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Areas to target practice in Pierce County?

compmanio365

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So, I'm looking for areas that would be in/around Pierce County, namely maybe a max of an hour from the Tacoma area. I have a membership to the Tacoma Sportsman's Club out on Canyon Road, but it is pretty crowded some weekends, and the restrictions on what you can and can't do are somewhat draconian. I'd like to find a place where some people could go and shoot without too many rules, and it's far enough away from other people to where we won't get the police called and get in trouble.

I have gone up past Greenwater, east of Enumclaw in the past, but that is a ways out, and this time of year, the road is dangerous with snow and ice. There is a place supposedly out around Olympia off exit 104 that is a designated shooting area, but it is busy as well. Still, I plan on checking it out this weekend, weather permitting.

Can anyone else think of anything, maybe out towards Roy or that area? I know a lot of places have been closed off since 9/11, since a lot of land is actually part of one of the bases around here, and what used to slide before doesn't get allowed any more, as things have gotten much more strict, and the bases have taken up more land.
 

Preston1911

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compmanio365 wrote:
So, I'm looking for areas that would be in/around Pierce County, namely maybe a max of an hour from the Tacoma area. I have a membership to the Tacoma Sportsman's Club out on Canyon Road, but it is pretty crowded some weekends, and the restrictions on what you can and can't do are somewhat draconian. I'd like to find a place where some people could go and shoot without too many rules, and it's far enough away from other people to where we won't get the police called and get in trouble.

I have gone up past Greenwater, east of Enumclaw in the past, but that is a ways out, and this time of year, the road is dangerous with snow and ice. There is a place supposedly out around Olympia off exit 104 that is a designated shooting area, but it is busy as well. Still, I plan on checking it out this weekend, weather permitting.

Can anyone else think of anything, maybe out towards Roy or that area? I know a lot of places have been closed off since 9/11, since a lot of land is actually part of one of the bases around here, and what used to slide before doesn't get allowed any more, as things have gotten much more strict, and the bases have taken up more land.

I enjoy shooting at the Sportsman Club, but I find myself shooting at the Bullseye often. I refuse to shoot at the Marksman. I purchased a 357 from the Marksman and they refused to give me a free range ticket to shoot it after I bought. I will no longer purchase anything from them.



Preston
 

G20-IWB24/7

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.45 1911 wrote:
I enjoy shooting at the Sportsman Club, but I find myself shooting at the Bullseye often. I refuse to shoot at the Marksman. I purchased a 357 from the Marksman and they refused to give me a free range ticket to shoot it after I bought. I will no longer purchase anything from them.



Preston
If that's the only reason you won't buy anything from them in the future, I would reconsider. They make far less percentage on firearms than Bullseye does, just check pricing on the same thing at both places. (e.g. standard Glock 9/.40 @ BE =$499.99, @ Marksman = $479.99) I'd rather pocket the $20 and shoot when and where I prefer. Less "gangsta's" at Marksman too. And the Marksman seems to own more functioning lightbulbs, and a heater.
 

compmanio365

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G20-IWB24/7 wrote:
.45 1911 wrote:
I enjoy shooting at the Sportsman Club, but I find myself shooting at the Bullseye often. I refuse to shoot at the Marksman. I purchased a 357 from the Marksman and they refused to give me a free range ticket to shoot it after I bought. I will no longer purchase anything from them.



Preston
If that's the only reason you won't buy anything from them in the future, I would reconsider. They make far less percentage on firearms than Bullseye does, just check pricing on the same thing at both places. (e.g. standard Glock 9/.40 @ BE =$499.99, @ Marksman = $479.99) I'd rather pocket the $20 and shoot when and where I prefer. Less "gangsta's" at Marksman too. And the Marksman seems to own more functioning lightbulbs, and a heater.

Agreed.....I have not purchased anything at Bullseye in some time, due to the fact that I bought a gun there that did not work from day one, and they kept insisting it was "my fault" or "wrong ammo". No matter what I did, I could not get that gun to fire. I now refuse to give them my business.

