i know the website says 8 or 9 am. but i read threads on here about benches being full at 7 a.m. !!  what time do they actually open the gates?

Yep live fire begins at 8 am but if you want a lane get there by 6 am or you'll have a long wait at least a hour for a stall.

Lately they are full before 6am. I'm not sure if they ever close the gates. Lots of old timers go when it's still dark and hold stalls for their friends and stuff.
I would really really really love to see a hourly fee system. Then they would have much more turnovers and money to extend hours and fix up the place.

Hourly fees would go into the general fund where the cash would be lost.

Hourly fees would go into the general fund where the cash would be lost.

That sucks.  At least it would stop people from firing off few shots then walking around to talk stories with their friends for 30mins before taking another shot.

That sucks.  At least it would stop people from firing off few shots then walking around to talk stories with their friends for 30mins before taking another shot.

Depending upon the purpose, that might be necessary for what they are trying to do, test loads, wait for the barrel to cool, teaching a new shooter, reloading mags, etc, etc.

I just got my guns 2 days ago and wanted to go there to try them out. Talked to some friends and they told me the same thing about guys camping out talking story shooting 1 bullet an hour. I hope thats not the case, if it its, I would like to see an hourly rate kind of thing.

I just got my guns 2 days ago and wanted to go there to try them out. Talked to some friends and they told me the same thing about guys camping out talking story shooting 1 bullet an hour. I hope thats not the case, if it its, I would like to see an hourly rate kind of thing.

Be careful what you wish for....

Of course free is better but hourly rates would decrease people from hanging out more than shooting.

I would pay a little bit if they used the money for upgrades. Like a better pistol range.

Paying to use a public facility that our tax dollars already pay for? Ummm NO.

As previously discussed in another thread, paying for something you've already paid for is just unacceptable.  I know all too well how frustrating those early bird bench hogs can be. But charging a "premium" for access is not the answer. Establishing and enforcing fair usage policies is the only way to go. Something like no place holding would be a good start and maybe limiting use to 1 hour rotations (when busy).

That place holding shit really peeves me.
once I saw a guy get there and put three bags on three benches.

Come on.

I, on the other hand am usually shooting with 4 or more people on my bench.

Bench sharing. Much better than bench hogging. 

That place holding shit really peeves me.
once I saw a guy get there and put three bags on three benches.

Come on.

I, on the other hand am usually shooting with 4 or more people on my bench.

Bench sharing. Much better than bench hogging. 

Yep when we go we try to use 2 benches for a bunch of us.  But when we notice it gets busy mostly on the silhouette side or when asked we always pile up on to one bench.  Need more benches.

Opps double post

If I want to shoot at the rifle range, I am one of those that gets there early to get the bench that I prefer.  Otherwise, I'll try going after 12:30 pm or so on the weekends. 

If I have a few friends coming, sometimes I'll hold one additional bench.  But they will usually get me breakfast along the way so they don't have to get up as early. 

I personally shoot and get out of there.  Yeah, I'll take breaks in between strings, particularly if I am shooting my bolt gun, but usually no more than about the last 5 minutes or so of the string. 

It does bother me when I see guys shoot one, then just walk about for the rest of the string and talk story with their buddies.  If they are going to do that anyways, why they can't just share a bench with their buddy who is doing the same thing is beyond me.  But like anything, it's those few who push things and are somewhat inconsiderate who ruin public facilities like Koko Head.  That's why I enjoy shooting at Schofield when I have a chance.

Last month I was there at 6 and all benches were taken. At around 7:30 old timer told me his friend is probably not showing up and gave me one of his 4 benches that he was reserving. I was thankful yet pissed off at the same time. Why would you take up 4 benches for people that might not show up?
I'm like most of you guys here, we take turns going early to grab one bench and 4-5 of us share. Even if there are several benches open in a row we only reserve one. Non stop shooting our rifles for few hours then move onto ether pistol or silhouette side so wait list people can have a turn.
Some people just don't have the common courtesy and consideration for others. The worst part is they will never change their selfish ways.

.

I'm just venting because its getting worse and worse. I'm just gonna continue what I'm doing, going early, patiently wait my turn so I can enjoy shooting rifles.
Maybe I should go sign up at schofield since I'm a DoD contractor. Much closer to my home too.

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Last month I was there at 6 and all benches were taken. At around 7:30 old timer told me his friend is probably not showing up and gave me one of his 4 benches that he was reserving. I was thankful yet pissed off at the same time. Why would you take up 4 benches for people that might not show up?
I'm like most of you guys here, we take turns going early to grab one bench and 4-5 of us share. Even if there are several benches open in a row we only reserve one. Non stop shooting our rifles for few hours then move onto ether pistol or silhouette side so wait list people can have a turn.
Some people just don't have the common courtesy and consideration for others. The worst part is they will never change their selfish ways.

I'm just venting because its getting worse and worse. I'm just gonna continue what I'm doing, going early, patiently wait my turn so I can enjoy shooting rifles.
Maybe I should go sign up at schofield since I'm a DoD contractor. Much closer to my home too.

I feel you and agree. 

When I go to the range, that is my no-stress time.  I just want to have a relaxing day shooting and I try not to let things bother me.  Yes, I notice things that many of you noticed, but I just go with the flow. 

I don't think things will change.  Maybe saying something to the person who is in charge of the range (Mike boss?) might help.  But I really don't see anything changing unless the ROs start policing things and I don't see that happening.  That's how things have been there for a very long time.  That's not to say that it can't or won't change, I just don't see it happening any time soon. 

Yes, you should shoot with SRGC!  There are some issues shooting there as well, like getting an OIC and enough RSOs to that the range can open.  There are many times where the range had to be cancelled because not enough volunteers to open the range.  But when they do have the range open, it's a nice change from Koko Head.