Tennessee Firearms Assoc. Inc.

Hi folks,

I just moved to the Memphis area and I am looking for a place to shoot rifles. I've looked at the RangeUSA and Range Master websites and they both appear to be indoor pistol ranges (although I see that Range USA is trying out allowing .223 frangible ammo on Saturday nights). Top Brass in Millington is listed as an indoor rifle range on many shooting sites, and I have found a mention of a Desoto Arms *just* across the TN-MS border. What I'm looking for is a range that is 50 to 100 yards and allows any caliber. I do know about the MSSA, but I can't afford the membership yet and I am concerned that my wife wouldn't be able to shoot there as she is not a US citizen. My wife has asked around at her office (which seems to have a fair number of firearms enthusiasts), but most say they have friends with land they go shoot on. So, where do Memphians shoot their rifles?

I don't know anything about Memphis but check out this website.

http://www.traderscreek.com/gun_clubs/tennessee.asp

Looks like there might be a public range with a 100yd rifle area

I think you are meaning the Shelby Farms range. I've been told by others that it's closed with no word on ever reopening. Also, I was told today that the Desoto Arms range closed some time ago. This is rather depressing.

I live right behind Shelby Farms and that range is definitely open, but I think is and has always been the sheriffs dept. range... Not sure but I'll call around tomorrow and see and let you know what I find out.

I'd love to be able to shoot outdoors!!

Went to the range tonight and as I was getting ready to leave this guy comes over, introduces himself and informs of a meet Saturday mornings at an outdoor range... Yes, an outdoor range!!

It's on Old Brownsville Rd. in Lakeland. Here's a map to it.

http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?&addr= ... d+TN+38002

Awesome! I'm going to have to check that out.

I just realized something. That address is the MSSA, which I think I may not be able to bring my wife to as she isn't a US citizen.

what nationality is she?

Give them a call and see what the policies are 867-8277

She is Malaysian, but a permanent resident.

I suppose I should call. I'm basing my information off of their website on this page:

http://www.memphis-ssa.com/clubinfo.php

Under requirements for membership, the first requirement is "U.S. Citizenship".

Those are strange requirements.. To get a membership you have to be an NRA member. I'm certainly not opposed to the NRA, but wonder why a membership there is a requirement?

But it looks like you can shoot without a membership though, $12 to run the course.

In case anybody comes looking for info about this, I thought I'd tie this up. The Shelby Farms range on the south side of Walnut Grove used to be open to the public, but no longer. They claimed they were closing it because it cost too much to maintain. Well, they still maintain it, it's still used as a range, but they apparently save money by not allowing the public to pay to use it. It was always about politics.

The only rifle range in the area within TN is MSSA, which I've just now been granted permission to join. There's one in Desoto County, they set up at the Southaven gun show but I can't think of the name of it. Significantly less expensive than MSSA but more than Batesville, MS which we used to belong to. That was just too far to get use out of it.

But I'm going to be able to shoot at least once a week at MSSA, and I will get my money's worth out of it. It's just always been too hard to spend that much money all at once... We're putting the tax refund on it. And TFA, too.

Desoto Rifle and Pistol Club is about 7-1/2 miles east of Hernando on Holy Springs Rd. The initiation fee is $76 and yearly dues are $96. This range closes 4 months a yr(Nov-Feb). However this spring a new range will be opened just off the Como, MS exit and be open year around.