I was looking more for a forested area out and gone, I know they are around here, but I haven't lived in the area for long enough to know exactly where it would be OK to go shooting at. I will be checking out this shooting pit this weekend and will see how that is, if it's crowded, etc....
 

dng

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Sorry, I know this is totally OT, but, have any of you from Pierce County noticed how many times your sheriff's department in featured on Cops? I think I've seen cameras from Copsriding along (or running behind chasing perps) with Pierce County deputies at least 3-4 times.
 

G20-IWB24/7

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dngreer wrote:
Sorry, I know this is totally OT, but, have any of you from Pierce County noticed how many times your sheriff's department in featured on Cops? I think I've seen cameras from Copsriding along (or running behind chasing perps) with Pierce County deputies at least 3-4 times.
Yeah. When Lakewood was covered by the Pierce County Sheriffs Dept contract, COPS liked going there to film. Since Lakewood has sanctioned there own police department, they have done less and less of the COPS filmings (I have a buddy who is a Sergent w/Lakewood PD, and I've seen him on scene on a couple of episodes). The South Hill area is a popular area for them to come and film as well, but since there was an incident when the COPS cameras were along when they "caught" (and ended up tasing in the process) the wrong guy and a lawsuit ensued. The main piece of evidence that they guys attorney used was the episode of COPS (which had already aired) which provided a perfect play-by-play of the events that night. He won the lawsuit.

The funny thing, is that they still air that show all the time.
 

compmanio365

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G20-IWB24/7 wrote:
dngreer wrote:
Sorry, I know this is totally OT, but, have any of you from Pierce County noticed how many times your sheriff's department in featured on Cops? I think I've seen cameras from Copsriding along (or running behind chasing perps) with Pierce County deputies at least 3-4 times.
Yeah. When Lakewood was covered by the Pierce County Sheriffs Dept contract, COPS liked going there to film. Since Lakewood has sanctioned there own police department, they have done less and less of the COPS filmings (I have a buddy who is a Sergent w/Lakewood PD, and I've seen him on scene on a couple of episodes). The South Hill area is a popular area for them to come and film as well, but since there was an incident when the COPS cameras were along when they "caught" (and ended up tasing in the process) the wrong guy and a lawsuit ensued. The main piece of evidence that they guys attorney used was the episode of COPS (which had already aired) which provided a perfect play-by-play of the events that night. He won the lawsuit.

The funny thing, is that they still air that show all the time.
Since that lawsuit, I believe Cops is no longer allowed to film with Lakewood PD. I thought Tacoma and Pierce County said the same thing, but I'm not 100% positive. I know LPD said no more Cops though.....
 

BIll98501

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compmanio365 wrote:
I will be checking out this shooting pit this weekend and will see how that is, if it's crowded, etc....
Are you shooting at the capital forest pit this weekend?
 

Trigger Dr

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How far can one shoot in the Capital Forrest Pit? 500 yds, or less? More would be better. My Sharps needs some work.
 

compmanio365

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BIll98501 wrote:
compmanio365 wrote:
I will be checking out this shooting pit this weekend and will see how that is, if it's crowded, etc....
Are you shooting at the capital forest pit this weekend?
Not sure what it's called, it's out off exit 104 then Black Lake Blvd exit, then you drive out for quite a ways until you get to the pit. No idea what it's called, other than it's an official designated shooting area, so I won't be risking getting into trouble with a forest ranger or something, like I would going up to Greenwater. I'm sure it's very nasty with snow and ice at this point up there anyhow, which is what I'm trying to avoid.
 

Mainsail

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There’s a common area shooting pit on Rt 8 to McCleary. This is on Simpson Paper Co. land. It has been closed off and on and I think the old hunters who have used it their whole lives keep pulling the signs down. It’s a little more private than the Waddle Creek one. If you’re going down that way it might be good to drive over and check this one first. The gate is almost always closed but you can walk around it, and then bear to the left. Don’t shoot due west because of houses, or back towards the freeway (duh). If you see a huge yellow No Shooting sign nailed up on one of the trees just beyond the gate; that means it’s closed again. These are the GPS coordinates, if you don’t have a GPS just copy/paste this right into google maps: N 47° 03.579 W 123° 10.792



I might head down that way myself this weekend.


EDIT: How about I try to link it?
 

compmanio365

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Sweet, I'll have to see about stopping by there first maybe, I figure I'll head out that way Saturday morning to check both out. I know there was one point where people were going to meet out there and then it got canceled cause they shut it down.
 

