The new Union County gun range officially opened June 28. It is located south of Blairsville, on the Richard Russell Scenic Highway. That’s Highway 180, south of the square in Blairsville, off 19/129. It’s on the right, about five miles from Highway 129, between mile markers 18 and 19.
It’s an incredibly nice facility. There are two separate ranges, one for rifle and one for pistol. There is also a building with a conference room, rest rooms, and the range office. You register at the range office and then watch a brief safety video. The range operates on a “cold range” vs. “hot range” system, as explained in the video. The fee is $15 a day or $200 for a yearly membership. It is as safe a facility as you’re ever going to find for a range, as the new federal regulations require a range officer to be present at all times the range is active. The personnel is provided by the Union County Gun Club, which persisted through a number of very trying years to bring the range to reality.
Here’s a link to the county’s website:
https://www.unioncountyga.gov/parks-recreation/grange/
The Chatuge Gun Club is still active, a bit further along 180 on the left. It’s an older facility, with only one range (rifle and pistol share one firing line). Yearly membership there is $35, with the first year being $60. You are required to take a long morning class on range rules and gun safety. If your membership lapses, you have to take it again and pay a reinstatement fee. This is an older facility, and it is not required that they have a range officer present, so enforcement of the safety regulations is up to the membership. I can say that they are incredibly strict about their range rules. One difference is that the Union County range does not allow shotguns, whereas you can pattern a shotgun at Chatuge, and one day a week, they shoot trap in the morning.
Here’s a link to their website: