Greenwater Shooting Pit

I've been going to this pit for years and it's well known as being more than questionable some times in regard to safety and other shooters. This most recent visit was no different.

We got there early and had no issue setting up and communicating for a cease fire to setup targets. We shot for a solid hour or so as more people showed up and started setting up. The range went cold after a group on our far right went down the line asking for a cease fire. Everybody agreed and an audible 'CEASE FIRE' was yelled out between parties. As the group that asked for the cease fire is crossing the firing line, BANG. Dumbass to our left starts popping of his pistol. Luckily nobody was down range yet. I yelled, "Hey! HEY!! CEASE FIRE!" He apparently was annoyed given the look on his face and whatever he muttered under his breath as he threw his pistol down on his table.

Later on that day, more and more people showed up as it tends to happen here. Another group setup to our left and had zero firearms experience, flagged the line both directions, was chambering rounds with their fingers on the trigger, etc. Then on the far right side, a group showed up that smelled heavily of weed and started blasting off full auto's with home made suppressors. Our group of three rigs packed up and took off after that.

The pit itself is great. It's really the people that mess it up. Please bring bags with you and pack out some extra garbage when you go. Places have been shut down for abuse over the years and I'd hate to see the Greenwater pit be added to that list. Go early morning on weekends or during the week to avoid the super huge crowds or slightly past the big pit, take a right and explore further up the mountain. There are a number of smaller areas to setup and shoot with good backstops and no crowds.

The pit itself is a bubblegum show. Especially on the weekends (see the other reviews). If you go just past the pit farther up the hill and take the next right, there are plenty of areas where you can setup targets for your own pistol and/or smaller caliber shooting session which is quite pleasant.

If you want to sight in a rifle or get any real distance shooting in, you'll need to go to the pit. I'd recommend going during the week to avoid the crowd.

Also, please pick up after yourself. It'd be nice of you to leave with more than what you came with. This place gets trashed often. Unfortunately, that is the norm in this area.

First time here. It was packed over the weekend. We waited almost an hour before they finally call it "COLD" to set ours up. Don't know why it took so long, all the targets were shot out but everyone was still shooting at random stuff on the ground and the metal targets that were up were barely getting hit so I don't know what the fcuk took so long? Also, one group decided to blast off without any warning or letting everyone know that they're going "HOT". Fcuking idiots! Still recommend.

I'd give this place a lot more credit than I gave it here if people had been more diligent about safety. Last time my family went there, we had the expectations that things would be safe and easy to do. We brought my daughter along for the first time too. After setting up and my lady walks over to people on the corner part of the upper left zone because the girl picked up the gun and literally pointed it at us and mimicked shooting. This wasn't for bubblegums and giggles. Obvious they had not been trained in the rules of firearms. Shooting resumed for maybe 30-45 mins and 2 individuals apparently found it a good idea to walk the tree line along the road while the same individuals who my lady yelled at earlier were slinging and shooting clay targets in the same area. I told them, cease fire and get out of the woods. When the two of them came back, it was apparent they thought this was a joke and laughed it off. At that point they made their way across other people firing as well. We left from after that. No range boss, so what to expect? Proceed with caution. Do so with kids more so. Leave quickly if things are not feeling right. Many empty bottles of liquor were seen here. Other than this experience, I had pleasure of talking to other shooters, those were there to enjoy the space and time there. Share some knowledge and maybe a round or two of gun trial. Other than that, the distance to pack up and get to this place to shoot is more than it is worth for the likelihood of a bad experience.