BLM rifle range north of Grand Junction airport

[lardener]

So I made my way out to the BLM range to enjoy some of the good weather. Turning the side of the mesa into an impact barrier seems like a good use of land. It's a little disorganized for rifle competition practice I think, since the users were interested in burning powder and shooting cans. I would want to change targets every 20-30 minutes and that seemed difficult. Maybe I should have just put up several targets. For blasting away at random bits downrange I think it would be great.

First, I was surprised that there were cows downrange. I realize it's open range grazing but I suspect the ranchers would be upset if their cows get shot. They were off to the side but enough people were crossfiring at targets on the ground that I have to suspect there's at least some amount of cows that end up hit throughout the year. If the cows had not been standing when I arrived I might not have seen them. They laid down later and if I hadn't been looking for them I wouldn't have noticed them. I suspect that if a cow were laying down at the far end of the range I wouldn't even know it was there. Does the shooter get in trouble for hitting the cows or are the cows grazing at their own risk?

Second, and quite shocking, I saw several people heading downrange without asking for a cease fire. I saw a group arrive and walk out to set targets while there was live fire happening on the other side of the line. Now, as far as actual danger of getting hit goes, the shooters were far enough away that anything resembling a downrange shot would not have posed an actual problem. But I've never seen anything like that at a range. The first time it happened, my brain refused to actually process what I was seeing and it didn't occur to me to call a cease fire before they were back to the firing line. The second time I saw it I asked for a cease fire, picked up my target, and went home. Is this a normal occurrence at that range or did I just get lucky?

[Irving]

Someone got lucky, but it wasn't you.

[rondog]

Pretty normal there afaik, been there a few times. Seems like a "use at your own risk" place. I had a guy get kinda pissy because I was picking up brass at "his" pickin' hole. Didn't see any signs proclaiming it was his.....

[Hummer]

BLM continues improvement at 27 A¼ Shooting Range

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management will install a fence along the perimeter of the popular 27 ¼ Shooting Range beginning March 14. The barrier will keep cattle and the public from wandering onto the range and creating a safety hazard.

Beginning March 14, the range will only be open from noon on Friday until dusk on Sunday. The rest of the week the range will be closed to ensure the safety of work crews and the public. Work should be completed by April 8, weather permitting.

The perimeter fence construction is a key part of an enhancement project funded through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Shooting Range Development Grant Program.

Project information will be available on-line at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gjfo.html, at the 27 ¼ Road range, or by calling BLM at 970 244-3000.
The shooting range is located on a well-marked route approximately 6 miles north of H Road, on 27¼ Road. It consists of a pistol range and a 1,000-meter rifle range which has 12 sheltered shooting benches. More than 34,000 shooters visited the range in 2015.

[KMcCormick]

Yeah that range People tend to not be the brightest of shooters. That said it being BLM land just make sure you are 50yards from the road and have a good backstop and your can shoot on your own which is what I tend to do. But if you prefer a designated shooting range then I suggest going on like a Tuesday morning you will either have the range to yourself or every once in a while there are some old timers testing out there hand loads.