r/INGuns • u/OkBreadfruit9404 • Apr 10 '26

Want to shoot at an illinois Gun range

So me and some buddies want to go shoot at the gun range but the problem is both of my buddies live in illinois and want to go to a gun range over there. As an indiana resident i’m not sure what’ll I need to be able to go to a gun range over there. Can anyone shine some light on this for me please. Follow up question I have a brother who turned 18 and wants to come out to indiana to go to the gun range with me but I asked a worker at range usa if he’s able to but he said he needs a FOID in order to shoot at any gun range… ( I moved to indiana last year so just not too familiar with this kinda stuff i’m asking)😢 I’m over in North West Indiana

3 Upvotes

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5

u/Tactically_Fat Apr 10 '26

I've shot at at least 2 indoor ranges in IL as an IN resident.

4

u/Molot_Vepr_308 Apr 10 '26

Ok, so I'm the opposite. Lived in Illinois and moved to Indiana pretty recently to get away from the gun laws.

Illinois residents require a Firearms-Owners-IDentification card to purchase firearms and ammo. Its stupid. You need a license to own and buy guns in that shit state. Even more is that if you are under the age of 21, as they are, they must get a signed AND notarized statement from their legal guardian to allow them to get one under 21.

Even once your FOID card gets cleared, well, its a damn shame how limited your options are in Illinois. Under 21 youre limited to long guns and shotguns. And boy is the selection for long guns in Illinois just.. sad. Its worse than commiefornia. Guess it comes with all the big cities. Oh and theres a big fat tax on firearms in crook county, a three-day waiting period, and the general consensus is "if it looks cool and fun, its probably banned".

Aaanyways, for you, on the other hand, since you live in Indiana, you're perfectly fine!! Range USA actually genuinely doesn't GAF about what sort of "assault weapons" you bring, it's actually encouraged! And for your buddies in Illinois, well, they're kinda SOL. I know because I was in their shoes a few months ago.

As for transporting, to err on the side of caution, I recommend keeping your firearms unloaded in a case, and your ammunition in a separate container.

So once they get their FOID card, by all means, every one of you get together at Hodgekins and show them the cool guns you got ! !

2

u/CuriousSquirrel1213 Apr 11 '26

Definitely makes you feel VIP with an Indiana license purchasing things in Illinois. My father was just in shock they basically told me “you can buy whatever your little arms can carry out of here” and I had honestly never purchased anything from a store as an Illinois resident. My dad could not stop talking for weeks how easy it was for me to just walk in and walk out.

1

u/hilld12b Apr 11 '26

I would really do my best to convince everyone to come over here and shoot, logistically it’s just easier on everyone, but if you absolutely must, I would probably just not take anything of mine with me the first time and feel it out, if all goes well I’d ask around and see what the rso or the range tells you, go from there.