Community Forums

tripntx · 02-15-2019, 05:53 AM

Which RV communities in Texas have deeded RV lots and offer either onsite gun range, or access to a gun range bordering the RV community?

I'm aware of two:

Fort Clark Springs in Brackettville, and Retama Village in Mission.

Are there any others?

grindstone01 · 02-16-2019, 11:48 AM

Wouldn't it make sense to just join/drive to the nearest gun range?

tripntx · 02-16-2019, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindstone01

Wouldn't it make sense to just join/drive to the nearest gun range?

LOL, to some it does, but we give the nod to to a suitable community with onsite or neighboring gun range.

VanDiemen23 · 02-16-2019, 10:38 PM

just live in the california/nevada/arizona desert. less than 5 miles from my house to a canyon.

tripntx · 02-17-2019, 09:09 AM

I do not want this post to turn political, so I will simply say I can not enter California with the NFA items I own.

grindstone01 · 02-17-2019, 09:23 AM

Living in a community next to a gun range would not be an ideal location for most people. We used to live near a hunt club and the constant weekend shooting noise was unnerving.

tripntx · 02-17-2019, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindstone01

Living in a community next to a gun range would not be an ideal location for most people. We used to live near a hunt club and the constant weekend shooting noise was unnerving.

I do understand the point you are making, but it doesn't change my original question.

The two communities I listed are both 2600+ acres in size, with plenty of distance between residential area and shooting areas. As an example, Fort Clark Springs has an earthen runway & hanger for private aircraft on premises. These are not small communities, they encompass more square acreage than some towns.

Are there any other communities in Texas which have onsite or private gun range next to the community?

.

1bigmess · 02-17-2019, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindstone01

We used to live near a hunt club and the constant weekend shooting noise was unnerving.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tripntx

I do understand the point you are making, but it doesn't change my original question.

tripintx, I think that what grindstone01 is getting at is something that needs to be cleared up. No one is trying to change your mind, or the answers you seek, but RVs are horrible at keeping outside sounds outside. *If* you can live with the essentially unattenuated sound of gunfire, then you'll certainly have no regrets for living where that is basically all you'll ever hear.

The materials that RVs are made out of will do virtually nothing to stop or deflect a stray bullet. Especially the rubber roof. Just a little extra thing to consider in case you haven't.

It's clear that you are a gun enthusiast through and through, because folks don't invest in the time and cost of NFA items if they aren't. I believe that people should make fully informed decisions. There's a reason why I wouldn't like to live under the approach area of an airport. Planes don't make a lot of noise when they are coming in for a landing, but when they fall out of the sky it's kinda inconvenient at the least.

Some people are totally comfortable and even want to live in such places, and if it's not ridiculous to do so, they should be able to. I have a friend that is an aviation nut and seeks out places where he can be "as close to the action" as he can be. I haven't camped with him since that first and last night I did.

(messages to tell me that airplanes are ridiculously safe are not necessary. It is presented as a metaphor.)

Good luck in your search. I hadn't even considered that such a community was a thing, and I've learned something today. Thanks!

tripntx · 02-17-2019, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1bigmess

Good luck in your search. I hadn't even considered that such a community was a thing, and I've learned something today. Thanks!

1bigmess, I really enjoyed your post, and it does show how we all place value in different things. Your mention about aviation was excellent, because even though I'm not a pilot, I love seeing & hearing the occasional private aircraft fly overhead, as well as view the sound from fighters as 'the sound of freedom!', lol. I can honestly say after 10 years of being retired from USAF, that I now miss being around aviation, especially high performance fighter aircraft.

DW & I will be spending a week at Retama Village during March, and a week at Ft Clark Springs this summer to see what these places are about. These short one week stays will at least get a glimpse into there personalities. Yes, we are aware we would need months to really determine suitability.

I also agree with you and grindstone01 that I would not want to hear gunshots or loud booms all day long. I spent three tours of duty in the middle east, so I can honestly say I do NOT want to be unnerved from constant weekend shooting like grindstone01 mentioned.

DW & I believe every firearm should be suppressed, and 75% of the time we shoot suppressed rimfire, 15% suppressed centerfire, and only 5% of the time shoot un-suppressed.

