The Savannah Arsenal Project

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Location and Directions:

• Follow Hwy 144 approximately 10.3 miles east from Richmond Hill (Hardees Restaurant at Hwy 17 and Hwy 144).
• Turn left on Kilkenny Road.
• Range entrance is 0.8 miles on left.
• Follow unpaved road 0.5 miles to the range.

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Hours of Operation:

• September 16 – March 15:  0900 – 1700
• Mar. 16-Sept. 15:  0900 – 1800
• Tuesdays:  Closed
• Closed on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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Facilities:

The range is 100 yards with markers denoting 25, 50, 75, and 100 yard distances.

Originally you had to provide your own target stands that have no metal, and that are tall enough so that the bullet will hit the berm after passing through the target.  As of November 2015 they provide and require you to use their stands and targets.

There are approximately 12 shooting tables with a covered awning to keep the sun off of you while shooting.

There are men’s and women’s restroom with running water.

Originally the range facility only included the covered shooting line and a gravel parking lot.  A few years ago it was decided to build an office / restroom building.  This was built at an expense of about 20% of the parking area.  Parking isn’t a big deal during the work week, but poor planning has resulting in crowded parking during weekends.  Also, if space permitted, you use to be able to park right in front of your shooting table.  As you can see from the drone photo at the top of the page, the new building has blocked easy parking access to half of the firing line.  Also, the site planners (or bored range personnel) decided not to allow you to park in front of the other half.  You must park out in the lot, and are before entering the covered firing line you are guided via cattle fences pass the office.  This is very inconvenient as you will probably have to make several trips from your vehicle to your shooting area so as to carry your target stands, rifle cases, shooting gear boxes, etc.  You should entertain the idea of hiring a Sherpa to carry all of your gear.  The range definitely lacks fung shui, and it is obvious that it was not designed by experienced planners.

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Fees:

Each shooter will need a Georgia Outdoors Recreational Pass (GORP), unless they are 15 years old or younger, 65 years old or older, or who have a valid WMA License, Honorary License, Sportsmen’s License, Lifetime License or Three-Day Hunting and Fishing License.

• GORP General Information and Pricing
• Purchase Your GORP Online

Don’t show up to the range without your pass.  You will be turned away.

There are new user requirements.  See the user submitted comment at the bottom of this page.

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Official Georgia DNR Regulations:

These rules are copied and pasted directly from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources WMA Firearm Range website.

PERMISSIBLE FIREARMS:

1. Only firearms utilizing single projectile ammunition may be fired on DNR managed firing ranges. However, shotguns utilizing multiple projectile ammunition may be fired at stationary targets for purposes of assessing shotgun patterns and in areas specifically designated by DNR for shotguns. Sawed-off shotguns, sawed-off rifles, machine guns, dangerous weapons, and silenced weapons as defined in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-121, and any weapon firing more than once with a single trigger pull are prohibited on DNR firing ranges. However, silenced weapons may be used by any person provided that such person has in their possession, at all times, proof of registration of such silencer consistent with the National Firearms Act and such person is in compliance with O.C.G.A. § 16-11-121.
2. Rifles using centerfire cartridges .50 caliber or larger are prohibited.

GENERAL RANGE RULES:

1. No alcoholic beverages (as defined in O.C.G.A. § 3-1-2) shall be possessed on any DNR managed firing range.
2. No person under the influence of alcohol or drugs is permitted on a DNR firing range.
3. No smoking is permitted on or near the firing line.
4. Non-shooters must remain at least six feet behind the firing line whenever any shooter is at the firing line.
5. Tracer or any ammunition considered to be incendiary or explosive is prohibited on the firing range.
6. Targets must be constructed of paper, cardboard, ballistics polymer, or similar material that will not shatter or cause bullet ricochet. Metal targets may be used for special events if approved by DNR in advance.
7. Ground level targets must be positioned so that a bullet will not strike flat ground before the backstop; all targets must be located so that a bullet will strike between the base and halfway up the backstop.
8. No shooting at flying or thrown objects is allowed except with shotguns and shot shells in areas specifically designated by DNR for such shooting activities.
9. All children (16 years old or younger) must be accompanied and directly supervised by an adult 18 years old or older.
10. All objects, trash, targets, and spent cartridge hulls must be removed by firing range users when leaving the range.
11. Range use is allowed only in accordance with range hours and dates posted at the firing range.
12. Shooters shall fire only at the target directly down range of that person’s position.
13. Any person using DNR firing ranges must wear hearing and eye protection.
14. Double tapping or rapid fire is prohibited. Shooters shall allow at least one second between shots.

