Do you own a gun? Contrary to popular belief, not every American has a gun under their bed in case a tyrannical government takes hold and threatens the values of the U.S. But that doesn’t mean Americans don’t love shooting stuff up.
Despite being controversial, shooting ranges are becoming increasingly popular. They are a safe environment to try out a range of different guns and to feel like you’re back in the Wild West.
As the market grows, shooting ranges offer significant profit opportunities. Do you want to become an owner of a shooting range? Here’s everything you need to know about how to open a gun range.
Federal and Local Control
Remember the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulates the use of firearms in the U.S.
Their list of regulations is widely available. It’s not as simple as thinking the Second Amendment covers you to use firearms in all circumstances. Other laws come into play as well.
Do a thorough Google search and contact your local law enforcement agency to learn about the rules and regulations governing the opening of a shooting range.
What Will Your Range Be Like?
You need to have a knowledgeable interest in shooting with guns and an entrepreneurial spirit to be successful. You need to establish your initial capital investment and draw up a business plan to open up the area.
If you’re going to struggle to do this on your own, then get a business partner on your side to help you.
Part of your business plan should be deciding exactly what your range will be. This is part and parcel of starting a gun range.
Outdoor, Indoor, and Hybrid. Each of these varieties has its own challenges and advantages.
Outdoor ranges offer more versatility than indoor ranges. They can be placed in a variety of open, covered, uncovered, and natural environments for shooters who prefer a more realistic environment with plenty of soil.
Owners of shooting ranges can be creative with various shooting stations and fun themes and decorations to enrich the experience.
Action Stations
To enlarge the space of the shooting range, outdoor areas often have several stations. In this way, the shooters are not limited to shooting lines and can offer more variety.
Outdoor ranges can present their guests with more realistic scenarios.
You can take a simple hobby shooting line and offer something more attractive by creating a gamified shooting range with different checkpoints.
You should consider all the details of your stations and how the gun range will work before embarking on your gun business ideas.
Drive-By Shooting
Vehicles can also travel from station to station, a tactic often used in military training. What types of guns are good for the scenario? You might want to consider the .50 caliber pistol or even visiting an Airgun Megastore to see if they have any that meet your specifications.
Building an indoor shooting range can be costly and require a lot of time, money, and materials to meet the unique needs of the indoor shooting range. You might think outdoor ranges are cheaper. However, they can be even more expensive to build.
Outdoor shooting ranges do not require expensive air conditioners for hot weather or heaters for cold weather. Nor do they require the extensive building approval regulations that an indoor range might need.
Depending on the size and scope of the building, if you have relatively good or experienced carpentry skills, you can build a shooting range from traditional building materials such as wood, metal, and concrete within a few weeks to months.
Compliance For Outdoor Ranges
Outdoor ranges offer flexibility and diversity, but they also raise ecological and safety issues. Opening a shooting range can be fun. However, compliance is probably the least fun part.
Besides noise, other factors can harm non-shooters. If an outdoor area is too close to a residential area, there can be many noise and nuisance complaints from residents. People at the shooting range can be irritated by the sound of gunshots.
When an area is open, it is difficult to control how loud the sound can be. Outdoor areas must be open from sunrise to sunset, according to USDA regulations.
Without due care in handling the lead particles from bullets fired, there is an environmental risk. You need to clean up your bullets so animals don’t swallow them and choke or die of lead poisoning.
It is important as a business owner that you comply with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). They regulate the safe removal of lead.
Furthermore, all outdoor areas near water bodies must comply with the Clean Water Act (CWA). The EPA and the government and even other citizens are not afraid of suing. To avoid violations, ensure you operate your range away from water.
How to Open a Gun Range? Know the Law and Your Customer Base
If you want to know how to open a gun range, then you need to know the law and your customer base. You don’t want to be in a position where you are breaking vital laws that could lead you to court.
But you also need to be aware of your customers’ needs. Set up a gamified range so that the shooting is fun, not simply firing one bullet after another.
If you are interested in learning more about how to open a business, be sure to check out all the other articles on our site.
