Folks interested in indoor pistol shooting, target shooting, shooting games, instruction, gunsmith services or firearms purchases have two great options in the Pittsburgh, Pa. area. Anthony Arms at West Mifflin and A&S Indoor Pistol Range at Youngwood, located 15 and 35 miles southeast of Pittsburgh respectively, offer great facilities.
Anthony Arms Retail Facility Rivals Mega-Retailers
Anthony Arms' retail operation is huge, clean and bright, and adorned with a wide range of stunning taxidermy, including dozens of exotic African species. The enormous elephant that overlooks the operation is awe-inspiring, partly because it doesn’t seem overbearing in the extensive showroom.
Anthony Arms is an authorized dealer of more than 40 firearms brands. Hundreds of guns are displayed for sale — from Glocks to ARs, Remingtons to Berettas, rare collectibles and antiques to custom engraved handguns, new and used. The selection rivals those offered by many mega retailers.
Add in an amazing selection of accessories, an on-site gunsmith and knowledgeable staff, and Anthony Arms is a gem in the heart of coal country.
Anthony Arms Shooting Range
The 10-year-old, 1,800-square-foot facility also boasts a 16-lane, indoor range on the lower level, underground. It could easily have been designed to feel bunker-like, but it doesn’t. The registration desk, tables and chairs, additional mounts and handsome selection of swords are situated in a large, brightly lit common area. A range master is on duty to assist by answering questions and overseeing safe operations at all times.
The range is positioned behind glass opposite the desk. Shooters enjoy comfortably spaced shooting stalls in a climate-controlled environment. Trays that hold firearms with the barrel pointed downrange also promote safe gun handling when positioning or retrieving targets via the smoothly operating, push-button electric system.
Handguns from .22 to .50 are permitted on the range. If you don't own a handgun, rentals are available along with eye and ear protection. Ammunition must be purchased from Anthony Arms. And, purchase only what you plan to shoot because extra ammo carried out of the facility may not be brought back inside.
Range fees are reasonable and set on a per-person, per-hour basis. Avid shooters, however, should consider a range membership. Memberships include free range time for the year, a five-percent discount on gun purchases, a 10-percent discount on accessories (excluding ammo, rentals and targets) and half-price range time for friends and family when they accompany the member.
Plan to be on the range at least one hour before closing and prepare for the last call for ammo and targets 30 minutes before lights out.
A&S Indoor Pistol Range
The operation at A&S Indoor Pistol Range is significantly smaller than Anthony Arms, but offers suitable digs for shooting, instruction, and gun repairs/customization along with a modest retail store.
The 12-lane, glass-enclosed and climate-controlled range boasts an electric retrieval system and excellent exhaust system. All true pistol calibers are permitted, handguns and long guns. In addition, numerous pistols are available for rent.
As it is at Anthony Arms, safety is paramount, but shooters are not required to participate in a safety orientation. The range master is situated in an observation area outside the range. Targets and ammo are sold at the range desk, where the rentals also are kept. On the range, factory loads and reloads are permitted; however, targets must be purchased at the range.
Fees are offered for singles for 30- or 60-minutes. Two shooters can get a great deal by sharing one lane for an hour. Annual and monthly memberships also are available. For a minimal monthly membership fee, new shooters can try shooting and garner instruction at a reasonable price. Private instruction and a variety of detailed group classes are also available.
The range is separated from the retail section of the facility.
A&S Retail Store
In the retail area, a modest but reasonable selection of handguns and long guns, new and used, is available. Included in the selection are Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Browning, Savage, Mossberg and Remington. Ammunition, gun cases, holsters, gun sights, slings and bipods are among the accessories sold.
In addition, the business owner, who is also the gunsmith, has an excellent reputation, as evidenced by state police officers who drop off duty pistols for servicing.
A&S Focuses on Instruction and New Shooters
New shooters, women and anyone interested in learning about firearms for self-defense are welcome at A&S, where shooting classes are a big focus of the operation.
Anyone in the Pittsburgh area looking for a safe, clean and fun indoor environment to learn to shoot, fine tune shooting skills, enjoy shooting games or competitions, engage the services of a gunsmith or shop for firearms or accessories should visit Anthony Arms or A&S Indoor Pistol Range.
Laurie Lee Dovey - By Laurie Lee Dovey
