Empty ranges in the Summer
If there is a time to get out and shoot and you know that you’ll get a range to yourself, it’s probable going to be in the mid to later Summer months. I know this can also be uncomfortable to shoot in if its really hot, but if you can shoot in the shade and bring plenty to drink. You might be able to shoot all day and call cease fires at will without having to wait for the guy next to you to stop shooting. The worst times to get out are usually in the pre-hunting weeks when ranges are crammed with people trying to verify zero before the upcoming hunting trips.
A few years ago I got to test out the new scope mounts I had on my DSARMS STG58. I took it to one of Pennsylvanias shooting ranges where I was lucky to get the whole thing to myself. At this time of the year so many people are on vacaction and not hanging out at the gun club. It probable took me no more than 5rds to zero the gun at 200yds and after approximately 25rds I had my rifle setup to shoot out to 500yds. You can drive out to the burms to speed up target changes, but it was even nicer to not have to call for a cease fire and wait for everyone to get done shooting. Even better was knowing that when I came back from 500yds, I was the only 0ne there and could just begin plinking at will. The Sierra 168gr Matchking performed very well for a NATO relic.
If you are looking to carry mace or pepper spray, I would absolutely have to urge you to do some research on the Kimber Guardian Angels also known as the Life Act. At first you might get sticker shock, and I think you may want to consider buying 2 of them and test firing 1 of them before you really get comfortable carrying one. I’ve earned my merit badges in seeing evil in the world I know walking around with the smallest pepper spray bottle to fend off a potential rapist, robber, or worse isn’t going to give you much of an edge. There are many reasons to consider carrying a less lethal defensive measure. You can blast someone with something like this without much of a worry about legal ramifications. I’ve seen pepper spray used against 0bnoxious drunks which in my opinion were justified.