Hi,

I plan to take the day off on Thursday so I can sight in a rifle with my hunting partner.

What time should I get to the range to make sure I get a spot?

Thanks,
Dave

I only go to the range on thursdays and I try to get there by 1030 to snag a bench. If you are there by 10 I'd say that should guarantee you a bench, probably toward the left side of the rifle range. Sometimes there are benches open until 11/1130 but last week they all filled up by 11.

Right on.  Thank you.  I appreciate the inside info.
Dave

when i go on thursdays, i get there around 1230, and i've never had to wait for a bench.  there's almost always one or two benches open.  i wouldnt worry about it.  it you have to wait, people cycle in and out frequently enough.

I have yet to see a Thursday where the firing lined open without a current wait-list being mentioned by the RO. My experiences coming from the last 1.5-2 years. For the last few months people have been showing up earlier than usual and largely clearing out by 2. The last couple times I went  all were taken by 1130 and almost half were open by 2. Should work out perfectly now with the new 4pm closing time, show up at 2 and shoot for 2 hours. Maybe it's time for a How's the wait at the Range thread in addition to our Hows the line at HPD thread.

I have yet to see a Thursday where the firing lined open without a current wait-list being mentioned by the RO. My experiences coming from the last 1.5-2 years. For the last few months people have been showing up earlier than usual and largely clearing out by 2. The last couple times I went  all were taken by 1130 and almost half were open by 2. Should work out perfectly now with the new 4pm closing time, show up at 2 and shoot for 2 hours. Maybe it's time for a How's the wait at the Range thread in addition to our Hows the line at HPD thread.

i guess im just catching the first round of people wrapping up.

i've personally only been waitlisted on a saturday, but then again, i really havent been at the range nearly as much as the rest of you, cause im still fairly new.

beginners luck

Are the benches on the far right the first to go because they're more in line with the metal plates on the slope?

Hey.  I'm not gonna chance it.  I showed up at 10:30AM on a weekday a few months back and it was too late.  It was a total waste of time driving all the way out there. 

I'm going to show up no later than 9:45AM.  Been planning this for a while with my panda. 

Later,
Dave

It's been a while since I broke out the Sako.

when the range closed at 3, i have been showing up around 1:15 or so, and hitting the 1:30 change
worked oout for me so far
should be even better now that the range is open until 4
it helps if you live on the east side
http://2ahawaii.com/Smileys/extended/thumbsup.gif

I have yet to see a Thursday where the firing lined open without a current wait-list being mentioned by the RO. My experiences coming from the last 1.5-2 years. For the last few months people have been showing up earlier than usual and largely clearing out by 2. The last couple times I went  all were taken by 1130 and almost half were open by 2. Should work out perfectly now with the new 4pm closing time, show up at 2 and shoot for 2 hours. Maybe it's time for a How's the wait at the Range thread in addition to our Hows the line at HPD thread.

Are the benches on the far right the first to go because they're more in line with the metal plates on the slope?

Week days only half of the range is open. There are few benches on the right that lines up with the steel, but you got to get there early to snag those.

Hey.  I'm not gonna chance it.  I showed up at 10:30AM on a weekday a few months back and it was too late.  It was a total waste of time driving all the way out there. 

I'm going to show up no later than 9:45AM.  Been planning this for a while with my panda. 

Later,
Dave

i dont see how waiting for 2 hours and 15 minutes so you can get a bench at 12 is better than waiting at most a half hour or an hour by showing up at 12 or 1230.

If you are serious about getting a bench, arrive no later than 3 AM. 

1:30pm has always worked for me. Never waited

Now open till 4pm is awesome.

Have they started locking the gate?  Maybe I'll sleep there Wed night.
Dave

i dont see how waiting for 2 hours and 15 minutes so you can get a bench at 12 is better than waiting at most a half hour or an hour by showing up at 12 or 1230.

hahahaha 

Went to the rifle range on a couple of Thursdays, got their at 1100-1115 and had to wait 30-45 mins for a open bench, it's not to bad.

i dont see how waiting for 2 hours and 15 minutes so you can get a bench at 12 is better than waiting at most a half hour or an hour by showing up at 12 or 1230.

^^^this.

ive never waited more than 30-45 minutes for a bench if i arrive after 1, even on the weekends. lol i cant imagine how people arrive early and wait around in silence for hours while the range is empty. at least while im waiting for a bench in the afternoon i can watch other guys shoot and check out some nice guns. hell, ive even got to sample a few random strangers rifles while waiting.

4am or camp out

I go around 10. Usually there's only a couple of other guys there. I have a lot of crap to set up so I like the extra time.

Got there at 1005 last Friday. Pleasantly surprised to find eight or nine benches still open.  There have been times in the past when 1000 was too late  on a Wed, Thur, Fri to snag anything but one of the open positions on the far left. (So I usually bring a shooting mat, just in case.)