The Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center is an indoor shooting range at 3921 Old Holly Springs Apex Rd. in Apex, North Carolina, listed on the NC Wildlife Resources Commission's shooting range pages. Use of the facility and lane reservations are free.
The center has three ranges: a 100-meter rifle range (rifle only, minimum shooting distance 50 meters), a 50-meter rifle range (rifle only, minimum 25 meters), and a 25-meter pistol range (pistol only, minimum 5 meters). The range is indoors but not temperature controlled, and it is universally accessible. Each lane holds up to two shooters, but only one person may shoot at a time.
Training is free and held on a fixed monthly schedule: Basic Handgun Shooting and Safety Training (first and third Saturdays), Intermediate Handgun Skills (second and fourth Saturdays), and Basic Rifle Shooting and Safety Training (first two Sundays of each month). Basic classes use an 8:1 student-to-instructor ratio and the intermediate class uses 4:1. The basic rifle class can supply .22 caliber rifles for students without a rifle.
There is no store on site. Visitors bring their own ammunition, targets, safety glasses and hearing protection. Reservations are required for shooting lanes and classes and are made through an online system. Booking opens 5 days before the event date, and an account and a free package "purchase" are needed first. Open hours are Monday and Friday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday, with the whole month of August closed each year for cleaning and maintenance.
At a glance
Range type: Indoor, Pistol, Rifle, Training / Classes
Free shooting lane use by reservation (up to two shooters per lane, one shooting at a time)
100-meter rifle range (rifle only, 50-meter minimum)
50-meter rifle range (rifle only, 25-meter minimum)
25-meter pistol range (pistol only, 5-meter minimum)
Free Basic Handgun Shooting and Safety Training (3 hours, 8:1 ratio, first and third Saturdays)
Free Intermediate Handgun Skills Class (2 hours, 4:1 ratio, second and fourth Saturdays)
Free Basic Rifle Shooting and Safety Training (4 hours, 8:1 ratio, first two Sundays monthly)
Loaner .22 caliber rifles for the basic rifle class live-fire portion
Online lane and class reservation system
Safety briefing for new participants and those with expired NC wildlife range pass cards
Universally accessible facility
Youth shooting ages 12-17 with signed Youth Waiver
Amenities
Targets
Wheelchair Accessible
Online Booking
Pricing at Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center
Range fees & day rates
Shooting lane use: Free — Use of the facility and reservations are free. A reservation is required; one reservation per lane.
Reservation package/account: Free — Patrons must 'buy' a free range rental package and set up an account to reserve a lane. No credit card needed.
Training & classes
Basic Handgun Shooting and Safety Training: Free — 3-hour class, 8:1 student-to-instructor ratio. Classroom instruction and live fire. Bring a handgun, 50 rounds, at least one magazine, hearing and eye protection. First and third Saturdays; check-in 9:00 am, safety brief 9:10 am.
Intermediate Handgun Skills Class: Free — 2-hour class, 4:1 ratio, not a first-time shooter class. Classroom review, dry-fire and live-fire drills. Bring a handgun, 100 rounds, at least two magazines, hearing and eye protection; targets provided; handguns cannot be shared. Second and fourth Saturdays; check-in 9:00 am, safety brief 9:10 am.
Basic Rifle Shooting and Safety Training: Free — 4-hour class, 8:1 ratio. Bring your own rifle or use a provided .22 caliber rifle. First two Sundays of each month; check-in 9:00 am, safety brief 9:10 am.
Closed the entire month of August every year, and may close for events, cleaning, maintenance and select holidays. Closures are managed through the reservation system.
Prices are published by the range and can change — confirm before you visit.
Plan your visit
What to bring: Firearms (cased), ammunition, targets, safety glasses and hearing protection. Leave all firearms in your vehicle until checked in and a lane is assigned. Cases must prevent the trigger from being touched.
Ammo policy: Visitors must bring their own ammunition; none is sold on site. Basic Handgun class requires 50 rounds; Intermediate Handgun class requires 100 rounds.
Age policy: Ages 12-17 may shoot with a signed Youth Waiver and must share a lane with an adult. No one under 12 is permitted to shoot.
Rental requirements: No firearm rentals are listed. Basic Rifle class can provide .22 caliber rifles for live fire if the student has no rifle.
First-timer tips: New participants or those with an expired NC wildlife range pass card must arrive 30 minutes before their reserved lane time to check in and attend the safety briefing. For classes, check-in is 9:00 am and the safety brief starts at 9:10 am; missing it means no live fire. Create a free account and 'buy' the free package before booking. Reserve one lane per person, as the system allows only one participant per reservation.
Hours
Monday: 5pm - 9pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 5pm - 9pm
Saturday: 9am - 7pm
Sunday: 9am - 7pm
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hours?
Monday and Friday 5 pm - 9 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am - 7 pm. Closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and the entire month of August each year.
Where is the range located?
3921 Old Holly Springs Apex Rd., Apex, NC 27539.
How much does it cost to shoot?
Use of the facility and reservations are free. No credit card is needed.
Do I need a reservation?
Yes. Reservations are required and open 5 days before the date. You must set up an account and 'buy' a free range rental package first.
Can more than one person shoot per lane?
Each lane accommodates up to two shooters, but only one may shoot at a time. The system allows one participant per reservation, so multiple lanes need multiple reservations.
What is the minimum age?
Ages 12-17 may shoot with a Youth Waiver and must share a lane with an adult. No one under 12 may shoot.
Do I need to bring my own ammo and gear?
Yes. There is no store on site. Bring ammunition, targets, safety glasses and hearing protection.
How should firearms be transported?
Keep all firearms cased, with a case that prevents touching the trigger, and leave them in your vehicle until checked in and assigned a lane.
What should I do on my first visit?
Arrive 30 minutes before your reserved lane time to check in and attend the safety briefing. This also applies if your NC wildlife range pass card has expired.
What ranges are available?
A 100-meter rifle range, a 50-meter rifle range, and a 25-meter pistol range. The facility is indoors but not temperature controlled and is universally accessible.
What classes are offered?
Free Basic Handgun (first and third Saturdays), free Intermediate Handgun (second and fourth Saturdays), and free Basic Rifle (first two Sundays of each month).
Can I take a rifle class without owning a rifle?
Yes. The Basic Rifle class can provide .22 caliber rifles for the live-fire portion.
What if I arrive late to a class?
Check-in is 9:00 am and the safety brief begins at 9:10 am. Missing it means you cannot go downrange or attend live fire.
Can I reach the range by phone?
Call 919-303-0851. The phone is answered only Saturday-Sunday 9 am - 7 pm and Monday 5 pm - 8 pm, and range officers may be busy during check-in.