We've tried to compile a listing of places to shoot in and around Philadelphia based on our personal experiences. Any comments and additions would be greatly appreciated.
We started this page as a listing of places around Philadelphia. We got a decent number of recommendations for places not so near Philadelphia, so we're putting those up too. Pennsylvania is a big place.
But first, you have to know where to stay away from:
Colosimo's, at 9th and Spring Garden. In our esteemed opinion, this range and gun store is probably the worst place to go in Philadelphia. The prices are horrendous--one wonders how they can stay in business! They require you to buy ammo at the range, and the last time we went, they charge $25 for a box of Remington UMC 9mmP ball, and $15 for a box of 9mmP reloads. No refund if you turn in your brass.
FFL transfers are done at an economical $60 (yes, $60) per transfer. I also recall seeing a SIG P226 on sale for somewhere around $800. Range fee is $10/hour, and if you want targets, eye protection and ear protection, you'll have to pay extra for each. Lastly, their sales and range staff were rude and generally unknowledgeable. Thank you, but no. We're not going here again.
Target World, in Chalfont. We don't know how much they charge. We don't know how their range is. We don't know how much they want for ammo. All we know is that we were summarily thrown out of the range for no apparent reason, before we even got registered! The guy at the desk started by telling one of our members that she couldn't go into the range because she forgot her ID. Okay, no problem. He blamed the ATF, as all us gun people are wont to do, and despite the fact that her husband was over 21 and had ID to prove it, (what, if I take my kid into the range I can't let him or her use a handgun?) they sat out.
When another of our members (Martin) reached for a registration form, he asked Martin rather sharply, "You with these people?" Well, I thought he had seen us all enter in a big group, but you never know. But then he got in Martin's face ("You got a problem? Because if you got a problem, you can leave right now!") when Martin supposedly rolled his eyes at the guy or something.
So another member (Justin) who was standing at the front of the group tried to calm the desk guy down. Justin said, "Look, don't worry about it." Far from being pacified, the clerk told us to take our business elsewhere and threw us out of the range.
Well, we don't know why we got thrown out. All we know is that we were pretty ticked off that we *were* thrown out, and for no apparent good reason. So if you ask us, we'll tell you not to shoot there. We think that it's guys like that who give the rest of us shooters a bad name.
The Firing Line at Front & Tasker. Most of the ranges in the city require you to purchase ammo at the range.
However, if we had to recommend an indoor range in Philadelphia, the Firing Line is probably the best one, charging $15 for a box of UMC 9mmP factory ball; they also sell 3D reloads for around $7-8 per box. They will also give you some money back if you turn in your brass.
$15 in range time covers you for the entire day (not just one hour) and they have a reasonable line of handguns available for rent. Targets, hearing protection, and eye protection are provided with the range fee. The range isn't the most technologically advanced in the world--it gets rather cold in the winter--but the staff is friendly enough. The prices for handguns aren't that great, but for Philadelphia, they're not so bad.
The owner of the Firing Line is often seen on TV, whenever FOX Philadelphia does a story on guns, as he is a vocal proponent of gun rights. The owner is Greg Isabella (thanks to Bob Tallet for this info).
They have a web site, so check it out.
The PA Game Commission Range at French Creek. This public range, out near Phoenixville in the French Creek Game Preserve, is free to any and all comers. Rifle ranges at 50/100 meters, pistol range at 25 meters, and skeet range. Supervision is lax; often there is no park ranger to supervise the range, so everyone is on their own.
There is a three round limit to every gun, although this regulation is sporadically enforced. We couldn't see putting only three rounds in a revolver, but that's what we've done so far. One shooter we met at the range told us that violation gets you a $100 ticket, so be careful. Especially if you have a military-style rifle...we noticed a park ranger scrutinizing us rather closely when we broke out the Maadi ARM, but we kept only three rounds in the magazine and no problems resulted.
The French Creek range is about an hour and a half outside the city, but it's one of the few places that you can shoot rifle and shotgun in our area. And while you can't rent guns or buy ammo there, the range fee ($0) can't be beat. If you find yourself in the area without ammunition or targets, you might want to stop by French Creek Outfitters, on Route 100 near the intersection of Route 100 and 23 for supplies. It's not the most economical place to shop, but it's convenient.
Targetmaster's, on 202 in Chadds Ford. A spacious indoor facility with full service gunstore right near Concord Mall. This facility was recently constructed, and is clean and well-lit. You can bring in your own ammunition, as long as it isn't Blazer ammunition.
One nice feature about their range is that you can shoot shotgun and rifle. For shotguns, you can shoot anything except for steel shot. For rifle, you can shoot some centerfire calibers, but not all. Check with the rangemaster for acceptable calibers.
