Top Ten San Antonio Guns Shops!

[ddejesus82]

Blackhawks Shooting Range is a nice, friendly place. That is where I take my wife to shoot. The staff is very friendly, and there is plenty of room for people. The best time to go is during the morning, as you will more than likely share the range with 2 to 3 people. The only downside is that there is no range master out on the actual range, but everyone is courteous who is shooting and very considerate.

 

[DubiousDan]

Same here, the place is an accident waiting to happen. There is no range control going on and I've seen more violations of the rules that went unchallenaged than you could imagine.

Plus, their prices are not that great. And I wouldn't trust their smiths to remove a magazine from a pistol, much less do any actual work on one of my firearms.

You're taking your life in your hands going there, but that's your choice! Take ten minutes and drive south to Blackhawk, at least they are concerned about the safety on their range...

I can't agree with you about the safety at Blackhawk. I while back I took my son there. For those that haven't been there, all the targets on the pistol range are lined up in front of a single berm. If you want to shoot 7 yards, you step back 7 yards on to a (I don't know what to call them so I call them sidewalks because that's what they look like) sidewalk that's 7 yards from the target. Same for 15 and 25 yards. Anyway, my son and are shooting from the 7 yard line and I hear someone shooting over to my right. When I turned to look I see a guy a couple targets over but behind us on the 15 yard line shooting. I asked him about it and he said that's where he was told to go. My son and I vacated the area and I've never been back. If they've change the setup and are under new management I might try them again. Say what you will about the Bullethole, at least there I don't have to be concerned about someone being told to shoot from a position behind me.

 

[majormadmax]

Say what you will about the Bullethole, at least there I don't have to be concerned about someone being told to shoot from a position behind me.

Sorry, but I can't agree with you about the safety at the Bullethole. The lack of concern over range safety there and the several instances where I had to personally "instruct" people not the handle their weapons when the range was cold and we were checking our targets means there is just about as much chance if not more of getting accidentally shot there as there is at Blackhawk.

But I will agree that I am not overly thrilled with how the Blackhawk pistol range is laid out. The odd thing is there has never been an incident there as far as I know, and I know several people who have been shooting there for many years. The same cannot be said about the Bullethole, and the mere idiocy that I have personally witnessed there by not only the clientele but also the staff has sworn me off the place...

 

[DubiousDan]

Sorry, but I can't agree with you about the safety at the Bullethole. The lack of concern over range safety there and the several instances where I had to personally "instruct" people not the handle their weapons when the range was cold and we were checking our targets means there is just about as much chance if not more of getting accidentally shot there as there is at Blackhawk.

But I will agree that I am not overly thrilled with how the Blackhawk pistol range is laid out. The odd thing is there has never been an incident there as far as I know, and I know several people who have been shooting there for many years. The same cannot be said about the Bullethole, and the mere idiocy that I have personally witnessed there by not only the clientele but also the staff has sworn me off the place...

Has someone been shot at the Bullethole?

I guess all the ranges in our area have their own issues and we each have to go where we feel most comfortable. At places like the Bullethole where you have to take your own target down range it would be nice if there was a full time range officer to enforce the cease fire rules while people were putting up their targets.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Has someone been shot at the Bullethole?

As a matter of fact, yeah - the original owners' own son was during some "horseplay" some years back.

 

[DubiousDan]

As a matter of fact, yeah - the original owners' own son was during some "horseplay" some years back.

Thanks for the information. I hope it wasn't fatal.

When did ownership change?

 

[majormadmax]

When Vern passed away, which is when things really started to go downhill...

 

[TexasRedneck]

Um.....M2, they were going down BEFORE then - it was Vern's son that was killed there at the range, prior to Vern's passing. It's simply been an ongoing issue out there since the place opened.

 

[DubiousDan]

Um.....M2, they were going down BEFORE then - it was Vern's son that was killed there at the range, prior to Vern's passing. It's simply been an ongoing issue out there since the place opened.

I'm just guessing here but Vern must be the elderly gentleman who worked the range years ago. I've seen a memorial plaque there and I had always assumed it was for him but it must be for the son. Does the same family still run it?

 

[TexasRedneck]

Don't know - I know his wife ran it for a while, but I stopped going out there long before that, so I have no idea - nor do I care. Some places just leave SUCH a bad taste in your mouth that you just don't WANT to know.

