Commercial indoor air gun range

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chdutill

Member
Sep 6, 2021
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TX, United States
My husband and I are contemplating opening an indoor range, exclusively for air guns. I'm finding very little, i.e. no information on these. Considering the popularity of air guns, I would really appreciate your feedback. Are we way off base here in thinking people would use it? Do you prefer shooting outdoors and/or at home? If there were an indoor range convenient to you, would you patronize it? We live in Texas. Thank you so much - I really appreciate your feedback and advice!
 
I live in Missouri 24 miles south of st.louis about ten years ago an archery shop had each week day and Saturday league archery shoots. But on Thursday evening were dedicated for Airgun shoots but 35yrds was the maximum indoor and weather conditions permitting outdoor shoots out to 125yrds if I remember correctly. But my point being that it seems a malty function range could be better. I don’t remember if they allowed any rim fires but I don’t think so because that’s a firearm. Since then the ground was sold and I have not heard of any other shops doing that around here. Good luck 
 
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My husband and I are contemplating opening an indoor range, exclusively for air guns. I'm finding very little, i.e. no information on these. Considering the popularity of air guns, I would really appreciate your feedback. Are we way off base here in thinking people would use it? Do you prefer shooting outdoors and/or at home? If there were an indoor range convenient to you, would you patronize it? We live in Texas. Thank you so much - I really appreciate your feedback and advice
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In my part of the state we go outside to shoot, rain or shine. I’ve seen a significant amount of folks with lanes cleared on their property. I don’t know anyone here that shoots airguns. A dedicated airgun range sounds like a good place to meet fellow airgunners, to hold competitions, and get out of the wind. I’d be interested in going to an airgun range to learn from others. Personally, ranges come into play when visiting larger cities because I don’t know many city folk that are comfortable or setup to shoot airguns in their back yards. It’s always good to know where a few ranges are when visiting in a city. Which area are y’all thinking of setting up?

 
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I would think (just my guess) that an indoor range would be more in demand in places where it's not easy to find a good place outdoors to shoot. Cities would be ideal, but of course, the cost of the real estate goes up so your rates to meet bottom line goes up too.



Being a city slicker myself, (currently, grew up on a farm) it seems that this sport is much more r=friendly to those with a lot of acreage around them than it is to us town folk.
 
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Much as I would love to see an indoor airgun range, or for that matter ANY airgun range, and would not only patronize it but support it in other ways, in my opinion such a venture would be rifle with pitfalls; both foreseen and unforeseen.

Again in my opinion, you'd have to have at least 50 yard capabilities to have any chance of success, or don't bother. A hundred yards even better. As expenses grow exponentially to square-footages, the conundrum is pretty evident. 

Insurance expenses might be a deal-killer from the get-go; especially liability insurance. If not, factor in rising insurance costs for any claims (shoplifting, burglary, and especially accidents). Matter of fact, more than one accidental shooting might be the kiss of death. 

You would have to be convenient to as many city-folk as possible, or it won't succeed. The best location in Texas would be Arlington.

My apologies for coming off as pessimistic. Not trying to discourage, just provide Voice of Experience feedback. But having been in (bicycle) retail over 40 years, opened and helped open several businesses, and been immersed in most aspects of airgunning over a half-century, I am a Realist with greater pertinent insight(s) than most.

Oh... something else. Going into business related to One's hobby or passion is an excellent way to burn-out on it.

Regardless, also being in Texas and hosting monthly airgun competitions on my 30 acre place near Lake Whitney, I'm very interested in if you do it. And I repeat, if possible I'll support y'alls' efforts. Feel free to call on me anytime from noon till midnight.

Regards,

Ron 254-253-1239

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InBand US was in the process (earlier this year) of setting up an indoor range in Columbus, Ohio- for veterans. You might check to see how that went-

https://www.inband.us/

The CMP has two indoor ‘airgun only’ ranges, and they are almost always filled, on the weekend. When I go to the Camp Perry range I see shooters traveling there from as far away as two states away. The Camp Perry air gun range is 10 meters, only. Clearly, there is a market. You could check with the CMP-

https://thecmp.org/youth/air-gun-matches/

I agree, that such a range needs to be situated near a major city. I would suggest the capitol, of most states. It would also benefit from having an affiliated shooting team- High School JROTC, etc.; small colleges even. (There are several small college teams in Ohio that I have competed against. They have no home range, and often practice in a gymnasium, using portable targets.) Portable targets, here-

https://www.creedmoorsports.com/search?search_keyword=Portable&x=0&y=0

The NRA has a range services division, and may be able to help get you started with



https://rangeservices.nra.org/

Although paper targets work well, and such ranges are relatively inexpensive to install, the kids today expect to shoot on electronic targets. At the very least, Orion scanned targets-

http://www.orionscoringsystem.com/orion/TargetList.aspx

If using paper targets, you will speed things up with a carrier system. We have two points, in our basement, using these (there is a US vendor, but he is best contacted by telephone, only)-

https://www.euroshooting.eu/en/index.php?detail=G182

Commercial target systems

Kongsberg

https://www.kongsbergtargets.com/

Megalink

http://megalinkusa.com/

Meyton

https://www.meyton.info/en/produkte/messrahmen/black-magic/index.html

Sius

http://www.siususa.com/

There are some other electronic target systems out there. I have never shot on any of them, though. I can say that the Kongsberg, Megalink, and Sius are all reliable. We use Sius, exclusively, and have two electronic firing points, as well.

If I think of anything else, I will add a follow up post.

Best of luck!








 
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I'm in E. Texas, and have a large 1.75 acre lot, not situated the best for airgun shooting, but with a good pellet trap make do. Nearby Tyler had an indoor firearm range, but it did not last that long in the scheme of things. Personally I would not make a trip to visit one, having shot in my backyard for 40+ years and will continue to do so. 
 
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While an excellent idea, I dont see how you could profit from such an endeavor. With building and maintenence costs, plus the cost of equipment and insurance , I dont think poeple would pay enough to make it profitable. You would need at least a 50 yd minimum to attract ft folks, and then a number of 10 meter lanes then a bunch of interesting fun targets for others. While I like the idea very much, the size of a building required to house all that is needed would be cost prohibitive, then add the cost of aircondituoning that size bldg.......hmmmmm....I see big expenses!!
 
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While an excellent idea, I dont see how you could profit from such an endeavor. With building and maintenence costs, plus the cost of equipment and insurance , I dont think poeple would pay enough to make it profitable. You would need at least a 50 yd minimum to attract ft folks, and then a number of 10 meter lanes then a bunch of interesting fun targets for others. While I like the idea very much, the size of a building required to house all that is needed would be cost prohibitive, then add the cost of aircondituoning that size bldg.......hmmmmm....I see big expenses!!

All of that and lead abatement, with a lot of pellets flying and hitting a backstop, you would have to have an air filtration/ventilation system to rid the air of airborne lead particles.
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Also in Texas, in the very large DFW area. My ex sister-in-law invested heavily in an indoor range for firearms, including an indoor skeet range, the only one I ever heard of. Seemed like a sure bet, considering the high end area. It barely lasted 2 years, and she lost big time.

While a good idea, traffic, insurance, rent, utilities, limited customer base, will all work against you. Did I mention traffic, around here our increasingly heavier traffic works against you having a central location. Good luck though if you do, there isn’t an air gun store anywhere in the DFW area that I can think of. I get my 10m Co2 filled at a paintball gun store, every time I go, I expect it to be closed.
 
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I looked into this ~ 10 years ago and nixed the idea based on a small market for indoor shooting plus competition from existing firearm and archery ranges. Market has grown since then, and with the expense of firearm ammo you may be in the money. Combining with archery and rimfire might make it worthwhile - along with programs for gun safety and marksmanship (10 meter, 3 position), leagues etc. Agree that a long range option would be helpful. Perhaps an old shopping center. Find a broker who will set you up with a short term lease to try it out.

If you have the funds, marketing skills, patience, and appetite for adventure it might work. Good luck!
 
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Wow! I am blown away by all of your responses and excellent feedback! So many great points and things to consider, some we've thought of and others we have not, so thank you. All of the links are great. Just to add a little more detail, my husband has been a gun enthusiast and owner his entire life and has been to many firearm ranges, both indoor and outdoor. The expense of an indoor range that would include firearms is way beyond what we are willing to tackle. That is what piqued our interest in airgun only. 

One question that has been answered for me here is that avid, current Airgun owners are probably not the "target market", if this is something we pursue. You already have places to shoot. Rather, it might be more of an entertainment venue...which the town could use more of. We are in a smaller town of about 18,000 positioned halfway between Houston and Austin, with lots of weekend visitors and 2nd homeowners. Lots more research and number crunching to be done, for sure. I can't stress enough how grateful I am for your thoughts, responses, feedback and advice! If we travel down this path, I'll be sure and let you know. Thank you again!
 
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Wow! I am blown away by all of your responses and excellent feedback! So many great points and things to consider, some we've thought of and others we have not, so thank you. All of the links are great. Just to add a little more detail, my husband has been a gun enthusiast and owner his entire life and has been to many firearm ranges, both indoor and outdoor. The expense of an indoor range that would include firearms is way beyond what we are willing to tackle. That is what piqued our interest in airgun only. 

One question that has been answered for me here is that avid, current Airgun owners are probably not the "target market", if this is something we pursue. You already have places to shoot. Rather, it might be more of an entertainment venue...which the town could use more of. We are in a smaller town of about 18,000 positioned halfway between Houston and Austin, with lots of weekend visitors and 2nd homeowners. Lots more research and number crunching to be done, for sure. I can't stress enough how grateful I am for your thoughts, responses, feedback and advice! If we travel down this path, I'll be sure and let you know. Thank you again!
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Just a quick comment from a slightly different market and perspective. I’ve been in Business and finance all my life, here in the US and internationally. I live in Connecticut, and the only “pure” airgun store is New England Airguns, up in Mass. I went up there a few weeks ago since i was going to be in Boston visiting my son, and spoke with the owner, John (I also bought a Huben K1, but that’s a different - and good- story). He has a business selling airguns and accessories, as well as an indoor airgun range.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, his business was primarily an “entertainment” business, centered around the range. he had leagues, as well as a try the gun facility. Lots of kids/teen came to shoot in his league. With the advent of Covid, he had to shut down the range. To survive he pivoted from an entertainment based business model to an e-commerce one. Luckily for him the timing was perfect, and his business has done very well. In fact, at this point, even though he has reopened the store to walk-in visitors the range is still closed - because he is using it for storage and its filled with inventory of Hubens, Pellets, other airgun stuff, etc. 

I’m not sure he will ever go back to an entertainment based business, given how well the e-commerce one is doing. I suspect that if/when he sells through all the inventory he may reopen the range (or he may just fill it up again with more inventory), but the stand alone entertainment business model is very challenging, even in a major metro market like Greater Boston, and with absolutely ZERO competition around.

So, depending on your level of possible investment, I would strongly recommend that you also sell STUFF, not just range time, since some level of diversification in your business model is probably going to be necessary for economic survival.

Good Luck.

Chris
 
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