Double Deuce Range Visit
- Last updated: 23/03/2020
Now looking at the photographs you could be mistaken for thinking that this range is somewhere in the USA, but actually it’s Walsall in fact just outside Birmingham. Ahem, okay, it is kind of ‘Wild West Midlands’, I guess! Double Deuce is a familiar mobile shooting range company that you may have seen at various shooting shows and other outdoor events where they have a rimfire rifle mobile shooting range on a big trailer where you can pay to have a shoot. But now they’ve gone one better and established their own club. Now they have foundations rather than wheels and trust me, I was absolutely blown away with this place, it is literally like you are entering a range in America and it really does remind me of Oakridge shooting range in Florida that I once visited, well stumbled across, whilst on my honeymoon, complete accident how I found it, honest!
It’s a very modern range that can cater for club members as well as any members of the public, hen and stag parties, or any other groups of people that book prior to visiting. Located on an industrial estate on the outskirts of Walsall between Lichfield and Birmingham in the Midlands, Double Deuce firing range consists of two separate firing ranges both of which are 22m long and have seven firing points each. The difference between these separate ranges, first of all, is that one is on the ground floor and the other is on the first floor, with the ground floor range being just for the public as all firearms are chained to the firing points so incorporating the fairground shooting gallery law. All you need is photo ID to shoot. There is pretty much no difference apart from shooters have a qualified member of staff there with them to load and cock the firearms that they are using, but the range and targets are the same as upstairs in the members area.
But before we get into detail about the rangers and kit that’s available to use, let me tell you about the other facilities this awesome range has to offer. The building itself looks a bit warehouse-like when you first arrive as it is on an industrial estate, but never judge a book by its cover! Worth noting also that there is plenty of parking. As you enter Double Deuce’s front door you enter into the reception area of the building. In here there is a reception desk and a large waiting room with a large screen TV and also a viewing window to the downstairs range, so you can still view the shooting action. It’s all very log cabin like in looks in the waiting area and there is plenty of seating and also vending machines.
Now, what’s the club hardware like?! Well, on my first visit to DD I had a bit of a play with some of their club guns, as you do, it would be rude not too! Plenty of Ruger 1022s, Smith and Wesson 1522s as well as a good selection of North West Custom Parts AR15s in both .22lr and .22wmr. I also had a go of a Ruger Ranch bolt action rifle in 300blk! There are loads of different rifles available and the selection is constantly changing.
Now let’s have a closer look at the ranges and the firing points. On my tour I was shown upstairs to the members range and club room, both of which are a duplicate of those downstairs with the only difference being that the club room has a pool table! To become a full member, you must hold a current firearms licence. An annual fee of £250 secures the hire of a lane for £5 an hour per lane.
Entering the firing range area, you cannot help but thinking ‘wow’! You are greeted with a spacious, well lit-up area with plenty of room to put your kit with some seating and tables available with a good selection of targets to choose from and purchase and a selection of PPE if you don’t have your own (which you would, handy if you forget though!), such as ear defence and eye protection.
Each firing point is made from black chequer plate with the actual bench part being rubberised and angled back towards the shooter, offering a more comfortable position if you want to get your elbows down to shoot as the range only offers shooting whilst standing. Each point is well-lit with good extraction, and what I particularly like is the brass catchers on the side of each booth that work really well, so not much sweeping up afterwards providing you are shooting in the right position!
The target system is great with each booth having its own electric target retrieval system. You simply just pin up your paper target (up to A3 in size) on to the rubberised trolley and press the button to send it out! It’s all very Lethal Weapon and, yes, I did try and shoot a smiley face onto the paper target! The back stop is very interesting as it is made up of a rubber granular material and all of the lead is collected and recycled back into bullet heads and actually reloaded on site so this place is really very self-sufficient indeed so that should keep Greta happy! And, as I write this, there is currently a shop under construction at the rear of the ranges, so you will soon be able to buy it and then try it! The range has been NSRA Certified for centre fire and rim fire firearms that have a muzzle velocity of up to 530m per second /1735 ft per second and have a muzzle energy of up to 810-Joules/1100 ft/lbs.
This to me is an ideal place to take friends or family that have never tried our superb sport. Perfect if you are thinking about going for your FAC and want to have a bit of a go without having to wait for a guest day at another club. Ideal if you want an indoor club where you can do some serious paper punching. Plus, a session here would make a great gift!
Address: Unit 3, Fryers Road, Walsall, West Midlands, WS2 7LZ
Contact: 01922 277 050. double-deuce.co.uk