Oak Ridge Gun Range — Attraction in Pine Castle

My son and I shoot regularly at Oak Ridge and actually find it hassle free. Some ranges will not allow minors to shoot their guns, unless you bring your own, but Oak Ridge encourages trying different guns and they welcome tourists which is cool if you have relatives in town. As far as ammo, we respect the fact that if they are low on ammo, they reserve it for their range shooters. After all, they are a range, not an ammo store, and if I go to rent a gun from them, they always have ammo to shoot. Sure, the ammo prices are higher than in the stores, but they have rent to pay and I like patronizing local businesses instead of the big box know nothing retailers. Recently I paid $9 for .22, $18 for 9mm and $28 for .45. there. I agree that's expensive, but if you bring your own gun, you can bring your own bulk ammo and save money. Not having to wait in line at Walmart is worth me paying an extra few bucks. Range prices are within $3 of everyone else but I admit, the extra shooter charge is a bit high IMHO. The range is small and has poor sound attenuation and can get a bit smoky at times, but for 99 cents, a pair of foam plugs under my muffs works fine and I kind of like the fact that there aren't a bunch of people in there with me. I've never had to leave because I couldn't get a lane, even when they had a class. Speaking of which, they have CWP classes every day of and on Wednesday evenings too and they will let your kid sit in for free. That's pretty darn convenient for the newbies. They also have plenty of targets to choose from. As far as personality issues, we have never had a problem. I agree, they don't jump out of their way to hound you or ask if you need help unless you ask sometimes, and we respect that because it makes us feel like they respect our space. We have enough knowledge about what we are looking at and will ask a question if necessary, and I think they know if someone has a question, they will ask. When we do ask questions, they never seem frustrated or condescending and always seem to go out of their way to give details and never get pushy for a sale. We've spoken to everyone in there at some time or another and never had issues. The no loaded mags or guns sign is on the door and certainly, I would not want them letting someone in there with a loaded mag that asks to see a gun while I'm in there with my kid, so I respect their policies. It's their house and I expect them to keep us safe while we are in there. I've never seen them forget to check the chamber before handing me or my kid a gun, so they are safety conscious but they let you hold anything you want and will show you how each gun works if you ask. They also have video cameras in the range area, a see through window for onlookers and will check in from time to time to make sure everything's ok and nobody has any issues. We find that to be a safety feature and don't mind. As far as prices, they are within reason to a bit high on their handguns but we found their rifles and shotguns to be modest. Compared to Gander Mountain or Bass Pro, they are great. I don't compare internet prices to a brick and mortar business since I know I have to pay for convenience, location and service, plus an FFL fee if I buy online. Overall, since they are the only game in their neck of the woods, are well staffed, offer classes and range times 7 days a week, give a free month of range time with gun purchases, have in house repair, service what they sell, and don't care what the heck we shoot from an AR15 rifle to a Pump 12 shotgun, .22 to .45 pistol and .380 to .44 magnum revolvers, I have to give...

Went to this business on 1/28/2018, and had the most shocking experience one can expect both from a safety standpoint, and a customer service standpoint. The short version of the story as to save myself from writing too much is as follows:

I went there with 2 other guys to enjoy a quick hour or so of shooting. We shared one gun, and one station for about half an hour when the folks next to us accidentally shot a shotgun (that's right, a shotgun) to the divider between their station and mine. Thankfully no one was hurt as there were at least 2 children in the range when this occurred. With that, we were done. The folks who let off the shot left first, and we left shortly afterwards. When we went to pay for our time, I advised the store employee about the incident, and expressed how concerned I was with the situation that occurred. That employee went to another employee to ask for the paperwork for those individuals to ensure they were not allowed in again. That seemed like the appropriate thing to do however, the employees seemed to find the incident comical. I couldn't take the smirks on their faces much, so I went back to the second employee and reiterated what my concern was. I advised him that I did not think it was comical, and that they should take these things more seriously. At that point, a third employee interjected and said "if you were that concerned, why didn't you tell us the minute it happened?". To that I responded that I was not going to file a complaint while the individuals were still there so as not to put my life in danger. After all, these guys were carrying guns and I didn't feel it was my responsibility to inform the staff about what is occurring in their place of business. The third employee then got into a shouting match with all 3 of us telling us we were wrong. He said they were too busy to be monitoring the cameras, and that we should have said something immediately to them. Clearly they were not in agreement that my life is more important to me than telling them what had happened at the exact moment it did. The shouting match lasted an easy 15 minutes, and they never got it.

Here is my concern. THERE WERE KIDS IN THERE!!! THEY WERE SHOOTING A SHOTGUN!!! Whether it was a mistake, or not, it is irrelevant. Anyone should expect that this incident be taken seriously when reported. Had the guy not had a smirk on his face when I first reported the incident, their response would have been fine. Ban the individuals from coming there again, and end of story. Secondly, exhibit some professionalism. This is a place of business, and a customer is a customer. If I was expressing concern for my safety, and the safety of others, you have an obligation to take it seriously. At the end of the day, I will never go there again, and the $115 I spent there are gone. It would have been a pleasant experience had it not been for the rude and unprofessional people they have working there.

One last note. Why would there be guns, semi automatics, and shotguns being shot in the same space. Wouldn't it make sense to separate the guns from the shotguns and semi automatics. Particularly when children are allowed in there. Just...

Few months ago, I had an upsetting experience, and I kindda let it go, but since then it's keeping me from going there again and spend my money in that place, and I spent no less than $70 to $100 + every time i go only on gun rental or ammo. Overall I spent about $1000 or more there. To be fair that gun range have good things but also bad things. The good side is that it's only about 3 blocks away from my house, so that's the main reason I go there. Also the place it's very clean and the building looks new. They had every gun I asked for to rent. Some employees are friendly, to me only a young Hispanic guy and a very young white guy and it stop there, everyone else had been rude to me including the black guy some other customers are making reference of. So the bad side begins with the price of everything there, targets at $1.75, really? ammo way more expensive than other places, gun rental $20 and only will rent if you are going with someone else and also they charge a fee for that person too, although they are using the same gun and the same lane than you. Hand gun prices at least $100 more expensive than other stores, really guys? and they don't want to tell you how much you are going to pay later, so after you shot all the bullets it's when you realize how much the ammo is and all other sub charges. That's why I wait to visit my family in Miami to go to a range there, Florida Gun Center, rental there $10 to $15, 50 pack of 9mm ammo about $12 to $14, free targets, $9 for .223, hand gun prices same as Academy or Basspro. and they charge you up front so you know how much you are going to spend and you pick the ammo yourself so you are the one choosing the price range and quality of the ammo, not the employees. So that was disappointing to me but what really pissed me off was that you can't bring your ammo if you have a shotgun, and I bought a 20 pack for only $5 at Academy, they made me buy the same amount for $12, and I brought my shotgun inside of a case with the factory lock on the trigger and the safe on, and the guy asked me to show him my shotgun, when I handed the gun to him he checked the chamber and had some ammo in, and he just went off to me, I almost just walk away but I was with another person and didn't want to ruin her day so I just sucked all that BS and went to the range afterwards, I really wanted to ask that guy why he was such of an a** when every single employee there have a loaded gun on their hips and no one gives a damn, but me with a gun in a case with a lock and the safe on had to make such of big deal, and I didn't take the gun out of the case just because, he was the one asking for it. I understand that's a private property and they want to enforce their own rules, but I also understand that I work super hard to earn my money so I go to spend it where I get respect. Thanks for your attention,...