Shooting is a niche hobby, especially in Canada where gun shows are held yearly across almost all states. Calgary, in particular, conducts Wild Wild West-like shoot-out shows during the Calgary Stampede, one of the world’s largest rodeos.
Safe to say, cowboy culture in Calgary is pretty much alive, and many locals, both PAL (possession and acquisition licence) and non-PAL holders head over to shooting ranges to practise their aim or let off some steam in a safe and controlled environment.
If you want to join the bandwagon and pick up shooting as a sport or new date idea, we narrowed down the best shooting ranges in Calgary where you can shoot your shot!
Table of Contents
How much does a membership cost at a shooting range in Calgary?
Annual memberships at a shooting range will set you back between $250 and $1,200, while day passes roughly cost $20 to $60 per person.
Factors that affect price variations include membership privileges, additional guest passes, and ammunition.
How We Chose
1. Straight Shooters Indoor Range
Address: 1305 33 St NE, Calgary, AB T2A 5P1, Canada (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +14034609364
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Sunday, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Straight Shooters Indoor Range allows PAL and non-PAL holders to shoot a wide variety of firearms (over 1,000!) in their four 25-yard and two 7-yard pistol lanes.
Memberships are RCMP-certified and come in five different tiers: Anytime, Weekday, Affiliate, Licenced Walk-In, and Free Range Time, all with guidance from experienced range officers and veteran shooters.
As the name suggests, the Anytime membership, starting at only $54 monthly, allows all types of marksmen to drop by and work on their shooting anytime and as often as they want.
For a budget-friendly alternative with almost the same benefits as an Anytime membership, consider the Weekday type. Priced at $38 per month, it allows shooting exclusively on weekdays.
First-timers can use day passes with Free Range Time, while gun enthusiasts with restricted firearms can shoot safely with the Licensed Walk-In membership (PAL required).
Pros
- Multiple membership types offered
- Over 1,000 kinds of firearms and ammunition in inventory
Cons
- Monthly memberships require a minimum of 3 months of subscription
- Prohibits steel-cased ammunition
Customer Reviews
Clear instructions
“We (Dad, Mom. & Son) came to shoot for the first time ever! Dylan greeted us and helped us so much. He is a very good instructor and very patient with our 11yo son. Very clear instructions and handled very well. Thank you, Dylan, for your great service! We will definitely visit again someday.”
-Mr. Maikeri L, Google Review
Friendly and patient instructors
“Andrew, our instructor was awesome. He took his time to explain all the steps and safety, overall a really nice guy. We shot the Glock 17 and AR15. Was an exciting experience and if I’m ever back in Calgary I will definitely be sure to visit!”
-Ms. Nasira Obaidi, Google Review
2. Swiss Rifle Club Calgary
Address: 14301 RPO Richmond Road, Calgary, AB T3E 7Y7 (Google Maps)
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 6:0 am to 9:00 pm
Swiss Rifle Club is a members-only shooting range serving gun enthusiasts for nearly 50 years. Initially exclusive to Swiss Canadians, they now admit non-Swiss Canadians with a valid PAL.
The gun club maintains exclusivity with a limited yearly intake. Once accepted, members enjoy $5 million liability insurance, unrestricted access to indoor and outdoor lanes, and can use the main clubhouse for social events and training with range officers.
They boast five outdoor benchrests, six indoor lanes, four outdoor rifle lanes, a 10-meter archery range, and a 25-metre outdoor handgun range, all equipped with a ShotMarker scoring system and prone shooting benches.
Members can also access marksmanship classes, including open-sight shooting, rifle precision shooting, and workshops for obtaining a Range Safety Officer certification.
Pros
- Includes liability insurance from the NFA in their memberships
- Offers single and family memberships
Cons
- Only accepts PAL holders for membership
- Long waitlist
Customer Reviews
Amazing facility
“Just became a member. Drop dead gorgeous facility. The Swiss know how to make a range, that’s for sure!”
-Mr. The Lonely Wolf, Google Review
Worth the drive
“Really well kept beautiful range. A little bit of a drive but worth it.”
-Mr. Arthur Jaworski, Google Review
3. The Shooting Edge
Address: 510 77 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2H 1C3, Canada (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +14037204867
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Sunday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Shoot rounds of ammo in Calgary’s largest, fully air-conditioned indoor shooting range with lounge access and motorised targets. The Shooting Edge offers a Classic and VIP membership at $625 and $1,250 per year, respectively.
If you’re dropping by as a newbie and simply want to shoot for fun, you can get a day pass for just $45, plus an additional $25 for about 25 rounds of ammo.
And don’t worry. There’ll be range officers assigned to you to help you choose the right firearm and lane for your skill level!
They boast a 30,000-square-foot shooting range and training facility that welcomes newbies and veteran shooters for a day (or two) of unlimited shooting with high-quality firearms and ammo.
