On Target Sports: A Gun Range Done Right…
There is a certain image people have of the area in which I live. The idea is that there’s a gun range on every corner and a gun store right next to each one of them. Believe it or not, there’s only a couple of gun stores in Jacksonville and 2 indoor ranges within a 30 mile radius. As much as this town loves guns, there just aren’t many places to shoot them. There are a couple of outdoor gun clubs but one of them is crowded beyond measure and the other (of which I’m a member) is awesome but an hour’s drive away from me. Not to mention outdoors…in Florida…in the summer…well, let’s just say 98 degrees and 110% humidity makes for an interesting experience. When your sweat is sweating, you’re more concerned about avoiding heat exhaustion than proper sight picture.
Then, one day, I see some brochures sitting on a table at a gun show for a new range opening up in Jax. My first thought was “great. It’s probably going to be on the Northside, another hour away”. I grabbed the brochure on my way out and didn’t really look at it until later that evening. When I finally got around to reading it, I think I scared the heck out of Mrs. Noob with my yelling and cheering. You see, this place was being built about 10 minutes away from me (which, by Jax standards, is “next door”).
Not only that, but boy and howdy was this place high tech! They were pulling out all the stops here for sure. I got in touch with the owner over email to talk with him about it for a bit. With the place about 2 or 3 weeks away from opening, he invited me for a preview tour.
So, ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you On Target Sports. This is the place Jacksonville has needed for a long time!
Phillip May, the owner, started research for this range over 5 years ago. He spent that time going to ranges across the country seeing what worked and what didn’t work. When he got back, he put together plans for what, in his mind, was the absolute perfect shooting range.
This is a high end range where people will not only feel comfortable shooting at but will want to hang out in. On the outside, the building is modern and sharp. Once inside, you’re greeted by a contemporary firearm retail store. It almost reminds me of the Beretta stores, in a way. Once you sign in and pay the range fee (about $17 for the entire day, I was told), you can make your way to the lounge area if there’s a wait.
Now, I’ve seen what some ranges call a “waiting area” if they have one at all. Poorly lit rooms with a couple of very uncomfortable benches. This, however, is nothing like that. Big, fluffy leather couches; A giant flatscreen TV; Drink machines; big, bullet proof windows overlooking the shooting range; and display cases with some incredible firearm “museum pieces”. This is an area I’d want to just stop by and hang out in even if I wasn’t planning on shooting!
When a lane opens up and your number is called, you’ll proceed into an “airlock” type of room which is common at a lot of ranges. Here, however, is yet another one of those little improvements that goes a long way. In most ranges, it’s a tiny, claustrophobic room where you almost have to pass through one at a time as you move from the lobby area to the range itself. At On Target, this is a large room with a counter-top and sink so you can wash the shooting grime off your hands on the way back out.
Once you finally get into the range itself, you’ll find a 12 lane setup that’s divided into two 6 lane sections. The initial section is a normal range. The other section is configured to allow for shooting in front of the dividers so they can have competitions and tactical training there.
The lanes are wide enough for 2 or 3 people to fit in which will make it easy for instructors. The dividers are made of thick, bullet proof steel. The bullet catcher at the back of the range is heavy duty. I was told it was rated for even .50 BMG rounds but, for the safety of other shooters, they won’t be allowing people to shoot those. They will, however, be allowing everything up to that size. This means you’ll be able to shoot your AR-15, Mosin or .338 Lapua in a nice, air conditioned range.
The target system, however, is where this range REALLY sets itself apart. Phillip has outfitted the lanes with a Meggitt XWT target retrieval system. Let me try to explain how awesome this thing is. You know how in most indoor ranges you have a little toggle switch that moves the target back and forth? With the Meggitt system, you have a touch screen controller that can not only move it back and forth but it can rotate the targets as well. You can also set up programs for movements. For example, say you wanted the target to start sideways at 25 yards then flip to the “bad guy” side and charge at you, stopping at 10 feet then flipping sideways again. You can very easily program the system to do just that. The control panel is situated well behind the shooter so that an instructor or friend can control the target behind you. According to the owner, this is the only system of its kind from Ft. Lauderdale to Atlanta. I think people are going to get spoiled with this thing.
Let’s say you want to shoot but you don’t have a gun. No problem there: On Target will have a wide variety of guns and rifles to rent. Everything from Glocks, to Springfields to SIGs and even some more “fun” items. He tells me he plans on having some Desert Eagles and other large caliber pistols as well. But wait! There’s more! He will also have a decent selection of Class III weaponry available for rent. That’s right, fellow gun geeks, machine guns. Fully automatic fun. Be still my beating heart. That feature alone will take this place from awesome shooting range to flat out tourist attraction! I predict people driving from very long distances to give it a try.
It doesn’t stop there. On Target also has a spacious classroom that can be rented out by any trainer to conduct firearm classes. It can also be used for gun club meetings and parties. I’m already getting ideas for my next birthday.
Every step through this place had me saying “why doesn’t anyone else do it like this?!” I have been to quite a few ranges over the years and I’ve never seen one like this. I’ve seen some features here and there but never combined into one awesome package. This is what happens when someone does their planning right. This is the kind of place you get when a person has a love of shooting and wants everyone else to love it too. If I had one complaint, it’s that I know this place is going to be crowded.
It’s going to be THE place to be if you’re a gun lover in Northeast Florida. I want to thank Phillip May and Stephen Benton for their hospitality and graciously allowing me to tour their range. We here at Gun Noob wish them the best of luck with their range.
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