Reviews: FCO, Claytons, Target World

**Auriemma** · March 5th, 2017, 10:47 AM

I was looking at the local (to me) ranges to consider which to get a pistol membership. Here are my thoughts on each:

French Creek Outfitters - Phoenixville
Fairly large Outdoor sports store with a decent gun section. Range staff was indifferent. Sales staff was friendly and knowledgeable.

The range has 5 lanes. The sound damping is fairly shot up (including the ceilings). The target system is the manual switch type with no markings on the walls for estimating distance. The lighting was OK, not great.
$15/hr. $225/year.

Clayton's Range - Horsham
Fully stocked gun shop. Small store loaded wall to wall with ammo and accessories. The walking space is tight when it's crowded. The cases are full us handguns, the staff is helpful and knowledgeable with an on sight gunsmith.

The range has 8 lanes, well lit, with a manual target system with markings on the walls to help judge distance. The air exchange system does very well and keeps the range cooler than you would expect. Sound damping was OK, seemed louder than the other ranges. Very long waits on crowded days. I was 7th in line when I arrived. Took about 90 minutes to get a lane (not complaining, just saying).
$20/hr. $200/year

Target World - Chalfont
Fully stocked gun shop. Two floors of everything from ammo to safes. Staff is courteous and knowledgeable.

The range is has 15 lanes, is clean, bright, and modern. The target system is computerized and easy to use. The air exchange system works well and the range is kept comfortable. The sound damping is quieter than the others. I've been there 4x and have yet to wait. That being said, the line when I left was growing. Guess I've been lucky so far. They have a few more rules than the other ranges, and hold you to them. But most are common sense anyway. If they don't know you or haven't shot there before, you can expect to be treated like a noob until you show you know what you're doing. It's their way of keeping things safe... like it or not. It's fine by me, being new to shooting.
$20/hr. $250/year.

I preferred Target World enough to get a 1 year Pistol Membership.

**Muscle Master** · March 5th, 2017, 11:20 AM

I work in Chalfont for the moment, everybody from that area always have bad things to say about target world.. think I'll check it out for myself

I hate that claytons is always croweded.. they have a very safe range with that high tech filtration system, Ammo there is fairly price considering all things

Edit... did you see the $2500 Colt Python in the case at claytons... if only I had the money lol

**itchinesu** · March 5th, 2017, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Muscle Master

I work in Chalfont for the moment, everybody from that area always have bad things to say about target world.

You used to hear more horror stories about Clayton's. Fortunately the owner is so busy with background checks these days that he has a lot less interaction with patrons. I am not a fan of the range nazis at Target World, my worst experience was having to listen to one explain why AR & AK pistols are too dangerous to shoot there despite half a dozen previous visits without incident. Whatever, their range / their rules. I shot at French Creek yesterday for the first time in a while, it's worth mentioning that for the most part, you can't shoot rifle calibers on their range. They also only allow brass cased ammo, I witnessed one of the older range officers scream at someone for shooting steel last year. It was pretty unprofessional, the shooter wasn't doing anything unsafe to warrant being bitched out like that. Target World allows aluminum case ammo, & Clayton's will let you shoot anything. I am not a fan of steel or aluminum but shooters on a budget may take that into consideration.

**Auriemma** · March 5th, 2017, 12:02 PM

You can have range nazis at any range. Careless shooters as well. Ranges with their own specific rules (Their house. Their rules). It's how it goes. Just yesterday at TW, an RSO stopped me and asked if I would shoot lower down on the target. I use 11x17 sheets with (6) 5" targets, hung vertically. He asked I hang it horizontally, with less chance of hitting the ceiling. He was very polite about it and explained his reasons. No worries.

Don't get me wrong, I would shoot at any of these ranges.

**Muscle Master** · March 5th, 2017, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Auriemma

You can have range nazis at any range. Careless shooters as well. Ranges with their own specific rules (Their house. Their rules). It's how it goes. Just yesterday at TW, an RSO stopped me and asked if I would shoot lower down on the target. I use 11x17 sheets with (6) 5" targets, hung vertically. He asked I hang it horizontally, with less chance of hitting the ceiling. He was very polite about it and explained his reasons. No worries.

Don't get me wrong, I would shoot at any of these ranges.

I can definitely understand the range nazism... gotta keep the cost down from range repairs, I don't particularly know the requirements of building a dedicated range but I'm sure the owner doesn't want to pass costly repairs onto consumers

**itchinesu** · March 5th, 2017, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Muscle Master

I I don't particularly know the requirements of building a dedicated range but I'm sure the owner doesn't want to pass costly repairs onto consumers

Target World is happy to charge patrons for repairs. I saw a guy pulled off the line for accidentally shooting the carrier, I think he was charged something like $50 extra.