Arvada Rifle & Pistol Club

[wyzardd]

Anyone know anything about this outfit? It's just down the street from me & I'd love to have a nearby place to take my kids to shoot, but even though I've lived in Arvada most of my life, I really don't know anything about the place.
Also, according to the application I need a member in good standing to sponsor me.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Wyz

[pickenup]

I called once to find out when there would be someone there to talk to. Made a special trip to town, just to go there and try to meet them. Have NEVER before met such a stuck up bunch. Snobs would just barely talk to me, even after I explained that I had talked to "so&so" on the phone. Getting the door shut in my face, by 2 different groups that were entering the building, was enough for me. The roof could cave in on that place, and it would NOT bother me. (as long as no one was inside)

May have something to do with the way I look, may not.
I wasn't wearing a three piece suit.....etc.

Just relating my experience, your's may differ. Good luck.

[wyzardd]

Well, I'm going to give it a shot. It's just so dang convenient, exactly 2 miles...
IF I can get in, maybe I can avoid dealing with anyone that's overly conceded. Or maybe I'll become stuck up, too. That'd be kind of cool - Thinking I'm better because I shoot .22 in a tin shack by a bus stop.

[StagLefty]

I was involved with the Scout shoots there on Friday nights for about 10 yrs. There seemed to be some ammo restrictions and I think it's hard to get into the club but it sounds like it's too close for you to ignore. Don't know a lot of the ammo rules as all the Scouts shot were .22 rifles. Handguns are allowed but I think that's where the ammo rules come in.

[NineHotel]

Keith Roberts runs the junior programs down there. He's not the most communicative person but puts a lot of effort into the junior programs there and has for decades. Give him a chance to show his strengths - they may not be readily apparent.

The city of Arvada had been trying to relocate the club for years, so the club was not investing in the facility. The city has decided to leave them there due to the cleanup costs of the property so the club is making plans now to update the range. They have money.

Ventilation and lighting are poor; I personally would not spend a lot of time there due to lead exposure until they get the ventilation system updated.

HBAR, if you get serious about checking it out let me know and I'll hook you up with another bud that is very active with the club.

[wyzardd]

Well, I feel slightly ashamed of my snarky post. Thus far the email correspondence with them has been pleasant and helpful. Probably 80% of my toys won't be allowed there, but having a place to shoot the half-dozen .22's close enough that I can put a few rounds downrange between work and dinner is amazingly attractive. Especially for someone born and raised within city limits.

[SS109]

My high school rifle team (Regis) shot there on Mondays in the 1980's. I wish I had stayed with the program all 4 years.

Good to see that Arvada has given up on closing them down. A friend's son shoots there right now.

[MuzzleFlash]

My high school rifle team (Regis) shot there on Mondays in the 1980's. I wish I had stayed with the program all 4 years.

Good to see that Arvada has given up on closing them down. A friend's son shoots there right now.
The building and property belong to RTD. The club signed a 99 year lease back before PC went amok. It is true about the ammo restrictions. At the time I talked with them, the game seemed to be air rifle (for youth and old alike) and 22/45 pistol shoots.

[wyzardd]

Met with them last night, they seemed to be a nice group, welcoming and polite.

Ran into a sycophant of my (least) favorite gun shop/smith - If the rest of the club was like him I would have walked out, and he may well have been one of the guys that gave the place a bad reputation among some people.

I didn't join yet, they have to vote on everyone and Mr. LetMeTellYouHowCoolIam took so much time that I never got a chance to talk to the Pres or Sec.

Details as they come. Still pretty much .22 and .45 (non-jacketed), but I want to get my sons some trigger time, and .22 is perfect for that.


ETA - Apparently they're still a little worried about being shut down. Light-rail is coming just up the hill and there's a chance that RTD may need a parking garage right there. But the lighting and ventilation is better and still improving.

[pickenup]

That is GREAT news.
I REALLY DO hope it works out for you and the kids.

[wyzardd]

Pretty painless process. Getting to the 3 or so required meetings (apply, range rules, membership vote) was the most difficult part of the whole process. Haven't shot yet, but I got the key and combination. Seems to be a decent bunch of folks (with a few exceptions).

[Glock19fan]

Hi, anybody is a member of this club. I checked website and it looks very interesting

[Glock19fan]

I am very interested in joining some club. Do they allow 9mm ammo?


Pretty painless process. Getting to the 3 or so required meetings (apply, range rules, membership vote) was the most difficult part of the whole process. Haven't shot yet, but I got the key and combination. Seems to be a decent bunch of folks (with a few exceptions).

[vim]

With the north site closed down and a 10-year waiting list at the BRC (we're in there somewhere), my wife and I went looking for a place where our family could shoot and not have to take a second mortgage on the house to do so.

Arvada Rifle and Pistol seemed good. Not perfect (no jacketed ammo), but plenty fine for our target .22 rifles and pistols.

We went to a meeting, introduced ourselves -- we THINK things went well -- and started on the club applications. We went about the business of getting NRA memberships for the kids ("kids" -- they're all over 18), and then came to the "sponsored by a member " part. We knew nobody in the club before that visit, so have some questions about that, but I can't get a response from the e-mail address listed on the application. So another month goes by.

Is the club disorganized, what is the deal? I can't figure out whether I should spend more time pursuing this or just reconcile myself to an even longer drive. (We're near Boulder, but have a daughter in Wheat Ridge, so this location made some sense.) My wife and kids want to shoot, and they do not really enjoy shooting out in the forest on snowshoes in a gusting wind.

Any insight into or opinions of this club would be appreciated. Or pointers to other clubs with indoor facilities and no long waiting lists.

[StagLefty]

You might try going there on a Friday night. Scout groups use the range that night and the adults there are members and might sponsor you. No guarantees but it might be worth a try. I ran Scout shoots there for quite awhile but never joined the actual club and wish I had now.

[vim]

I'm a retired Scoutmaster, and would love to see a Scout group in action, but trying to skate in that way seems awkward.

You ran shooting for Scouts? Thank you. My introduction to shooting back in the day was through a Scout camp rifle range, and I STILL have some old targets and NRA medals/patches that bring back good memories. (And the merit badge too, of course. [Ban3])

[pickenup]

This may help, may not.
http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8369

[StagLefty]

I'm a retired Scoutmaster, and would love to see a Scout group in action, but trying to skate in that way seems awkward.

You ran shooting for Scouts? Thank you. My introduction to shooting back in the day was through a Scout camp rifle range, and I STILL have some old targets and NRA medals/patches that bring back good memories. (And the merit badge too, of course. [Ban3])

Ran ranges at Peaceful Valley for 16 yrs and Western region trap range at National Jamboree,Fort AP Hill. Sorry OP just having Scout flashbacks. [Beer]

[StagLefty]

This may help, may not.
http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8369

Good Grief I was posting on that 2 yrs ago ? Hope that helps the OP. Thanks pickenup. [Beer]

[vim]

Ran ranges at Peaceful Valley for 16 yrs and Western region trap range at National Jamboree,Fort AP Hill. Sorry OP just having Scout flashbacks. [Beer]

No kiddin'. National staff contingent, 1989, Merit Badge Midway here. (I won't say which MB booth openly; it was a very small group. I have some great memories of that one too.

[vim]

Thanks for the pointer to the old thread, pickenup.

[Irving]

What is the deal with the "no jacketed ammo?" Never heard of that before.

[vim]

The ammo requirement surprised me also. If anything I'd have expected NO unjacketed ammo due to lead concerns. The member who mentioned it also said something to the effect that most members reloaded anyway, so it was no big deal.