Colorado newbie

[Tomjoad]

Not a long range hunter... yet. I'm a late onset hunter. Self taught at 35: bunnies, birds, deer then elk. That was over a decade ago. Never had an interest in shooting far, always enjoyed stalking close and the work of backcountry backpack hunting. I've always been concerned with ethics and meat for the table. Focus on smaller calibers careful shot placement and minimizing meat loss. None of this has had me interested in LRH but... I've started to enjoy shooting more in the past few years and finally started reloading just before the great primer shortage of 2020 commenced. I'm here to see what I can learn and who knows maybe I'll start shooting a bit farther as well. Currently shoot monos out of a 308 so that has its limitations.

 

[338 dude]

Not a long range hunter... yet. I'm a late onset hunter. Self taught at 35: bunnies, birds, deer then elk. That was over a decade ago. Never had an interest in shooting far, always enjoyed stalking close and the work of backcountry backpack hunting. I've always been concerned with ethics and meat for the table. Focus on smaller calibers careful shot placement and minimizing meat loss. None of this has had me interested in LRH but... I've started to enjoy shooting more in the past few years and finally started reloading just before the great primer shortage of 2020 commenced. I'm here to see what I can learn and who knows maybe I'll start shooting a bit farther as well. Currently shoot monos out of a 308 so that has its limitations.

Well you're definitely in the right place I mean this forum and Colorado ,lucky man some great hunting there oh and welcome to the forum from Tennessee

 

[badthirtyone]

Great intro. Lots to learn about shooting far, even if you never hunt that way. Welcome from a different part of Colorado!

 

[Tomjoad]

Great intro. Lots to learn about shooting far, even if you never hunt that way. Welcome from a different part of Colorado!

Would love to hear about options to shoot longer ranges in the Denver area. I've had access to a friends place in Wiggins with 400-500 opportunities forever but he just relocated to Fort Collins so that dried up. Where are Denver area members stretching their legs? I do occasionally poach NF or BLM but it usually seems like a tough setup.

 

[Ol' Red]

Welcome to the forum. I don't consider myself a long range hunter either. Longest distance I have harvested an animal was just over 600 yards, but love to shoot targets at long distance. It improves your shooting and makes the shorter shots easier. There is a wealth of info to be had here.

 

[badthirtyone]

Would love to hear about options to shoot longer ranges in the Denver area. I've had access to a friends place in Wiggins with 400-500 opportunities forever but he just relocated to Fort Collins so that dried up. Where are Denver area members stretching their legs? I do occasionally poach NF or BLM but it usually seems like a tough setup.

I do all of my load work up and paper target work at 200 yd at the Aurora gun club. Three miles further to the east I shoot 550 yards at the Golden gun club. Then for 1,000 yard work, CRC in buyers is a wonderful range. We are also only about 3 hours away from the NRA Whittington center, which opens up your possibilities quite a bit further.

 

[Tomjoad]

I do all of my load work up and paper target work at 200 yd at the Aurora gun club. Three miles further to the east I shoot 550 yards at the Golden gun club. Then for 1,000 yard work, CRC in buyers is a wonderful range. We are also only about 3 hours away from the NRA weddington center, which opens up your possibilities quite a bit further.

Thanks for the options I'm guessing all are member based with wait lists? Why not just Golden for paper and steel work instead of Aurora?

 

[hunter67wa]

welcome

 

[GDKinCO]

no wait list at Colorado Rifle Club

Colorado Rifle Club | Byers, CO

Founded in 1925, CRC is a private rifle club featuring 7 different firing ranges on 2565 acres in Byers, CO.

crci.org

 

[badthirtyone]

Thanks for the options I'm guessing all are member based with wait lists? Why not just Golden for paper and steel work instead of Aurora?

While I love shooting at various ranges out to 550 yards at GGC in Watkins, it has an entirely different feel because it is a "line-based" range, meaning that all shooters fire from one established line at targets set at various different yardages. This is perfectly appropriate for mid-distance work, but you have to wait for a cease fire to be called to go out to set or check targets.

Aurora - AGC allows me to shoot from an established 200 yard rifle bench or prone to do load work-up, but also has individual 50 yard rifle/pistol/shotgun berms that allow you unrestricted movement. I do a lot of AR work involving movement and positional drills. There would be no way to accommodate all of the styles of shooting that I do out at GGC.

AGC in Aurora is currently on about a 6 year waiting list.

CRC in Byers has all of the above (pistol berms, 550 yard silhouette range, as well as a very nice 1000 yard range), but it is an hour and forty five minutes from my house, so I only utilize it for the 1k range.

The NRA Whittington Ctr is a truly wonderful place that offers all of the above, and then some. Lots of possibilities there, but 3 hours away so we only go every now and then.

Hope this info helps.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Welcome to the forum! Lots of good info around here.

 

[Tomjoad]

While I love shooting at various ranges out to 550 yards at GGC in Watkins, it has an entirely different feel because it is a "line-based" range, meaning that all shooters fire from one established line at targets set at various different yardages. This is perfectly appropriate for mid-distance work, but you have to wait for a cease fire to be called to go out to set or check targets.

Aurora - AGC allows me to shoot from an established 200 yard rifle bench or prone to do load work-up, but also has individual 50 yard rifle/pistol/shotgun berms that allow you unrestricted movement. I do a lot of AR work involving movement and positional drills. There would be no way to accommodate all of the styles of shooting that I do out at GGC.

AGC in Aurora is currently on about a 6 year waiting list.

CRC in Byers has all of the above (pistol berms, 550 yard silhouette range, as well as a very nice 1000 yard range), but it is an hour and forty five minutes from my house, so I only utilize it for the 1k range.

The NRA Whittington Ctr is a truly wonderful place that offers all of the above, and then some. Lots of possibilities there, but 3 hours away so we only go every now and then.

Hope this info helps.

Big help thank you! CRC looks interesting, affordable and best of all accepting new members. I'll definitely consider that one!

 

[Jcook02]

Welcome from Kansas.

 

[LVJ76]

Welcome from southern Arizona