What are the ‘NRA Cardinal Rules of Gun Safety’?

• Treat every firearm as if it is loaded at all times
• Control the muzzle, always keep firearm pointed in a safe direction
• Keep your finger off the trigger until you have identified your target and are ready to shoot
• Keep the weapon unloaded until you are on the firing line and ready to commence firing

ADMISSION QUESTIONS:

Who can use your range? Anyone with a government-issued photo ID is eligible to use our range. We have had customers from all 50 states and over a dozen countries! (Additionally, there must be no legal or medical condition preventing you from using firearms.)

I am handicapped. Can I use your range? Yes. We are an ADA compliant facility. If you need additional help, please ask our staff. Discounts are available for you Wednesday through Friday. Handicapped parking is available at the office and at each range.

What are the rules for bringing youth out to the Foothills Shooting Complex?  All youth must have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before they can visit the range. Sorry grandparents, aunts/uncles, brothers/sisters, you cannot sign a legal waiver unless you are the legal guardian. For your convenience, we have the safety video and waiver on this website so parents and legal guardians can watch the video with their children, fill out the waiver for the child, and then sign as the parent/legal guardian where indicated. Once the waiver is submitted, your child may use our range as long as they are with an adult (18 years old and up).

Do you have a minimum age to shoot at Foothills? No. You are the best judge of the capability of your child. Children should be able to understand and follow range officers’ direction. Children must be able to wear safety gear correctly. Supervision requirements are outlined below.

• A paid adult (18 and up) must accompany all youth (under 18).
• 11-17 years old can be supervised by no greater ratio of 1 adult to 5 youths.
• Under 11 years old must always have 1 on 1 adult supervision.

When does the range close for bad weather?  We may ask customers to wait in their vehicles in case of lightning, but we do not typically close for rain. We reserve the right to close any range or the complex for severe weather, construction or special events. We follow the Cleveland County Government inclement weather policy. For accurate and up-to-date range status save this link RANGE STATUS

What are your holidays? We do NOT follow the Cleveland County government holiday schedule. We are always closed to the public on Mondays. We are closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. We will post our holiday schedule and any change of hours on the website and Facebook.

What discounts do you offer? On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays we offer a half-price daily admission to the following:

• Veterans and active military
• Senior Citizens (65+)
• Disabled persons
• Law Enforcement Officers (power to arrest)
• NC Wildlife employees
• Cleveland County employees

Children under age 18 are always $7.00.

Do you rent firearms? We currently have a few 12- and 20- gauge shotguns available for rental for skeet and trap shooting. You must surrender your valid driver’s license and current CCW permit to the office staff and pay $5 per round of skeet/ trap to rent each shotgun. We will return your licenses when you return the firearm.

Do you have memberships or annual range passes? No. We are a public range so there are no membership requirements. Our range fees are a bargain and the fact that the fee covers all day at all ranges really increases the value. We do sell gift cards in any amount if you are looking to give a gift to a shooting sports enthusiast, or get one for yourself!

What is the $2.00 lane fee for and how do they work? The $2.00 lane fee covers the use of our moveable target stands, backer board, staples, staple guns and one free rifle or pistol paper target. Multiple shooters may share a lane, but only one may shoot at a time. Target stands are placed at the desired distance, and you staple up your target on the stand when the range is cold.

Is the $10.00 additional fee for steel targets a group rate?  No. Each person shooting steel targets must pay their admission fee as well as the additional fee for steel.

Why am I sometimes limited to one hour in a shooting bay if the range fee is for all day? During our busiest times when we have shooters waiting for a bay, we will limit shooters to one hour in a bay and then they will have to rotate out for another shooter. You can get back in line and be rotated back in as soon as a bay becomes available, or you can go to another range to do something different while you wait. We just want to be fair to all our shooters.

Do I need to reserve my range time?  No. Foothills Public Shooting Complex operates on a first come, first served basis. Admission fees cover all day.

I’m here to shoot at 30 minutes before close do I get a discount? No. Range admission will be the same price regardless of what time it is. If a shooter goes out to shoot and they shoot the 30 minutes to an hour before closing the price would be the same as if they had come at 9:30am. Nor will the next day be free because of the late admission.

How can I host an event or class at the range? There is an informational packet you must fill out and we require you have insurance to cover your event or class. The cost will depend on size of group and activity you will be engaged in. Contact the Range Director at 704-447-8230 for details, or fill out the event form on this website.

 What is a cold range? A cold range is any range where firearms always remain unloaded with only one exception. When you are at a firing position on a range attended by a range officer, and the range officer has announced the range is hot, is the only time and place it is safe to load and fire your firearm. We provide a remote, marked safe-unloading station where you can confirm your firearm is unloaded. Please use this rather than the range parking areas!

Do I have to unload all my magazines? No. However, your magazines should be kept separate from your firearm until on the firing line.

If I have a CCW permit can I carry my pistol concealed on the range? No. Your concealed carry permit does not allow you to carry a concealed weapon at Foothills Public Shooting Complex. Concealed weapons are NOT allowed on the property. For the safety of our customers and staff, please do not violate this rule!