They offer a 50-yard rifle lane for calibres up to 0.50 and 16 handgun lanes.
Members enjoy unlimited access and complimentary safety gear and storage, though ammunition is separate. They do, however, receive discounted rates for ammo purchases.
Pros
- Extensive range facilities
- Membership packages are inclusive of members-only parking and course discounts
Cons
- Pricey rates and membership
- Requires at least two paying non-PAL holder guests for access
Customer Reviews
Impeccable service at relatively reasonable prices
“We had a great experience, we were group of 6 and we had ton of fun. Price is reasonable and all employees working there were very kind and knowledgeable. They walked us through everything, we did 9mm handguns, shotguns and AR as well. Would definitely recommend.
Had a problem with payment transaction, but one of the partner took care of it very professionally. All good.”
-Mr. Devarsh Shah, Google Review
Kind and welcoming staff members
“Tonight we decided to try something new and go shoot some cool guns. The staff was absolutely amazing, so kind and welcoming. Very knowledgeable, definitely focused on safety and on us having a great time. We will definitely be back.”
-Ms. Maggie Hampton, Google Review
4. Calgary Rifle and Pistol Club
Address: 1910 39 Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7Y9, Canada (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +14032662622
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Sunday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
If you aim to be an Olympic shooting champion in the future, we think the Calgary Rifle and Pistol Club is a shooting range you should consider for your training.
The shooting range has produced dozens of Olympic champions in the course of its 75-year history, and some of them have taken their gifts to teach younger generations about precision shooting.
Memberships to this club cost between $200 to $400 per year, depending on the type you choose. There are memberships for families, juniors between 12 and 18 years old, students, and disabled people (with a doctor’s permit).
With the membership, shooters get access to the 25-metre shooting lane equipped with motorised target systems, benches, spotting scopes, and shooting bags. Safety gear and equipment like goggles and ear muffs are also provided.
Newbies get to be trained by Olympic-winning range officers across a variety of firearms available for rent.
Pros
- Best for families and young shooters
- Offers memberships for disabled people
Cons
- Strict membership capacity of 200 leads to long waitlist
- Only members are allowed to shoot here
Customer Reviews
Small but dedicated team
“Not-for-profit organization that has safety in mind at the forefront of everything. They have a small but dedicated team of people to help you as required. The facility itself is well kept and clean. They have small calibre pistol and rifles, as well as air pistols. Targets are 25m away. Shooting style is Olympic style.”
-Mr. Michael Wang, Google Review
Great place to learn how to shoot competitively
“Great environment for learning how to shoot competitively, many high level shooters are based out of here including Olympic gold medalist Lynda Kiejko and many Canadian national team members. If you want to learn this is the place for you. Lots of competitions, city, provincial, national. Great juniors program (12-21 years old) lots of friendly club competitions as well. Ladies and couples learn to shoot programs. No drop in shooting, you must be a member or a guest of a member, fees are $400/year or less, family memberships, senior discount and handicap accessible!”
-Mr. Bob Friesen, Google Review
5. Calgary Shooting Centre
Address: 7130 Fisher Rd SE Bay 4, Calgary, AB T2H 0W3, Canada (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +14034511777
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
If you’re looking for a more beginner-friendly range that doesn’t break the bank to visit, consider dropping by the Calgary Shooting Centre for their $45 day passes. It’s one of the cheapest non-membership passes in Calgary, with only an extra $7 to $15 for gun rental and about 20 to 50 rounds of ammunition.
In addition to that, the shooting range also welcomes non-PAL holders to shoot in their six 25-metre lanes. Unlike other shooting ranges, the CSC allows shooters to use steel-jacketed ammo, a stronger and more damaging type of ammunition.
If you do want to take up a membership, the CSC offers the Associate, Standard, and Premium memberships at $125, $650, and $1,500 per year, respectively. Each membership type entitles you to exclusive lounge access, safety equipment, and firearm storage.
Premium members enjoy free guest passes, complimentary gun cleaning, and reservation privileges. Standard members receive unlimited range access and a $50 class voucher but lack free cleaning and reservation perks.
Pros
- Relatively affordable rates
- Allows the use of steel-cored or jacketed ammunition
Cons
- High rate markup on peak days
- Customer service could improve
Customer Reviews
Lovely staff
“Lovely staff, awesome facilities and a great vibe!
Really enjoyed shooting for the first time here, had an absolute blast!
Thank you so much to the team!”
-Mr. Josh W, Google Review
Helpful and supportive instructors
“Definiely the best shooting experiences I’ve had so far. Both instructors I had were knowledgeable and great teachers. They know their stuff about their firearms and are helpful and supportive on the range. The first time my friend had a repeated malfunction (shooter induced) and our officer cleared it effortlessly and showed him how to properly operate it afterwards. Will 100% be back in the future.”
-Mr. Aydon Look, Google Review
