Ranges in George Washington National Forest

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BlueTrain

New member
I mentioned in another thread that you could shoot at ranges in George Washington National Forest. I have never done that and in fact have never been to any such range. But I believe there are two located somewhere within the National Forest. Has anyone here done so? What are you allowed to shoot?

The thing is, G.W.National Forest runs almost the entire length of Virginia, which makes the southern end perhaps 300 miles from where I live. Chances are, the ranges are located further rather than nearer.

I believe there is also a public range somewhere in Maryland not far from Washington, DC, though I suspect it may be for Maryland residents and in any case, from where I live in (very liberal) Fairfax County, Front Royal is closer than Greenbelt.

I think that it would really be better to join a club, like the IW League, for shooting, but my shooting of rifles has always been limited and sporatic since my father passed away. That's where I used to go to shoot. It was free but the longest practical range was only about 75 yards. Not much for a rifle but at least I found out it was a long way for a .44 revolver. I haven't shot a rifle since then.

Private ranges are scarce, too. There is the NRA range in (very liberal) Fairfax County, just down the road from here, and of course, Clark Brothers, which makes for an extremely interesting outing. I believe I could buy stuff there with our Confederate money but we're holding on to our bonds.
 
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alloy

New member
yes i do frequently, and i have never seen any posted restrictions except they prefer paper targets. range etiquette should keep you from blasting your ak next to some guy trying to practice with in his 300 yard elk gun. its operated on the honor system. no range officials, clean up your own mess, operate safely. do what you want as long as it fits safety guidelines, and whatever the guys next to you are doing.

i like it, it means that every trip i practice different things, trying to follow whatever fits the program that day.
 
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ZeSpectre

New member
Bluetrain,
I run a bi-monthly, informal, get together called the "Staunton Shoot n' Greet". We meet at the Hite Hollow range in GW Nat'l Forest.

The SSNG is actually taking place tomorrow (Saturday the 24'th), if you want more information and/or to be added to the email list just PM me with an email address and I'll put you on the mailing list.

It's a serious haul from Fairfax to Staunton (then another 20 miles to "the Hollow") but I have folks who come regularly from Alexandria and Arlington to spend the day at the range.
 
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BlueTrain

New member
I had been thinking that even Garrisonville (the Isaac Walton range) was a little on the too far side, especially since it meant a trip down I95. But Staunton (Stant-un) is over half-way home to southern West Virginia (and what am I doing in Northern Virginia?). But thanks for the information anyway. It takes some doing to visit a range a couple hundred miles away but it could be worth it, depending.

I knew several members of the Isaac Walton League back when The Loading Bench was still open in Annandale. Another gun shop sorely missed. Some interesting characters used to hang out there.
 
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tacweapon

New member
The other Range in the George Washington National Forest is the West Side Rifle Range, it is technically in West Virginia about 45 minutes to an hour west of Harrisonburg. I used to shoot there but have since stopped going, the range is decent and all legal weapons are allowed there, basic safety rules and commonsense are the rules of the range.

I have not been there for atleast 5 months but I went to the Hite Hollow Range on Saturday and that range is much nicer.
 
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