Sentinel Firearms

I have been going to this range for 6 years or better, have always had positive experiences there. The employees are always very friendly and courteous. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good place to go shoot pistols.

If you value professionalism, integrity, honor and dependability, this is not the place for you. I called once for information and then again to register for a class. I was told different things about registering each time.
I went online and registered, as told the 2^nd call, but never heard anything from them. So, I called the morning of the class I’d registered for to make sure it was on and to see if I needed to arrive early. It was on and, no, I didn’t need to arrive early.
It is in a very rough area of Birmingham. I arrived to find out my class was full even though I had registered online as I was told and called ahead this morning to check on things. Really?
Stick with Hoover Tactical or your local police department for classes. This group is a joke. My expense.

Alabama Training Institute and Firearms has changed its name to Sentinel Firearms. We went the day after Christmas for some family shooting. This place is an old school shooting range and shop. You pay by the shooter and not the lane and it covers the entire day, even if you leave and come back. Included in your price per person is a target and ear/​eye protection. We brought our own headsets but theirs were adequate. We had to wait about 30 – 40 minutes for a lane to open up. The staff was nice, helpful, and professional. It’s in a sketchy end of town but the building and parking lot were decently lit and felt safe. Plus, a police car was parked out front the entire time and it’s right off the expressway in an industrial area and not many people around, which was good. I only mention this for any ladies that might be going there alone. I’m a female and I would feel safe going here by myself.
There’s only 5 lanes. There’s enough table room in the lane bay to spread out your stuff. We brought 7 guns and rented 2 ($ 10 per gun) and we had room. This is not a fancy range but I don’t need that and it was nice to not be on a time limit. The price is good if you are going to stay over an hour. There was a female instructor next to us in another lane giving a lesson to a lady. She was giving what I thought to be very good instruction. If I was going to take a lesson or recommend one, I’d give her a call.
Next time I’m back in Birmingham, I will probably go here to shoot.

This pistol range is in a neighborhood that has a very sketchy feel to it. A very warehouse/​industrial district. I’m glad that I was armed.
Inside, the facility is pretty basic though they do have pistols and long guns for sale as well as ammo and other firearm accessories. The highlight here is the pistol range and they do have eyes/​ears available for those that don’t have them.
The noise on the range was pretty intense as it seems like they don’t have as much noise baffling as would be comfortable. The steel walls and steel pistol bay sure didn’t help. As well, the ear protection I borrowed probably wasn’t the best choice for this type of noise. But it’s a gun range and they have decent bays with enough room to spread out your weapon and reload as needed.
Simply put your target (you get one free with your range time) in the clips, send it downrange and fire when ready. I like that I didn’t have to sweep up brass — just brush it forward and they’ll get it all later.

New Bersa

This is my favorite range in town. It might not be the glitziest, fanciest place. In fact, I’ll go ahead and let you know that it doesn’t come close to being fancy. But, it is what I feel a good indoor range should be: wood paneled, filled with super-​knowledgeable gun nuts, and constantly seeing the ebb and flow of patrons.
Sure, it’s in a bit of a sketchy location. And yes, you’ll see a VERY diverse range (pun, hehe) of folks. Perhaps you’ll witness a group of huge dudes shooting massive guns at rapid speed and have your adrenaline levels skyrocket. But that’s all part of the gun range experience (and why safety googles and ear protection are required).
I took an NRA class here and then got to shoot the best gun ever: a competition revolver with quite the trigger job. That thing was fast, accurate and, well, maybe my newest crush. Our instructor and his wife were helpful with everything from determining a plan for home intrusion to explaining the gun laws in Alabama and how they change if you drive out of state (good to know if you have a piece in the glove compartment). They even sold me the cutest little stun gun– it is pink, produces 400,000 volts of «don’t touch me you criminal», and is called «The Hottie.»
Once, during a jaunt here with my dad to try out the newest in our collection of handguns, I decided to practice with the Osama Bin Laden target. After punching out his heart, I had one shot left. Realizing at that moment I was the only female within a mile of the place, and that I happened to be dressed up from going to a meeting (dresses, heals and makeup aren’t my MO for shooting), I began to feel the eyes on me. So, I aimed, took a deep breath in, and fired my last bullet right through ol’ Osama’s forehead.
The whole room erupted in hoots, hollers and applause– I even got a few high fives. So yes, Yay! I AM a fan.