 

[majormadmax]

TRN

I may have simply not known better, or noticed because I came back from a three-year tour in Belgium where I did no shooting outside of miltiary training (luckily, that was with the SACEUR's PSD, so it made up for the lack of civilian range time). I honestly remember liking the Bullethole at first, I even took my CHL course there but that was a huge joke. However, the more I frequented the range the worse it got, then the constant buffoonery finally caused me to swear off of the place completely. The final straw was an idiot employee there who almost ran us over in the parking lot, then screamed curse words at my son and I when we did nothing wrong. I refuse to go back there, the place is run by morons and I suspect it won't be long before another incident happens and it gets shut down for good...

 

[TexasRedneck]

I liked it at first as well - we were pretty much given the run of the place, which was great when the primary attendees were all experienced shooters that respected common-sense rules and operations. But then the Village Idiots starting coming....and the folks running it allowed it to get WAY out of hand. Personal conversations w/Vern regarding issues w/richochets and burm "fly-overs" revealed that he could care less about anyone down-range as long as he could avoid any legal repercussions. We're not talkin' fly-overs passing atop 20' burms - we're talking burms that you'd miss if you lay prone to take a shot and shot much over 4" above bullseye.
That kind of lack of attention and avoidance of safe operation had him repeatedly investigated by neighbors with projectiles lodged into their homes downrange of him. While I can understand a REAL "flyer" getting by, him refusing to maintain burms at a reasonable and prudent height simply got to be too much.

 

[Buster Charlie]

So are there any SA ranges that you won't get shot at? Also not being charged per gun, having to buy THEIR ammo, or only being able to shoot once every 10 minutes would be a BONUS.

 

[TexasRedneck]

The sport is risky enough - I accept that. I do NOT accept an unsafe 'tude on the part of the owners, though.

Bexar Community Shooting Range is a good one, as is Dietz....

 

[majormadmax]

Funny enough, but when I was taking my CHL class at the Bullethole we were standing around outside on break when we heard a ricochet hit the roof of the trailer they teach the class in! One of the student actually climbed up and got it, and that should have been my clue to never go back to that place but I didn't learn that lesson until a while later...

Oh, and we were pretty impressed with Blackhawk; but I do admit their pistol range does leave a little to be desired. But as I usually shoot at Bullis, this is not an issue and I still find it far safer than the Bullethole!

 

[DubiousDan]

So are there any SA ranges that you won't get shot at? Also not being charged per gun, having to buy THEIR ammo, or only being able to shoot once every 10 minutes would be a BONUS.

Apparently not, though I haven't been to Bexar Community Shooting Range or Dietz. I've heard good things about them but they are a bit too far for me. I guess we're stuck with what we have for now.

One thing to consider is that if you only shoot once every 10 minutes a box of ammo will last you a very long time. With a 100 round value pack you can have an all day adventure for the price of a single range fee.

 

[OLDAG_GUNS]

Wouldn't it be more appropriate if you were a sponsor before advertising here? Not a shot, just a gentle nudge...

Thanks for the gentle nudge. I was only introducing myself as a new gun dealer. I do advertise on Texas Gun Trader as well as other places. Advertising as in paying for banner ads and placing ads to sell guns, etc. I don't plan on trying to sell anything here. I don't think I was inappropriate just glad to be here and happy being a gun dealer. Take care.

 

[Texas1911]

Thanks for the gentle nudge. I was only introducing myself as a new gun dealer. I do advertise on Texas Gun Trader as well as other places. Advertising as in paying for banner ads and placing ads to sell guns, etc. I don't plan on trying to sell anything here. I don't think I was inappropriate just glad to be here and happy being a gun dealer. Take care.

If you'd like to become a sponsor, send me an email.

 

[Red78]

I've been to Dury's a few times, as well as Nagle's. Would rate Dury's over Nagles, just because of the staff. They seem to be more interested in meeting your needs and will not BS you. They also provide a lifetime warranty on any gun they sell, new or used. Neither are going to be cheaper than a chain/big box store, but no gun shop is.

 

[London]

Powder Horn +1

Can't say I'm a fan of Dury's. Wrote a review of them for Google titled, "What a bunch of A--holes!" The Powderhorn has the best sales people I've met so far, with very fair prices. Definitely give them a look.