NOLATAC Training Center - New Outdoor Range in Avondale

Request Dust Off said:

It is really no different than any other range in terms of there is no guarantee it will be there in the future.
If you can afford it and go enough to use it, go for it.
Nothing about NMSP is guaranteed. My whole attitude is do it while it is there.

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mickey said:

And this is why we can't post in the WTS threads.

The OP started this thread as info on a range that was trying to get its feet off the ground for those that may have interest, and it is turning into a dumpster fire.

If you can shoot 2k yards at your hunting camp, great. Good for you. If you have a range in your back yard, that is awesome. If you have the ability to purchase cheap land in the middle of BFE, do it and shoot till you have a blister on your trigger finger. Bottom line is that if you don't like the membership dues/shooting appointment arrangements being offered by this range, move along. It won't be a fit for everyone.
I can tell you that a range of this size will cost plenty of $$$$$$$$ to run and maintain. If the membership numbers/dues are not there to keep it going, the management of the range will have to make decisions on how to balance those numbers to keep the gate open. If they don't, it will grow up in weeds. I truly hope that don't happen.
Will I be purchasing a membership? Nope, It's not for me. I shoot 600 yards at Palo. If want to shoot a 1000 Yard match, I will take a 3.5 hr ride up to Bar 3 in Laurel, MS and pay the $40 fee. I do hope they consider holding matches there down the road though. It would be great to have another venue so close.

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Emperor said:

I've been a member of this forum for over 6 years and in that time have almost unequivocally determined that the two biggest gripes of shooters on this board is 1.) Not enough places in close proximity to where the shooters live to shoot at; and 2.) not being able to ask questions on classifieds. Both of which, I do not have a personal problem with. Nonetheless, anyone that doesn't root for any outdoor range (particularly a long range one), within 30 minutes of a major metropolitan center to succeed, is either a douche, or just an a-hole! Or both!

I for one, not only hope that it succeeds from a firearms enthusiasts standpoint; but also an entrepreneurial one! Last time I watched an example of douches wanting everything good to fail was on the news last night; when 8 seconds in there were phony democrats decrying any of Trump's successes to at least try to make America Great Again!

Think about that next time you have nothing to do.

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Emperor said:

I've been a member of this forum for over 6 years and in that time have almost unequivocally determined that the two biggest gripes of shooters on this board is 1.) Not enough places in close proximity to where the shooters live to shoot at; and 2.) not being able to ask questions on classifieds. Both of which, I do not have a personal problem with. Nonetheless, anyone that doesn't root for any outdoor range (particularly a long range one), within 30 minutes of a major metropolitan center to succeed, is either a douche, or just an a-hole! Or both!

I for one, not only hope that it succeeds from a firearms enthusiasts standpoint; but also an entrepreneurial one! Last time I watched an example of douches wanting everything good to fail was on the news last night; when 8 seconds in there were phony democrats decrying any of Trump's successes to at least try to make America Great Again!

Think about that next time you have nothing to do.

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bigtattoo79 said:

I don't understand why the people running the range don't join BS and help answer questions and promote the range on the biggest LA gun Forum.

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Danny Abear said:

Because he was banned here a couple of years ago..

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Sig66 said:

Well, I didn't like the things I've just read about the financial stability of the track, considering that I bought into the gun range, so I hope it goes better than some of you predict! I knew about the track, as I live very close, but did not know anything about the financial condition of it. I would feel like such a sucker if it fails! As stated, the track itself could very well have money issues and go under, or be sold to another owner, that may not want a gun range adjacent to his track, either of which could spell doom for the range.

My primary reason for joining was such close proximity to an outdoor range, considering I live in Marrero. Driving an hour to Honey Island, or the Sheriffs range in Houma, wasn't terrible, they are both great ranges, but and hour each way, to either of those is a lot less desirable than 15:00 from my house!!

Lets just hope that this works out...

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Dave328 said:

I went to the wine and dine pretrack sales pitches. They talked all about rainbows and unicorns with trackside houses and garage rentals and track time every day available. Thank GOD I didn't fall for any of that and get suckered into a lot or garage. The track turned out exactly how I thought it would, and for anybody who thinks they're still planning for the Phase 2 expansion, well, good luck with that. As far as I'm aware, that was off the table before they even finished pouring the main track. They seem content with the karting/autoX/carshows and bikes and some track days sprinkled about, enough so that I'm not really worried about the range. And if I'm wrong and it shuts down, OMG, I'll be out a grand, BFD! In the mean time, I've shot there every weekend since they opened, and I'll be out there again this weekend.

