Gun Ranges

 

Firearms are NOT permitted on ARC/Moffett Field.  (Don't even try to bring a gun through security.)  However, some clubs rent guns, and others will allow you to store your own guns there when you're not shooting.  If you're interested in using a firing range while you're here, look around, there's probably one that can accommodate you.

 

If you're under 18, you have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Also, most ranges have a long list of safety rules.  While most of them are common-sense - follow the range master's instructions, wear eye and ear protection, don't point your gun at anything you're not planning to shoot, etc. - some will be less obvious.  For example, many ranges have rules against rapid fire, requiring several seconds between shots.  Read them carefully.

 

Unless otherwise stated, AMMUNITION IS NOT INCLUDED in shooting fees.  It's usually not cheap, either.

 

Information on places to fire unusual weapons - muzzleloaders, Civil War or Wild West era guns, automatic weapons, etc. - would be a particularly welcome addition to this page.

 

Field Sports Park

Description:  Run by the county of Santa Clara.  The range is outdoor, but has covered firing positions.  They have pistol and rifle ranges, maintain locations for skeet and trap shooting, and allow the use of black powder weapons.  The web site does not specify whether guns can be rented there.

Web Site:  http://tinyurl.com/58edzo (the real url is really obnoxious; you can find it with a search at http://sccvote.org/portal/site/parks/)

Location:  9580 Malech Road, San Jose, CA

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  30 minutes to 45 minutes

Public Transit: 

Hours:

May 1 to September 30:  Wed 10 AM to 4 PM, Thu 12 PM to 8 PM, Fri 12 PM to 4 PM, Sat & Sun 8 AM to 4 PM (closed Mon and Tue)

October 1 to April 30:  as above, but Thu is only 12 PM to 6 PM

Cost:  $12 per shooter (2 hour time limit for the 200 yard range, no time limit elsewhere)

 

Jackson Arms Shooting Range

Description:  A 75-foot indoor range attached to a retail gun shop.  Handguns and long guns (rifles and shotguns) are available for rent.  However, weapons are only rented to groups of two or more people.  Black powder weapons can be fired Mon - Fri from 11 AM to 12 PM only (black powder weapons make a lot of smoke).  The .50 BMG round (used in the M2 heavy machinegun and a few ridiculously large rifles) is expressly prohibited.

Classes are also offered.

Web Site:  http://tinyurl.com/58edzo (the real url is really obnoxious; you can find it with a search at http://sccvote.org/portal/site/parks/)

Location:  152 Utah Avenue, South San Francisco, CA

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  30 minutes to 45 minutes

Public Transit: 

Hours:  Mon - Fri 11AM to 9 PM, Sat 10 AM to 9 PM, Sun 10 AM to 7 PM

Cost:

$14 per hour for a pistol lane, $16 per hour for a pistol lane

$12 to $20 per hour for a rental handgun

$15 per hour for a rental long gun

$1.50 (flat) to rend ear/eye protection

 

Pacific Rod and Gun Club

Description:  Primarily a trap and skeet range, with a 50-foot indoor range for .22 rifles and pellet guns.  The rifle/pellet range appears to be available only to members, but a fee for it is not listed.  Incidentally, although the name indicates it to be a rod and gun club, the web site has little or no information on fishing.  The club was established in 1928, so it's possible that it used to involve fishing but no longer does (and the name was never changed), or it may just be that no one has bothered to put the fishing information on the web.

Web Site:  http://www.prgc.net/

Location:  520 John Muir Drive, San Francisco, CA

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  42 minutes to 1 hour

Public Transit: 

Hours:  Wed, Sat, & Sun from 11 AM to 5 PM

Cost:

membership is $100 per year, with a $75 initiation fee

$8 per 25-target round of trap and skeet ($4 for members)

 

San Jose Municipal Firing Range

Description:  Also referred to as "the 10th Street range", it's a rifle and pistol range, with limited calibers.  Pistols must be .22 to .45 (no magnums or full metal jacket ammunition), rifles are limited to 22 LR only (and air rifles). a trap and skeet range, with a 50-foot indoor range for .22 rifles and pellet guns.  The range doesn't appear to have its own site, but there's a lot of information on the Santa Clara Valley Rifle Club site.

Web Site:  http://www.scvrc.com/10th_street.htm

Location:  1580 South 10th Street, San Jose, CA

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  21 minutes to 25 minutes

Public Transit: 

Hours:  Tue, Wed, & Fri from 5:30 PM 9:30 PM, Sat 2 PM to 5 PM

Cost:  $5 per hour

 

Sunnyvale Rod and Gun Club

Description:  This is the shooting range closest to ARC/Moffett Field.  It is operated by its volunteer members, and those members have many more shooting hours available each week (non-members are limited to Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and every other Sunday).  The club holds regular shooting events, including "SASS Cowboy Shooting" the 1st and 3rd Monday night of each month (thus, shooters are limited to members only; it is not clear whether non-member spectators are allowed); participants are limited to 1800s period weapons and are encouraged to wear period clothing.

Despite the name, the club is located in Cupertino, not Sunnyvale.  As with the Pacific Rod and Gun Club, it's not clear that they do any fishing.

Web Site:  http://www.scvrc.com/10th_street.htm

Location:  11998 Stevens Canyon Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  20 minutes

Public Transit: 

Hours: 

Rifle and Pistol Range

   Tue 9 AM to 9 PM

   Fri & Sat 9 AM to 5 PM

   Sun 10 AM to 3 PM (1st and 3rd Sundays of each month only)

   Closed Mon, Wed, Thu

Trap Range

    Tue 5 PM to 9 PM   Sat 9 AM to 5 PM

   Sun 10 AM to 3 PM (1st and 3rd Sundays of each month only)

   Closed Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri

Member Hours

   Mon - Fri 9 AM to 9 PM

   Sat 9 AM to 6 PM

   Sun 10 AM to 3 PM (1st and 3rd Sundays of each month only)

Cost:  $12 per day for the pistol/rifle range, $5 for 25 trap target

 

 

 

Sources for adding other locations

 

http://www.firearmsinstitute.com/Places_to_shoot/gun_clubs_ca.htm - a long list of ranges in California

http://130.94.182.159/rangesca.htm - another list of ranges, by "The Gun Guy"

http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/parg/gunclb.html - Bay area gun clubs

http://www.traderscreek.com/gun_clubs/california.asp - a list of gun clubs in California