The annual Central Arizona Blogshoot is scheduled for Sunday, January 10 – just two weeks away. As previously, it will be held at the Elsy Pearson Public Shooting Range just off Trekell Road and I-8, just West of I-10 near Casa Grande. (Ignore the labeling on the map. The one marked “Pinal County Public Shooting Range” is the one we’re at. The other is the Casa Grande Trap and Skeet club.)
Same as last year, the range opens at 7:00AM. There are no rangemasters. There are no chairs – bring something to sit on. The firing line is covered and there are concrete shooting benches, however.
And the city has porta-potties out there on a permanent basis, so we don’t have to rent our own (but bring your own TP just in case.)
The rules are pretty simple:
No explosives, no .50BMG rifles, clean up after yourself, don’t be a dick.
The rifle range is 300 yards deep with the first berm at 200. The mountains that form the ultimate backstop are another 300 yards out and farther. The ground there is reinforced concrete disguised as sun-baked clay. Forget about any target stand that needs to stick into the ground, it ain’t happenin’. Steel and targets that don’t need taping are best. And the benches are funky-shaped. Regular camping chairs are marginal, stools are better. I bring a folding chair, a target stand made of 2″ PVC pipe, and my steel swingers. I also have some .22 rimfire rated rolling targets made of steel.
I recommend you bring: water or other non-alcoholic beverages (no alcohol on the range), sunscreen, ear and eye protection. Ladies, don’t wear anything low-cut or open-necked. Yes, I’m sure it looks lovely, but you don’t want to catch hot brass down in there. OPTIONAL: Something to shoot with, and something to shoot AT. If you’re a reader or a non-gun blogger interested in coming to a off-the-cuff funshoot, please come on down! I imagine most of us will be bringing multiple firearms and lots of ammo, but if you don’t, well, I’m willing to let people shoot my stuff (with my ammo), and I’m willing to let them shoot at my targets.
Hope to see you there!
ADDENDUM: It has been brought to my attention that exit 199 to I-8 off of Westbound I-10 will be closed starting Monday, January 4. So if you’re coming from the direction of Tucson, the recommendation is to exit at Jimmy Kerr (Exit 198, I believe) get back on I-10 Eastbound, then take Exit 199 to get on I-8 West. Exit I-8 at Trekell Road.