Went to MSAR for the first time

doggyjacket · Aug 14, 2016

I have been going to Gilbert's but I'm tired of their policy on ammo. $32 for 50 rounds of .223 is a hard pill to swallow. Especially when I"m sure there "county ordinance" is ********.

I know there are varying opinions on MSAR from looking through the old threads but I thought it was a decent range although a bit weird in that:

1. There was no safety test or review or instruction. They just gave me a lane. I don't think I've ever seen that at any range.

2. The carriers are set really really low for the rifle lanes. Like if you are not shooting sitting down, then you're basically going to hit the ground because of the angle.

3. There is a huge showroom/waiting area on the 1st floor, but not much to actually look at other than lots of LEO type stuff.

4. There is a gun vault with guns for sale, but it's in a tiny room. There were three people in there and I basically couldn't walk around to see what they had for sale.

5. Long wait, lots of people. I was lucky in that I only waited 40 mins.

6. People were dry-firing or racking slides or charging handles out by the entrance to the range where there is like a "fake" lane or booth. In fairness, I think one of them may have been an employee?

The good:

1. Well ventilated. I'm sure you know it was hot as hell today, but they had some good strong air blowing inside the ranges.

2. Friendly staff. All the people I talked to were friendly.

3. The range /booth itself is pretty nice.

Bottom line is that it wasn't a terrible experience, but definitely a bit weird. I'd probably go again just b/c I'm tired of Gilbert's and I like to shoot my own ammo.

MocoJed · Aug 14, 2016

For me, Gilbert's is 10 minutes away, but I have never been there. I completely agree with your assessment of MSAR, seen a lot of what you reported, but have only been there a few times. I find it just as far a drive to go to AGC up in Marriotsville. For an indoor location, On Target isn't too bad of a drive either. It is a shame about Gilberts.

Tnt9506 · Aug 14, 2016

Last time i went to Gilberts, I spent way too much. If you're willing, check out Heritage in Frederick.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Biggfoot44 · Aug 14, 2016

New Acronym - BRPS. Battered Range Patron Syndrome.

FrankOceanXray · Aug 15, 2016

MSAR also had a data security breech recently.

Mdeng · Aug 15, 2016

Instead of MSAR check out the NRA range in Fairfax. Better range, staff and customers.

Rick3bears · Aug 15, 2016

I shoot NRA in Fairfax fairly often and it is a bit of a drive for me (I'm in Ft. Washington). It's one of the nicest places to shoot I've been. Shoot your own ammo, as long as it's not steel core. Draw and shoot from holster? Yep, as long as it's a hip holster. Shoot pistols up to and including 500. Rifles up to 460 Wheatherby magnum. No full auto fire and shotguns slugs only. Touch pad controlled targets. Adjustable in increments of 1 foot! $15 for a lane (1 hour) Quick and easy safety quiz. Lounge with big screen TV. Rental safety glasses/hearing protection. Ammo at (GASP!) reasonable prices. You don't need to be a NRA member to shoot. Also, when you have finished shooting, wander upstairs to the museum. Take a handkerchief. You'll be drooling all over yourself at the guns on display.

Very good(and serious) range safety officers. Know the rules, follow the rules and no problems. I saw a guy turn around with a loaded, one in the pipe hand gun and he swept the behind the tables area with the muzzle. The range safety officer was on him like stink on poop. Read him the riot act and told him it was his only warning. He did it again later and was told to leave. Nothing special except he was probably 6'2 240, mid-30's and the range safety officer was Female, 5 ft nothing, maybe 105 soaking wet and 24-25?. No fear. Tossed his ass out.

Cal68 · Aug 19, 2016

Rick3bears said:
I shoot NRA in Fairfax fairly often and it is a bit of a drive for me (I'm in Ft. Washington). It's one of the nicest places to shoot I've been. Shoot your own ammo, as long as it's not steel core. Draw and shoot from holster? Yep, as long as it's a hip holster. Shoot pistols up to and including 500. Rifles up to 460 Wheatherby magnum. No full auto fire and shotguns slugs only. Touch pad controlled targets. Adjustable in increments of 1 foot! $15 for a lane (1 hour) Quick and easy safety quiz. Lounge with big screen TV. Rental safety glasses/hearing protection. Ammo at (GASP!) reasonable prices. You don't need to be a NRA member to shoot. Also, when you have finished shooting, wander upstairs to the museum. Take a handkerchief. You'll be drooling all over yourself at the guns on display.

Very good(and serious) range safety officers. Know the rules, follow the rules and no problems. I saw a guy turn around with a loaded, one in the pipe hand gun and he swept the behind the tables area with the muzzle. The range safety officer was on him like stink on poop. Read him the riot act and told him it was his only warning. He did it again later and was told to leave. Nothing special except he was probably 6'2 240, mid-30's and the range safety officer was Female, 5 ft nothing, maybe 105 soaking wet and 24-25?. No fear. Tossed his ass out.

I would definitely like to go there to shoot someday, but with the opening of TMGN, the incentive to drive that far is not very strong. Maybe I'll go there on a Saturday when I have nothing else going one. I've heard lots of good things about the NRA range, so it would be fun to go there sometime just to check out the range and the museum.

