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Curious about how ranges feel about non-affiliated instructors performing the proficiency test on their range. If it's not listed in the range rules is it generally Ok or extremely frowned upon? How do you go about approaching a range to see if it's ok?

Thanks,

Bill Stephens

Ya need to ask 'em. Most commercial ranges that i've run across don't allow outside instructors. Good luck!

Really depends on the range and its staff. Stop by and talk to them in person. Gives you a chance to scout locations and learn what if any requirements they have.

Most ranges get that new shooters mean potential new customers for them, if they're accommodating.

One I use has two LTC ranges open to any qualified instructor w/insurance. The other is just an open line and I work around other shooters.

There are a few in the Houston area that allow it. Most will require you add them to your instructor insurance policy.

I recently began working with Full Armor Firearms and range on the west side of Houston. Great folks, very accommodating to outside classes.

I've only done qualifications at a few ranges, so my experience may not reflect the average.

The indoor ranges I've asked have all said "no problem." Most will charge a different range fee for instructors/students than they do for just shooting. As an example, one local range I use frequently charges me a flat $20 per student, which includes as many B-27 targets as I need. It's $2 higher than I would pay for a nominal hour of range time, but if I need to re-shoot a student, that's covered.

The outdoor ranges are usually a little less accommodating, but I attribute this to the fact that an LTC qualification test can easily become an interruption of an outdoor range's "downrange/change target/cease fire" protocols (or would take forever if you have to do each target distance change at a general ceasefire on an open firing line).

Call ahead and ask, and try to call when they're not busy (Monday afternoons are good). Many indoor ranges can tell you what the preferred times are for LTC qualifications (best bet is when they're not very busy--you can get multiple lanes, and they can get business they wouldn't normally have).

If I'm doing an out-of-town class (or working in an area I don't normally work in) I'll seek out indoor ranges and ask. Given the multi-distance of the course of fire, I prefer the indoor-type arrangement of a movable target. A few outdoor ranges have the pulley setup, but they're not as common.