Shooting-sports fans in the Bismarck-Mandan area will have more options in the future when it comes to dealing with the elements.

The Bismarck-Mandan Rifle and Pistol Association is nearing completion and opening of its new indoor range in south Bismarck.

The new range is located at 4667 Skyway, south of the airport.

The BMRPA goes back to its roots in 1966 when it was known then as the Bismarck Pistol and Revolver Club.

In 1981, they merged with the Missouri Slope Riflemen, and in 1999, Marlin Fried, owner of Gun City, donated 50 acres of land near Moffit for an outdoor range.

Over the years, the club has used the indoor range at the Armory, but there was always the need for their own facility.

"We talked about building an indoor range for years," said Leon Nesja.

Tom Thompson said since the outdoor range opened, the club has evolved and has been able to offer members a number of different shooting disciplines and competitive events.

Shooting disciplines offered include high-power rifle, cowboy action shooting, bull's-eye pistol, rifle and pistol silhouette, blackpowder cartridge rifle and a junior marksmanship program.

While the new facility is open now on a limited basis to members, the club hopes to be open to the public by the first of the year.

"We want this to be a facility for the public," Nesja said.

The building includes classroom space that can be used for a variety of educational purposes, including hunter education classes, youth groups like 4-H and scouts, or women's firearms safety courses.

Sam May said having space dedicated for classes was a priority when the planning process began.

"One of the emphases of our club is education," May said. "We think it's important for kids and adults."

May said since ground was broken on the new range two years ago, there has been a lot of sweat equity put into finishing the building by its members.

He said Jeff Ternes was the general contractor on the building, and once the walls were up and the roof on, club members took over from there.

"Members provided a lot of support," May said. From plumbing to pulling wires to installing flooring and ceilings, "We did everything we could."

Thompson said the club was able to include some amenities like a secure gun vault, locker space and a kitchen area that will help the BMRPA broaden the scope of competitive events it will be able to host.

The range will be able to accommodate shooting competitions from 16 different firing lines, including 50-foot, 25-yard, 25-meter, 50-yard and 50-meter.

May said the 50-meter firing line is Olympic regulation size, and in the future, the new range will be able to accommodate competitions on a state and regional level.

Thompson said with the number of firing lines, those competitions will be able to be conducted more efficiently and quickly.

He said aside from smaller details like exit signs and the like, the range should be open for public use sometime around the first of the year, once the certificate of occupancy and final inspections are complete.

The BMRPA has about 250 members; memberships start at $100 for individuals and $125 for families.

A junior marksmanship program is available for ages 12-20, as well as an advanced junior marksmanship program.

The BMRPA also can assist with safety and marksmanship programs for scout groups.

Monthly meetings are held on the third Monday at the AMVETS in Bismarck, starting at 6 p.m. with a no-host dinner.

For more information, check out the BMRPA Web site at www.bmrpa.org.

(Reach reporter Brian Gehring 250-8254 or brian.gehring@;bismarcktribune.com.)