Bullet Express Indoor Shooting Range in Springfield, IL.

Bullet Express, in business for 15 years under owner John Thurman, is the place to be to beat the winter shooting blues. It is located at 4885 Industrial Drive in Springfield, Il; phone number 217/585-0130, or toll-free at 800/562-8841.

Open seven days a week, you can shoot pistols on the 25 yard, 8 lane indoor pistol range, or any rifle you want (except .50 BMG) on the 50 yard, 4 lane indoor rifle range. You heard that right; one of the few places in this part of the country that you can shoot rifles indoors, the 4-lane rifle range opened about a year and a half ago, and has proved very popular.

The business is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 AM to 8 PM, and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Pistol range rates are $4 per half hour or $7 per hour; rifle range rates are $10 per half hour or $15 per hour.

Both ranges feature retractable targets. The rifle range offers very steady concrete shooting benches, and lights at 7, 15, 25, and 50 yards to illuminate the targets. Ventilation draws any gun smoke downrange. Both ranges are heated and air-conditioned.

The pistol range is situated next to the gun and accessory shop at ground level. The rifle range was built underground, and is reached by steps down to the firing line. Each of the four rifle lanes is a 4-foot diameter tube buried underground, so there is no problem with rounds leaving the range! Shooters at the rifle positions are required, however, to sit at the benches, rather than shoot from standing or prone positions.

Bullet Express also has a variety of guns available for rental, so you don't even have to bring your own gun to get some rounds downrange. They also carry many accessories such as shooting bags, cases, cleaning supplies, targets, and reloading components. A separate business in the same building, Capitol City Guns, carries a full line of pistols, rifles, and shotguns for sale -- over 500 guns in stock.

Regular events scheduled

If you don't want to shoot by yourself, you can usually find an organized event to participate in at Bullet Express -- particularly during the cold winter months. Monday nights the Rim fire league shoots. Tuesday nights the Centerfire league sees action. Thursday is action pistol night, as the USPSA - IPSC shooters take the range. These events usually start at about 6 PM, so show up if you're curious -- you just might end up shooting or shooting regularly.

One Saturday a month, a .22 benchrest match is held on the rifle range. Without wind to worry about, you're going to have to blame yourself or your gun for any misses. (I personally vote for the gun.) Call the range to get the next .22 benchrest date.

On the fourth Sunday of the month (but I wouldn't count on them shooting on Christmas day!), starting about 8:30 AM, a Cowboy Action group called the Long 9 holds regular shoots. For information on that group, call Black Jack McGinnis at 217/787-2834.

John Thurman also holds regular NRA Basic Pistol classes about once a month during the winter months. The next one is set for January 21, a 10 hour course from 8 AM to 6 PM. Thurman also offers, on an as-needed basis, the state-mandated 40 hour and 20 hour courses for armed security guards; if you are in need of one of these classes, call the range to find out when the next one is scheduled. Currently licensed armed security guards can also do their 6-month requalifications at Bullet Express.

As a convenience to shooters and to save wear and tear on the target carrier equipment, plans are in the works for this spring to equip the rifle ranges lanes with closed-circuit TV cameras at the 50-yard line, with monitors at the shooting bench. When that system is installed, shooters will be able to see their hits without a spotting scope and without retracting their target as often.

Unless there is an organized event going on, range lanes are available for rental whenever the business is open. Reservations are accepted, but are certainly not required. Most times, even if the lanes are full, you probably won't have to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes for a lane to open up.

If you've never been to Bullet Express, the easiest way to get there is to take Interstate 55 to Exit 90 (Toronto). Go east to the 6th Street Frontage Road (by the Cracker Barrel restaurant). Go north to Southwind Drive. Turn right (east) and go to Industrial Park. Take a right on Rogers Street and an immediate left on Knotts. Go about 5 blocks, and look for the freshly-painted forest green building with the huge "Bullet Express" sign on the side.

So don't give up shooting for the winter! It may take a little driving, but a trip to Bullet Express will be sure to lift the spirits of any shooter.