While visiting Phoenix during our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, we figured what's a more American activity than shooting some guns? :) My girlfriend (who's also my coworker) had recently attended a skeet shooting team building event so we thought we'd show off our skills to our boyfriends. The four of us arrived shortly after 10AM and they set us up with some waivers as we watched a safety video and took a short quiz. With our ear plugs, eye protection and shooting gear, we were ready to go. The guide gave us a quick demo on the clay releases, reinforced gun safety and then we were set to go on our own. We did manage to make it thru about 10 stations, but being that it gets quite hot in Phoenix as the day progresses, we didn't stay as long as we would have liked. (There was a whole other section of stations we could have tried out) It worked out to be about $50 for us ($30 for 100 clays and $10 for gun rental + taxes) and honestly that's pretty good for a morning of entertainment. read more

Ben avery is always a great place to go shooting, it does get busy on the weekend when all the 9-5ers come out to shoot. If i can i go during the week heck i was their yesterday 5/26/10. Its a bit of a drive but they open at 7am during the summer months so you can be out shooting while its not 100. If its your first visit you'll have to watch the safty video, its only a few minutes long. I guess the worst thing about this place is the morons who can't follow range commands. read more

Guns, lots of guns, Oh my god, if you like very, very, very shiny guns, this is the place to go, inexpensive, friendly people who loveeeeee to talk about their passion and are more than willing to help and advise you .....just a great place to hang out for a few hours and go "bang" read more

This place is really cool! My husband and I came here with one of our friends yesterday. We have several different types of guns and it was our friends first time going shooting at an outside range. The shooting range is in a great location. It's right off the I17 and carefree highway. It seemed like a very organized operation. We watched a video upon arrival of the ground rules. We then got to pick out our targets! The prices were great for the targets and the admission. We really loved that it was so inexpensive and its unlimited time. When we got to our numbers slot we were able to set up our targets. We had a lot of great help from Jerry. He explained everything!!! Very helpful! We also had problems with one of our guns and was trying to help all he could. All the volunteers/workers were great! Very friendly as well! They also helped with my and my friends grip and stance! I can't wait to bring my family back who haven't been shooting before! This is a great place for beginners and the novice!! read more

I really like this place! Plenty of room, very organized. And is willing to help you out. Price is very acceptable @ $7.00 a day. They have ear plugs, targets and beverages to purchase at a reasonable price. If it's your first time there is a 10 min video they want you to watch. It's diffidently a great place to go, just have to watch out for dumb A$$ like myself. I tend to have a major brain freeze. But the workers there are nice enough to let me know what I did wrong in a polite way. Give me time! I promise I won't shoot anyone! I'll get better. read more

I was in the area on business a few years ago and decided to drive and being a few rifles and ammo with me to check this place out. Great range, great RO staff. After a day of shooting after I was finished packing up and was about to leave. The RO walked up to me very quickly and I thought what the hell did I do wrong, time to get a free lesson and chewing out. He said "I really liked the way you packed up your rifles , thanks for that". I was like "OK thanks?" Great range and I am glad they keep the morons in check. Last thing I need is to get shot by a fool with a gun. read more

easy to get to. clean. inexpensive-only $10. safety is priority 1. everyone is very friendly. Range Masters are eager to help especially for newbies like me. read more

It had been about 15-20 years since I've been to Ben Avery shooting facility but I decided to go out just this last Sunday. I was impressed by all the improvements they had made since the last time I was there. The biggest thing that I liked was their consistent approach to safety. I actually wasn't thinking during a cease fire and just walked to the table to put my ear phones down and they were on the loud speaker in less than a second explaining that rule out loud. They also did it in a way that I wasn't pointed out and chastised for being the one who messed up. I noticed that was how they did it throughout the day whenever something like that happened. I guess what I'm saying is that you can tell that safety is their number one concern there, but they do it in a manner that doesn't make you feel uncomfortable. I think this helps when it comes to safety because the shooter (Especially a beginner) doesn't feel all flustered worrying about being pointed out for doing something wrong and can focus on the task at hand, and doing it right. Anyway, it has definitely made a ton of improvements over the years, the people there are very professional and are quick to help you or answer any questions that you might have. The price is reasonable and they have whatever you need there just in case you forget anything. Very much recommend this place for taking the guns out shooting, especially if you have to sight in scopes. You will be better off sighting your scopes in here rather than an indoor range for sure. You can set your target anywhere from 10 yards out to 100 yards out at the same shooting table. They even have a 1,000 yard range, but you might want to call them about that one before you go because I didn't see anyone over there when we were there. Awesome job Game and Fish for making this a better place to shoot! read more

Very very awesome place! I was very happy to see how much my family enjoyed what I've done in the service! A little out the way from me and my parents home, but this is our weekend get together spot! Staff is awesome and even tho the weekend can get crazy, it flows well for being a busy place. read more

The staff is totally out of sink right now. Made a reservation with my daughter online. Got there we were told we cannot shoot together. Needed to make a separate reservation (we did) then we still had to shoot at two different tables. That is OK. We were told no shotguns, fine, we were shooting rifles and told them that when we were asked. We setup shot one shot. The rude rangemaster said you cant shoot magnum rifles. We told them what we were shooting and could find nowhere that said we could not shoot those rifles. We have shot those rifles at that range for years (and at steel at the 300 range). Don't waste your time. Nobody has a clue there anymore. read more

This is by far the best shooting range that I have ever used. The available ranges for all shooting sports as well as archery are outstanding. I have used the public use range many times as well as the specialty ranges for both pistol and 3 Gun matches. If you are looking for a safe place to shoot or compete this is the place. read more

Ben Avery Shooting Range - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Good range for zeroing or just for paper target practice. Beware if you go on Saturday or Sunday, there is usually a wait to get a lane and it is 45 minutes of down time for ever 15 of shooting. This is because during ceasefire they have to clear every weapon on the line and then everyone has to set up and take down targets, usually takes 35 to 45 minutes. Youll get about three rounds of shooting in in three hours on these days. read more

This place was amazing!! First time coming and it went absolutely well! Staff here is super helpful, I was having issues with my gun and staff didn't hesistate to lend a helping hand and solve my problem. Will definitely be coming here more often and will also be bringing some friends and family! Coming here was a great experience and I'll definitely be spending my days here. I recommend to anyone, this place is great and even if it's your first time, staff here is friendly enough to explain and go through everything you need to know as well as any questions you may have. read more

We always look forward going to Ben Avery on the weekends. You can't beat the cheap prices, friendly & helpful staff. I think the people who give bad reviews for Ben Avery are either difficult people who don't follow the safety rules or are just hard to please. We are regulars & have never encountered any problems. read more

Trap range absolutely remarkable. I love the 3trails and the fact that you switch them up. Been coming here for many years best in the valley. Handgun \rifle range is great felt safe the whole time rangers very respectful. read more

My son and I made the trip out Ben scary campus. we were preparing for our hunting trip last fall and we had a very good experience. It was very friendly and offered the long range shooting that we needed to prepare for his first deer hunt. I'm very thankful for Ben Avery as my son could shoot up to 200 yards, which prepared him to bag my son's first deer read more

Great range and setup, but the employees were very rude and disrespectful, 40 minute wait when we left and there we 7 open tables, place is a joke read more

Ben Avery, a 1600+ acre shooting range in desert Arizona outside of Phoenix, appears to be one of the more popular destinations on a Sunday afternoon, and among the highest that do not involve any kind of alcohol or controlled chemical substances. For the susprisingly low price of $7/shooter (targets around $1 or less) and the cost of one's own ammo, weapon, ear and eye protection, and after watching a five minute safety video, one too can let out one's aggression and/or boredom with lethal force in a legal fashion. Call me a city slicker (an ironic descripton since I am more often derided as a dweller of suburbia) but, despite firing off about ten chambers worth of a family-owned .38 Special, and since talking is almost impossible over the sounds of gunfire during the shooting rounds, by far the most interesting thing here was the people watching. Besides a general feeling of having stumbled upon a casting call for extras for Red Dawn: - The goth woman accompanied by the long haired hippie toting what appeared to be an assualt shotgun that I would have expected illegal and whose choice of target was simply a wooden board with no sheet that didn't stand a chance - The jolly older man with a .44 magnum who joked about using it as an anti road-rage deterrent from a moving vehicle - The hardcore sniper shooting at a target 500 yards away who needed to use a scope to see the results of his firing - Blonde, blue-eyed All-American children that couldn't have been over 10 firing pistols with a smile (and hopefully the gravity of the situation) - The ultimate hipster toting his rifle in a guitar case - The announcer who continuously reminded people over loudspeaker to stay away from the firearm tables during the ceasefire break which, after about the ten-thousandth time, must get old for them - Walter Sobchak (... not really on this one, but I was holding out hope) I'll admit I don't have much experience with these facilities, but for an outdoor range with many other ranges to cater to competitive shooting, especially in ideal outdoor weather, Ben Avery seemed like a good place to spend a few hours for those averse to physical exercise (recoil-induced wrist-stretching notwithstanding) and for some father-son bonding. I'd implore you to be safe - but the friendly NRA-approved range master will remind you of that at least five times during the course of a normal visit. read more

