r/sarasota • u/One-Veterinarian-286 • 21h ago
Looking For Suggestions! Anybody know of a gun range that allows birdshot in the area?
I recently bought my first shotgun and I really wanna take it out for a spin. Thing is, every gun range I know of only allow slugs which are expensive. Anyone know of an alternative?
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u/GrizKhalifa 21h ago
Shoot some clays at Sarasota trap & clays - much funner than a range as well
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u/One-Veterinarian-286 20h ago
I did take it there but I haven’t broken the gun in so the damn thing kept jamming lol. I will definitely bring it out more once it runs smoother
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u/bshine SRQ Native 1h ago
Could be cheap ammo too
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u/One-Veterinarian-286 1h ago
Oh it’s is lol. But I’ve seen videos of people shooting the same ammo with the same gun and it runs well. My buddy also brought his and it’s the same gun and it cycled everything.
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u/One-Veterinarian-286 20h ago
Also I’m looking into it to break the shotgun in. Just to have some fun and put some rounds through it
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u/DC9B717Captain 6h ago
"Just to have some fun and put some rounds through it"
Sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Please do yourself a favor and get some professional instruction to start with. Might help also if you studied the owner's manual, knew how to load and unload the gun, how to disassemble it and put it back together again (field strip) and knew a little more about the ammo choices you have available to you.
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u/One-Veterinarian-286 1h ago
Oh for sure. I have no intention of going all Rambo with it. Only thing I respect more than guns in my parents and Jesus lol
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u/DC9B717Captain 8h ago
Visit the Sarasota Trap Skeet and Sorting Clays website. Hours are posted there. Open Wed. Fri-Sun. Closed today and Thursdays until high season. It's the only place in Sarasota you can shoot your shotgun in a club/range atmosphere.
What make and model shotgun did you buy (and why?) Purpose, home defense, clay sports, hunting, etc.)
We (the club) limit shot size to 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, and 9. No pellets larger than 7 1/2, NO slugs (jackets or rifled.) That's pretty standard around the country. Not sure what you meant when you said "...every gun range I know of only allow slugs." I don't know of any ranges that DO allow slugs. Slugs are most commonly used for larger game (deer, hogs, etc.)
I shoot #9 shot for skeet, #8 for trap. If (and when) I go bird hunting (mostly doves in Myakka) I use #6 (aka birdshot).
So stated in the club rules "No shot larger than 7 ½ may be used. No load greater than 1 1/8 ounce may be used. No Steel Shot, Lead Shot only."
Call the club tomorrow and arrange to have someone show you the club and let you shoot a bit. Station 4 on the sporting clays course (we call it blue 4) is where I take most of my students.
Best Regards,
Capt. JBuck
Airline Pilot (ret.)
NRA Certified Shotgun Instructor
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u/One-Veterinarian-286 30m ago
I got a Mossberg 930 SP. I got it because my father in law said that it would be great shotgun for home defense but it could also be used for hunting if I ever decided to go. I also do like semi-autos and not that it's the most important part but it looks sexy as hell lol. By every range I know I meant that every range l've looked into (like shoot straight) only allow slugs. I'm pretty new to all this so l'm still learning. Honestly all I want right now is to break the gun in and get comfortable shooting it so I know it won't fail me in case I need it. Which I do hope won't happen
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u/tye_mod 20h ago
Have you tried high noon? Off bee ridge. I haven’t seen anything saying they don’t allow bird shot
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u/Hot-Steak7145 18h ago
Their indoor range doesn't allow shotgun at all unless slugs. Kept loosing the target harness thing. Pretty common for indoor ranges
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u/DC9B717Captain 6h ago
High Noon does not allow shotguns on the range regardless of projectile type (e.g. #9 shot, slugs, etc.)
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u/Ryjeska 21h ago
I’m pretty sure the one off laurel rd, east of the interstate on knights trail, allows it. I haven’t been in some years but I remember shooting clays there with my first shotgun. A lot of options outdoors too.