ASHLAND — The women behind Ashland’s newest shooting range wanted to try something different.
So when the space next to their established business, Classy Chassis, opened up, Terri Wood made some calls. She wanted to open a gun range unlike any in the state, aimed at helping women and others properly defend themselves.
That range, Hot Shots Shooting Center at 2112 S. Baney Road, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday with Ashland city and county elected officials and various guests.
“Our goal is to make sure we take care of all the civilians in the community,” said Wood. “However they want to defend themselves, whether it’s with a (gun), with mace, a Taser, whatever they want to use.”
But the shooting center doesn’t offer a live range — it’s all digital, and indoors. Hot Shots utilizes MILO, a global company that offers interactive simulation training software, curriculum, range design, and equipment.
Hot Shots offers customers access to MILO simulations and games to help with gun-handling skills and aim, said Matt Sharp, the center’s armorer and range master.
The simulations, for example, put customers in a realistic situation that allows them to practice making “split-second” decisions, he said. Other programs — Sharp calls them games — include hunting simulations, target practice and other skill sharpening exercises.
“Now you could say there’s something here for everyone because you can be shooting at cartoon characters or you can be using it for professional training,” said Ashland Mayor Matt Miller.
An immersive experience
Hot Shots has four rooms designated for the MILO simulations, with plans to add more.
“We are the only MILO facility in the world with four rooms of equipment and we’re looking to expand,” Wood said.
She added they’d like to build a theater-style room, which includes three large screens, providing for a more “immersive” experience, according to MILO.
Each Hot Shots room includes four handgun options. Sharp said they include Glock 17 and 19 models, and two styles of the SIG Sauer P320. He said those firearms are typical handguns used by law enforcement or CCW license holders.
“We also have AR-15s,” Sharp said. The rifle is equipped with a wireless recoil kit that uses CO2 to simulate kickback. “And if you’ve ever shot one, (the recoil) is pretty accurate.”
Hot Shots also holds monthly CCW courses, led by Doug Murillo of Action Defense LLC. Murillo is a licensed instructor through the National Rifle Association and the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, according to Action Defense’s website.
Ohio and Ashland County CCW permit numbers in 2023
- Ohio: 90,582 (15,581 were new, 75,001 were renewals)
- Ashland County: 1,005 (113 were new, 892 were renewals)
The business has held a couple classes since opening around a month ago.
John King, a retired Richland County Sheriff’s Office deputy, said his daughter was one of the first CCW clients at Hot Shots.
“This is one of the best training facilities I’ve seen,” he said.
Prices
A single session of 30 minutes for the public starts at $45 for one shooter. The center includes specialty pricing for military actives and veterans, first responders and seniors.
There are monthly and annual membership tiers, starting at $70 per month or $750 per year.
Members also gain access to an exclusive lounge that is equipped with a poker table, large-screen TV and plush furniture. Sharp said there are plans to use the lounge for future in-house events.
The shooting center is open Tuesday-Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. It opens on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
“I’m so blessed. I know that our mothers … our mom would be so proud of us,” Wood said.