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miscverb said:

I am a member of NOLATAC and the range is GREAT! It is getting better by the day, and WE ALL need gun ranges to be successful in these times of political attack on the sport we love. Anyway, come on out and enjoy some shooting if and when you can. Have a good day.

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Sig66 said:

He told us that eventually he will try to open the club to the public, one weekend a month, but nothing has been said about when that will start. Right now, I think he's focusing on letting us members shoot as much as possible, before allowing non-members to come in and shoot.

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geoney said:

Since it is members only, do you know if they plan to have any "open house" or public days?

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Request Dust Off said:

Dude, just go do your thing and enjoy it. Ignorance is bliss.
For some reason the track seems to be a topic that draws negativity, rumor and speculation. While it does have it's problems and I have had to deal with some myself, as have friends, I have found that I just worry about myself and what I can control, IE: 'My end of the deal'. That doesn't mean NOShooter is wrong. There is not one thing he said that I haven't heard before or seen first hand. I think he truly is trying to present some info for the good of his fellow gun owners. He is not an a-hole or a douche bag, has earned the right to his opinion first hand and probably spent his money doing so. My brother wanted to get a garage there and I talked him out of it. A lot of that stuff doesn't affect the range anyway. I can tell you that all expenditures we make based on the track being there are tempered with the possibility it could go away any day now. I just choose not to waste a lot of time pissing and moaning on every negative what if. I prefer to get the most out of it while I can.
I don't know the financial situation. I doubt anyone else truly knows either. I also don't know where facts end and rumor begins in certain areas. The owners of the track have a vested interest in the range succeeding. From what I know they are putting out the money and letting Brandon make the decisions.
I do karting there. We had our issues. Since 2 people left I have not had any major complaints. There have been more than 2 leave that I loved dealing with. Some of it also comes from me adjusting my expectations. So that makes it 3 out of 4 guys running karting that were great to deal with. The guys I now deal with are great. They do what they promise. When they can't I know it up front.

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NOShooter said:

I've been pondering how i would respond, or if i would respond at all to the subsequent comments on the information that I shared.

I've come to the conclusion that, in all reality, I do hope that the range succeeds. My issue is not with the range, brandon, people who have joined, people who want to, etc. I would love it if there was a world class long distance shooting center 20 minutes from my house.

My issue is with the track. The way it has been ran. The wrongs that have yet to righted. the unkept promises. The lack of any semblance of customer service. The gross negligence.

I also have an outstanding issue with the track in which their negligence damaged my property that is kept at the track in a garage.

All that being said, it is not out of the question for me to join the range after i get my situation squared with the track. It sucks that the track will see , even a percentile of whatever i spend to join the range. It sucks that the future of the range is so tied to what is a really poorly run motorsports park.

I kind of wish that Nolatac had purchased or leased land that is adjacent to the park, but I understand from a cost/investment perspective why Brandon did what he did.

It would be great for those interested if those of y'all that are frequenting the range could take pictures and give us a brief run down of the amentities and setup. That might help entice some additional folks to join up and go shoot.

I also believe that to truly draw more people, some sort of open house/meet and greet ( whether it involves live fire or not) would be hugely beneficial to the goal of getting a strong membership base out there.

I'd also say that Brandon may want to give some thought to approaching those that already lease garages or belong to nola some sort of bundle discount if they opt to join the range too.

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NOShooter said:

I've been pondering how i would respond, or if i would respond at all to the subsequent comments on the information that I shared.

I've come to the conclusion that, in all reality, I do hope that the range succeeds. My issue is not with the range, brandon, people who have joined, people who want to, etc. I would love it if there was a world class long distance shooting center 20 minutes from my house.

My issue is with the track. The way it has been ran. The wrongs that have yet to righted. the unkept promises. The lack of any semblance of customer service. The gross negligence.

I also have an outstanding issue with the track in which their negligence damaged my property that is kept at the track in a garage.

All that being said, it is not out of the question for me to join the range after i get my situation squared with the track. It sucks that the track will see , even a percentile of whatever i spend to join the range. It sucks that the future of the range is so tied to what is a really poorly run motorsports park.

I kind of wish that Nolatac had purchased or leased land that is adjacent to the park, but I understand from a cost/investment perspective why Brandon did what he did.

It would be great for those interested if those of y'all that are frequenting the range could take pictures and give us a brief run down of the amentities and setup. That might help entice some additional folks to join up and go shoot.

I also believe that to truly draw more people, some sort of open house/meet and greet ( whether it involves live fire or not) would be hugely beneficial to the goal of getting a strong membership base out there.

I'd also say that Brandon may want to give some thought to approaching those that already lease garages or belong to nola some sort of bundle discount if they opt to join the range too.

Click to expand...