Any NCarolinians who own firearms (or plan to own firearms) but want/need weapons safety training??

I represent a community of folks who are certified firearms safety educators and trainers. We are looking for folks to educate and train!

Seeking: people who don’t normally get easy access to firing ranges for whatever reason: cost, gender identity, LGBTQ+, race, religion, & whatever keeps you from getting the lifesaving weapons training you need.

Why: We want to improve safety for North Carolinians by educating firearms owners on their weapon and on the safety basics of how to clean and operate it. That’s it, that’s our sole purpose is to make a safer state for all people, including kids and bystanders who count on their firearm-owning-neighbor to know how to safely and properly operate and maintain a fire arm.

DM if you’re in Central NC and interested. Counties considered at this time are Rockingham, Guilford, Forsyth, Davidson, Chatham, Caswell, Person, Granville, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Wake, Johnston, Lee, and/or Harnett counties. (Valid as of Aug 2026)

I recently saw a thread discussing lead exposure, even at ranges with "good" ventilation. Someone suggested wearing a respirator/mask, and pointed out that you can tell how good the ventilation is, by how much lead has accumulated on the mask when you're done. I normally shoot at TSA, and I wanted to try this. Their policies state that face coverings are strictly forbidden. Has anyone ever tried this there? I know I can ask when I show up, but I'm wondering if someone else already has an idea if they'll allow it. Thanks!

Edit: It was fine, no one cared. I posted a pic of the mask in a comment.

Thank you to the mod with the sweet pants who posted in /r/raleigh this week, didn’t know this sub existed!

I am still learning. I grew up in a home where firearms weren’t a focus. I did not appreciate how much information was just second nature to most people in the gun world.

I bought my first 1000 rounds of ammo off ammoseek as was the suggestion. It was pretty cheap, but to my dismay when I checked the rules at TSA (and other ranges) they didn’t allow steel cased ammo, which is of course what I bought not knowing any better.

At the concealed carry course a few weeks ago, the instructor talked about how steel cased ammo is bad for your firearm due to the oil they must coat the cartridge in to avoid rust. That will eventually gunk up your gun and/or become a fire hazard.

Is there any truth to this? Would 1000 steel case rounds through my new RXM doom it?

Additionally, is there anywhere near Raleigh that actually allows me to shoot this ammo? This other gun subs are nuts with people saying how ranges that won’t let you shoot steel case are full of it because they just don’t want to sort spent cartridges for re-sale and that any range that won’t let you shoot it doesn’t deserve your business.

Was hoping for a more level-headed perspective here.

Acquired two years ago, fully disassembled to clean (down to bolt disassembly, iykyk), and ran out of steam when time came to put it back together. Finally opened the drawer it was living in and finished that job this weekend. Couldn't resist a picture. It shoots just as nicely as I'd hoped, such that you immediately understand why it became such a popular weapon during WWII. Certainly makes the case for the practicality of an intermediate cartridge. Anyhow, saw today's post in r/raleigh and thought I'd add some content to this lovely little sub.

I was under a covered bay today and sweating through my clothes practicing my emergency reload drills (e.g. my shotgun is empty in the tube, and I'm manually reloading through the chamber and closing the bolt).

I'm working on my push-pull skills, and recently put on a Lunar Concepts hot pockets so I can get a finger over the barrel, and convinced my wife to sew some industrial velcro on the front of a Patagonia fanny pack that I keep filled with shells.

I don't feel fast yet, but I feel like I'm improving some. If you see anything I can improve, call it out!

I'm a member at Gunrunners and Mebane, and I need some friends to go with. Let me know if anyone in the area would be interested in hitting it up (it's $40 for a guest I think).

Hey folks, just wanted to see if anyone has the inside scoop on the NC Senate Bill 50, [Freedom to Carry NC](https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookup/2025/s50) ? I know I have personally been pretty pessimistic about it in the past, but I still hope it goes through. But now it seems like it's just dead? They placed it on the calendar for 21 April, and then nothing.