Cal68

usa259 · Aug 19, 2016

MSAR:

Its my usually place. I need to join a club.

Positives:
- All staff have been friendly and helpful.
- When I've brought my daughter, they have encouragement for her.
- Pricing in that when I go, I only have recently shot in the pistol lanes and time is not limited for the new fee of $25, up from $20. The just started limiting the rifle lanes.
- There usually is brass to pick up
- Bathrooms clean
- Instructor Moe!

Improvement items:
- Fix lane booth lights, not all work
- More monitoring - Often, there is an instructor teaching someone new, seem like they maybe relying on this person too much

d33rhunt3r · Aug 19, 2016

TMGN is really nice, wish I could stay in lane longer than an hour though. Recently I've been going to On Target, got a membership and I can stay and shoot all I want until I run out of ammo. It's not the cleanest, but it serves my purpose and I don't have a problem with the people there.

ashershapiro · Aug 19, 2016

In my opinion they both suck. Gilbert's for their BS policy and MSAR for their lack of safety and unreasonably wait time. I started going to Machine Gun Nest in Frederick. I'm not sure if they are close to you but they are 30 minutes from Gilberts. They are safe, reasonably priced, well stocked with full auto rentals, and I've never waited more than 5 minutes for a lane. Usually I get a lane as soon as I walk in. Heritage in Frederick is also miles above those two ranges, I just prefer Machinegun Nest.

slybarman · Aug 19, 2016

My solution is to go to msar during the week right when they open. I often have the range to myself for an hour or so before others trickle in.

Sent from my note 4 using Tapatalk.

aray · Aug 19, 2016

OP, where are you located? If you're in the area, you might want to consider the Berwyn Rod and Gun Club. It's a members-only club but in my experience it's well worth the investment. Pistol ranges, rifle ranges, archery - all available and shoot all you want all year long with your own ammo. Unlimited range usage for one flat fee. It's rare when you have to wait. Just in case I always bring a couple of different types of firearms so I can move to a different range if one is full. But really, most of the time there's little to no wait and many times I've had the entire property to myself (especially if you go during the weekday).

I like you went to MSAR and saw pretty much the same thing you did. It was OK; it had pros & cons. I shot there many times. But when I found Berwyn I knew I could do better. They do have open slots available if you're interested. And it's not too far from MSAR.

Boneuphtoner · Aug 19, 2016

doggyjacket said:
I know there are varying opinions on MSAR from looking through the old threads but I thought it was a decent range although a bit weird in that:

2. The carriers are set really really low for the rifle lanes. Like if you are not shooting sitting down, then you're basically going to hit the ground because of the angle.

YES! I'm a tall guy 6'5' and when I first went to NRA in fairfax the range officer had me target head shots because otherwise he said I might be shooting the floor. Made sense to me. MSAR? Even with head shots, the carriers are so damn low that I think there is a good chance I would be shooting the floor. It made me very uncomfortable and I didn't stay very long :tdown:

Czechnologist · Aug 22, 2016

Cal68 said:
I would definitely like to go there to shoot someday, but with the opening of TMGN, the incentive to drive that far is not very strong. Maybe I'll go there on a Saturday when I have nothing else going one. I've heard lots of good things about the NRA range, so it would be fun to go there sometime just to check out the range and the museum.

Cal68

I go to the NRA Range 3-4x per year. The café is almost worth the trip alone and it's really not that bad of a drive if you keep peak traffic times in mind. I love taking my out-of-state friends there and to the museum for a day trip from Frederick. Good times!

If you go on a Saturday, plan to get there early. Otherwise, you'll be in for a long wait for a lane opening. Every NRA member should make the pilgrimage at least once! :thumbsup:

RobSky · Aug 23, 2016

Haven't been to MSAR in years, do they still have bullet holes in the partitions and ceilings?

DaemonAssassin · Aug 24, 2016

Down Zero said:
Haven't been to MSAR in years, do they still have bullet holes in the partitions and ceilings?

There are probably a bunch more all over the place than you remember.

bhtr · Aug 26, 2016

Down Zero said:
Haven't been to MSAR in years, do they still have bullet holes in the partitions and ceilings?

MSAR moved a couple of years ago. I only shot there once on the LEO side. The old place had a scary number of holes in the wrong places. I shot at the new place once about a year ago. I didn't see any safety issues while I was there but I was only there a couple of hours and business was slow.

ComeGet · Aug 26, 2016

I've been to the new place a couple of times, both during the week and only a few other people there. It was fine. Staff was not effusive, but did their job and seemed to know what they were doing. I was a little surprised by the lack of safety orientation, but didn't see anything that concerned me.

Biggfoot44 · Aug 26, 2016

Nah. Location #4 hasn't been in service long enough to collect as many stray bullet holes as #3.
But I suppose if you calculate the total rounds fired each lane, the stray ones are a very small percentage.

Went to MSAR for the first time

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Ultimate Member

Active Member

Active Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Grumpy Old Coot

Ultimate Member

Active Member

Pro Pizza Eater

Banned

low speed high drag 9-5er

Ultimate Member

Active Member

Concerned Citizen

Ultimate Member

Why should we Free BSD?

Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics