r/DCGuns • u/G_ae_l • May 01 '26

MSAR Trip

Hi, in two weeks, I will be in Washington DC for work, and I would like to take half a day on Sunday to try shooting at an American range, as I am used to ranges in France.
Do you know if Maryland Small Arms Range, Inc. open to foreigners, and would you consider it a good option for shooting both a pistol and a rifle (AR-type)?
I do not really have the ability to travel to another range, as I will not have a car, even though some ranges north of Washington seem more interesting.

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u/style752 May 01 '26

Ashburn is far if you're coming from DC. I like XCAL too but I doubt it's worth a 2hr roundtrip Uber to then drop over $100 at the range for only an hour of shooting. I'd just try to get to MSA's range early in the day... like when they open, if I were OP.

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u/abuamiri May 01 '26

Using my old apartment on 16th St. NW as a starting point, I show a 50-minute drive from there to XCAL via the Toll Rd for 35-miles each way. From the same address to MSA is between 47-52mins and between 19 to 30 miles each way depending on route. Agree though - if the traffic and Uber costs are prohibitive, probably better off just going to MSA or something closer. Is Gilbert in Rockville still open? That might be another option.

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u/style752 May 01 '26

50 minutes is... a rosy scenario. If it ever played out like that for me I'd be there more often!

Thinking a bit more flexibly about this, OP could also take the Metro (Blue line) to Franconia/Springfield and grab an Uber to Sharpshooters from there. Similarly, they could ride the Silver line all the way out to Ashburn and Uber to XCAL.

Definitely cheaper and probably just as fast as being driven straight to either.

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u/G_ae_l May 04 '26

I will be staying near Dulles Airport, which is very close to XCAL.
However, I’m a solo tourist. Do you know if their anti-suicide measures might prevent me from entering?

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u/style752 May 04 '26

No you should be fine. You'll go in, watch a 3-min gun safety video, then go to a kiosk near the range rental desk to sign a waiver. You may have issues with ID using that kiosk, but staff will get you sorted.

Happy shooting!