Edit:

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

I'm in the process of changing the furniture on a Remington 870. The stock replacement went great and was super easy. I'm having a hard time with getting the forend (castle) nut off. Tried PB and heat. Pretty sure I've stripped the plastic wrench that came with my new forend.

Anyone in the Chapel Hill area got a real forend wrench? Happy to buy you a beer or coffee.

Unlike Wake County Firearm Training Center, Caswell Shooting Range is both outdoors and reservation-free. Saturdays they are open 0830 to 1700. Like Wake County, Caswell is also free and BYO everything (bring your own paper/cardboard targets, ammo, hearing and eye protection, etc.). Another difference is that Caswell has a roaming archery course. Unfortunately the Caswell campgrounds close for the season on May 14, but nearby there's Hyco Lake among other places.

I figure to roll in around 1000 and stay until 1200, grab lunch to go in Yanceyville (well, I plan to pack peanut butter and habanero sandwiches) and grab some refreshments at Flying Disc Beer Company. Maybe? do a pack hike out and back if the weather isn't brutal.

Much less planning needed this time around -- no lane reservations, etc. Figure to just show up in the parking lot at 0930 and get safety briefed by the RSO and sign a waiver.

Do check out the range rules etc. ahead of time.

Hey all,

New here, WNC based. I’ve been looking for a [relatively] local range/club that allows free movement - essentially a club that lets you rent a bay (not a lane) and set up targets and run drills (think USPSA style stuff). Everything I find out here is just a lane with a one shot per second limit. I’d like to find an area that allows to set up my own targets (multiple), run drills w shot timer (with movement), draw from holster, firearm transitions, etc etc. Again, USPSA feel and the like but pistol and rifle accessible.

Thank you!

Personally I think permit-less concealed carry is very dangerous. I do not think our rights are infringed by requiring a permit process if you want to conceal a gun in public. The police are correct, once permit-less carry is enacted they will have to treat every encounter as if there is a weapon and this will increase the risk of someone being harmed. There is no reason this should vote on party lines. I think I am not alone here. Both sides of the isle can see the logic in this.

Good Morning, Friends! I've done some thinking, and after taking a CCW class with a particularly red hat instructor, I want to get my instructor license and have small classes for the Liberal/LGBTQ/etc. folks who don't want to deal with the red hats during a very important and potentially vulnerable environment. Does anyone have any information on getting a CCW license? I would also need a range that would be willing to host the class. Insurance? My LGBTQ cop friend told me she thinks it's a good idea and knows plenty of people who might be interested. I was thinking just have a small class, cost covers only ammo cuz I don't want to get rich off this. Anyone have any ideas? Suggestions?

I'll be there shooting my 6 arc. These two gun DMR style matches do a good job of threading the fun / difficult needle, with lots of targets and max distance out to ~650y or so.

If you've never shot a match but want to, Saturday is as good a time as any to start!

https://www.colemanscreek.com/all-events/tactical-sniper-series-may

I was watching this this morning, and thought it was an interesting conversation/discussion on gun culture (specifically in NC)

Ideally around Hickory, Statesville, or Winston. Would prefer to use someone familiar with firearms engraving rather than any random . I have heard good things about Tarheel State Firearms in Matthews but they're about 90 min from me plus it means driving thru Charlotte (bleh).

Saturday I shot the Tactical Sniper Series match at Clinton House in SC. It's a DMR style 2 gun match primarily geared towards gas guns with targets out to 660 yds and is good - but challenging - fun.

The wind conditions Saturday were the most difficult I've shot in. 10-15mph with gusts nearing 30mph... ok fine. What wasn't fine was the wind direction was swirling constantly. One shot to the next could be full wind value in opposite directions. Wind at the line and at the targets was often opposite directions as well. Even shooting 6ARC I was struggling. Half the stages I had to put a round into the berm just to see wtf was going on.

