This has been discussed before and don't mean to beat a dead horse . . . but
My wife and I moved to a condo in ton a couple of years ago - hard to leave the hose we lived on for the past 45 or so years on the farm - I had a 50 yard range out back where I could shoot both pistol and rifle so miss it after the house was sold. A couple off years ago, in the city near us (15 miles away) a sign went up on a building that a indoor shooting range was coming . . . it's on the way to where we get our dogs groomed so we kept our eyes open, thinking it would open "soon".
"Soon" was about a year and a half later - they had a website but all it kept saying was "coming soon" - had a place to sign up for their e-mail list - signed up twice but never got a thing from them announcing their opening, information or anything else. Hmmmmm . . . .
When we got back from AZ this spring, they finally opened. Again, no e-mails announcing opening, rates, info, etc.
Today, we had the dogs to the groomers and when we went to pick thump this afternoon, we had a few minutes to kill so my wife pulled in to the range parking lot so I could go in and see what it was, get rates, etc. One care in the parking lot. The outside looks nice, nice canopy over their door with their name on it and when I went inside, they have a showroom that's pretty decent size - lot's of ARs on the wall and glass display counters with an over abundance of semi-autos - neither my cup of tea but hey, everyone likes different things. There was a lady behind the counter, I told her I was stopping in to see what their facility was like and to get information on rates, etc. Her reply was . . . "a list of our rates is over there on the wall" . . . not real helpful. I stepped over and a young man came out . . . we got to talking and I told him why I had stopped in. I should mention that these two were most likely "employees". I told him I'd like to know what things they had to offer . . . no one was there to shoot and neither offered to show me the range room. I told him I was glad they were open finally as I had been waiting as I thought it would make a good place to come shoot. His reply . . . "we have a website . . . you can go there to sign up for our e-mail list". Ahhhh . . . "I've down that . . . twice . .. . and never received anything." His reply . . . "Oh". After a few minutes, I discovered he was a kid that went through the school my wife used to teach at . . . one of those who was usually the topic of conversation in the teacher's lounge for bad behavior . . . but hey . . kids grow up and he seemed like a decent kid.
We talked a little more and I told him that I cast and reload and was glad they were open as I enjoyed shooting my vintage revolvers. His reply, "We don't allow reloads to be shot here . . . they are dangerous . . and we don't allow lead either. You have to shoot jacketed bullets." Huh?
Now I realize that they want to sell the ammo but c'mon. I then explained that I couldn't shoot jacketed as I shoot a '51 Colt open top Richards and Mason conversion as well as a vintage 1910 Colt Army Special and my vintage Smith M & P revolver . . . and that I would only shoot lead in them as that was what was intended to be shot in them. He didn't have a clue as to what I was even talking about. O..K. He's young . . . .
I politely thanked them and then said that I wouldn't be back and would let others I know that they couldn't shoot there either due to what they normally shoot. Now I realize that these two were most likely employees . . . but grossly undertrained ones at best. No offer to show me around so I could see their shooting area, etc. and the comment about reloads being "dangerous" sot of made me feel like I was probably shooting with one foot in the grave with what I shoot. I quickly scanned their rate sheet and saw that they give a $2.00 discount to L.E., First Responders and Veterans. I asked if they also gave the discount to retired L.E. and F.D. since I am a retired fireman . . . ahhhh . . . "no". Again, hug? Now the $2.00 discount isn't going to make me or break me but I was surprised when he came back with "no". Any other indoor range that I have shot at in AZ always give a discount as a means of showing appreciation . . . which I appreciate as they always ask everyone . . "are you active or retired LE., F.D., Veteran, etc. and I certainly don't expect a discount but it is nice of them to offer it. Not so at this range . . .O.K. . . . you have to make a profit to keep your doors open.
After explaining to the young man that I only shoot lead anomy reloads due to the revolvers I shoot, he turns around and asks me if I'm going to want to rent a lane.
My reply . . . "Thanks for your time but I won't be coming back . . . and tell your boss that he really needs to "rethink" a few of his restrictions as he is turning business away." I politely thanked them again for their time and left.
Am I ticked and P.O.'d? No . . . but after waiting for what seemed a long time for them to open I was kind looking forward to maybe having a decent indoor range to go shoot at. But it's their business and they can run it as they please I guess. Funny thing though . . . my area is about 30 miles form the Republik of Ann Arbor . . . and a really nice indoor range opened up there a year or so ago. When my wife and I were in the area, we stopped in and they gave us a nice tour of the facility, answered any question I had and they have no problem with lead or reloads as they realize a lot of folks shoot SA revolvers or vintage ones that were designed for lead . . in fact, they went out of their way to make me feel welcome and even offered a "special" the first time so you could see if you liked their facility . . which I'm sure would be a great place to shoot. The folks that worked there are very knowledgeable and if one didn't know something, they had another one who could answer the question - i.e. some were AR shooters, some SA shooters, etc. Both my wife and I were talking that it was a breath of fresh air to find such a place in a town that is pretty much "tipped left".
When I walked out of the range we stopped at today . . . I guess I was not only feeling "old" but maybe a bit "old fashioned" that I reloaded, cast and shot vintage revolvers . . . the city it is in has always been a "working man's city" . . . but I almost felt like I was a "deplorable". Oh well, I'll find another place to shoot. LOL