This was my first time shooting at this range. I went there on a Saturday around 8:00 am and had to wait about 5 minutes to get on range since it was full. For my first time being there I really enjoyed my experience. They do have a cease fire every 15 minutes like others mentioned and I didn't really mind that at all. At that point they give you a chance to go down range and look at your target/change your target distance as well. I had no problems with the range masters as others have mentioned they were actually pretty nice. I recommend this place and this will be my to go shooting range from now on. read more

Went shooting at Ben Avery for the first time a couple weeks ago and it wasn't bad at all! The staff was friendly and the lanes were pretty spacious so we had wiggle room. It was pretty packed so we had to wait about 30 mins to get on. But you're only paying $7 for an ALL DAY pass vs $15 for an hour at the indoor places. Obviously in the summer time I may make a different decision but all around I think this will be my go to range moving forward. read more

This is a great place to shoot and learn as well! Definitely recommend taking the Annie Oakley class. It was a lot cheaper price wise than most places and you get a lot out of it! They teach you basics and let you shoot quite a bit. Everyone here in general is extremely helpful and eager to help you out if you need anything! I couldn't recommend this place more! read more

I always have a good time out here but the range officers not all of them can be very hostile some of them really like to scream. I understand if someone is being unsafe you have to let them now there's a couple of these Guys are very aggressive towards the people out here read more

Now I did not use the range but I took a course there and it was great. The class was informative and fun. I will be going to more classes and will be shooting here once the weather gets cooler. read more

Pretty standard range. There's one skinny kid with glasses that thinks he's king of the range and is kind of a dick. He also stares at people way too long for comfort. He'll stand over your shoulder staring at you like your a 5 year old and dont know anything about firearms, and try to small talk with you while your shooting too. It's really annoying. read more

I just moved to this area from Illinois where I was a member of a private sportsmans club. I was cautious at Ben Avery based on some negative reviews here and on google. I visited on a Thursday around lunch time. The woman who took my shooting fee was friendly and offered me eye, hearing protection and targets (which I did not need). To the RSO station (at this point you should have your eye and hearing protection ON if the range is "HOT" (people are shooting)), I was immediately greeted and asked what distance I would be shooting, was given a table number. The shooting areas, benches and stools are clean and in good condition. Brass is policed and not littered everywhere, like at many other ranges, clubs I've been to. On to shooting - watch the video on youtube. Their safety rules are simple and straight-forward. Follow them. Their are several RSOs to help, answer questions, etc. They have cease-fire every 15 mins - which is great because it gives you more opportunities to check and reset your targets, etc. The RSO announcements are clear and provide frequent reminders of rules, etc. The RSOs I encountered were friendly and helpful. I suspect it gets busy on the weekends and RSOs must be more attentive and assertive when people are being unsafe. At any rate, I used to pay over $500/year membership at a private club, plus volunteer time commitments. For $7/day, I'm in heaven here! read more

They have a great crew working here. Range is always clean. I'm here once a week.

70% of the times I go, an employee there will be a total a**hole. Great facility, but wish customer service and friendliness was better. I would rather drive farther to shoot elsewhere ! read more

This is hands-down the biggest and best shooting range in AZ if not the United States. 1600 acres of fun for $7 all day long. Their range goes up to 1000 yard ranges, if you're into steel and distance this is your place. read more

Shooting range staff are the worst and most restrictive I have ever encountered. I bought a brand new Henry with a lever action and a tube type magazine and took it out there. I just got through loading and firing 5 rounds. When they called time after their 15 minutes of shooting one of the range masters came over and forcefully insisted that I take all .22 cal. shells out of the magazine. It is now wonder a guy got shot in the arm just 2 days ago. They are so concerned about safety that they have become communistic in their jobs and have become a bigger danger than the firearms could ever be! read more

For the money, I'll go out to Rio Salado Sportsman's Club. Here's why: 1. Ben Avery is very simple in what they offer you. 2. The range master picks out your shooting bench for you, not the other way around. 3. There are no sand bags or rests provided. 4. Going up and down the 17 to anywhere provides to be more of a PITA from central Phoenix than driving out to Mesa. 5. There's no wind protection out here from the winds that plague North Phoenix this time of year. Learn how to use some "Kentucky Windage" or you'll have a very long day here. Don't get me wrong, its a great facility, but its not five stars worth of the greatest facility. I've shot all over Phoenix now as I shoot a lot to stay sharp, and this place is just "ok." Though for the money, the people there are damn entertaining. I really thought some of the stereotypes about Phoenix being highly Republican and Xenophobic were just larks and jokes, but some of the shooters out at Ben Avery on a Thursday afternoon prove these to be truths instead of hyperbole. All things being equal, I'll spend my money at Rio Salado while the desert is closed for shooting due to summer fire dangers. read more

