Mad River Armory and Range Reviews

"Wow, a 5-star review with no comments? You’re mysterious, and I love it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thanks for making our day brighter – you’re clearly someone with great taste (and probably amazing aim). If there’s ever anything more we can do to keep you smiling, just let us know!"

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A silent but deadly 5-star review? We love it! Just like a well-placed shot, it hits us right in the feels. Thanks for the love, and we look forward to seeing you again—whether you're here for the range, a custom holster, or just to hang out with the coolest crew around. Bang on!" 🎯

"First off, we appreciate the honesty—you took the shot, and we respect that. Yeah, running a range isn’t for the faint of heart, and we’ll admit dealing with the public can be… interesting. Add in firearms, and it’s basically a circus with live ammo. 🎪🔫

Now let’s dive into it:
Watching the video? We know it’s not Oscar-worthy, but it helps keep everyone safe and saves us from constantly explaining that no, you cannot spin your pistol like it’s a Wild West showdown.
Asking for ID and phone numbers and checking steel-core ammo? Yep, we’re sticklers. Blame the lawyers and the "we don't want random people ruining everyone’s day" mindset.
$36 (plus tax) for two people, one lane? While we do our best to price fairly, running an indoor range isn’t exactly cheap! Think about HVAC systems big enough to handle safer air quality and all that fun OSHA compliance stuff... but hey, no excuses; we're always trying to improve where we can.

Now, brass. Oh, brass. The issue here isn’t about keeping it for some diabolical scheme or greed. The truth is, we had too many people disregarding safety rules to retrieve brass—stepping over the shooting line, risking accidents, and putting everyone at risk. We hated enforcing the rule, but after enough close calls, we had to draw a hard line (literally). Safety always comes first, even if it means an unpopular decision.

We get that you’re frustrated, especially if you’re a reloader. If you ever change your mind and can live without your brass, we’ll be here to welcome you back. And in the meantime, thanks for giving us a shot—stay safe and keep your aim sharp!" 🎯

Thank you for your feedback! We’re always striving to provide the best experience possible, and we’d love to know more about what we could do to improve. If there's anything specific you'd like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly. Your input is valuable, and we’d appreciate the opportunity to make things right for you!"

It sounds like you had a frustrating experience, and I completely understand why it came across as uncomfortable and invasive, especially if you’re experienced and confident in your abilities. However, it might help to consider this from the range's safety perspective, even if it doesn’t change how the situation felt for you and your wife at the time.

Ranges like Madriver often adopt strict oversight policies not because they doubt your abilities personally, but likely because they’ve encountered safety issues in the past. Handling firearms responsibly is critical, and for better or worse, range officers tend to err on the side of caution—sometimes to the point where it feels excessive or even patronizing. This can understandably come across as frustrating, especially if you feel like you’re being treated like someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

From the range's point of view, though, their main priority is ensuring that every single person on the range is safe at all times. Even minor lapses in safety—intentional or accidental—can lead to severe consequences. The policies they enforce, such as spacing between rounds, may seem restrictive, but they’re likely aimed at keeping everyone focused, minimizing risks, and maintaining control. For someone like you who trains for realistic scenarios, it’s understandable why these rules might have felt limiting or unnecessary.

As for the constant supervision, I can see how that felt overbearing and made the experience less enjoyable for both of you. However, based on the staff’s comment about needing to “make sure people follow the rules,” it seems their goal was to vigilantly watch everyone—not just you—and ensure that no one inadvertently compromises safety. That said, the way it was handled could have been better; overly critical oversight often creates a stressful environment, which can be discouraging, especially for someone like your wife who’s still gaining confidence.

At the end of the day, every range has its own style of operation, with some leaning toward stricter enforcement of rules and others being more hands-off. While these strict policies may work for some people, it’s completely fair for you to feel like it wasn’t the right fit for you and your wife. Shooting is supposed to be both a safe and enjoyable activity, and finding a range that offers a balance between those two things is important for anyone’s experience.

