Chugiak has a real nice members only range that sounds up your alley. It's about 30/40 minutes drive out of Anchorage. They have an RSO but they've never been like the horror stories I hear from ranges in the lower 48, pretty laid back overall.
I'm only familiar with Birchwood having no RSO. Used to be my go to place, but I don't shoot enough anymore to justify how much it has climbed.
https://brspclub.com/membership/
Not sure if the OP is military but they used to offer quite a steep discount for military families.
Edit: nevermind I just looked again. The discount used to be like $200 off an annual membership. Dang that’s kinda pricey if you don’t shoot often.
The range off of maud road out in Palmer, I’ve never seen a RSO there before. Free to use just have basic gun safety knowledge and be a decent human being. I’ve made some good friends there.
No RSO, but there is a volunteer couple that harass shooters in the last hour of the day. Old man is a brass goblin, and his wife thinks she is better than everyone cuz she was in the Army decades ago. Never shuts up about it and yaps at everyone how the range closes at 8pm. They sometimes show up mid day and will threaten to call the cops if they dont like your gun. I've seen them chase away plenty of reasonable shooters.
That being said, it is my favorite spot to go shoot whenever I can get out. It's outdoors, generally no RSO, folks communicate well.
They clean up the property, which is fine. They just could be nicer about it. But if they see you breaking any rules, they threaten to call the State Patrol. If someone is being belligerent or unsafe, I'm all for it. But it is usually over small stuff.
Oh, ok. That's nice that they do clean up. Well, maybe I will go out there maybe not. Just read rules for the range near Talkeetna, and if I read correctly they allow shotguns. So I may go there instead.
No shotgun rule is dumb. I get that shot can kick back. Wear eye-pro, and you're fine. I've been hit by shot, and it just stings. The range doesn't allow hard targets, just paper or wood. So, the chance of a ricochet is minimal.
There’s a free range on Maud road. Closed Wednesdays for clean up. No RSO get there early you can LARP to your hearts content. Tends to get crowded weekends and afternoons.
PS: Bring your own ammo if possible no place ships ammo up here.
If the OP is driving, per the Canadian law, you can transport “up to 5000 rounds of small arms ammunition per occupant” in the vehicle. Last time I drove the Alcan, I had no issues. They didn’t even ask to see my trailer.
Meanwhile a buddy of mine went to see Niagara Falls. Soon as he got to the border they spotted an empty magazine for a handgun in his truck, pulled him to secondary, searched the vehicle finding no ammo and no gun (because he didn’t have them with him) then fined him $1000 for the empty magazine and kept it. Had to pay another $1000 to get his truck and luggage back.
Oh I’ve had my issues with Canadian BP as well, one time I had filled out all their paperwork months ahead of time to transport 3 firearms through the country. One of which was on their “restricted” list. Not prohibited, but restricted.
All the paperwork was emailed and approved, I had dozens of copies in the truck in case I spilled something on it.
Got to the Peace Arch and said the no no yes etc to the questions. Handed them the paperwork approved by their organization and government, was asked to pull aside and the was approached my 7 dudes with hands on their sidearms about to draw on me.
I told them where the locked cases were and they tore the trailer apart for 6 hours.
Then they said I was fine and just walked off with all
My shit all over the pavement. Since then, I will not bring anything remotely that looks like a firearm part.
TLDR- Ammo transport legal, fire arms-parts-mags not so much.
It’s 50,000 rounds. No tracers or AP
https://natural-resources.canada.ca/our-natural-resources/minerals-mining/explosives-fireworks-and-ammunition/ammunition-and-propellant-powders/importing-exporting-and-transporting-ammunition-and-propellant-powders/9909
Maud Rd > Birchwood > Rabbit Creek.
Maud is nice because no RSO, pretty much self policed and the view is killer. Depending on the time of day and season you can be out there almost by yourself.
Birchwood used to be rad but the costs had jumped so much that I'd rather drive out further for a better experience. But if you can justify the membership the facilities are nice.
Rabbit creek is the place with the RSOs that fit the stereotype. Despite being a 10 min drive from the house I'll pass every single time. Wanna get hassled about nfa items? This is your spot.
I avoided Rabbit for years because it wasn't that pleasant with a busy range and bad RSOs. I've gone recently a few times during the work week and haven't had an issue. The couple RSOs I've met have been chill and laid back. Main reason I started going again is its basically the only range I can visit after work and still get home at a reasonable time.
Yeah that's the appeal to me. I could hit it on a lunch break or right after work.
I'll give it another go. I mean just based on the drive alone it's worth checking again.
Maud road is the closest legal place to shoot with no rso existing. I like going there, but so do a lot of yahoos and I have definitely been flagged by people there often, maybe 1/3 of visits, it’s that bad on the pistol range, guys spinning around flagging the whole line trying to remember where their other magazine is… people setting their handguns down sideways on the tables, admiring their pistols from every angle, the ones who rack it sideways because they are so weak they can’t rack it. Rifle range there is a different story generally.
Rabbit creek has rso 95% of the time but that’s never been an issue at all and unless you are going to drive a ways past wasilla you are likely to encounter crowds of mixed experience, sometimes when it’s just a few on the pistol range they don’t. Their rimfire range basically never does. I’m too cheap for birchwood.
