In need of place to shoot big 50s!

[BT Sniper]

I rarely venture out of the swaging forums of this great site but I find myself in need of some of the vast knowledge of shooters on this great site. I am also a member of the FCSA (Fifty Cal Shooters Association), a couple times a year I take out my two 50BMG rifles and complete against other shooters for score and group size at 1,000 yrds. I am getting better and I'm even making my own bullets now. Not cast, sorry, but actual jacketed match 50 cal bullets.

Here is a look at the bullets I make

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/027_zps0074d29c.jpg (http://s636.photobucket.com/user/BTSniper/media/027_zps0074d29c.jpg.html)

and the guns I shoot them from

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/067_zps2ecfc73a.jpg (http://s636.photobucket.com/user/BTSniper/media/067_zps2ecfc73a.jpg.html)

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/013_zps3a40ea62.jpg (http://s636.photobucket.com/user/BTSniper/media/013_zps3a40ea62.jpg.html)

It is getting harder to find gun clubs that allow us to shoot these awesome calibers. What a lot of fun they are too. SO far my best group is 7" at 1k with my own bullets. I am looking to break that this year. There are only a few gun ranges in the US that allow us to shoot these 50s in competition, I'm lucky to live within a three hour drive of one of these ranges.


The knowledge and information I'm looking for from you guys is any additional locations/gun clubs that might be willing to support an FCSA sanctioned shoot. We need 1,000 yrds and target area with pits that allow targets to be marked for score. Below is a rough map of the few locations that have a FCSA sanctioned shoot each year. It is marked with a 400 mile wide circle. I'm looking for some new areas in the locations outside of these circles, or heck even new locations close to them would be cool too. I'm thinking somewhere around Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Kansas City and maybe SW Texas could certainly benefit from a place to shoot and watch these awesome guns in action.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/USA%20FCSA_zpsfacumpld.png (http://s636.photobucket.com/user/BTSniper/media/USA%20FCSA_zpsfacumpld.png.html)

Here is a look at the "pits" that protect the scorer and allow use to score the targets quickly while the shooter is still on the clock.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/024_zps34a7b354.jpg (http://s636.photobucket.com/user/BTSniper/media/024_zps34a7b354.jpg.html)

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/022_zps7ad0a628.jpg (http://s636.photobucket.com/user/BTSniper/media/022_zps7ad0a628.jpg.html)

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/023_zps1bf51b93.jpg (http://s636.photobucket.com/user/BTSniper/media/023_zps1bf51b93.jpg.html)

and a look at the range I shoot/compete at

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/021_zps0c18eba5.jpg (http://s636.photobucket.com/user/BTSniper/media/021_zps0c18eba5.jpg.html)



If you know of any gun ranges that might meet the requirements to allow such a match please feel free to let me know. If you are ever in the area of these matches I urge you to look into checking it out, ask to help in the pits, it is awesome to see the bullets strike the target and hear the crack of the bullet pass by. Ask questions from the shooters, I have known members to let others shoot their big 50s before! How cool is that!

Here is a link to the dates these matches will be held, the black circles on the map represent where they are. Certainly some of you must be in driving distance of these locations and would love to see, take part or even shoot a big 50BMG!

http://www.fcsa.org/wwwroot/visitors/matches.php

Thanks for the help

Good shooting and swage on!

Brian Thurner

[MaryB]

Pretty sure Minnesota has a couple places... I saw one of the 50 shooters talking about a match at Fort Riply(national guard camp). Plus there is a range up north of Minneapolis...

[Fishman]

Well that just looks badazz. There is a 1000 yd range northeast of Waco tx but I'll have to check for the name, can't recall it.

Edit - it is Tiger Valley. Tigervalley.com. I've looked over their website in the past and have been put off by the whole "operator" and "sniper" training aspect. Expensive too. I'd just love to go lob some bullets at that range. However, they may cater to sanctioned matches I don't know. It's in one of the black circles :)

[GoodOlBoy]

go to the Texas Mexican boarder and shoot at targets on the far southern bank. Nobody will complain, you'll get practice, and you'll help keep traffic down in that location for a day or two :p

GoodOlBoy

[MBTcustom]

You really expect those nasty looking bullets to make it 1000 yards?
:kidding:
Love the bipod on the second one. Looks simple and effective. The only 1000 yard range I know of in Arkansas is run by the military. Better look to Texas.

[BT Sniper]

Pretty sure Minnesota has a couple places... I saw one of the 50 shooters talking about a match at Fort Riply(national guard camp). Plus there is a range up north of Minneapolis...

Minnesota would fill a nice hole in our map. Let me know if you come across any info or contacts.

[BT Sniper]

We can go up to 50lbs total weight for our guns so the bipod feet where a couple of 5lb lead canon balls. Works well. Bullets too :)

[MaryB]

http://www.grrc.org/ has a 1k range, http://www.mnguntalk.com/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4261 is the person in MN to talk to about it

[BT Sniper]

MaryB!

Awesome! Thank you. Any idea if they allow 50s? or would consider it? Site looks perfect. I'll look into it a bit more.

For the rest of us outside of MN I'm still looking for more places interested in allowing FCSA 50cal matches.

Thanks

Brian

[MaryB]

I saw conflicting reports about what is allowed. I know the range at Fort Ripley is available to civilians at times and they are obviously rated for 50's...

[BT Sniper]

I got word from some of the FCSA members that they had heard that Gopher club frowns upon the big 50s but maybe something will change. I'll look into Fort Ripley.

Thanks

Keep the ideas and potentials coming everyone, not only are we always looking for new places to shoot but we are in a constant struggle to defend our rights to own and shoot these awesome guns. Having a venue to show a well organized shooting competition does wonders to improve the image of these great guns.

Thanks

Brian

[Artful]

Arizona

http://www.azcowtown.com/cowtown-50-cal.html
Yes

Ben Avery may let you shoot 50's on their 1000 yard Specialty Range but you have
to set up a club contract with them to be allowed on it.
They no longer allow 416 or 50's on the 200 yard public range since more housing
moved in on them - even after they increased the berm next to the freeway.
https://azgfdportal.az.gov/shooting/basf/facilities/
SO Maybe

Rio Salado - I remember No on weekend, but I think you can on lane one week days but only to 200 yards - no 1000 yard range.

Joe Foss - unknown but only 200 yards

Big Sandy Range @ Wikieup - unknown, but they do shoot M2 50bmg there
Contact Kenton Tucker (tuckercorp@cox.net) 602-327-7933 to inquire
http://mgshooters.com/
I don't know if they have 1000 yards set up but they have no facilities
so it would be primative.

Casa Grande - I've seen 'em but only 300 yard range

[BT Sniper]

Awesome help guys! Keep it coming. Thanks Artful.

BT

[garym1a2]

Here is 1000 yards in Florida, but it does not look like they have Pits.

http://www.manateegunclub.com/index_files/MatchShooting.htm

[BT Sniper]

Cool thanks.... I'll look into it.

Kept it coming guys.

Brian

[leadman]

I know the range in Casper Wyoming expanded to 1,000 yards a few years back but don't know what they allow to be shot there.

[RED333]

http://www.strategicedge.us/gun-range
You did not say anything about Tn, but this place has a 1250 yard range, just do not know about 50 BMG.
I am not a member as I can still shoot in my back yard, we can get out to about 130 yards, far enough for us.