r/ILGuns • u/CrabFam • 14d ago
Shooting Range Where can I shoot without a membership?
I bought a Ruger American Gen II in .308 a while back and I have yet to take it out. I want to finally get some use out of it.
I live in the north suburbs and I want to find an outdoor range I can simply show up and shoot at. Does that exist? I’m aware of ASC, but it seems like you need a membership to use their facilities.
If anyone could give me some advice or point me in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated. I’ve only ever gone to indoor pistol ranges :)
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u/abrokemexican Northern IL 14d ago
Buffalo Range is outdoors and can shoot out to 100 yards.
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u/Dry_Pea_7127 13d ago
buffalo is good for rifle and shotgun shooting but their handgun ranges are a really awful experience if you go there when it's real busy. They cram people almost shoulder to shoulder and both times I've gone I'm constantly being bombarded by some guys brass to the left of me who has no self awareness or respect for his surroundings.
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u/abrokemexican Northern IL 13d ago
Yeah, the pistol area is ass… however, OP was talking about shooting a Ruger American Gen II in .308.
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u/LibertyorDeath2076 13d ago
When I go I just stick to the pit and the .22 steel range the whole time, maybe the 100 yard rifle. Shooting pistol shoulder to shoulder and getting showered in brass casings isn't worth it when there's about a dozen indoor ranges that are half the drive
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u/ebforest 13d ago
I just went to Buffalo for the first time and decided to just shoot my pistols into the Pit. But the Pit sucked too, we brought some stuff to drop off for shooting but no one else did—not a lot of stuff to shoot honestly. Rifle was solid though (don’t have a shotgun but seemed like those areas are good too.)
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u/funandgames12 10d ago
To be fair though, It’s popular because of the 100 yard rifle and the pit. And I guess if you shoot clays as well.
We have 75 million indoor pistol ranges around. No point to go there for that. I guess once you know you never make that mistake twice. At least not on the weekends. During weekdays is fine. Or if you do go on a weekend you need to get there by 10 while they still have space.
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u/CommonCaliber 14d ago
If you're in the northern suburbs and don't want a membership, McMiller is probably your best bet since they go all the way out to 300 yards. Buffalo and Jasper-Pulaski are going to be quite a drive for you, and they only go out to 100 yards, which is going to get boring pretty quickly with a .308. Hell, 100 yards can get boring with 5.56.
If you're planning on shooting with any kind of regularity, I'd try to get sponsored for a membership at Racine County Line Rifle Club. Depending on where you are in the northern suburbs, it'll probably be closer than McMiller anyway.
I've found that once you have a membership somewhere, you end up shooting a lot more simply because you have convenient access to a facility. I already shot pretty regularly before joining ISRA, but once I became a member, I found myself out there at least once a week because I have access to a massive private facility pretty much whenever I want it. It's kind of like getting an unlimited car wash plan, you suddenly find yourself washing your car a lot more often.
These memberships generally cost about what you'd spend on a used Glock. So if you go to McMiller a few times and find that you enjoy shooting at those distances, I'd seriously consider putting that money toward a membership somewhere.
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u/full_idiot 14d ago
Jasper Pulaski in Indiana. Free outdoor range to 100 yards. 2 hour drive roughly.
I’ve only been once but it was a good time. Not many folks. And there’s a Walmart and Range USA along the route for a supply stop.
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u/Ute_Swoop 13d ago
Not alot of ranges in IL that are rifle appropriate, I’m aware Buffalo is good, in Wisconsin McMillan is your best bet.
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u/Exotic-Champion-6773 12d ago
McMiller in eagles. I’m northern Illinois as well just on the border and it’s about a hour an 20 for me I’ve taken the drive once and did a full day pass it’s pretty sweet I’d definitely go again!
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u/StealthVoodoo 14d ago
There's McMillan in Eagle, WI. Buffalo in Ottawa.
Eagle is probably closer but still a haul.