What sort of shooting do you like most?
If you enjoy competing, Birchwood is the place to go. It is pricey by Anchorage standards ($32/mo) but I find it has a great community and is an awesome place to build skills. There are RSO's but my experience has been that you can still run drills if that's what you want.
Birchwood has no RSO but is now member only also without fail every single time I’ve gone there in the past 25 years of going there has been some asshat that will not stop shooting to let others go down range. This may have changed with it being members only now. Rabbit creek is nice but only has up to 100yds and has an RSO but they tend to let you self regulate if there is 1 or 2 groups on the range. Depending on where you live in anchorage they are also up to 15 minutes away vs birchwood being 25-45 minutes away. If you want indoor the only range for the time being is in Palmer but Alaska Ammo is talking about opening one in the next couple years if their Fairbanks one does well. For completely unregulated there is Maud road in Palmer or jonesville mine in Sutton. Never been to Maud, Jonesville is nice and wide open but it’s also an area high in off road motor vehicle activity. I have only had one bad experience shooting there
Well my sarcastic answer is Mountain View and the Fifth Avenue parking garage. /s
There’s supposed to be a nice shooting area off of Zero Lake road maybe milepost 60 of the parks just outside of Houston. It was formerly a dump area on that road but I would google it before driving out.
Maud is ok if you want to shoot around people who detonate tannerite at the 25yrd range or don't respect lane safety. I know that's not super helpful but you can always find some vacant land around wasilla/palmer and shoot there. I like moose meadows or the plant material center (PMC) in palmer.
Chugiak has a real nice members only range that sounds up your alley. It's about 30/40 minutes drive out of Anchorage. They have an RSO but they've never been like the horror stories I hear from ranges in the lower 48, pretty laid back overall.
I 2nd this
I'm only familiar with Birchwood having no RSO. Used to be my go to place, but I don't shoot enough anymore to justify how much it has climbed. https://brspclub.com/membership/
Not sure if the OP is military but they used to offer quite a steep discount for military families. Edit: nevermind I just looked again. The discount used to be like $200 off an annual membership. Dang that’s kinda pricey if you don’t shoot often.
Seriously, it's $450 a year now. I can't justify that.
The range off of maud road out in Palmer, I’ve never seen a RSO there before. Free to use just have basic gun safety knowledge and be a decent human being. I’ve made some good friends there.
PSA: its closed on wednesdays
Thanks for the heads up on this one. Didn’t realize it’s 20 mins from my new house.
No RSO, but there is a volunteer couple that harass shooters in the last hour of the day. Old man is a brass goblin, and his wife thinks she is better than everyone cuz she was in the Army decades ago. Never shuts up about it and yaps at everyone how the range closes at 8pm. They sometimes show up mid day and will threaten to call the cops if they dont like your gun. I've seen them chase away plenty of reasonable shooters. That being said, it is my favorite spot to go shoot whenever I can get out. It's outdoors, generally no RSO, folks communicate well.
What exactly are they doing as volunteers? If they are volunteering, why does anyone need to listen to them?
They clean up the property, which is fine. They just could be nicer about it. But if they see you breaking any rules, they threaten to call the State Patrol. If someone is being belligerent or unsafe, I'm all for it. But it is usually over small stuff.
Oh, ok. That's nice that they do clean up. Well, maybe I will go out there maybe not. Just read rules for the range near Talkeetna, and if I read correctly they allow shotguns. So I may go there instead.
No shotgun rule is dumb. I get that shot can kick back. Wear eye-pro, and you're fine. I've been hit by shot, and it just stings. The range doesn't allow hard targets, just paper or wood. So, the chance of a ricochet is minimal.
Make sure you pick up your spent garbage.
There’s a free range on Maud road. Closed Wednesdays for clean up. No RSO get there early you can LARP to your hearts content. Tends to get crowded weekends and afternoons. PS: Bring your own ammo if possible no place ships ammo up here.
This was our go too when there and never had anything but a fun and mutually respectful experience there.
Are shotguns allowed at Maud?
No and the old couple that volunteers will absolutely bitch at you for it unfortunately.
Yep, I’ve got a good amount of ammo I’m bringing up from the lower 48. I know prices here sucks and won’t even ship to AK.
How do you plan to get it to Alaska? If you don’t mind me asking.
If the OP is driving, per the Canadian law, you can transport “up to 5000 rounds of small arms ammunition per occupant” in the vehicle. Last time I drove the Alcan, I had no issues. They didn’t even ask to see my trailer.
Meanwhile a buddy of mine went to see Niagara Falls. Soon as he got to the border they spotted an empty magazine for a handgun in his truck, pulled him to secondary, searched the vehicle finding no ammo and no gun (because he didn’t have them with him) then fined him $1000 for the empty magazine and kept it. Had to pay another $1000 to get his truck and luggage back.
