NRA HQ Shooting Range

Good indoor gun range. Very good ventilation. unlike some indoor ranges I have been to. very clean and professional

I own a firearms training academy based in the VA/​MD/​DC market, however I travel to a lot of locations in other states to train, and the NRA is by far one of the safest, cleanest and professional ranges I work with. I am happy to bring my clients there, and once they experience the NRA Range, they are sold and go back again and again. As an NRA Instructor, I feel lucky to have regular access to and a presence in this location.

Great shooting range
very clean and professional stuff working around-​the-​clock making sure that everybody staying safe and keep the rules
my favorite place!!!

I recently started visiting this range since I’ve been in town for a month, and I’ve been four times now. It is a very clean, modern range that allows pistols, rifles, and shotguns (slugs only). I’ve always had a pleasant time shooting here. The staff at the front desk has mostly been very pleasant to me, and I’ve never had a problem.
Some reviewers prior to me have noted that the wait times can be very long; perhaps it is the times of day that I visit (usually in the afternoon between 1 – 3), but I have always gotten in almost immediately.
Finally, some reviewers prior to me have also noted that the range safety officers can be overbearing. Actually, they have always left me alone; and although I have some experience in the Army, I still consider myself of modest experience and I am far from a range guru. I just conduct myself safely and follow the rules, and they seem to let me be. Now, I have witnessed them instruct people to aim at a different place on their target or mount their target differently, so that bullets «do not hit the ceiling or floor.» I’m just going to say that they don’t seem to do this arbitrarily; these people really were shooting at the ceiling or floor, or in danger of doing so. The range is fairly long (which is a pro), but this means that the angle of your shots needs to be fairly planar (which is a con). I think the RSOs have a better vantage point than the shooter does, and they are specifically looking out for this, so my recommendation is just to take their word for it on this matter.

I’ve been here a handful of times and have never experienced what I did today. The RO that was there last night was very condescending and arrogant. I had my target placed eye level at 5 yards and proceeded to take body shots (A zone). The RO comes over and tells me to go for head shots only as I’m hitting the floor behind the target, fair enough. I proceed to take head shots only (obviously very realistic). He then goes two lanes over, to a shooter who has his target placed at the same distance as mine. He proceeds to tell the shooter that he can only go for body shots cause he’s hitting the ceiling. The shooter kind of questions him and the RO says «I’ve been doing this for 25 years…». Now I don’t know how much bullet ballistics change at 5 yards, but our rounds are hitting that paper at the same angle. So basically he just contradicted himself. Adding to the fact that he sounded very condescending, it made him look like a joke. He also spoke this way to a couple that was in the lane beside me. They were new to the facility as I had remembered them turning in their tests at the front. If you’ve been doing this for 25 years, you have a wealth of knowledge (maybe) so you should learn how to share/​convey what you know without making someone feel inadequate. All my other times here have been great. This RO just annoyed the hell out of me. Not only my experience with him, but seeing him interact with other shooters as well.
** Overheard RO saying he’s going to be the only one cleaning empty casings and cardboard shavings off the floor. So maybe he’s just bitter from doing 25 years of that.

Went here yesterday for the first time. Like others have said, it was a great experience! I went with a buddy of mine whose been there before so it was easy to get setup and know what your doing. First timers need to take the basic shooting exam (open book, very easy), and pay a one-​time fee. We had to wait just over an hour since it was crowded but the range time was excellent. RSO were very attentive and helpful. I’ll definitely be back.

Ample parking and a nice looking facility. The guy at the counter was nice, concise, courteous, and professional.
If you desire to sit in the lobby all afternoon and have dropped internet connections while on your phone, this is the place to be.
The seats are cushy and comfortable and the lobby is pretty nice. There is a view of the range, looking like your average range when compared to others in the area. Nothing particularly outstanding there.
Your more likely to sit in the lobby and watch people shoot, and it’s unlikely you yourself will be able to shoot before you get a 5 o’clock shadow.
Get used to the lobby, because shooting there is what you will not be doing. Your time is better spent driving to one of the other ranges in the area. But hey, if you dig the lobby, go for it!