They require you to purchase an IPSC target to mount your regular paper targets on, but that's about it. Range fees are reasonable, and they will supply hearing and eye protection--not sure if they charge extra. They have a good selection of weapons for rent, including several fully-automatic weapons.
Their gun shop has a good selection of firearms, and they really shine when it comes to factory rebuilt Glocks. They also stock reloading equipment and supplies, including Dillon presses and accessories.
They also have a web site, so check it out.
Avon Lake, in Avondale. Avon Lake is out in the boondocks, near Route 41 as you head out of Avondale. This is not the place to go shooting for one day, as you cannot buy a single day pass; you must sign up for the entire year. However, a whole year's membership is $30, which entitles you to all the facilities, which include a fishing hole, quarry for swimming, and other niceties.
Avon Lake's ranges are outdoor affairs--you can't rent guns or buy targets or ammunition there, so bring your own. The handgun/.22 LR range is 25 yards. No rapid fire, handguns limited to ten rounds at a time. The rifle/shotgun range has a *one* round limit, and ranges at 50/100 yards. A skeet range is next to the pistol range; they have biweekly skeet shoots as well. There is also an archery range.
Palmyra Sportsmens Association, in Palmyra. This is one of the nicest ranges we've ever seen. Situated on a massive campus in Palmyra, Pennsylvania (near Harrisburg), this club boasts two indoor pistol ranges, an indoor archery range, outdoor archery range, skeet/trap field, three (or four) outdoor pistol bays with steel plates and bowling pin tables, another huge outdoor pistol range with target frames (typically for PPC matches) and an outdoor rifle range (50/100/200 meters). And all this for a scant $30 per year. No prohibition on rapid fire or drawing from holsters, and you can use your own ammo and targets. Well, you have to use your own ammo and targets anyway, because there is no place to buy such items. The clubhouse has a cafe and vending machines. The only restriction that we know if is that you cannot shoot jacketed ammo at one of the indoor pistol ranges. If only they had a club like this closer to Philadelphia!
Check out Ted Murphy's favorite places to shoot in the Philadelphia area.
Another highly recommended place is Classic Pistol, located at 1310 Industrial Boulevard in Southampton. Call 215-953-7264 for more information.
Local IPSC matches are held at Lower Providence Rod & Gun, located in nearby Audubon. They normally have a table at the local Valley Forge gun shows.
Security Programs (AKA Britt's), on Blakiston off of Torresdale in Northeast Philadelphia. You can shoot your own ammo (factory or reloads) here.
Holmesburg Fish & Game on Pennypack Street, next to the Police Academy right off of State road.
The following is from the rangemaster at Cumberland Riflemen, Inc.: "Our range is located on Route 49 on the Millville/Vineland border approx. 3 miles east of Route 55. Our range is all outdoors at this time, it includes a pistol range with 25 and 50 yrd. target frames a rifle range with benches 100 yds and a 600 yd. high power range with shooting lines at 200, 300, and 600 yds. Membership is $45.00 per year and if you come out to a work party to help keep the range clean we credit $25.00 toward your next years dues ($20.00 a year ). We do charge a service fee the first year of $40.00 to join the club. All members will get a ID badge, a club patch, and a key to the range Hours for the range are sunup to sundown. And the range is closed during shotgun deer season. Members must bring there own target and ammo as there is no store on the grounds. If anyone should forget, there is a gun shop (Butch's Gun Shop) just off the Route 54 exit of Route 55 in Vineland about a 10 min ride from the range. People to contact are Ken Hignutt (609)-825-3099 or Frank Hignutt (609)-293-0230. Questions and application request can also be emailed to their e-mail address. Please include your address and or Email address for applications."
The following is from Ready Aim Fire, a target range in Bristol, PA. "We currently have 11 position-25 yard lanes. You can bring in your own ammo or purchase our reload or factory ammo - reload 9 mm, 115 gr/ RN/TCJ $9.75. Factory ammo Winchester for 9mm is $10.99 - Our reloads are superior! The range is state-of-the-art ventilation using Hepa filters. The range time is $12 per person, you can purchase our targets and rent eye and ear protection - or bring your own. Targets range from .50 - $1.25 - most popular are the $1.00 category. Eye & ear protection is rented together for $1.00. With everything combined that's an average of $14.00 + ammo."
IDPA, PPC, CMP, NRA Action Pistol, blackpowder and Speed Steel matches in our area are held at Luzerne County Law Enforcement Officers and Associates, Inc. That's a hike from Philadelphia, it's just off the Wilkes-Barre exit on the Northeast Extension to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. But we don't know of any Pennsylvania IDPA club that is closer.
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