Shooting Ranges Near Boston

[Easterbrook]

I'll be living in Boston for the summer and am bringing a few rifles. What are some good places to go shooting on the weekends?

I will have a car-- not like I'd be able to bring a rifle on the train anyways.

Also, I remember in my last Boston thread, which has since disappeared, someone posted a link to a Massachusetts specific gun forum. I should have bookmarked it but I didn't-- can anyone remember which forum that is?

[lens]

I hope you have a MA LTC, otherwise it is a felony to possess any firearms or ammo in MA. And if you are living in Boston, they have their own bans . . . no black rifles allowed or other so-called SAWs.

The local forum you are looking for is www.northeastshooters.com

Good luck.

[Easterbrook]

I hope you have a MA LTC, otherwise it is a felony to possess any firearms or ammo in MA.

The local forum you are looking for is www.northeastshooters.com (http://www.northeastshooters.com)

Good luck.

Really? Even just for a rifle? I was just planning on bringing my 10/22 and maybe a bolt action, so nothing scary or "assault rifle"-ish. Gosh, I'll have to rethink my shooting plans if I can't have any firearm.

If I can't bring anything, are there any good ranges nearby where I can rent a rifle or handgun to shoot?

Thanks for the website-- that's exactly the one I was looking for.


ETA: My apartment is actually in Cambridge, no Boston, if that makes a legal difference.

[lens]

Really? Even just for a rifle? I was just planning on bringing my 10/22 and maybe a bolt action, so nothing scary or "assault rifle"-ish. Gosh, I'll have to rethink my shooting plans if I can't have any firearm.

If I can't bring anything, are there any good ranges nearby where I can rent a rifle or handgun to shoot?

Thanks for the website-- that's exactly the one I was looking for.


ETA: My apartment is actually in Cambridge, no Boston, if that makes a legal difference.

Yes, ANY gun/ammo/OC in MA requires a permit. Most cities/towns will NOT issue to a college student or someone who isn't a legal resident in MA (DL, voter reg, etc. in MA). Cambridge is easier than Boston and has no (TTBOMK) restrictions over MGL (only pre-ban hi-caps/so-called SAWs).

NR LTCs are available, just more expensive ($100/year vs. $100/6 yrs for Residents). Both require you take a MA State Police Certificate course for your first permit and it will take a few months to get your LTC (usually).

Boston Gun and Rifle Association, http://www.bostongunclub.net/ MIGHT be a place where you can rent guns and shoot. I don't know for sure. I will say that I wouldn't feel comfortable being in that neighborhood without my CAR-15 at the low ready (illegal in MA), so you won't catch me anywhere near that place.

There is a rental place way up North, near Haverhill. Don't recall the name or particulars, but someone on northeastshooters.com should have info on it.

[Palmguy]

When I was in Rhode Island last year, I drove up to Manchester, NH just to shoot at a range a few times...only took an hour and a half to get there from the south end of the island so it couldn't be but about half that (an hour maybe?) from Cambridge.

[Easterbrook]

Well, here I am in my Cambridge apartment. I left my rifles at my parents home in NY. :crying:

Besides the oppressive gun laws, Cambridge is pretty nice. Lots of neat restaurants to eat at, tailors and launderers nearby, and tons of little overpriced doo-dad shops. The place could use a wal-mart, however, as I still can't find an ironing board. Seems like one of these places would sell one, but I can't seem to find one.

I'll be taking the red line into work everyday, so one of the first things I did this afternoon was to purchase a monthly pass. However, when I went to use my pass, it didn't work! As I looked more closely at it, I realized that it isn't valid until June! :faint: Oh well, I put $10 on another card and I'll use that until June-- refilling as needed.

[cahilj]

If you don't mind driving, you could head out to Worcester and go to the Boston Gun Range (www.bostongunrange.com) (different from the link already posted). They have rentals, both rifle and pistol. Nice place, all indoors and modern.

Or you could drive all the way out to western MA and I'll let you use my stuff for free, just throw me some cash for the ammo :cool:

[tehan2]

you could also drive down to Attleboro

http://www.americanfirearmsschool.com/

or if you find yourself near worcester, you can shoot mine in Auburn

[Easterbrook]

Thanks for the advice and tehan2 and cahilij, thanks for the offer. I don't think I'll be out your guys's way, but if I am, I'll give you a holler.

I'm just hear for the summer as I have one year of school left but, assuming I get an offer at the company I'm working for this summer, I should be back next year for good.

I was told I should buy as many Glocks, HK's, and other guns that are restricted in MA before I move here. Something about if I own it when I move to MA, I can keep them. But otherwise, I won't be able to buy them after I move here. Do any of you know about this?

[lens]

I was told I should buy as many Glocks, HK's, and other guns that are restricted in MA before I move here. Something about if I own it when I move to MA, I can keep them. But otherwise, I won't be able to buy them after I move here. Do any of you know about this?

You were told correctly.

There are almost no gun mfrs that are allowed to sell product in MA, therefore you can buy SOME old ones (pre-10/21/1998 mfr) from dealers or any vintage privately from another MA LTC holder when you are a MA Resident with a MA LTC.

So buy like crazy before moving to MA.

Hi-cap mags however MUST be pre-9/13/1994 to be legal to POSSESS in MA, so you'll have to ditch most of your hi-cap mags before moving here.

Much more info can be found at NortheastShooters.com and the three lawyers active there should be able to fill in any legal blanks for you.

[bostonasphalt2]

If you don't mind driving, you could head out to Worcester and go to the Boston Gun Range (www.bostongunrange.com) (different from the link already posted). They have rentals, both rifle and pistol. Nice place, all indoors and modern.

Or you could drive all the way out to western MA and I'll let you use my stuff for free, just throw me some cash for the ammo :cool:

Boston GUn Range in Worcester is currently taking major heat from the local PD and is currently without a valid license, I believe. There have been long standing issues there, and as a resident of MA who has only had an LTC-A since January, I would recommend either driving out to Smith and Wesson and renting anything they have, or driving down to americanfirearms in NOrth Attleboro.

Truth be told, I like America Firearms, however, since it is a rental place, there are many people there who dont truly understand gun safety. last time I was there, I had two different people strafe me with loaded firearms! Usually it is ok there, but that is the sort of thing you run into at public ranges.


If you want any more info, PM me, I would be glad to help, and even meet people to go shooting.

[bostonasphalt2]

Thanks for the advice and tehan2, thanks for the offer. I don't think I'll be out that way but if I am, I'll give you a holler.

I'm just hear for the summer as I have one year of school left but, assuming I get an offer at the company I'm working for this summer, I should be back next year for good.

I was told I should buy as many Glocks, HK's, and other guns that are restricted in MA before I move here. Something about if I own it when I move to MA, I can keep them. But otherwise, I won't be able to buy them after I move here. Do any of you know about this?

you can buy the newer Glock and HK stuff, you would just need t find someone selling it privately. The laws are written so that an FFL in MA cannot legally sell those items to you, but you can buy them. SO, in theory, if a gun store didnt know what they had, then you could buy it from them, but it would be their ass on the line. The "selling" rules applies ONLY to FFLs and not to private sales don face to face via an FA-10 form. An FFL cannot be used to transfer such a firearm, so if you use up your 4 FTF transactions for the year, you are SOL.

[Fritz1]

Try the Firing Line in MAnchester NH - 25 yard indoor range. You can bring your own handguns and ammo or rent/buy theirs. Some rifles are allowed, but you must buy their ammo - low velocity with frangible heads - only rifle calibers availabe are .223. .308, 7.62x39