Interesting thread. I had been going to a range - regularly, but then they started opening later on weekends in an effort to be a good neighbor to a new housing development coming online. Fine. Then they started getting flakey about when they would be open to the public (off the first weekend of every month, except when we want to do something else - don't bother posting closures on the website) - Not Fine. Then they raised their rates. Fine. Then they compressed a rapidly growing audience down into just Sundays only, so for more money now I got to wait in line for over an hour for the 'opportunity' to shoot, where then I felt pressure to clear out & make room for somebody else so that everybody could have a turn that day - Not Fine.
I looked at the possibility of actually joining at a different range - but they wanted $200 up front, had a waiting list, a fee every year there after, plus volunteer time requirements besides. That part wouldn't have been a problem, but just seemed a little pricy for what it was, and again... we're open any time - except when we want to do something else, or host somebody's reunion, etc. Very limiting, and again the internal communications just didn't appear all that great.
I finally decided - Cabela's points sitting there not being used for anything else... so in comes a TimberRidge Shooting Bench XL, then a Stoney Point nice heavy front rest bag, I already had the target stands, a chrono, 35 acres behind my house, an 11 acre farmette 5min from my house, 2 other cousin's farms, my brother-in-law's farms, two other farmers I hunt for (probably 1,500 acres or more combined - all within 30min of my house).
Out-of-pocket expense this year & all out years: ZERO ($0).
The bench is one piece, and folds/unfolds in 2 easy steps.
Rest, shooting bag (w/rear rest, muffs, ammo), rifle and go!
Any time I want- no wait, and friends shoot for free too.
Problem solved. Can shoot 100, 200, 600, 1000 yards, all easily set up in minutes with the help of a range finder.
Count me in on the cow pasture shooting range!