Where to shoot? It’s not an easy answer. Unlike rural Pennsylvania, Colorado or Wyoming, in those states if you have enough land you can select the safest remote corner on your property and go to town. Reminder, always know what is beyond your target. Never shoot in an unsafe direction. However, those of us who live in high density populations must come up with an alternative.

Our quest for a location could begin at The National Rifle Association’s search website. Their search engine that will show locations after you input your address or just a zip code. Very useful if you’re in an unfamiliar place and need to do some practice.

In the vicinity of the NOVA Woodbridge campus area are several places I’m aware of. There is the Quantico Shooting Club. It is a very large facility. It’s located on the west side of I-95 across from the main base. They have a skeet range, trap range, several rifle ranges and pistol ranges. There are qualifications to be met for membership, in short: Any member of the Marines, Armed Forces, Regular, Reserve or Retired, or any dependent family member of the same, or any DOD employee or retiree. Former POWs, Purple Heart recipients, and veterans who served in combat zones, who are not eligible to become regular members, will be considered regular members for the purpose of holding office and voting. If you meet the criteria, you apply and pay a yearly fee for access. Not a bad deal for what you get.

There was a convenient indoor place called Shooters Paradise located on US 1, just north of Prince William Parkway. You could actually rent a gun from them and purchase ammunition and shoot it on their range. It was a great way to check out various makes and models of guns. Unfortunately there was a fire two years ago and they haven’t rebuilt.

Near Springfield is Gilbert Small Arms Range, another indoor range. They require a membership and fees but provide an indoor place to shoot and easy to get to location, its just off of I – 95.

If you life near I – 66 there is the National Rifle Association range located in their headquarters facility in Fairfax. You can shoot nearly any caliber there, up to .460 Weatherby – monster of a gun. Prices are from $18 an hour for non NRA members to $14 for NRA members. The range is also indoors.

These are just some of the locations in the local area. In my experience there are also hunting associations or clubs that operate private ranges and cost nothing to use. I haven’t found one I’d like to join, if anyone knows of one in the area let me know.