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Bass Pro Pistol Range - Grapevine Mills

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  • Shorts

    TGT Addict
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    Mar 28, 2008
    4,607
    31
    Texas
    Had the opportunity recently to try out the range at Bass Pro Grapevine Mills location.

    We unloaded the vehicle and walked in the door with our firearms (handguns and .22lr rifles). Upon entrance were required to stop at the desk, before entering the turn style to enter the store, and have all the firearms checked and trigger locks applied. Also had to fill out a form listing the firearms. Since there was a handful of us with a handful of firearms in a handful of cases, it took a few minutes at the least. The gentleman working the desk was nothing but polite and positive. After getting firearms packed back into their cases we walked through the store to the range.

    We approached the desk at the range to check in and were met with a grumpy guy who acted as if his job would be great if it weren't for all the customers. After some back and forth about a membership card, calling over another employee for the decision, we filled out liability forms. That took a little more time as each person needed a form. Once those were handed in we unpacked the firearms again so the guy could remove the trigger locks. Once done, guns were sorta packed. Eyes and ears were pulled out and put on. Now we could finally enter the firing line.

    The lanes are 25yds long. There was adequate space for shooters but the lighting was fair to poor. At certain distances it was difficult to see POI on targets ( worked mainly 5-7yds and couldn't see POI on the black areas of targets with orange center/black rings). Before we got targets up at distance, it took us a few to figure out how to work the target stand. It is the programmable kind that looks like a push button telephone keypad. You can run programs, get the target to turn sideways and display on a timer, etc. There were no posted instructions. None of us had used that kind before so we just started hitting buttons as we tried to figure it out on the fly. Eventually another customer came in who looked like he knew what he was doing. So I asked him for a little help and he got us in business. It was actually very simple, once you know the instructions.

    The shooting part went fine. Tried out firearms, shared, etc. The bench though was small, but enough to have two handguns, mags for each and box of ammo for each laid out. The surface wasn't very wide and was this odd molded plastic tray. It was a little awkward but we all made due.

    As far as brass goes, like other places I've been you sweep up after yourself. I pick up my brass so this is fine. The lanes width, front to back isn't wide. So if I stood a step forward I kept losing my brass downrange. If I stood a step back the ejected brass would go up and over the lane divider and hit the shooter in the lane next to me, but my body was as if I was snooping in on their lane (arms extended for firing). The dividers weren't all the way up to the ceiling. One of my guns is a beast about ejection so that bears a lot of responsibility for brass landing locations. It was good I knew my lane neighbors.

    We finished up our session, packed firearms and cleaned up our lanes. We walked out of the firing line and around the corner to the desk. The guy seemed to be a better mood (maybe he ate a Snickers bar?). We again unpacked our firearms so the guy could apply the trigger locks to each one. Packed them back up and headed to the exit. There we stopped at the desk and again unpacked the firearms so the trigger locks could be removed. We packed the firearms...again. And then walked out to the vehicle.

    In conclusion, I won't patronize that range in the future, for a few reasons but all totaling "It's just a pain in the butt to go there". I've had hard time accepting the attitudes of some employees there. There are some that are friendly. There are some that are not. They act like they are doing you a favor and you are imposing on them. Couple that with the fact that to get into the range firearms must be unpacked, secured, packed, unpacked, unlocked, packed, unpacked, shot, repacked, unpacked, secured, packed, unpacked, unlocked, and repacked, that's very tedious. (And to shoot in a poorly lit range). I understand why they do this for the location, safety and security, but my goodness is it cumbersome. CHLers can go in and out if concealing without needing to go through this process. But if you're going in with firearms that are not concealed you have to take a little extra time.

    I am not the target customer for a range setup like this and I can handle that. So, if you've wondered what it might be like shooting a Bass Pro Grapevine Mills (pistol range), this was my experience.
    Guns International
     

    hkusp1

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    Mar 25, 2009
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    DALLAS, TX
    Been there twice both times there was some smart ass kid in his mid 20's. every time I would ask him something without fail I would get a smart ass answer. The kid at the counter repeatedly called other customers guns junk to their faces, stuff like "oh you have a sig? Sig guns are crap you should get xxx gun it's way better.

    On the way out I spoke with the manager who didn't seem interested in hearing what I had to say so I haven't been back since.
     

    TX69

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    Dec 23, 2012
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    Thank you. Justifies my reasons for not using their range or ever buying a firearm there. Way too any other businesses that want to earn your money.
     

    Pinlifter

    Active Member
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    Oct 27, 2012
    240
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    DFW
    The kid at the counter repeatedly called other customers guns junk to their faces, stuff like "oh you have a sig? Sig guns are crap you should get xxx gun it's way better.