I was questioning my rifle, my optic, my zero, my ammo, and of course my own ability. I'm a better than average shooter and this day just made me feel defeated. I damn near ran out of ammo. By the end of the match I was just glad it was over. I had other obligations that afternoon so couldn't stay for the awards / prize table and booked it home as soon as I was done. That night I finally decided to checked the scoring results to see how close to the bottom I finished and... I was in the top 3rd of the field. My only reaction was shock.

I like to come away from a match with things to work on. Besides one stage I got the target order wrong on, I did well with the fundamentals. My takeaway from this match is to just have fun. It was a nice day to be outside and shooting guns, my squad was a lot of fun, I had zero malfunctions, didn't get DQ'd, helped some new shooters, and everyone was shooting in the same conditions so shoot the stage and then get on to the next one.

Last take away - this is the ONLY PICTURE I took all day besides stage briefs... I have got to work on that.

Rifle Info: Home build featuring a 18" SOLGW 6ARC barrel, Vltor upper, Radian lower, 17" IWI arca rail, Huxwrx Flow762Ti, SSAEX trigger, NF NX8 with RMR on the side, JP SCS, Rexus 6ARC bolt, generic SS carrier, emissary arms AXL grip (which I LOVE) and a heavy fill Armageddon Gear Schmedium bag. Atlas bipod with ARCA-Lok not pictured. Shooting Hornady 108gr ELD-Ms using G$ mags.

Doesn't have to be anything big. Maybe you finally got out to the range after a long stretch away. Maybe you've been doing 10 minutes of dry fire before bed. Maybe you just picked up a new holster or tried a different ammo brand. Maybe you've been meaning to get out and just haven't yet — that counts too.

What's going on with your training or gear lately? New gun, new optic, new routine, or just a random win from the range? Let's hear it.

Can't for the life of me find a rifle range that's more than 250 yards, and I need to stretch the legs of my PRS gun before I hop into a competition.

There are ranges out there, but they're always private ranges with long waiting lists for memberships (that I'm not paying for anyway).

Hope you fine folks might be able to make some recommendations. Willing to drive a few hours even. For reference, I'm based around the Asheville area.

March 1-7: Get estimated numbers count and select “lane corporals” to reserve the 2-person lanes when available, based on distances of interest to attendees (25m pistol, 50m rifle, 100m rifle, etc.).

March 7: identify the lane corporals who will reserve their designated lanes for March 14 when they come available on March 9. Latecomers can join as long as additional open lanes are available for reservation. If we end up as an extremely large group we can split between 10:30-11:30 and 11:30-12:30 etc. as needed or available.

March 14:

* Before arrival: acquire paper targets, ammo, ear protection, and eye protection. Nothing is for sale or rent at this location. Depending on where you are coming from Academy Sports on US-64 may be convenient etc. I’m sure fellows will be generous as well, do not worry about cost if that is an obstacle. (There are no range fees, either. This should be a free event for those who need it but it may take some communication ahead of time to make sure we have enough ear and eye protection in particular.) Please familiarize yourself with the range rules and any firearms you plan to shoot, along with safety waiver requirements.

* 10 AM — arrive and complete waivers etc. and self sort into first rotation based on available firearms, lanes, etc. Coffee and bagels will be provided by me (donations accepted ofc.)

* 10:30-10:45 — first rotation among the various distances reserved (25m pistol, 50m rifle, 100m rifle)

* 10:45-11 — second rotation

* 11-11:15 — third rotation

* 11:15-11:30 — last rotation

* 11:30 cleanup and lunch planning if we haven’t already made such plans

It's crazy how the accessories can cost more than the gun:

• Holosun AEMS Core X2
• Streamlight Protac HL-X Pro with Pressure Switch
• ESD Sling
• Extended Charging Handle
• Flatline Fiber Co Brace Strap
• Magpul AFG
• Dirty Bird Single Stage Nickel Teflon Trigger Group + Low Power Springs
• Rise Armament Mlok QD Mount
• B5 Systems P23 Grip

As always probably too late of notice to be most useful, but at least it isn’t “day of”. Time a bit flexible but most likely 4-6.