Went out this morning for some sporting clays. I don't have much experience with other sporting clay facilities, but this one has, probably, everything that I would want. The counter attendant was great and pointed out that if we just buy 100 clays on a single card that we would save money over buying 50 a piece on two separate cards. Each station is fairly challenging. Solid mix of throws and it seems like no two stations are alike. They have 3 courses that cater to skill levels from beginner to mastery. We were on the rattlesnake/intermediate level course today. It is a clean, well-run facility and it helps when shooters properly dispose of their hulls. Had a great time. read more

Ben Avery is huge and caters for a very wide range of shooters. I've had various combat courses there with pistols and rifles - ALL run by exceptionally proficient people. The safety aspect is very high - almost to a point of churlishness, but once you get to grips with that, you're fine. Be prepared to wait around 30-45 mins on weekends, as both ranges are full to the brim. I've been there on cold, wet days and found myself to be the only shooter there. You're under cover, so you'll never get wet. I'd really love to see a 1000 yard shooting lane for .50" rifles. The energy of those rounds DO chew up the backstop, but I think that can be addressed fairly cheaply. In the meantime, people will have to go to the desert and plink with their 50s. Not a good idea if there's a fully equipped range nearby that could take the caliber. Apart from that, I couldn't be happier! read more

i took a sunday off to take a handgun safety course this past weekend and this place is huge! there are ranges for not only pistols, but high powered rifles, shotguns, and even bows and arrows. it's all outside and very safe, as gun ushers were constantly alert and around to make sure everyone was following the proper etiquette. i did feel a bit out of place without camo, a trucker cap, and my "Go Palin" bumper sticker...but luckily i have a heavy duty southern accent, so i guess i was OK. i hear it's cheaper than the indoor ranges closer to phoenix, but you pay for it in gas driving all the way out there. ...i don't want know you name, i just want BANG BANG BANG. read more

shot at ben avery today. i have to say it was great during a week day morning not much going on. seemed nice without heavy crowds. i like the prices on entry and targets. i will be back very pleased. i definitely see the pro's compared to indoor ranges. loved the outdoors today. great time. read more

Ben Avery Shooting Range - Gun/Rifle Ranges Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

You can't get a better shooting range than this place. Beautiful desert hills, spacious shooting areas, and a cheap range fee. The employees are always incredibly nice and willing to help you. One even helped to fix the tripod on our rifle so that we didn't have to leave early for the day. I can't recommend this place enough :) read more

As a first time visiting any range in my entire life. This place sucked. Had little to no instructions from staff. I made sure the people working the counter knew I was a first timer, they somewhat acknowledged it and gave me simple do this, do that, instructions. When I had arrived they were on their "seize fire" break. Which I had no clue about till I tried uncasing my rifle to set it up and Mr. Grumpy Fat Ass yelled at me at the top of his lungs telling me to leave my case alone. Shortly after that, I was sending shots down range, (I have very good hearing protection, it has little to no sound leak.) little did I know the "seize fire" alarm went off right when I sent another round down range. Mr. Grumpy Fat Ass got in my ear yelled at the top of his lungs "SEIZE FIRE". I get it, I understand you have safety rules to enforce, but the rules were never explained to me, nor was the sequence of the seize fire alarm explained to me. Told my wife that was the last time we ever go. Horrible encounter. Kudos to the other staff member that shortly came after apologized about the incident and was being extremely polite and generous. read more

Use to shoot metallic silhouette competition here for years. Is a long drive from FH, but was fun while it lasted. Our range master was cool, but very safety and regulation conscious (as it should be!) read more

Incredible pricing for all day range use. Very big range with options for all types of target practice.

Love this range! If I'm not going to the desert I'm coming here for sure. They are all about the safety and fun of shooting. They also sell targets and safety gear if you need it. read more

Two reviews, The Clay Center is outstanding, staff is polite and helpful, its laid back and chill and everyone has fun with no fuss. A good day. The regular range. FUCKING RANGE NAZIS.... the staff are assholes to the end and think they are entitled to be dicks to you despite the fact that the tax payer (you and me) are their paycheck. Even if you are being safe... they are assholes, they but into what are you doing even though you are acting in a safe and logical manner. I will not use the regular range again. One guy even attempted to stand up to me when i told him to back off when i was putting my rifle away on the shooting bench (WHICH IS WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO LOAD AND UNLOAD ANYHOW) So i guess these guys cant get hired anywhere else so i guess ben avery takes these jackasses in. Clay Center 12/10 Range -5/10 read more