As a new shooter, I had a lot of "unknowns" selecting and then visiting my first shooting range. Lytle Creek Firing Line is the closest managed outdoor range near my home in Victorville.
Upon arrival, I found the staff to be courteous but also direct. I felt no hint of bad vibes from the office attendants or the range officers. But I appreciated the tempered but no-nonsense approach to giving me information about the range in terms of rules and safety protocols. I made the rookie mistake of attempting to transport my unloaded gun (bolt removed) from my car to table during a cease fire and was immediately and directly reminded that this also constitutes "handling of firearm" (no handling of firearms in any capacity during cease fires). It was embarrassing but, again, I appreciate the directness as I don't like lax attitudes towards safety when it comes to firearms.
My first visit saw a one-time reduction in range fees from $16 (adult) to $12 that is granted if you can show you have brought a gun that was purchased recently (within 60 days of your visit to the range). The range fees covered an entire day of shooting. I also found the office sold equipment (target stands, targets, ammo,etc...) for very economic pricing and didn't feel gouged at all. They welcome patrons bringing targets (granted they fall under their use guidelines) but also provide cheap but adequate stands that work perfectly with their mounting rails found at the 25/50/100 pistol/rifle range (they have metal rails that will allow you to drop in the wooden stakes that make up your target stand). The $6 stands are made of wooden stakes and carboard with two black/white targets printed on the cardboard. My stand has lasted me (2) ranges sessions so far with any loosening of cardboard to wood easily remedied by using the staple guns they provide on site (one is hung every 2-4 stalls). At the longer rifle range(s) that do not utilize the rail system for target stands, they provide hammers and steel spikes so you can easily create a pocket in the dirt to drop your target stands into (the rail system is not on the longer ranges).
The range itself was adequate for me. I don't have much to compare it to other than the free-for-all open BLM land I shot at a few times before deciding I need a managed ranges to work on my shooting without the fear of person who aren't being cautious enough about safety while shooting at open BLM land (Hodge Road). On my first visit, I shot at the 25/50/100 pistol/rifle range. On my second visit, I shot at the 100/200 rifle range (they also have a 100/200/300 range for longer shooting at the far left of the campus - this longest ranges does NOT have sun cover).
On both visits, I saw families with younger shooters present. It seems as long as the kids are closely managed, no one from the range had any problems.
I would recommend this range to anyone in the area.
SOME NOTES FOR A FIRST VISIT:
1. The proper entrance to the range office faces the shooting range (do not use the rear entrance).
2. Fees for adults are $16 per day/per person (as of March 2016)
3. Empty Chamber Indicator flags are required on the range for ALL firearms (any you have at the ranges). If you do not have them, they sell them for $1 at the range (in the office, AND range officers also have them on hand at the ranges).
4. The shorter ranges have rail systems that allow you to easily mount their $6 target stands. I take mine home so that when it does finally fall apart, I can easily make my own versions.
5. They sell additional targets in the range office (targets that have bright colors to highlight your hits on the targets - different versions). These can be staple onto your stands.
6. They seem to be ok with any legal type of firearm. I've seen lots of AR's, .223, .308, shotguns, handguns including calibers up to the SW 460 mag (which was terrifying to be right next to when it was being fired). Their website says they allow up to .50 BMG (assuming it is grandfathered into compliance in California).
7. They offer an annual "waiver card" for $3. What this does is allows the repeat patron to bypass the filling out of a form for each visit. Typically, without the card there is a modest amount of paperwork to fill out PER VISIT. With the waiver card, you can bypass the paperwork for a year (from date of purchase of the card). I recommend getting this card if you decided to frequent this range as it will get you to the tables faster.
8. They offer open shooting lines (no tables, no cover), covered areas with short tables, t-shaped tables for bench shooting, a couple of longer/wider tables. Cover is on some (but not all) of the ranges. Chairs or box stools are provided for each table or bench. The benches are wood on steel standards (no cement benches here). The longest range (300yd) has no cover/shade and every 100 yard increment is elevated higher than the previous.
9. CASH ONLY! read more