Charlie Gage

Review of Barracks 616: Firearms Trainin...

I really like this place. It's cleaner, larger and...

I really like this place. It's cleaner, larger and closer than their primary competition. They are laid back and friendly people too.

I have to take a star for a few of reasons: First, weekends are a zoo on the range. They only have 8 lanes open to the public on weekends and they do a poor job of keeping people queued properly when they walk in. They are also disheveled when checking people in or out, often charging them and not returning ID's etc. At silver bullet there are distinct lines and the process is orderly, not 10 people storming all sides of a counter.

Second the range memberships are ridiculous. $450 dollars a year for a membership and it includes only range time, no locker, no priority scheduling, no members range, no eyes and ears provided. Top Gun offers a full year for 280 and includes eyes and ears. Barracks only gives you 30 days free range time with the purchase of a gun, Top Gun gives you 90 days free.

Third (and this is minor) they don't separate rifle and pistol ranges. The have two ranges (one is 4 bays, one is 8), but you can be out on the range with a 9mm or 22 target pistol having a great time and somebody breaks out the big rifles and you have to run to put earplugs under your muffs. They allow up to 50 cal on the regular range. Rifle and pistol.

If they ran a tighter ship on the weekends and reduced the membership to 300 (or said members get priority on weekends), I would be there a few times a week. I think they will get there though.

Lastly, silver bullet has a LOT more ammo, and at far better prices. Barracks is asking 18.99/50 of 9mm range ammo, silver bullet has range ammo (9mm FMJ) for 13:99.

That said, it's close enough that it is still my range of choice. But I will be joining an outdoor shooting club this summer instead of joining Barracks AND an outdoor club. They priced themselves out of my business with the range memberships.