My favorite range. I am an NRA-​certified instructor. I feel comfortable and safe at NRA HQS range because of the professionalism of the RSOs – from the counter to the firing line. I also prefer NRA HQS Range because they do not rent guns. I find this reduces the proportion of inexperienced shooters. Finally, staff management have made obvious improvements to the layout and operation of the range, including hours of operation.

My 2^nd favorite range in the DC area (after ELITE opened). It is a great range but very small which means long wait times if you go during heavy hours. They are also closed during various times throughout the week so you need to keep that in mind as well. I found that Monday mornings are the best time if you can squeeze in an hour before heading to work.
The nice thing is that if you have to wait, you can go to the NRA firearms museum there and kill some time.
Before you can shoot you are required to take an open book test about gun and range safety.
The range is very clean and modern with targets that are attached to a timer for presentation drills. The RSOs are very helpful and they have plenty of ammo and targets for sale. The nice thing is that you can also use their ears and eye protection if you forgot yours for free.
They allow holster draw work as well and it is a HOT range so you can carry in loaded as long as it is holstered outside of the shooting box.
This was my exclusive indoor range but after ELITE opened, I don’t shoot here as often. But I still feel like this is a top indoor range in the area.

I just returned from my first visit to the NRA range. The experience was truly enjoyable and very safe. It is what I would expect from an NRA range. I read the rules and other reviews of the range before I decided to visit the range and read some of the more negative reviews with skepticism.
I showed up with my weapons cased as per the rules (and common sense) and was greeted promptly and warmly. I explained that this was my first time at this range, knowing that I would have to take test to get my range card. Full disclosure, I am a retired Army Officer and have ran many ranges in my career, from small weapons to tanks, and safety is something that is always important to me. The NRA staff was professional and safety minded.
When it was my turn to take a both, it was great. I was able to put rounds on the target with both my weapons and enjoyed the experience. All the shooters were operating safely with range officers behind them.
The range complex itself is very well done and modern. If you are a beginner or expert you will enjoy the experience. I suggest you review the NRA Range Website and understand the rule before arriving.
I will be returning regularly to keep current with my weapons. Since I used to keep current with my former issued weapons, the M9 and M4, I need to get proficient on my chosen civilian firearms.
Thank you NRA, for an excellent experience.

My girlfriend and I recently began patronizing this facility after relocating to the NoVA area. We’ve been lifelong NRA advocates and members, and each of us possesses over 25 years of shooting experience.
We have been members of countless gun clubs and ranges in Florida, Georgia, West Virginia, and now Virginia.
With over 50 years combined range time, this is the first facility we’ve encountered where there is a seemingly endemic customer service problem. While there have been a few exceptions where range officers have been been exemplary, most interactions have been extremely disappointing.
After having visited the range about two dozen times, we’ve compiled the following list of cautions that in our opinion, will most assuredly ensure that you and your spouse will have a an unpleasant practice session:
— Request staples if you find the staple gun is empty; You will encounter a bad attitude from the ROs.
— Request a new cardboard backdrop if you find it has been completely shot-​up; You will encounter a bad attitude from the ROs.
— Share the same lane with your spouse; You will encounter capricious scrutiny from the ROs, despite heeding all safety regulations.
— Bring two or more firearms of different calibers; You will encounter capricious scrutiny from the ROs, despite heeding all safety regulations.
— Use standard LE-​BE27 or B27-​IMZ law enforcement targets, even if the head is obscured. Depending on which range officer is on the floor, you may or may not be permitted to use them. There seems to be no consistent policy regarding their use. When we’ve encountered objections, we’ve been given several nonsensical and inconsistent reasons as to why they aren’t acceptable: too big, too bright, too many colors, can’t have a head, can’t have arms, too heavy.
In addition to the above, we’ve observed objectionable behavior from ROs directed at other couples, notably in situations where one spouse is mentoring the other.
In contrast, we’ve discovered that if one of us goes alone to the range, we are’t hassled at all.
It is our opinion that the range staff does not possess the level of professional maturity, patience, or communication skills that we’ve come encounter at other ranges.
Fortunately there are a multitude of other ranges throughout the Virginia and West Virginia areas where one can practice in a safe and pleasant environment.
We do NOT recommend this facility.