    I have had he same experience from the gun counter at cabelas.

    One guy flat refused to sell me a SIG until I held what he wanted me to buy. I refused and walked out of the store. Pistol was for my wife anyway and she knows what she wants.
     

    inceptor

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    Feb 23, 2013
    627
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    Denton County, Republic of Texas
    I have had he same experience from the gun counter at cabelas.

    One guy flat refused to sell me a SIG until I held what he wanted me to buy. I refused and walked out of the store. Pistol was for my wife anyway and she knows what she wants.

    BassPro is the reason I now have my CHL. I hadn't bought a gun in years. They had a Remington 870 20ga on sale and I considered shooting sporting clays again and thought I would try the 20ga so I bought one. Paid my money and was told I had to wait 10 days because there seemed to be a glitch. Picked up my gun 10 days later. About a month after that I thought about getting another 1911. I went to CTD in FW. I ended up buying an XD .45. Told the guy I would see him in 10 days. He said what the hell are you talking about? It's 3 day max. I told him about what happened at BassPro and he said if I wanted to walk out with something the same day I should get my CHL. I found a class and signed up. I just renewed last year and will never be without it again. That was also the first and last gun I would buy at BassPro.
     

    okie556

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    Feb 12, 2009
    1,378
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    Longview, TX
    Thanks for review Shorts. I live in Longview but a couple of years ago I went to the Bass Pro indoor range with a friend who lives in Arlington. Same crappy service as you reported. I will add that just 2 months ago I shot at the indoor range at Bass Pro in Springfield, MO and the difference was DAY AND NIGHT. Still had all the pack and unpack but the employees were sooooo nice it didn't seem to bother me. Plus, I was alone and only had 2 firearms.
     

    Shorts

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    Mar 28, 2008
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    Texas
    Thanks for review Shorts. I live in Longview but a couple of years ago I went to the Bass Pro indoor range with a friend who lives in Arlington. Same crappy service as you reported. I will add that just 2 months ago I shot at the indoor range at Bass Pro in Springfield, MO and the difference was DAY AND NIGHT. Still had all the pack and unpack but the employees were sooooo nice it didn't seem to bother me. Plus, I was alone and only had 2 firearms.

    I've heard the exact same thing from a MO res.
     

    Tex

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    Jan 16, 2010
    18
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    DFW
    Not to mention that Bass Pro (the original one, to my knowledge) in Springfield is just plain awesome compared to what we have here. Easily twice the size or larger and much more interestingly laid out.
     

    Sapper740

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    Jan 21, 2013
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    Been there twice both times there was some smart ass kid in his mid 20's. every time I would ask him something without fail I would get a smart ass answer. The kid at the counter repeatedly called other customers guns junk to their faces, stuff like "oh you have a sig? Sig guns are crap you should get xxx gun it's way better.

    On the way out I spoke with the manager who didn't seem interested in hearing what I had to say so I haven't been back since.
    This brings us to Sapper's Axiom #3: "The vehemence of a person's opinion, especially if young, is inversely proportional to their actual knowledge of the subject."
     

    kusai

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    Oct 30, 2011
    1,518
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    Bedford TX
    This range is just a few miles from my place, I go there often, yeah most of what OP says is true. But since I have been there regular so most of the staff knows me well now and really dont bother a lot with me. As for lock-unlock of firearms yes its a PITA but I dont have that since I have CHL.
    The only thing I feel was wrong is cleaning up the brass, sometimes feel bad like old gentleman and sometimes ladies have to do it public. But if you take things lightly over there all would be good.
     

    CrazedJava

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    Sep 5, 2013
    1,561
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    DFW
    I was not terribly impressed with Bass Pro. The only good thing about the Grapevine store is that I can get to it in 5 minutes from my office.

    If you want to shoot over your lunch break I suggest getting there early, as it tends to fill up quick. I have no idea why they want to know how much ammo you have. No other range has ever asked me that. $12 an hour is also high. Cheaper than Eagle Gun Range if I am only going to shoot over lunch, but if you're the type who sometimes like to shoot multiple guns and calibers (which I do) it doesn't take much to be at a range for 2 to 3 hours.

    I've been there once and haven't been back. I may yet visit again, so I'm not swearing off the place but they are a PITA. I will say I think I slightly overstayed my hour but they didn't try to charge me extra. At least they weren't pricks about it.
     

    popper

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    Apr 23, 2013
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    BP & Cabalas are retail stores with the purpose to sell stuff. That said, it was added a few years back and not well planned. It should have a separate entrance which would eliminate most of the hassle. Yes, the Mo. store is awesome, as is the orig. Cabelas.
     
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