CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park

The CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama is the Rolls Royce of shooting ranges. Before you even start shooting, you're welcomed to the park with the nicest clubhouse you'll ever see. Once checked-in you can relax in one of the many leather chairs, or you can walk out to the patio that overlooks the 600-yard rifle range.

Forget your targets at home? What about ammo? What about your gun? Not a problem! They sell EVERYTHING you need at the gun store that's housed in the main complex. The CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program also hosts a number of gun safety classes at many of the conference facilities there.

The entire complex sits on 500 acres in the beautiful Talladega National Forest. The facility consists of a 600-yard range for long-range shooting, a 100-yard range, a 50-yard range,  a 50-foot range for handgun and small caliber shooting, trap/skeet/5-stand facilities, and an action pistol training range. Wow. Not only are these facilities open to the public (for a small fee), but they're also incredibly well taken care of. Each range (aside from shotgun) is covered and has a safety officer.

The best part, however, is the technology that's found on the ranges 50 yards and longer. Instead of going out and placing paper targets, the CMP not only provides their own pop-up targets, but they also have a video screen at every shooting station that tells you EXACTLY where your bullet hit. No need to set up boxes or fragile wire targets. Your screen can be cleared and reset if you're sighting in different firearms.

I've been to the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park twice now, and it's easy to get spoiled by all of the amenities offered there. No doubt it's going to feel a little weird shooting at my local range from now on.