About Maryland Small Arms Range, Inc.
Maryland Small Arms Range, Inc. operates as a significant regional resource for the Washington D.C. and Upper Marlboro shooting community. Located at 9801 Fallard Court in Upper Marlboro, this indoor range facility accommodates shooters across experience levels with a straightforward business model: customers rent shooting bays, provide or purchase ammunition, and access well-maintained facilities in a commercial setting.
The facility’s operational structure centers on practical accessibility. The range maintains extended weekend hours (10 AM to 9 PM Friday through Saturday, with Monday extending to 9 PM), making it accessible to working professionals and recreational shooters. The clearly defined pricing structure - $27.50 per shooter per lane rental plus $4 per set of targets - removes ambiguity from the cost experience. This transparency in pricing contributes to positive first-time experiences, particularly among newcomers who appreciate understanding costs upfront.
What stands out across positive reviews is the consistent quality of customer interaction. Multiple reviewers specifically praise staff members for being ’extremely knowledgeable and helpful,’ ‘very courteous and helpful,’ and noted for providing assistance without making customers feel rushed. For first-time shooters - a population that might otherwise feel intimidated or lost - this welcoming demeanor appears to be a significant differentiator. The electronic keypad system that controls range functions receives praise for being intuitive and easy to operate, indicating facility design prioritizes user experience for people of varying technical comfort levels.
The physical infrastructure receives consistent compliments. Reviewers describe shooting bays as ‘well-maintained,’ ’large enough for one shooter,’ and overall facilities as clean. The provision of a spacious waiting area with vending machines demonstrates thoughtful amenities design for customers who might experience delays during peak periods. For a weekend recreational shooter or someone waiting for a lane to open up, the difference between pacing in a cramped hallway versus sitting in a comfortable waiting area with beverage options is meaningful.
However, the facility faces significant operational challenges during peak hours. Multiple reviewers report 2-hour wait times on weekend afternoons, creating friction in the customer experience. For a first-timer who scheduled a one-hour session, arriving at 8 PM and being informed closing time is 9 PM represents exactly the kind of operational boundary failure that generates frustration. The range’s response - essentially telling customers they were told about limited availability at booking - may technically be correct but fails to address the emotional impact of paying for a service and receiving significantly less than expected.
A more complex issue emerges around ammunition screening practices. Multiple reviews reference the facility’s requirement that ammunition pass a magnet test to determine composition. This appears to create recurring friction: shooters bring ammunition labeled by manufacturers as lead core, a magnet adheres to it (because ammunition primers and other components are ferrous), and range staff reject it despite manufacturer specifications. The facility’s apparent response - directing customers to purchase on-site ammunition at higher prices - generates genuine frustration and multiple accusations of this being an upselling tactic rather than a legitimate safety measure. The facility’s reliance on a simple magnet test, rather than more sophisticated ammunition analysis, appears insufficient for their own enforcement of their own policy.
The range also operates a facility-leasing model where independent contractors rent space for instruction services. At least one customer experienced a problematic interaction with an instructor - payment collected, lesson cancelled without notice, no refund provided, and range staff claiming lack of responsibility. While the facility’s response appropriately clarifies they don’t oversee independent contractors and suggested the customer contact management directly, the initial customer experience was fundamentally damaged. This represents a reputational risk in a market where word-of-mouth recommendations heavily influence new customer acquisition.
The 4.1-star rating across 745 reviews reflects a solidly-above-average operation with clear strengths in facility maintenance and staff courtesy, offset by operational friction points (wait times, ammunition policies) and external factors (contractor management) that prevent higher ratings. For customers with flexibility in timing and ammunition, the facility represents a good option in the Baltimore/Washington corridor. For shooters with specific ammunition requirements or strict time constraints, the operational limitations may push them toward alternatives.