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Let me start out that I am new to shotguns. I recently purchased a Remington 870 Express 12ga shotgun. It’s the black synthetic with the extended magazine. This is for Home Defense/Personal Defense only. I’ve been researching all about shotguns and am ready to take it out and pattern it and fire various distances with it.

Unfortunately I am having some trouble locating a public range in or around Houston (preferably north) that will allow you to pattern with buckshot and do some distance shooting with buck and bird. I find all of them have skeet/trap and clay, but this shotgun is not designed for that nor am I interested in this type of shooting at this time.

Does anyone know of any public ranges in or near Houston (preferably North Houston, but will travel of needed) or some distance outside of Houston that allow defensive shotguns for pattern, buck and maybe some slugs?

I’m finding out quickly that it is very difficult to find these places in or near Houston. Basically you either have to own your own rural land or know a family/friend that has one. Neither of which are options for me at this time. Very frustrating. I have gone to the websites for most of the public ranges and none list anything for defensive shotguns. Plenty of skeet/trap and clay though!

You can try PSC. They're in Friendswood (a little outside houston), but I believe they allow what you are looking to do. It's a private range and membership I believe is mandatory or you can show up with a friend who has a membership.

Give em a holler:
http://www.psc-range.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Edit: Oops, I see you said "Public" range. Sorry, I haven't seen any public ones that allow this.

PCS has a range dedicated to "home defense" shotguns.

If you're close: join. Good people, good facilities.

American Shooting Center has a couple of target stations dedicated to shotguns. Target distance is fixed at 10 or 15 yards, though.

Carter's Country has a public range with distances from 5 yrds, 10 yrds, 20 yrds, and 50 yrds I believe. You can shoot a shotgun with any load at a target from any of those distances.

If by North you mean really North, you could also try Thunder Range-

http://www.thundergunrange.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They have three gun competition in IDPA.

mbw wrote:Carter's Country has a public range with distances from 5 yrds, 10 yrds, 20 yrds, and 50 yrds I believe. You can shoot a shotgun with any load at a target from any of those distances.

I'd confirm that over the phone before making the drive. In the past couple of years, I've gone there several times with my shotgun. Was told they didn't allow birdshot, only slugs. Next trip I brought slugs and was told they didn't allow slugs, only birdshot. Next trip was told no shotguns were allowed at all (unless on the trap/skeet ranges). Seemed to me the range officers sort of made up the rules based on how they felt that day.

If you are talking about the Carter's Country in Spring, I also say call first and verify. I have made several trips and got several different answers. I have used my hd shotgun on the skeet range just to make some noise ( I was told no buckshot). Even though I was not going to waste it on clay birds. I too would like to know a place (north Houston) to take my hd shotgun and get to really learn it potential.

I'll second the last two posts.

I've been told at Carter's Country on two different occasions that 1) shotguns are not allowed on the pistol range, then 2) shotguns are allowed with slugs only.

Gun Emporium in Conroe used to allow 00 buck off to the right of the rifle range, you could pattern your HD shotgun using the below grade pond then hill as a backstop, but last time I was there I was told slug only.

Seems like most ranges are scared of 00 buck being fired on there ranges for some reason??

I'd love to hear of a northside range that allows 00 buckshot for patterning and shotgun workout. (ANY OF YOU NORTHSIDE RANGE OWNERS GET THE HINT???)

JLaw

Well it isn't exactly North Houston (City of South Houston actually) but Marksman Indoor Range allow shotguns (the fee is a little higher) and there is no limitation on load.

Your responses about Carter's in Spring really suprize me. In the past I have never had a problem shooting any load in a shotgun from the pistol range. I have not been there in some time and maybe they have changed the rules.

As I posted above, try or call Thunder Range. They host 3 gun competition in IDPA so they must alow shotguns on the range. 3 gun matches are for pistol, rifle, and shotgun.


http://www.thundergunrange.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Another choice is Hot Wells out on 290 West. I think that you must be law enforcement to use the area that allows shotguns though. I don't know that for a fact because the last time I was there I was with an HPD SWAT team and we shot everything, including shotguns, on the Police Only range.

mikejarhead wrote:

Kevinf2349 wrote:Well it isn't exactly North Houston (City of South Houston actually) but Marksman Indoor Range allow shotguns (the fee is a little higher) and there is no limitation on load.

Last time i was in there i asked about that and they said, "No buckshot".

Mike C.

Hmmm They didn't even ask me what I was shooting. It wasn't 00 in any case but they didn't say anything when I asked what lane to use. Maybe I didn't look like I could shoot 00 or slug?

Update: For those of you who may be looking for a public range in North Houston to shoot various rounds through your shotgun, Thunder Gun Range, (http://www.thundergunrange.com/) south of Conroe, will let you. They have a couple of 30 to 35 yard bays where they will let you pattern your guns on a paper target as well as shoot various loads. There is not a running course that I can tell, but at least they do not limit you to slugs. Price was $10 per gun, no time limit.

Thunder Shooters Club does hold Defensive shotgun and carbine classes as well as defensive pistol. There are basic to advanced classes. Reasonably priced and we have NEVER been disappointed with the instruction received. Highly recommend.

Atheena Gun club on interstate 10 just west of the beltway authorizes defensive shotguns.

Beautiful range too. I shot 75 rounds of birdshot and had a great time.