Mainsail

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Johnny Law wrote:
Mainsail wrote:
I might head down that way myself this weekend.
If they see you driving up in that "cruiser", you'll probably scare them all away!

Heh, when the gate is closed I park up in the weeds a bit facing down the road. It slows down the traffic on Rt 8. :lol:

I'll be selling it shortly anyway.
 

Preston1911

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compmanio365 wrote:
G20-IWB24/7 wrote:
.45 1911 wrote:
I enjoy shooting at the Sportsman Club, but I find myself shooting at the Bullseye often. I refuse to shoot at the Marksman. I purchased a 357 from the Marksman and they refused to give me a free range ticket to shoot it after I bought. I will no longer purchase anything from them.



Preston
If that's the only reason you won't buy anything from them in the future, I would reconsider. They make far less percentage on firearms than Bullseye does, just check pricing on the same thing at both places. (e.g. standard Glock 9/.40 @ BE =$499.99, @ Marksman = $479.99) I'd rather pocket the $20 and shoot when and where I prefer. Less "gangsta's" at Marksman too. And the Marksman seems to own more functioning lightbulbs, and a heater.

Agreed.....I have not purchased anything at Bullseye in some time, due to the fact that I bought a gun there that did not work from day one, and they kept insisting it was "my fault" or "wrong ammo". No matter what I did, I could not get that gun to fire. I now refuse to give them my business.

I was looking more for a forested area out and gone, I know they are around here, but I haven't lived in the area for long enough to know exactly where it would be OK to go shooting at. I will be checking out this shooting pit this weekend and will see how that is, if it's crowded, etc....
G20 and Compmanio,

Sorry, guess I am stubborn. I spend a lot on firearms and ammo. I will not give the Marksman another dime. I think he is a cheap Son of a Gun. Giving me a free range ticket with the purchase of a gun costs him ZERO. I get when I buy guns at Bullseye. I have been nothing but pleased with the Bullseye. I love the weapons I have purchased there, the gunsmithing has been great.

Can't convince me. It's not about the money, I can afford the range fee, it's the principle. The way the owner talks down to me, I really don't appreciate it.



sorry.

.45 1911
 

compmanio365

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.45 1911 wrote:
G20 and Compmanio,

Sorry, guess I am stubborn. I spend a lot on firearms and ammo. I will not give the Marksman another dime. I think he is a cheap Son of a Gun. Giving me a free range ticket with the purchase of a gun costs him ZERO. I get when I buy guns at Bullseye. I have been nothing but pleased with the Bullseye. I love the weapons I have purchased there, the gunsmithing has been great.

Can't convince me. It's not about the money, I can afford the range fee, it's the principle. The way the owner talks down to me, I really don't appreciate it.



sorry.

.45 1911


Hey, we are just sharing our side of how we see things.....it was not my intention to convince anyone of anything, at least. If you want to shop at Bullseye, great. I feel like when I have gone there, I have gotten very rude service before, the prices are way above standard, and the quality of everything is quite low. That's why I won't shop there. If you have had a different encounter, great, have fun, go shopping. I just have had a different experience, that's all.
 

BIll98501

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compmanio365 wrote:
Not sure what it's called, it's out off exit 104 then Black Lake Blvd exit, then you drive out for quite a ways until you get to the pit. No idea what it's called, other than it's an official designated shooting area, so I won't be risking getting into trouble with a forest ranger or something, like I would going up to Greenwater. I'm sure it's very nasty with snow and ice at this point up there anyhow, which is what I'm trying to avoid.

Its all a shooting area in the capital forest. Heres the address for the pit where everyone goes, be careful you dont get shot. I have been there when people started shooting while people were still setting up targets. And I know a guy who drove out a guy who shot in the leg setting up targets.

11025 waddell creek road sw, olympia wa 98513
 

Get A Life

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Exit 104 is the 101 FWY North. If you continue sout to exit 88 you can head west to the Evergreen Gun Club or Capitol Forest. The area is well marked and easy to get to.
 

Get A Life

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Duh! should have read further prior to posting. six one way half a dozen the other.
 
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