French Creek Park outdoor range

[X Hunter]

I was there 2 weeks or so ago and the place was packed on a week day.
While shooting was going on, I was putting my stuff on an unoccupied bench.
There was a cease fire and people were down range so I was waiting to to get my rifle out of the truck, even though it was cased, until the range went hot.
Everyone was back at the benches except one person and two guys started goofing with their rifle.
I asked them to not do that while people were down range, they said, "It's OK, he's family."
I started to put my stuff back in the truck and the guy on the other side of my bench asked, "Are you leaving?"
I said you bet, if they do that to family, what will they do while non-family is down range?

[jlb0305]

Is there any 100 yard ranges in Chester County area that are not at clubs? Really don't feel like driving up to Wicens,

[jlb0305]

Just noticed Wicen's may not even be an option. Looking at their site, it went members only now. Guess I need to look more into one of the area clubs.

[VeeVee]

I've gone to SGL 43 quite a few times within the last year or so, the last time on Father's Day. For what it's worth, I haven't seen any unsafe behavior in those times I was there. I did have to remind someone not to handle firearms but it was toward the end of a "clear" and nobody was directly downrange anymore. However a guy went forward last minute and he was in the absolute last lane (50 yard lane) on the right. The guy on the next bench from me didn't see him. And he was apologetic about handling his rifle without checking all the lanes first. He wasn't a dick about it.

I've gone several times in the middle of the week and it was still busy. There was always a lane available, but it didn't seem like you had the range to yourself either. I think late afternoons (4pm onward) is when the place seems to reasonably empty out.

[akley88]

it wasn't that busy this afternoon when i was there surprisingly. would have thought with it getting closer to rifle season it would be a pain to get a table. There was one guy that all he seemed to be doing was trying to take other people's brass. just paced back and forth never once actually shooting a firearm. I was there for an hour to sight in and test my rebarreled PAR. some one destroyed half the 50 yard posts though.

[bigandy1966]

The range is for hunters to site their rifles in and as far as I know you are not allowed to use semi-automatic rifles for hunting. Those range rules reflect this.

yes you are, .22Lr for small game and ARs for varmints and woodchucks

[irb09]

Has anyone been lately (last 2 months) and if so has it been busy? I'd be going on a weekday soon, have never been, and would like to bring my sons (7, 17) so that they can shoot. Judging by what others have posted in this thread, I better be really lucky and have nobody else there or plan on letting my boys shoot and me supervising 100% (while watching others as well).

[Walleye Hunter]

Has anyone been lately (last 2 months) and if so has it been busy? I'd be going on a weekday soon, have never been, and would like to bring my sons (7, 17) so that they can shoot. Judging by what others have posted in this thread, I better be really lucky and have nobody else there or plan on letting my boys shoot and me supervising 100% (while watching others as well).

Not me. You could get lucky during the week since hunting season is pretty much over.

[VeeVee]

I was there this afternoon... I never thought I'd see it empty ever. For a while at least. There were at most 4 lanes occupied the whole time I was there. Lucky.

SGL43_empty.JPG

[Walleye Hunter]

Holy moly! That's not the range I remember.