Places To Shoot: River Bend Gun Club

The phrase “something for everyone” certainly applies to the River Bend Gun Club, located on 450 acres in Dawsonville, GA. With facilities that include separate ranges for high power rifle competition, muzzle loading, silhouette, action pistol, bullseye, shotgun, multi-gun and plinking, shooters have plenty of opportunities to participate in a favorite activity.

Engaging three 100-yard targets during the rifle portion of a 3-Gun stage at River Bend. Photo by Alex Hill

Founded in 1956, the River Bend Gun Club offers its active members a variety of monthly and annual shooting events. Each spring the club hosts a Fusil Automatique Léger rifle match and a rifleman’s weekend where participants shoot vintage military rifles in several matches. Monthly black powder cartridge buffalo rifle matches are held for members who enjoy nostalgic firearms, and the club’s Rough Riders hold monthly cowboy action competitions for fans of the Wild West. The club built its own cowboy town.

“We try our best to accommodate all facets of the shooting sports,” said Jim Kidwell, general manager of River Bend. In addition to the cowboy town, the club over the years added shooting disciplines to the mix, including 200- and 500-meter ranges.

Safety is a big concern at River Bend and to ensure that all range officers are trained properly, the club pays for officials to take NRA range safety courses. The club also supports multiple college scholarships to Georgia schools, available to members and their families through an application process. Sustained by members of the club through a voluntary fund, auctions and other sources, eligible scholarship recipients receive $1,000 per student, per year for four years.

For more information, visit www.rbgc.org.

Photo by River Bend Gun Club