Gun ranges/clubs & IPSC startup

[Homme007]

Was able to buy a few guns and in the process of waiting on transfer.

I want to use the time to look for a gun club/range to join. Several clubs that I have IDed are Barrie Gun Club and Peterborough Fish & Gams Assoc.

Any insight as to how I becoming members at those clubs? Or other clubs that you guys recommend? Ideally about 1-1.5hr drive from Scarborough.

Barrie needs to be sponsored, anyone care to sponsor me? And Peterborough is so far not responsive as I had sent a few emails over there already...

Question #2 is how to start going into the sport of IPSC. Any one have any ideas?

[Big-Boss-Man]

My range in Alberta is sponsored also, but it turns out that in the bylaws the range it's self could sponsor my membership, they had a meeting and took a vote on the sponsorship which passed, so you may get lucky with Barrie.

[SwissArmyMan]

Slim pickings. Also consider the traffic in whatever direction you're heading. That alone can eat half hr of your time.

[awndray]

You don't need to be a club member to join IPSC. You just need to find out who's offering the next Black Badge course and where.

http://www.ipsc-canada.org/
https://ipsc-ont.org/

You'll want some range time before you do that course though. If I recall, most instructors will insist that you have some experience with your gun. They want to know that you can safely handle it. The Black Badge course isn't one for newbs who want to go shooting for the first time.

I don't know Scarborough, but a quick search revealed Sharon Gun Club.

https://ipsc-ont.org/clubs/sharon.htm
https://sharongunclub.com/

While you research clubs and wait for a response from them, get familiar with your guns. Do some dry firing. If you can, find someone who can bring you to their club as a guest.

http://www.targetsportscanada.com/

[Homme007]

is there any recommendation on outdoor/indoor ranges that are still accepting new members?

[awndray]

Have you contacted the two mentioned above? Have you gone to a local gun shop and asked them for their thoughts? Have you tried Google?

[Homme007]

Have you contacted the two mentioned above? Have you gone to a local gun shop and asked them for their thoughts? Have you tried Google?

yes to all of your above...

Talked to my gun shop -- they recommend Peterborough Fish and Game Association -- sent an email and its been a few weeks and no one had replied.
Sharon Gun Club -- its a club for members only and you have to buy "shares" from exisiting owners to be part of the club.
Target Sports -- Its my secondary choice as I want a range that has outdoor facilities as well

I have also done Google Search and went down the line on almost every club in the Southern GTA --> Link --> https://cssa-cila.org/gun-clubs/#Ontario and either they are too far or need an insider to bring you in.

So as a last resort I am posting here to see if anyone of y'all can point me to the right direction.

[LB303]

You're doing the right things, covering the bases, just got to wait for a break.
If I could afford Sharon, I'd consider it. Nice facility. But it's a 2 hr drive from here too.
Would Guelph be too far for you? Nice place also.

[awndray]

As mentioned, you are in the right direction. What you're experiencing is pretty normal for the times. Especially in the GTA. Especially now.

[Homme007]

You're doing the right things, covering the bases, just got to wait for a break.
If I could afford Sharon, I'd consider it. Nice facility. But it's a 2 hr drive from here too.
Would Guelph be too far for you? Nice place also.

RE: Sharon -- yes.. looked at the prices for buying shares.. its kinda ridiculous that some are asking for a $25-35K transfer fee..
Guelph is actually ok.. I wouldn't mine a bit of a haul at 1.5H from where I am... Any ranges I missed?