A new state-of-the-art shooting sports instructional facility at Georgia Southern University is now open to students and the public. The facility features two spacious training and seminar rooms, an archery center and firing range.
The project was funded by private donations to the university, support from the Easton Sports Development Foundation, the City of Statesboro, the Archery Trade Association and a $3.3 million grant secured by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to ensure the opportunity for students without increasing student fees.
The SSEC is the only facility of its kind on a college campus dedicated to education in archery and firearms and a lifelong participation in shooting sports. It is the result of a partnership between Georgia Southern University and the Georgia DNR.
Construction of the 30,000-square-foot facility began in December 2014. The SSEC is located at the edge of the university campus on the corner of Old Register Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway in Statesboro, Ga.
With a public indoor archery center and a firing range, the facility provides indoor space for the university’s championship winning archery club team and the university’s women’s varsity NCAA rifle team for practice and competitions with seating for visitors.
SSEC Archery and firearms courses are taught by trained and certified SSEC personnel.
Current education programs include safe shooter training for firearms and archery, introductory classes for archery and firearms, USA Archery level 1 and level 2 instructor certification, U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) concealed carry course and National Rifle Association (NRA) basic pistol class. Introductory class materials and length are tailored to youth, collegiate or adult audiences and course fees begin at $15. A student discount rate is provided.
Behind a glass wall, the 16-lane, 25-meter archery center accommodates 64 archers with additional spectator seating.
The 16-lane, 25-meter firearms range, divided into two bays of eight lanes each, provides for state-of-the-art firearms training. Each of the 16 lanes includes an automated target retrieval system and eight lanes are equipped with turning targets, ideal for law enforcement training. In addition, it is equipped with a cutting-edge target system designed specifically for precision or Olympic-style shooting identical to the system used in the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
The leading edge ventilation system, designed specifically for indoor firing ranges, ensures the air turnover rate virtually eliminates exposure to airborne lead.
Prior to using the SSEC, all students and members of the public must first become an approved user of the facility unless registering for an introductory course. The approved user authorization process is contingent on successful completion of the in-person application for authorization, a background investigation and a hands-on practical exam supervised by an SSEC official for firearms, archery or both.
For more information on the center, click here.
Shooters can find more info about public shooting ranges by clicking here.