MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The McIntyre Skeet Range located along Parachute Tower Road aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is nothing more than a simple field when not in service, surrounded by trees and dotted with shrubbery. The sound of birds chirping in the morning is broken only by the distant sounds of traffic, Marine cadence and the very near blast of large-caliber shotguns.
The area around the range is quaint, tranquil and endures little human interaction outside of range use. Littered with orange pieces of shattered clay, the range offers an affordable, humble shoot for the sportsmen who use it.
In the first week of August, however, the McIntyre Skeet Range will experience a change of scenery, as a new range facility nears completion of phase one of construction.
Phase one, which is to include five new skeet ranges and two trap ranges, already matches the size of the old one, though the latter now shows signs of wear and age, an indicator that a long-overdue facelift is needed.
“I hope they make it so we can shoot doubles,” said Dave David, a retired master sergeant and frequent patron of the range. David and longtime friend Earl Livermore shoot at the McIntyre range every week, usually competing for a free soda from the losing opponent.
Double capacity, as opposed to the current single-disc capabilities of the McIntyre range, allows for two clay pigeons to be projected out at once, allowing shooters to engage more than one target midair. David and longtime friend Earl Livermore shoot at the McIntyre range every week, usually competing for a free soda from the losing opponent.
The new range, to be named R.L. Jack Parks Skeet Range, is expected to be much more than a two-at-a-time shooting experience, as plans for three more skeet ranges and a clubhouse has already been put into motion as phase two of construction.
“Hopefully we can get to the point where we can host armed forces tournaments and state shooting tournaments,” said Mike Singhas, a recreational specialist attendant at the range. With this transition to a bigger, better facility, the range’s future is an ambitious one.
The new facility, which will no longer be along Parachute Tower road, will be larger, cleaner, and ready for use ideally when the range office moves in August. Located just off of Old Sawmill Road, the new range’s larger perimeter presents a welcoming feel to member shooters, ready to crack the morning silence and litter the ground with red dust.
The McIntyre Skeet Range is open Thursday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact the McIntyre Skeet Range office at 451-3889.