Cresap Range Info
The Cresap Rifle Club maintains an outdoor range facility with covered handgun, rifle and black powder firing lanes. The facility is open to the public during the weekends. Volunteer NRA certified range safety officers are present at all times to ensure a safe and pleasant shooting experience. Spotting scopes, sandbags and improvised pistol rests are available for shooters to use if so desired. Ear protection, eye protection, drinks and snacks can be purchased at the clubhouse window for a minimal small fee. We do not sell ammunition so please make sure you bring what you will need for your visit! Men and women's bathrooms are provided via porta-johns. Make sure that you are familiar with the range safety rules before visiting us!
Club History: Founded in 1928, Cresap Rifle Club is a reference to Captain Michael Cresap, the youngest son of Colonel Thomas Cresap of Frederick County. Captain Cresap is noted for recruiting and leading 130 men on a 550-mile march, in just 22 days, from Frederick, Maryland to Boston, Massachusetts. His company was the first from the South to reach Cambridge and formed the real beginning of the Continental Army.
The Club operates the Colonel James E. Bartgis, Jr. Memorial Range as a non-profit venture and exists today solely on donations from individuals and organizations utilizing the range. Revenue generated is expended to keep the range in first class condition and to provide the public with a safe and comfortable place to practice marksmanship. Funds are also utilized to support a junior marksmanship program with the emphasis on safe handling of weapons and competitive shooting and to support the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police Hunter Education Program. When available, funds are also donated to other non-profit organizations and charities. No member of the club receives any personal financial benefit from revenues generated.
Handgun Range
The Cresap Rifle Club provides handgun shooters with sixteen (16) covered outdoor handgun benches with targets at both 10 and 25 yards. Spotting scopes, improvised handgun rests and sand bags are available for users who wish to use them. Benches are separated by Plexiglas barriers to deflect brass.Handgun shooting is done from the standing position only. No rifles are allowed on the pistol line.
Rifle Range
The Cresap Rifle Club provides rifle shooters with twenty (20) covered outdoor rifle benches with targets at both 50 and 100 yards and one rifle sight-in bench with targets at 25 yards. Spotting scopes and sand bags are available for users who wish to use them. Benches are separated by Plexiglas barriers to deflect brass.
Rifle shooting is done from the sitting position only. Shotguns must be shot with slugs only. No rifles that are .50 caliber or larger will be allowed on the rifle lanes.
Black Powder Range
The Cresap Rifle Club provides black powder shooters with four (4) covered outdoor black powder benches with targets at both 50 and 100 yards. Spotting scopes and sand bags are available for users who wish to use them. a loading bench is provided behind the black powder benches. Black powder firearms will be loaded behind the benches and capped only while on the bench and facing downrange. Benches are separated by Plexiglas barriers for privacy. Black powder pistols can be used on the black powder firing line but it is important to note that targets at 50 and 100 yards probably do not provide an adequate range for use. As a result of the target distances use of black powder pistols is strongly discouraged and may be prohibited based upon the range officers review.
Black powder shooting is done from the standing position only.
Cease Fire & Target Change
Cease fires are typically performed at the top of each hour but can be performed more often if needed. The Cresap Rifle Club volunteer range officers will post new targets at this time. Once the firing line has been cleared you will be notified that it is safe to go down range and retrieve your targets. At this time you may also post new targets of your own if you wish. Targets must conform to NRA standards and cannot be in the form or silhouette of an animal or human.
During hunting season it can get very busy at the Cresap Rifle Club! During these times the range officers will run relays in order to give everyone a chance to shoot. Because most visitors simply want to sight in their rifle for hunting the wait is usually not very long. We ask for your patience during these times as it requires an even closer attention to safety and this will always supercede managing the relays. The range officers would appreciate the help of the visitors in brass clean up and target changes.
Tips For Your First Visit
- Safety is taken seriously at Cresap! It is imperative that you read and understand the range rules before entering the range.
- You should understand the basic rules of safe firearms handling. If you make a mistake we will correct you firmly. Our range safety officers are required to maintain a safe facility and will place that before everything including pleasantries. Please do not be offended. We believe that safety is of the utmost importance and will not compromise that for any reason. With that said our volunteers are all very friendly and welcoming and as long as you follow the rules you will have a very enjoyable experience.
- When you approach the covered clubhouse we suggest that you place ear protection on before entering as it can be quite loud during a live fire session.
- If you do not have ear or eye protection it can be purchased just inside the covered range. You will also need to wear eye protection before you cross the yellow firing line.
- We prefer that all firearms brought into the range be cased. If you do not have a case then MAKE SURE that your action is open, the firearm is unloaded and the muzzle is above your head and pointed UP. Do not walk into the range with the muzzle pointed in any other direction other than UP.
- Please do not bring a holstered firearm into the range. Holstered firearms are strictly prohibited. This applies to everyone including off-duty law enforcement.
- You may NOT use cameras to take photographs and video.
- We do not allow handling of firearms during a cease fire. Since we do not know if your range bags, backpacks and other belongings have firearms in them you are best to wait outside before entering the covered range during a cease fire. If you are already inside the covered range when a cease fire is called please set your belongings down and place your firearms in the provided ready racks. Do not touch them until we call the firing line HOT again, this includes bags, purses or anything large enough that could contain a firearm.
