Yellowstone National Park is a renowned world-class destination, but there are also a good few interesting things to do just outside the Western Entrance.
Visitors might well be geared-up for historical attractions, wildlife viewing, and hiking—but how about trying your hand at an authentic Yellowstone shooting range?
Guide to Yellowstone Big Gun Fun
Big Gun Fun can be found close to the West Entrance of the national park, and this facility is home to an indoor shooting range and a multitude of gun rentals comprising machine guns, handguns, and rifles. This is a professional and experienced outfit dedicated to the customer experience, which includes the obligatory safety essentials and any other required instruction and training.
Big Gun Fun is popular with individuals, couples, and families alike and is recommended by many as a ‘must do’ when in the Yellowstone region.
The Main Features of Big Gun Fun
The indoor range is fairly compact but as the majority of visitors are here to try their hand with various guns rather than simply indulge in target practice, the size is actually ideal.
The owner reportedly always takes the time with any finer points of instruction or to help expand visitor knowledge about the equipment on offer.
So there is plenty of attention from the staff—always a good thing when guns and ammo are involved. Visitors can choose from the vast array of pistols, rifles, semi-automatic and fully-automatic, and shotguns to try.
You can check out the various options and the costs involved at the facility HERE which includes the hire and use of the guns and the ammo.
The pistols, for instance, will provide 20 shots per load, and the guide reloads for you between sets unless you specifically want to do that by yourself.
Many participants will buy an extra round for the guns, although the optimal time required for this activity is probably 1.5 hours or so. Participants get to keep their targets as souvenirs too.
It’s not uncommon to see big grins on the faces of the people leaving who are seemingly proud of their target mementos and an all-around memorable experience.
The Brains and Concept behind Big Gun Fun
Big Gun Fun owner Eric originally hails from Idaho and has had a passion for shooting from a very early age. Eric is an avid hunter who just happens to love helping people learn more about the various models and the proper operation of guns.
Eric started Yellowstone Big Gun Fun over a decade ago in 2011 with the intention of providing the opportunity to shoot some guns for families and various other tourists.
A safe and exciting opportunity awaits the willing participant once they check out Eric’s great selection of machine guns and other semi-automatic weapons.
There’s also something of a fun movie theme going on that may help visitors get more into the groove on the firing range.
Access, Hours of Operation, and Fees
You can check the website for the exact fees according to gun model and ammunition. As an example of what to expect though, the activity usually costs somewhere in the region of $200 or less for 4 people, often with extras.
The summer season at Big Gun Fun runs from the beginning of May until October. The hours of operation during this period are typically 11.20 am-9.30 pm daily.
The winter season extends from December through February with operating hours between 4 pm and 8 pm daily.
The Bottom Line
Big Gun Fun in West Yellowstone is a great couple of hours’ entertainment that is comprehensive and professionally operated. There’s lots of fun to be had by anyone even remotely interested in firearms, including its history and carry-over to the shooting range.
The informative owners are often reported as courteous and accommodating, and the environment is a very safe one. Inexperienced participants can expect to be guided with lots of useful tips and support, which all add up to a bunch of exciting and safe fun.
It’s worth noting that Montana has different gun laws to many other places in the U.S. such as California, which means people as young as 12 years old and up can participate.
Big Gun Fun is one of those places in Montana that, once experienced, could well turn out to be one of the most memorable highlights of the vacation for many visitors to the West Yellowstone region.