GUN HANDLING RULES:

1. Any firearm must be unloaded and either cased or have its’ action open, except when it is at firing line and is being used for firing.
2. In the event of a firearm malfunction, the shooter shall keep his/her firearm pointed down range, advise all persons at the firing line of the malfunction, and unload as soon as possible.
3. In the event of a malfunction of another shooter’s firearm, all firearms must be unloaded with actions open for the duration of the malfunction.
4. All firearms on the firing line must be grounded and unloaded, with actions open whenever anyone is downrange.
5. Muzzles must be pointed downrange for all firearms on the firing line.
6. The muzzle of every firearm when in the firing position must be in front of the front edge of the bench upon which it rests.
7. All loading of muzzleloaders must be by single charge dispensers; pouring powder from larger containers directly into a muzzleloader is prohibited.  Loading muzzleloaders must be done at least six feet behind the firing line whenever another muzzle-loading firearm is on the firing line.
8. Shooters must be at the firing line before capping or priming muzzle-loading firearms.
9. In the event of a hangfire, muzzle-loading firearms must be kept pointed downrange until the problem is corrected.
10. Containers of muzzleloader propellant must remain closed except when needed for filling a single charge dispenser.

RANGE SAFETY OFFICERS:

1. Any person on the range shall obey the range commands of department Range Safety Officers. This includes, but is not limited to: Begin Fire commands, Cease Fire commands, and Resume Fire commands.
2. Range Safety Officers may call a Cease Fire at any time an unsafe condition is recognized on the range.  Any person on the range shall immediately obey a Cease Fire command by grounding all firearms with actions open.
3. It is unlawful for any person on the range to disregard Range Safety Officer warnings concerning failure to obey any range rule.

Authority O.C.G.A. Title 27; O.C.G.A. §27-1-4; Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources Regulation 391-4-9-.02

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Range Querks:

Have Your GORP Pass When You Arrive:

Don’t even bother showing up if you do not have a valid GORP pass issued by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.  They will turn you around and point the way back off of the property.  No exceptions.

Make Sure That Your Bullets Only Hit The Berm:

Firearms Safety Rule #4.  Know your target and beyond.  The DNR wants to make sure that your rounds terminate into the berm at the far end of the range.  The Range Safety Officers will deliver a litter of kittens if they see rounds skip on the ground prior to the berm (the logic being that when the round skips it will then sail over the top of the berm).  While setting up your targets, be very sure of where your rounds will impact after they pass through your target.

The Official Range Hours Of Operation Aren’t Official:

The range has official hours listed on the DNR’s website, but should any of the Range Safety Officers get sick or decide to blow off work that day, the range will, without any warning, be closed that day.  There have been several times in the past few years that I have shown up to shoot, but the Range Safety Officers never arrived to unlocked the cattle gate at the entrance to the property.  If you are going to be driving a significant distance to shoot, you might be well served to call the local DNR in Richmond Hill at (912) 727-2112 and politely inquire as to whether or not the range is open that day.  They should be able to tell you if the HMFIC at the range showed up that day or not.

No Tactical Shit!:

Don’t show up wearing a gun.  I guess that if you properly conceal it then they won’t know that you have it, but if they see you open carry, or draw from concealment, then they will lose their minds.

You can’t draw from a holster and shoot.  Don’t even think about any trying any high-speed, tactical reloads and weapons transitions.  They will freak out.

Shotguns = BAD:

Unless you are planning on shooting rifled slugs, don’t even take your combat shotgun out of your truck.  The only way that they will allow bird-shot or buck-shot is if you are trying to determine the shot pattern of a hunting shotgun, for which you are only allowed a few rounds, and can fire from only one particular shooting lane.

It Gets Crowded:

You best chance of getting a shooting table is to go early in the morning on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (The range is closed on Tuesdays).  The later you go in the day, the higher the probability of it being crowded and there not being a table available.  Under no circumstances should you consider going to the range on Saturday and Sunday, or any holiday.  The place is jam-packed with people.  You won’t get a table without waiting forever.  With a crowd that big you will go longer periods of time shooting, and will find yourself waiting for a “cold range” call so that you can replace your spent targets.  With the larger crowds I feel that there is a higher probability of an accidental discharge and someone getting hurt.  I don’t want to be there when it does.

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Conclusion:

The range is acceptable for sighting in a rifle, bulls eye shooting with a pistol, or drinking coffee and talking bullshit with old people, but that’s about it.  If you need to seriously train and practice for self-defense then you should take a look at the local firearms training companies in the local area and train at their ranges.

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