fire at Top Gun

[hheremtp]

Have no idea what the financials are behind running an indoor range, but it seems like it could be a profitable business. There are quite a few anxious customers looking for a place to spend their hard earned money.

I am of the same opinion, like the story of the cops buying the doughnut shop, maybe if a few of us CHLers go in together and set something up, it might be a worth while endeavor.

[G.C.Montgomery]

Unfortunately for me, I've gone from feast to famine in the last couple of years. Sportsman's Outlet in Humble is near my home and still has not reopened from their fire and now Top Gun, near my work, is down. The range "in-between" is the 59-Gun Range and it's not a pleasant place to visit.

Have no idea what the financials are behind running an indoor range, but it seems like it could be a profitable business. There are quite a few anxious customers looking for a place to spend their hard earned money.

A friend tried to start one a year or two ago in the Sugarland area. Everything was ready to go when the bank asked for an extra 10% down at the last minute. 10% on a $3.5million is quite a lot of cash that normal people don't just have laying around. He's still interested in the project but, I don't know if he's got the time since starting another business venture. That original range project made some compromises along the way but I still think it was viable. Originally, the range would have been located at the South East corner of Hwy 90 and Hwy 6 in Sugarland. The cost of that land was too high, so he moved the project to Stafford. I drive through that area regularly and it appears no one has tried to build anything at either of the proposed locations since the deal fell through.

Done right, I expect an indoor range anywhere along Hwy 6 or Hwy 99 between US 59-South and I-10 West could easily generate $200,000 in monthly revenue between offering classes, range fees, ammo and ancillary gear. Guns themselves don't make a lot of profit but, if you can keep the prices right, you'll make some of that up in volume. A lady/family friendly atmosphere, indoors with A/C and enough room to host indoor qualification/training for local agencies is an almost guaranteed winner. There are stumbling blocks to all this that can't be ignored. The biggest among them is financing. Ideally, one would want to do this all in cash if they had it but, securing investors (banks) is pretty much the only way to make it happen for the average Joe. Assuming a 15-30 lanes split into 3, 25 meter shooting bays capable of handling rifle calibers, I'd say the project can be done for $3-5million depending in the final configuration and location of the range. I am sure it can be done cheaper but, if it's done cheaper, it will be obvious and may even be hazardous.

[ELB]

Quick update...No torts yet but, it looks like TopGun is basically blaming the shooters on the range for starting the fire. ...

Pre-emptive strike, before the shooters who lost range gear and guns make a claim against TopGun...

[KD5NRH]

Quick update...No torts yet but, it looks like TopGun is basically blaming the shooters on the range for starting the fire. ...

Pre-emptive strike, before the shooters who lost range gear and guns make a claim against TopGun...

I don't know about you, but if I'd been in that situation, it would be a guarantee that I'd be making a claim.

[gunovice]

HI Gary,

"Jim Two-Gun" here.

Got any update on where our group will relocate?

FWIW, between my home insurance and the NRA insurance, I have been able to recover the bulk of the losses from my range bag. Decided to replace my 1911 with a Taurus PT1911.

[sss]

I tried Memorial Shooting Center a few weeks ago, and again yesterday. It's not nearly as fancy as Top Gun on the inside but still a very nice range. I'll probably be going there from now on since it's closer to my home in West Houston.

[G.C.Montgomery]

HI Gary,

"Jim Two-Gun" here.

Got any update on where our group will relocate?

FWIW, between my home insurance and the NRA insurance, I have been able to recover the bulk of the losses from my range bag. Decided to replace my 1911 with a Taurus PT1911.

Sorry for not responding sooner Jim...I've been told Top Gun is still only operating one of the three bays and it's for CHL only. I'm glad your insurance was able to help you out. One of our shooters wasn't so fortunate but, his friends at Marksman provided him with a new bag, some ammo and other gear to get him back on his feet.

Though I've looked at moving both my Tuesday night group and Thursday's club to other facilities, it appears both groups will be orphans for the time being [abbreviated profanity deleted] a variety of reasons. We can't relocate to Memorial. Because Memorial would have had to shutdown an hour early, they needed more money than we could promise to host the club each Thursday. Most other ranges are too far in all the wrong directions or otherwise already committed to other clubs.

In the meantime, Some of us have been shooting WHIDPA on Wednedsays at the Impact Zone. Others at Shiloh on Thursdays. Both are great clubs but a bit of a drive for most us. The Impact Zone is outdoors and up near Monaville so unless you live in West Houston/Katy/Sugarland its a no go. Shiloh is in the Willowbrook area and a bit more manageable for many of us. Shiloh's facilities can get hot and tight when they have more than a dozen shooters. Also, most stages we've seen so far at Shiloh are simple standards, primarily shot from static positions. Fun, fast and easy to shoot but, not what most of us are used to. Your two-gun routine would probably cause a few heart-attacks in either venue. Being IDPA clubs, both groups run a cold range. That's a minor inconvenience, creates its own hazards and slows things down a bit but, I understand it. I like both groups and recommend trying them if you can make it. I can't thank them enough to letting us join them.