I’ve been sampling the ranges around the Northern Virginia area for the past few weeks and finally decided to give the NRA range a try. Absolutely no complaints whatsoever. Maybe I just got lucky in terms of the people who were there at the time, but I doubt it. All were friendly and personable. I walked in during the middle of a weekday, filled out the paperwork, took the test, got my card and was issued a lane assignment. Fired 100 rounds, packed up my gear, exchanged a friendly nod with the RSO and left. What’s to dislike?
There were no more than about 6 other people there. One person was firing rifle and they had him at the far end away from those of us firing handguns. Their equipment and ammunition sales were sparse but adequate. They do offer free eyes and ears if you need them. There’s plentiful covered parking and the facility is clean and well maintained. The target system is slow but very intuitive and supports timed targets.
As for the negative ratings you see here… If you check the ratings of most gun ranges, there are always a handful of people who complain about «power tripping» RSOs micromanaging them. They always tell you about how they’ve been handling guns all their life and that their daddy put a Red Ryder BB gun in their hand as they were exiting the womb. Then they tell you about how safe they were but that the «meddling RSO» kept hassling them. It’s all a bunch of BS. I’ve been shooting for 30 years and have NEVER ONCE gotten a safety correction from an RSO on any civilian range (though I admit to having my noggin smacked a few times by an NCO on military ranges — and I always deserved it). If you’re safe, they don’t mess with you. If you’re not, then they’re all over you (as they should be).
These turkeys complaining about being harassed AREN’T SAFE! Period. End of story. I know they think they are, but if you don’t come up in an institutional shooting environment like the armed forces or organized shooting clubs or classes (or were trained by those who were) you simply don’t know what safe shooting practices looks like. Guys who grew up shooting in their back yards commonly are very good shots but often follow terrible safety procedures when shooting at an organized range. Just ignore anybody complaining about over-​zealous RSOs at this range or any other. They’re likely backyard shooters who never learned how to function in an organized range environment and you don’t want them next to you anyway. Safe weapons handling isn’t rocket science but you have to at least understand what right looks like.
Two quick recommendations though: First, join the NRA before you go. An associate membership costs $ 10 for a year and it allows you to save $ 5 per visit ($ 15 vs $ 20). It also makes a yearly range membership less than $ 25 per month for civilians and about $ 20 for military. By far the best deal in Northern Virginia for an indoor range. Second, once you’re done shooting, swing by the Firearms Museum around front. It’s free admission and is well worth your time.

Some of these low ratings really surprise me, but even more so the discussions that go along with them. It almost seems the folks who wrote these reviews went to a different range than the one I went to. Or perhaps it was more a matter of attitude and following the range rules.
I have shot at the range twice now with my 10-​year-​old daughter, and did not experience any of the hate and discontent some of the folks are reporting here. It makes me wonder if folks were expecting this facility to be run by a bunch of good-​olé-​boys who figure you’re going to set up some beer cans down range and shoot away. If that’s what you’re figuring, you’d going to get a very rude surprise. This aint a beer can plinking range. Anything but.
I specifically took my daughter here because the range is tightly managed and controlled, as I would expect from any NRA Range. The Range Safety Officers that were ever-​present in the background did stop me a couple of times on my first shooting outing — once to inform me that I needed to move my target up to eye level, and again to ask that I move my target in closer when I tried shooting pistol at 50 yards and my shots were hitting the target carrier plate. I thought both of these interruptions were totally acceptable and warranted. The RSO tries to maintain safe shooting conditions and protect the range, and these guys did a good job of doing that.
If you have never shot here before, you WILL be required to take a written test. I was a little concerned about my 10-​year-​old because she had never shot before. But as she read the regulation sheet and nudged me in the ribs to ask what an «ejector» was, I felt she’d probably do well enough to pass. And sure enough, she was the one that got a perfect score, not me.
Candidly, I would much rather shoot on a tightly controlled range where my daughter can learn good safety and gun handling than on a range that is not tightly controlled. I can’t speak for the others who rated this range lower, but I will say that I have seen a lot of folks with guns who like to play fast and loose with the rules, and those are folks I am not comfortable shooting with. I think the written test to acquire a Range Card is a real good idea. If you’re not smart enough on guns to pass the basics of the test, then you shouldn’t be shooting.
This range is clean, modern, well run and closely managed. If you follow the rules and demonstrate safe gun handling, you will have NO problems at this range and have a great target shooting experience. I think the NRA does a really outstanding job here, and I just can’t imagine what these other folks might have been doing to get interrupted «15 times». If you were getting interrupted that many times, you were either doing something wrong or something unsafe.