It’s understandable to feel that way—pricing can definitely vary widely depending on the range or gun shop. Factors like overhead costs, location, and even the types of firearms they stock can contribute to higher prices. In some cases, ranges or shops that are smaller or more specialized might charge a bit more because they don’t have the same buying power as larger retailers or chains.

That being said, while the prices might seem high, it could also be worth considering what comes with the cost. For example, does the range provide exceptional customer service, maintain their guns well, or offer access to additional amenities? Sometimes, higher prices can reflect those added benefits.

Still, it’s always good to shop around and compare prices with other locations to make sure you’re getting the best deal for what you’re looking for—whether that’s for renting, purchasing, or just range time. If you're otherwise happy with the selection and service, the convenience or quality might justify the prices.

We're thrilled to hear you had a fun experience and found our staff helpful! We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Thank you for recommending us to others in the Springfield area.

Thank you for your frequent visits and recommendation! We're delighted to hear you enjoy coming here regularly.

Thank you for leaving a review. We always appreciate feedback. If you encountered an issue, please reach out to our customer service team. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we’re here to help.

No appointment needed. Stop in anytime we are open 12-8 weekdays (closed Tuesday and Wednesday) 12-6 weekends.

Thank you for your loyal support and kind words! We're delighted to be a part of your shooting experience in Springfield. If you ever have any questions or suggestions, feel free to let us know.

Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your experience with Chris. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for more range time and purchases.

"Oof, a 1-star review—right to the heart! 💔 While we firmly believe in honest feedback, 'overpriced and rude' stings worse than stepping on a stray LEGO.

If you felt our prices didn’t match your expectations, we get that. Running an indoor range isn’t cheap (ventilation for all that gunpowder doesn’t come with a discount code), but we always aim to deliver value for the price. If there was an issue with our staff, that’s absolutely not the standard we hold ourselves to, and we’d genuinely like to know what happened so we can address it.

We’re bummed we didn’t hit the mark for you, but hey, if you ever decide to give us another shot in the future, we’re always looking to impress. Hopefully next time we can earn a little redemption—and maybe a few stars while we’re at it." 🌟

set good examples for all others .we do have a diverse set of shooters and many cannot assert control , they will copy people . for the safety of and sake of all , we ask for controlled pairs . we only asked for that and do not accuse anybody of anything .

Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you appreciated our focus on safety and enjoyed the facilities. We look forward to welcoming you and your firearms again soon!

Thank you so much for your enthusiastic recommendation! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed learning with our instructors and felt safe throughout your experience. Your support means a lot to us!

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This review hit the bullseye—thank you! 🎯 We’re thrilled you’ve been shooting with us for a year and still think we’re one of the best. That’s the kind of feedback that makes us feel like we’re doing something right (besides just providing an indoor range that's not an arctic tundra or bubbling lava pit—most of the time).

You nailed it: we keep things simple—just come and shoot! No weird extra fees or confusing policies (well, aside from the occasional ‘no, you can’t bring green tip ammo unless you also want to remodel our backstop for free’). And hey, thanks for calling out the rental policy; we like to keep it flexible so range time stays fun instead of nickel-and-dime-y.

Your kind words (and great aim) are exactly why we love what we do. Looking forward to seeing you back in for another round of fun—and if you need anything, you know where to find us. Bring on the kaboom!" 🔫🔥

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Short, sweet, and straight to the point—just like a well-placed shot! 🥳 Thanks for finding us, and welcome to the Mad River crew. We may be 'small,' but we pack a whole lot of bang for your buck (literally).

Whether you're here to shoot, shop, or just show off your love for all things pew pew, we’re happy to have you. Can't wait to see you again—next time, bring a friend and let them in on the secret of one of the best little shops around!" 🎯

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ First time and already a 10/10? That’s what we like to hear! 🙌 We're absolutely thrilled you had an awesome experience. Stepping into a range for the first time can be a little nerve-wracking, but you clearly handled it like a pro.

Thanks for the glowing recommendation—means the world to us. Now that we’ve got you hooked, we can’t wait to have you back for round two (and beyond). Let’s make every visit just as epic as the first!" 🎯🔥