- We do not sell ammunition at the range. Please make sure you bring adequate ammunition for your visit.
- Please do not bring a holstered firearm into the range. Holstered firearms are strictly prohibited. This applies to everyone including off-duty law enforcement.
- The Cresap Rifle club typically performs target changes at the top of each hour. Once we have cleared the line after a cease fire is called our range officers will post new targets for everyone. Shooters who would like to post their own targets are welcome to do so as long as the targets are appropriate for the range. We will not allow any human silhouettes of any kind.
- Please do not bring a holstered firearm into the range. Holstered firearms are strictly prohibited. This applies to everyone including off-duty law enforcement.
- During certain times of the year, usually hunting season, we may need to run relays so that everyone visiting the range will have an opportunity to shoot. It is best that you arrive when we first open up if you want to be sure of getting a bench.
- Please do not bring a holstered firearm into the range. Holstered firearms are strictly prohibited. This applies to everyone including off-duty law enforcement.
- When uncasing or casing a firearm ALWAYS make sure that it remains pointed downrange at all times. Ensure that the action is open as well.
- If you are unsure of anything or have further questions before visiting then please feel free to contact us and one of our volunteers will answer your questions. See you at the range!
Hours of Operation & Fee Schedule
The Cresap Rifle Club is a covered, outdoor shooting range open to the public rain or shine.
Our facility is open to the public on Sunday's only between the hours of 10 AM and 3 PM with the exception of some holidays. If for some reason our facility will not be open on a Sunday then we will post this information on our home page. We are an outdoor facility so make sure you dress appropriately for the season
We are a non-profit organization and operate solely on your contributions. The fees for use of the facilities and related items are as follows:
- $15 per shooter, paid upon entry
- $5 for each additional hour
- $1 ear plugs
- $3 eye protection
- $1 bottled water and soda
Above and beyond the fee schedule listed above, we greatly appreciate donations greater than the ones defined above. All of your donations will go towards the operation of the facilities, Jr. rifle team, firearm and hunter education programs as well as community outreach efforts.
Range Safety Rules
In order to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for shooters, club members and the general public the below rules and regulations will be strictly enforced at all times. Failure to comply with the below rules can result in a reprimand, expulsion and/or permanent revocation of range privileges. ALWAYS ASK A RANGE OFFICER FIRST WHEN IN DOUBT!
The following are required at all times:
- All federal, state and local laws must be observed
- Hearing and eye protection must be worn at all times
- Rifle cases are only to be stored between the rifle benches or in the ready racks
- Shoot only at targets whose numbers correspond to your bench number
- Firearms may be inspected by range officers at anytime
- No parking along the road or side entrance
- Children must be supervised by an adult at all times
- No parking along the road or side entrance
- Access for the handicapped available through members only driveway gate
- Non-members park in the lower lot
Above and beyond the fee schedule listed above, we greatly appreciate donations greater than the ones defined above. All of your donations will go towards the operation of the facilities, Jr. rifle team, firearm and hunter education programs as well as community outreach efforts.
Rules for firearm handling at the range:
- All federal, state and local laws must be observed
- All firearms must be uncased on the shooting benches only
- While at the bench the muzzle must always be pointed down range
- Handgun shooters, bring your muzzle up on the target, not down on the target
- Black powder firearms must be capped only when on the rifle bench
- Black powder firearms must be loaded behind the bench but not capped
- Keep your finger off of the trigger until ready to fire
- Muzzles must be pointing up and the action open when moving a firearm
- All magazines shall be removed from firearms while not in use
- All unattended firearms must be unloaded and have the actions open
Rules to be followed during a cease fire:
- Handling of firearms is strictly prohibited
- Targets and brass may be retrieved to the left of the shooting benches
- During normal operations a cease fire may only be called by a range officer
- In the event of an EMERGENCY anyone can call a cease fire
The following are strictly prohibited:
- No concealed or holstered firearms, this includes off-duty law enforcement
- No full auto firearms allowed
- No center-fire rifles chambered for .50 caliber or larger are allowed
- No pistols with bottleneck center-fire rifle or shotgun cartridges allowed on pistol line
- All rifles on the rifle line must have functioning front and rear sights
- No reckless or rapid fire - all shots must be controlled
- No pistols are permitted at the rifle benches without scopes
- No quick draw permitted
- No more than two people at any shooting position at any one time
- No smoking on the firing line
- No photography on the range
- No tracer, steel, armor piercing or incendiary ammo may be fired on the range
- No alcohol, illegal drugs, or persons under the influence are permitted on the range
- No standing or off hand shooting from the rifle benches is allowed
- No intentional destruction of range property will be tolerated
- No rifles are permitted on the pistol bencheso
- No bird or buck shot in shotguns. Shotguns are slug only.
- No arguing with a range officer
- Shotguns that are un-scoped must have a front and rear sight.
- No gunsmith type work may be performed at the shooting bench
- No loaded firearms are to be pointed above the horizontal marker at any time
- No loaded firearms may leave the range