I had a very good experience at the NRA headquarters range today. I live in Ashburn and wanted to put some rounds through a new Kimber I just purchased. I started last night reading reviews on Unilocal about the local shooting ranges as I have not been to any ranges since relocating to NOVA. I intended to visit another range in Ashburn but discovered when I got there, they were not open to non-​members on Mondays and Tuesdays. I decided to make the trip out to Fairfax to the NRA headquarters range because I knew they would be open to the public. I was hesitant to go to the NRA range as my first choice because I was intimidated by some of the previous reviews here on Unilocal concerning staff attitude.
I arrived and was greeted by a stern faced lady at the front counter. The place was fairly empty with open lanes at around 2:00pm on a Monday afternoon. I explained to the lady that it was my first time to this range and she set me up with my safety test and rules sheet. She went over some things verbally with me before hand as well. She sent me into the room and the test was easy after reading the rules sheet front and back. I did find the testing room distracting with the TV going on a 24 hour news station and some instructors working on laptops discussing things amongst themselves but it wasn’t a big deal. I return to the counter and the stern faced lady explained more rules to me (basically reviewing the rules I just read) and rang me up for the test and the lane rental. I inquired about membership benefits after she was wrapping up the paperwork. The membership sounded appealing so she offered to sign me up causing her to redo some of the paperwork but she was more than happy to do it. She was very nice, informative and professional no BS type of person and I found that quite nice to deal with. I asked her how will I know when time is up? She smiled and said, «when we are kind of slow like today, take as much time as you want, or until we close, whichever comes first.» I like this lady already…
I entered the range area and followed their rules to the «T». I did see the RSOs were very involved in observing the patrons pacing back and forth behind the firing line. I found that following their rules exactly, using common sense, and just being plain respectful of safety led to minimal interaction with the RSOs in my case. I did forget to leave the chamber open when I rested one of my handguns on the table after clearing a round that failed to eject. The RSO was right there and reminded me about the rule firmly but respectfully and I quickly remedied my error. No problem there. The patron in the lane next to me was having issues with following the safety rules, it seemed it may have been really new at handling a gun. I was impressed, the RSO camped out behind him and made many corrections for his (and my) safety. I was impressed in the way the RSO handled it by taking more of an instructor role educating the guy and his teenage son instead of berating him. I was very impressed observing that. It seemed the patron took the info well and made the corrections. I liked their approach and communication skills. It’s a hard job for the RSO enforcing a zero tolerance policy for lax safety. Could you imagine the media and political fallout the NRA would endure if an accident happened at their range? As I realized this, my worries about the previous reviews of this place seemed unfounded. This HAS TO BE the safest public gun range in the country.
I finished my few hundred rounds for the day, packed up, and cleaned my area of spent brass like requested from the lady on the front counter. I exited through the correct door only opening one at a time as stated by the rules. I appreciated the sinks they had available to wash up after my session.
As I was gathering my things to exit the RSO working the line while I was shooting was now taking his turn behind the counter. He called out to me asking me how I liked my Kimber and H&K USP. We struck up a conversation and he answered a bunch of questions I had since this was my first 1911 based gun that I owned. Super helpful, extremely knowledgeable, and nice guy. I left there so impressed with the facility (clean well lit and ventilated) but the staff left the best impression.

