New long range, range in Arizona.

26 July 2023, 02:48

AnotherAZWriter

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:
quote:
Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Steve A:

Is this range open when the rest of BLM/NF is closed due to high fire danger?

I ran into a BLM guy out there in the spring. He was doing a downrange vegetation study. And yes, they are closed due to the possibility of a fire. I'm thinking they'll re-open as soon as the monsoon rains dump a couple.

I have not even gone out to check. It's too damn hot to shoot at 118 degree's. Even the mornings are uncomfortable.

I am back in CO; shooting several times per day but I am returning for about 10 days Aug 1.

Like you Steve, I ride bicycles. I was getting up at 4:30 am to ride but even then it was 90 deg. But that beats hiking in the South Mountain preserve in the dark.

20 June 2025, 18:22

Steve Ahrenberg

quote:
Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
This is really great news!

I still shoot in the desert but this sounds like a great spot. These days I spend most of my time at my CO place where I can shoot right out my back door past 1000 yards.

I don't understand why anyone in Phoenix would drive 45 minutes out to the desert to shoot pistols at 25 yards when there are three great ranges in the metro area: Phoenix Rod and Gun along South Mountain, Usery Pass, and Ben Avery.

PHX Rod and Gun is like $100/year for unlimited us; can only shoot to 500 yards, but for anything closer, it works. Usery was 300 yards last time I shot there.

I just joined Cowtown shooting range. They have a very, very nice open desert, steel PRS range. 5 platforms having 90 plates at ranges from 200-1000 yards. Its a membership only range and is run the way a shooter would run it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zac6rWBy46I

14 August 2025, 16:56

MikeWarner

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:
Just a heads up for you Arizona shooters.

BLM (yes that BLM) Just opened three new shooting ranges (two more coming). They were built in areas that the local "trash shooters" ruined with broken glass, microwave ovens and all manner of other shooting garbage. BLM closed three of these areas and fenced them off.

However, they had signage on the fences that they were building ranges for our use.

They opened a couple months ago. The three area's are called - Church Camp Road, Saddleback Mountain and Baldy Mountain.

Church Camp is the main and most developed one. Typical bermed "lanes" from pistol up to 200 yards. There is a concrete shooting area, a red firing line and steel at all available yardages. There is a Toilet and a rail fence you can pull or back up to and unload your stuff, right where you shoot but no benches.

Saddleback Mountain is less developed but has Steel at ranges from 200 all the way up to 700 yards. You have clean gravel lanes to lay down at. No benches

Baldy Mountain I have not shot at yet.

They are essentially "uncontrolled" and manned by volunteers. Its free and these are really nice facilities. The volunteers ask you clean up your brass and obviously anything else. They ARE NOT RANGE-MASTERS.

The only complaint I have is, you HAVE to shoot at their steel. It's replaced every Wednesday I think they told me.

They are off HWY 74 very close to Lake Pleasant. Great facilities and Kudo's to BLM (for once)

https://www.abc15.com/entertai...ng-ranges-in-arizona

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_LR7tKf5qU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3meaJP0v3-4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aok40JY4P0Q

Great update! How’s the steel target availability on weekends? Any shade at Church Camp? Planning to check it out soon and will help keep it clean.

17 August 2025, 18:23

Steve Ahrenberg

quote:
Originally posted by MikeWarner:
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:
Just a heads up for you Arizona shooters.

BLM (yes that BLM) Just opened three new shooting ranges (two more coming). They were built in areas that the local "trash shooters" ruined with broken glass, microwave ovens and all manner of other shooting garbage. BLM closed three of these areas and fenced them off.

However, they had signage on the fences that they were building ranges for our use.

They opened a couple months ago. The three area's are called - Church Camp Road, Saddleback Mountain and Baldy Mountain.

Church Camp is the main and most developed one. Typical bermed "lanes" from pistol up to 200 yards. There is a concrete shooting area, a red firing line and steel at all available yardages. There is a Toilet and a rail fence you can pull or back up to and unload your stuff, right where you shoot but no benches.

Saddleback Mountain is less developed but has Steel at ranges from 200 all the way up to 700 yards. You have clean gravel lanes to lay down at. No benches

Baldy Mountain I have not shot at yet.

They are essentially "uncontrolled" and manned by volunteers. Its free and these are really nice facilities. The volunteers ask you clean up your brass and obviously anything else. They ARE NOT RANGE-MASTERS.

The only complaint I have is, you HAVE to shoot at their steel. It's replaced every Wednesday I think they told me.

They are off HWY 74 very close to Lake Pleasant. Great facilities and Kudo's to BLM (for once)

https://www.abc15.com/entertai...ng-ranges-in-arizona

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_LR7tKf5qU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3meaJP0v3-4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aok40JY4P0Q

Great update! How’s the steel target availability on weekends? Any shade at Church Camp? Planning to check it out soon and will help keep it clean.

I haven't used these facilities, since spring. They close them all for the summer months due to fire danger from sparks from a ricochet.

I have since joined a membership range called Cowtown. Its just down the road from the old Canyon raceway and the old glider port by Lake Pleasant. open all year and a far nicer facility.