What type of equipment is available on the ranges? We have a limited number of barrel rests available for customers. You are welcome to bring your own sandbags, sleds, spotting scopes, chronographs and binoculars. There are stools available at the counter-height lanes. Some bench-style lanes are available. Bench seating is located behind the firing lanes. Staples and staple guns are provided. Tables are available on the steel target range.

 AMMUNITION QUESTIONS:

 Why do the Range Safety Officers check my ammo with a magnet? The magnet is used to detect steel core and bi-metal projectiles. Lead and copper are not magnetic. If the projectile sticks to a magnet it is not allowed on the range, period. Steel casings are fine, though.

Why can I not use steel core ammo?  Steel core ammo will defeat the safety barriers in the range bays, do more damage to our target frames and is more prone to skip and ricochet.

What is the maximum size round you allow? .300 Win-Mag or Weatherby.

Can I use black powder firearms at your range? Yes!

Can I shoot my airgun and BB gun at your range? Yes!

Do you have a place to pattern my shotgun or shoot other than skeet and trap? Yes. We have an area designated for you to try various loads in your shotgun. You may bring cardboard, paper or clay targets to place on the embankment in this area. You may shoot slugs on our rifle range.

Why can I not use green tips, hyper-velocity rounds, 338 Lapua or 50 BMG on the ranges? The ranges were designed for rifles most commonly used in this region for hunting and sporting uses, therefore, the safety barriers, fall-out zones and target systems were not designed to handle these rounds. Allowing these rounds would exceed the engineering standards used by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission who designed and built the ranges.

Do you sell ammunition?  Yes. We sell 12 and 20-gauge target shot, .22 pellets, .22LR, .223, 9mm, .38 Special, .380, .40, and .45 caliber ammunition for your convenience, and subject to availability.

Can I buy your brass? No. Cleveland County has a contract with a bidder to purchase our brass.

May I keep my brass? Yes. But just yours. 😊

ARCHERY QUESTIONS:

Why are only field tips allowed on the practice archery and 3D archery ranges?  The archery targets we use are only designed for field points, not broad heads.

Can I use my crossbow? Yes. You may use your crossbow with field tips on the practice range. Crossbows are not allowed on the 3D archery range.

Do you rent archery equipment? No.

What safety gear is required on the archery range? Eye protection is required on the archery range.

SAFETY QUESTIONS:

Can I share eye and ear protection on the range? No. Foothills Public Shooting Complex requires anyone on the firearms ranges, both spectators and shooters, to have eye and ear protection at all times.

I wear prescription glasses. Do they count as safety glasses? No. Although impact resistant, they do not typically have coverage around the sides and top of your frames. Over-prescription safety glasses (available for purchase) or the bill of a hat will save your eyes from flying brass.

Do you rent safety gear? No. We offer a variety of eye and ear protection for sale.

Why can I not wear flip-flops or open-toed shoes on the range? When shell casings are ejected from firearms they are very hot and if it lands on the bare skin of your toes you may jump or jerk. We do not want you jumping or jerking while holding a loaded weapon!

Why can I not wear tank tops or open neck shirts? Same as with flip-flops and open-toed shoes, a hot shell casing going down your back or chest will be very distracting, not to mention painful… we know this from personal experience.

Why can I not use fully automatic firearms or other accessories that allow for rapid fire? Each shot must be controlled and aimed at a proper target so the rounds will impact into the berm. Controlled and aimed fire increases in difficulty as the rate of fire intensifies. This is not safe for most shooters so it is not allowed at Foothills Public Shooting Complex.

Why is holster drawing not allowed?  For normal operations, most shooting is done from our permanent shooting bays where there is a table surface at the firing line. To accommodate shooters with a wide range of skill and capabilities we want shooters to use the low ready position and not draw from a holster. This prevents fanning of other shooters and possibility of an accidental discharge into the concrete floor or part of the range structure where a shooter or spectator would be at risk of ricochet.

Why can I not shoot rifles at the steel target range? Shooters typically fire from a distance of 15-25 yards on the steel range. You may use pistol caliber carbines or rifles chambered for .22 caliber or standard pistol calibers on steel (no magnum loads). Shotguns with a maximum shot size of 7 1/2 can also be used on the steel range. The restrictions are in place to keep shooters and spectators safe from bullet fragments and to extend the service life of our steel targets.

Can I use tannerite targets on the range?  No. We do not allow any explosive or incendiary devices on the range. Regular latex balloons are allowed on the range; however, we require the area around the target to be cleaned up after using balloons.

Does the range provide targets for me?  Yes. One free target is included with each lane fee that is paid. Additional targets are available for purchase in the office. Customers are welcome to bring their own paper targets with them if they are not offensive in nature.

Can I bring my own steel targets? No. We cannot guarantee the safety of your equipment for our other customers, employees and our range.

Why the lead exposure precautions on an open-air range?  Even though your airborne exposure to lead is much less here than at an indoor range you will still get lead dust on your hands and body while shooting. It is very important that you wash your hands after you finish shooting and before eating to avoid ingesting lead particles inadvertently. Likewise, keep food and drink away from the firing line to avoid lead dust contamination.