Shooting Sports: Where to Learn, Train and Compete Around Miller Beach
The Best Rifle, Pistol and Trap Range Options in the Indiana Dunes (and where to get started if you're brand new and want to learn)
Finding a safe place to learn, train and eventually compete locally (in trap) was high on my list when I moved to Miller Beach. And through trial and error, I ended up creating a short list of my personal favorites for different disciplines (rifle, pistol and trap/clays), as well as at least one Indiana state facility to avoid because of safety issues.
Unlike the North Shore of Chicago, for the better or worse in NWI and Miller, we don’t have any shooting country clubs here. But what we do have is a good variety of state-run, for profit and non-profit facilities.
Let’s begin.
Rifle
First, let me share my one place to avoid because of what I feel is a lack of consistent safety protocols: the Jasper-Pulaski outdoor shooting range. This Indiana DNR facility is open to anyone (rifle and pistol primarily), but without sufficient staff to insure safety protocols.
I had the unfortunate experience of having a kid (with his father’s rifle) swing his loaded weapon, finger still on the trigger (after a misfire), 180 degrees past me, until his old man realized what was happening, and jumped into action.
No thank you.
Once is enough for me ever to experience that in a range, and the single old guy driving around in his truck is not sufficient to insure consistent safety standards (IMHO).
Unfortunately, besides Jasper-Pulaski, there are not that many public ranges nearby where you can shoot a rifle at 100 meters. But Kingsbury Fish and Wildlife (1 hour from Miller) is another public DNR facility that is run in what I’ve observed in a safe manner with an active range master who ensures proper safety among all shooters on a consistent basis. This range has both rifle and pistol ranges (outdoor), and an area to bring a machine for throwing clays as well.
Kingsbury is definitely your best bet for outdoor shooting at a public range in a safe environment (but you must follow the rules, or risk being yelled at, or asked to leave – a good thing in my book).
My favorite place for rifle shooting (25, 50, 100 and 200 yard options) is Michigan City Rifle Club (33 minutes from Miller) which I ended up joining. If you’re lazy like me, you have the choice of shooting steel targets (which “ding”) at 100 and 200 yards, without setting up a paper target (there is also a range of steel targets in the outdoor pistol range).
Michigan City Rifle Club has very serious safety protocols and vets every applicant over the course to make sure everyone not only knows all the rules of gun safety, but consistently applies them.
It also has an indoor (and outdoor) pistol range, as well as trap facilities (which are currently not open at this time). The club also offers NRA safety and training courses (which are open to the public), and various competitions (the old guys with .22 rifles worth more than my first two cars combine crack me up, but they can hit a penny at 200 yards with them).
Beyond the safety considerations and club competitions, there are numerous organized events open to members and non-members alike.
Check the schedule online.
Pistol / Indoor
There are plenty of gun stores which offer indoor shooting in the area including Range USA in Merrillville (formerly Shoot Point Blank) and Blythes in Valpo.
Both are fine, although they can get quite loud because of people shooting rifle calibers (or shotgun slugs) inside, in addition to those shooting pistols and pistol caliber carbines (PCCs).
There are other stores with ranges as well – these are the two I’m most familiar with.
Many folks prefer Blythes (which is not a national chain). It’s also a solid store, though I’m partial to Copper Custom (see below).
For pistol or PCC training, two of the local pistol membership options are:
Michigan City Rifle Club. There is an outdoor pistol range (with steel) as noted above, as well as an indoor range
Glen Park Izaak Walton (the pistol range is for members only, and is only lightly used – it’s a private and a quiet place to train)
The advantage of private pistol clubs is twofold.
First, you are unlikely to see others (which further increases safety). And if you do see someone, they have been vetted for safety, like you.
And second, you can completely control the noise factor (i.e., no one is zeroing a 308 or 300 BLK in the booth next to you).
At these two ranges, you also don’t have to shoot in a booth, and have greater flexibility to practice actual scenarios and drills.
Trap / Clays
Glen Park Izaak Walton (20 minutes or less from Miller) is open to the public Wednesday nights under the lights 5:00-8:00) and Saturdays (11:00-3:00 in the winter) and 10:00-3:00 in the summer.
It features three trap fields, including one which is set up for doubles shooting, and one that can be set to wobble. The current price is $6 per round for non members (members, kids and police/military/fire all get discounts).
There’s a heated indoor club room with food on the weekends and always coffee. Members can also use the indoor pistol and archery range as well (which is limited to members only).
While you need to bring your own shotgun (12 or 20 gauge will do, or 410 if you’re feeling like showing off), members of the club will provide basic lessons in how to shoot and basic trap safety and protocols, especially later in the day, when things quiet down.
The club sometimes has 12 and 20 gauge shells for sale inexpensively, depending on availability (call ahead). ATA shoots occur on other days for those with a competitive streak.
There are always new people (and people entirely new to shooting sports) coming to Glen Park Izaak Walton, so don’t be intimidated if it’s your first time.
The club always wants to encourage new people to get into trap.
The Griffith Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America also offers trap shooting as well on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and has a small outdoor range as well.
For the Beginners
If you are entirely new to shooting sports, I strongly recommend taking a basic NRA pistol course (offered by Michigan City and open to the public), or starting with in-store training at one of the local stores with a range, or heading to Glen Park Izaak Walton (with your own shotgun). But in the case of the latter, please make sure it’s designed for clays or hunting versus just self defense and go when things are quieter in the afternoon (they are happy to teach the basics).
The Illinois CCL course (required to get a CCL in Illinois) is actually time well invested as well, and does a solid job packing all the safety and knowledge basics into a handful of sessions and limited range time. It’s open to non Illinois residents and taught by a number of local instructors across the border.
Where to Shop
Copper Custom Armament in Valpo (which does not have a range) is one of the best gun stores in the country. From a small selection of new and second hand O/Us to far more interesting items, this is the place.
They also do gun smithing as well, which I can vouch for (at fair prices).
If I’ve missed any of your favorite local places, please chime in below!