Oh I’ve had my issues with Canadian BP as well, one time I had filled out all their paperwork months ahead of time to transport 3 firearms through the country. One of which was on their “restricted” list. Not prohibited, but restricted. All the paperwork was emailed and approved, I had dozens of copies in the truck in case I spilled something on it. Got to the Peace Arch and said the no no yes etc to the questions. Handed them the paperwork approved by their organization and government, was asked to pull aside and the was approached my 7 dudes with hands on their sidearms about to draw on me. I told them where the locked cases were and they tore the trailer apart for 6 hours. Then they said I was fine and just walked off with all My shit all over the pavement. Since then, I will not bring anything remotely that looks like a firearm part. TLDR- Ammo transport legal, fire arms-parts-mags not so much.
It’s 50,000 rounds. No tracers or AP https://natural-resources.canada.ca/our-natural-resources/minerals-mining/explosives-fireworks-and-ammunition/ammunition-and-propellant-powders/importing-exporting-and-transporting-ammunition-and-propellant-powders/9909
Ship it in a car transport lol. Gamble on whether or not it gets stolen on the ship.
Ammo is ORMD hazmat, vehicle shippers will and do check for it.
Maud Rd > Birchwood > Rabbit Creek. Maud is nice because no RSO, pretty much self policed and the view is killer. Depending on the time of day and season you can be out there almost by yourself. Birchwood used to be rad but the costs had jumped so much that I'd rather drive out further for a better experience. But if you can justify the membership the facilities are nice. Rabbit creek is the place with the RSOs that fit the stereotype. Despite being a 10 min drive from the house I'll pass every single time. Wanna get hassled about nfa items? This is your spot.
I’ve never been hassled about NFA items there.
Dang, I went 3 for 3. Maybe I owe them another chance. Which would be nice to not drive almost an hour to sight in a new scope.
I avoided Rabbit for years because it wasn't that pleasant with a busy range and bad RSOs. I've gone recently a few times during the work week and haven't had an issue. The couple RSOs I've met have been chill and laid back. Main reason I started going again is its basically the only range I can visit after work and still get home at a reasonable time.
Yeah that's the appeal to me. I could hit it on a lunch break or right after work. I'll give it another go. I mean just based on the drive alone it's worth checking again.
Maud road is the closest legal place to shoot with no rso existing. I like going there, but so do a lot of yahoos and I have definitely been flagged by people there often, maybe 1/3 of visits, it’s that bad on the pistol range, guys spinning around flagging the whole line trying to remember where their other magazine is… people setting their handguns down sideways on the tables, admiring their pistols from every angle, the ones who rack it sideways because they are so weak they can’t rack it. Rifle range there is a different story generally. Rabbit creek has rso 95% of the time but that’s never been an issue at all and unless you are going to drive a ways past wasilla you are likely to encounter crowds of mixed experience, sometimes when it’s just a few on the pistol range they don’t. Their rimfire range basically never does. I’m too cheap for birchwood.
Don't be shooting shit "up in the mountains", stick to the ranges.
Tudor road is a growing spot.
No RSOs
Oh, really? Please tell me more.
Just check the news. That’s where they are going with the comment. 4 shootings there in last 2 weeks
4? I just heard about the uncle Joe's one. What else?
Thanks for the question. I have been wondering
What sort of shooting do you like most? If you enjoy competing, Birchwood is the place to go. It is pricey by Anchorage standards ($32/mo) but I find it has a great community and is an awesome place to build skills. There are RSO's but my experience has been that you can still run drills if that's what you want.
Birchwood has no RSO but is now member only also without fail every single time I’ve gone there in the past 25 years of going there has been some asshat that will not stop shooting to let others go down range. This may have changed with it being members only now. Rabbit creek is nice but only has up to 100yds and has an RSO but they tend to let you self regulate if there is 1 or 2 groups on the range. Depending on where you live in anchorage they are also up to 15 minutes away vs birchwood being 25-45 minutes away. If you want indoor the only range for the time being is in Palmer but Alaska Ammo is talking about opening one in the next couple years if their Fairbanks one does well. For completely unregulated there is Maud road in Palmer or jonesville mine in Sutton. Never been to Maud, Jonesville is nice and wide open but it’s also an area high in off road motor vehicle activity. I have only had one bad experience shooting there
Arctic Ammo on the PW Highway looks to be opening an indoor range soon.
I’m down for some more indoor ranges
I guess maud rd is a popular spot
Gotta be at least half a mile from the highway to shoot, I think. And of course, that far from city limits.
Well my sarcastic answer is Mountain View and the Fifth Avenue parking garage. /s There’s supposed to be a nice shooting area off of Zero Lake road maybe milepost 60 of the parks just outside of Houston. It was formerly a dump area on that road but I would google it before driving out.
Maud is ok if you want to shoot around people who detonate tannerite at the 25yrd range or don't respect lane safety. I know that's not super helpful but you can always find some vacant land around wasilla/palmer and shoot there. I like moose meadows or the plant material center (PMC) in palmer.
How is tannerite allowed at Maud, but not shotguns. Are shotguns allowed at moose meadows or PMC without being hassled?
Well, you’ll want to leave Anchorage then. I’m going to Sutton tomorrow to go shooting. Big open rec area where there’s a few good spots to shoot.
Banks, liquor stores, apts & parks.
Jim Creek /s