RSO’s are very friendly here and they know what they are doing.
It’s bit nerve breaking to bring in new shooters because NRA staffs make you take a safety test, but I believe this is necessary.
One day, I drew a smiley face on a blank white paper and shot it because you know. that’s what all shooters do. well at least I do at a free range. anyways, RSO got little upset and told me to bring it down. No problem sir, I drew zombie face instead. He gave me thumbs up. LOL

Great range. State of the art electronic controls at each shooting station. The safety officers are aggressive about safety — which I appreciate so I can feel relatively safe about shooting next to individuals with unknown levels of training and experience. If you maintain safe protocols, they leave you alone. If not, they’ll engage politely but firmly. The test they administer and the control they maintain is beneficial to everyone shooting, and keep away the type of shooters who are there for the wrong reasons. Checkout the museum upstairs after you shoot, their firearm collection is nothing short of amazing!

This place is so cool. We met with Guns-​n-​Gear for our shooting lessons. The NRA staff was wonderful. When you enter the big steel doors, you are immediately greeted by the front desk staff. The place is very organized. There is a small training room where you can take any tests or they may even hold classes in that room. The lobby area seems to always be bustling with customers and staff. You can look into the shooting range through the glass windows. Once you completed the required forms and pay the required range fees, then they will assign you a lane. Our instructor provided all the firearms for our class. The range does not provide rentals so you must bring your own or work with someone who can provide your firearms. They provide free ear and eye protective gear along with the necessary ‘cleaning’ wipes. That’s a plus since other fancy ranges charge you for every little thing. Safety seems to be a priority here as they instructed us how to enter and exit range doors. There is also an officer who walks up and down the range to ensure safe shooting.

The NRA has great range facilities. There is a $ 10 one-​time processing fee for those that have never been to the range – the fee covers the test and the card. The test, which is «open book,» is to ensure that everyone with a gun in their hand understands the rules as well as you do. It’s for your safety.
Perhaps it’s worth mentioning a few other details: 1) the NRA Range DOES NOT rent guns, 2) if you’re under 18, you must be with a parent the first time, and 3) the range is unable to sell ammo to anyone under 21.
Regarding «being watched and interrupted:» indoor range rules are different than military rules, your Grandpa’s farm rule, that range you went to in XX place’s rules, etc. The rules are meant to keep you safe and the range in good shape.

My sons and I are from Las Vegas, here in VA visiting my parents. They offered to introduce my 11-​yr-​old and I to shooting for our first time and brought us to the NRA range.
The staff was excellent — professional and patient with us newbies. At no time was I concerned about my son’s safety.
The range itself is very nice and there is a large lounge area where Grandma and my 7-​yr-​old son could watch us shoot.
The only criticism I have is since the bar has been set so high, I fear none of the ranges back home will compare! Proud to now be a member of the NRA and their range!

I don’t have loads of shooting experience but I was in the military and did get somewhat comfortable handling firearms.
I usually stop by here on Monday mid-​morning and rarely have to wait. The desk staff have always been helpful to me. I usually buy a target (too lazy to pack free paper plates, I guess) and as a non-​NRA member, pay the higher rate for lane rental.
I find the range officers to be extremely helpful as a fairly novice shooter. They’ve stopped and corrected my hold which reduced my stove-​piping to almost zero. They’ve given gentle reminders about safety items.
When I first purchased my handgun, I took a course to become more proficient. The teachers were great, the class had a lot of useful content and the one-​on-​one hour was the best.
Parking is convenient.
I’ve been here with a social group on Saturdays and even with trying to get all of us out on the range at the same time, the wait is pretty decent, less than 30 minutes usually. The desk staff is very accommodating.