My hope is that the private gun ranges will be close without being too close. Yes that contradicts itself, but it is what I'm trying to find. It would be a bonus if we could use golf cart &/or UTV travel between RV Port & private gun range.

Grindstone01 also mentioned joining/driving to nearby gun ranges. That is an option, and one we might pursue. The closest rang to where we have been living for the past 10 yrs is 15 miles away. We would prefer a private range if it was within 2 miles, with 5 miles away being max.

VanDiemen23 mentioned shooting in canyons. I have no experience shooting anywhere except on organized ranges with properly built backstops, or shooting on private land where I have permission to shoot and know what is beyond the target. Are canyons open to the public for target shooting, and is it safe to do so?

powerboatr · 02-17-2019, 01:37 PM

our range is 14 miles away

VanDiemen23 · 02-17-2019, 04:15 PM

Pretty sure you can shoot anywhere on BLM land. It's why the desert sparkles from aircraft - all the broken glass.

Just about anywhere will do - box canyons, using old railroad grades for backstops (make sure they have not been converted to a bike trail). Just abide by setback distances from roads and residences. Where we go we don't have to worry about either.

Cali won't let you shoot .50cal, but that's about it. You can't bring in a number of items related to ugly guns (centerfire semi-automatic), unless you use a 10-round clip, a cali-legal stock, and a thread protector. Then you are OK.

We see folks out shooting all the time when we are 4-wheelin in the desert.

tripntx · 02-17-2019, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanDiemen23

Pretty sure you can shoot anywhere on BLM land. It's why the desert sparkles from aircraft - all the broken glass.

If I'm going to blink, I prefer metal targets, and would rather substitute plums, peaches, cantaloupe, etc. instead of glass bottles and/or plastic jugs.

VanDiemen23 · 02-17-2019, 08:47 PM

it would certainly have been nice if people started out that way. I try to remove range trash to a reasonable extent. Its pretty amazing how many douchebags have no problem leaving a pile of a couple hundred shotshells or piles of old TVs or other plastic items all shot up.

tripntx · 02-17-2019, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanDiemen23

You can't bring in a number of items related to ugly guns (centerfire semi-automatic), unless you use a 10-round clip, a cali-legal stock, and a thread protector. Then you are OK.

Hopefully this comes across as informative and not political.

From my youth until approx 45 yrs of age, I always hunted whitetail with traditional hunting rifles & traditional hunting rifle calibers, i.e. .270 & 7mm/08, which meant longer barrel lengths to attain velocity. All were metal and wood bolt action.

Approx. 5 to 6 years ago Texas legalized hunting game animals with suppressors. I have a permanent 30 decibel hearing loss from 21 years in USAF, so I was looking for 'engineered' hearing protection over PPE 'personal protection equipment'. Which meant suppressors in addition to ear plugs, and thus my entrance into NFA.

First NFA was 30 cal suppressor and a 8.2" barreled AR15 in 300 Blackout. The 300 BLK is basically the equivalent of a modern day 30/30 lever action.

This led DW and I to multiple suppressors for our rimfire pistols, rimfire SBR's, and integrally suppressed rimfire rifles.

Shooting suppressed rimfire led to suppressors for 9mm centerfire handguns and SBR's in other AR15 based wildcat calibers (thus my reloading hobby).

Currently reloading to hunt & target shoot in calibers 300 BLK, 277 Wolverine, and 6mm Mongoose. Using registered SBR's for 300 BLK & 277 WLV, while the 6mm Mongoose is using a 20" barrel. All three calibers are based AR15 platform, and on .223 brass.

What I find asinine is the reference to cali-legal stock. I find it very offensive that states believe the same ergonomics for a 6'2" man would be the same for smaller stature people. I'm 5'6", while DW is 5'2". All my hunting rifles have adjustable stocks, because the length of pull wearing a t-shirt in summer is different than that needed when wearing a jacket in fall while temps are 50, and very different from winter hunting/target shooting when wearing heavy coat while temps are below 32.

I'm having a hard time with the fact I spent 21 years of my life defending the constitution, only to have socialist/communist states try to restrict my constitutional rights.