand is exponentially higher than that .

    Bottom line is either deal with the close by situation as it exists , or travel a couple hours to shoot .
     

    rbird7282

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 6, 2012
    18,530
    Columbia
    Yepp which indicates the BRC doesn't have any facility meaning I must join the AGC to have a place to shoot and tack on their fees on top.



    Can't join the AGC unless I join the BRC (or another club).



    Correct. I’m a member of BRC and it is the cheapest and easiest club to join at AGC. As a new member if you become a club member and get your range badge after July 1st, the range badge fee is only $90.
    It’s only applicable for the first year


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    JoeRinMD

    Rifleman
    Jul 18, 2008
    2,014
    AA County
    The reality check is this is a very densely populated region . Even more than the real estate cost , is the very harsh zoning and political landscape . Start up clubs , or meaningful expansion or lengthening just can't happen . Rather , existing Clubs are in a fight to continue to exist .

    The bottom line is the number of availability of range access is finite , and the potential demand is exponentially higher than that .

    Exactly right. And that's part of the reason for the vetting process. In this area, any "incident", even something seemingly as minor as shooting outside of the agreed hours, could spell significant trouble for the clubs. When it's an honor system, it's critical to be sure the club members are honorable.

    JoeR
     

    Ronan

    3D Printing Guru
    Jul 30, 2018
    194
    Annapolis, MD
    Correct. I’m a member of BRC and it is the cheapest and easiest club to join at AGC. As a new member if you become a club member and get your range badge after July 1st, the range badge fee is only $90.
    It’s only applicable for the first year


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    That's not too bad. Still kinda bummed its only 200 yard range and an hourish away :(

    I might drop by for the orientation/meet this Sunday.
     

    sead0nkey

    Señor member
    Jul 25, 2008
    896
    AA
    Not to derail this thread to much but I'm looking to join AAFG PM if your willing to give me the "tour"...
     

    ClutchyMcClutcherson

    Active Member
    Aug 29, 2016
    703
    Odenton, MD
    I think agc looks very nice but the distance is just too far. Aafg and stoney are certainly viable options but I have to find the time to go through the process to join either or. I guess another question I have is as far as the rules of each, how forgiving are the range officers to minor mistakes? Not saying I will make a mistake I'm a pretty smart and careful guy, but what if a minor mistake was made? Will I be immediately voted off the island ?

    The mistakes you could make that actually get you put out are very few. Basically if you do a major infraction like potentially putting lead outside of the range by not following proper procedures, you’d be out. But.... it’s pretty easy to not screw up. I think the biggest thing is knowing the rules, and if you make a mistake owning up to it rather than letting someone find out. They have cameras at Stoney creek so they always find out.

    I am sponsoring a friend this Friday, but if people are truly interested when I’m done with him I’ll help people out on here.
     

    Users who are viewing this thread

    Latest posts

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    274,915
    Messages
    7,258,419
    Members
    33,348
    Latest member
    Eric_Hehl

    Latest threads

    Top Bottom