Northwest Mississippi? What town besides Oxford? (Tupelo, Southaven: house prices, transfer, established neighborhood)

[jerseyjeepgurl]

Hi,
As you can tell from my name, I am currently living in NJ - strangely enough, I moved up here from Ocean Springs MS, in 1986. I currently live in a smaller town in NJ, that is near the central part of the state in an area called Ocean County.
Now that my hubby is looking to retire, (at a fairly early age), and it has become abundantly clear that, living here, is just way too expensive. Having lived on the MS coast, and now the NJ shore, we want inland. We are looking towards the outlying areas of Oxford.
What we are looking for is:
A smaller Newer Ranch home that is NOT in a cookie cutter subdivision. An older established neighborhood is what we would absolutely be drawn towards. Nothing over a $150K - and here is the real kicker, it needs to be near outdoor shooting ranges - we participate in a sport called United States practical Shooting Association (USPSA shooting or also known as IPSC). Ideally we are looking for an area that has more than one or two ranges in a 50 mile radius so that we can shoot at different ranges on different weekends.
Is there such a place in Mississippi? Or, are we living a pipe dream? I have read about the schools - that has nothing to do with my needs - honestly if I could find a house that has been remodeled and refurbished, that is in move in condition, I would be ecstatic. I'd also like to be fairly close to shopping - I don't want to have to drive long distances to go to the grocery store or Lowes.
So,,,,in all of the areas of Oxford, where is the NICEST, affordable, and hopefully near an outdoor range that we can look forward to moving to?
Is there anything that we need to have a red flag up for as well??? Whatever you can tell me for a younger retiring early couple and our dog, about the area (or is there a nicer area?). I'm hoping that this part of the state is 100% nothing like the coast and the weather for sure - the Northwestern portion almost seems like the same type of climate of where we currently live in NJ - Not much snow - and temps in the upper 90's for late summer.

Thanks for reading my post! I absolutely appreciate ANY help that you all may be able to offer, in our quest for a new home!I am really looking forward to your replies.

[Chris Balducci]

Technically, Oxford is in north-central Mississippi. You may also be interested in a place in Desoto County, in northwest Mississippi, which is increasingly a Memphis suburb.

[Listener2307]

We live in Tupelo, and like it.

I looked around for shooting ranges - as I am sure you did - but came up pretty blank. I have even called the various police departments in the past looking for shooting opportunities. Nada.

But other than that Tupelo can offer the type of house and neighborhood you're looking for. Takes us a little over an hour to drive to Oxford.

Prices, even restaurant prices, are higher in Oxford. Now that everyone and his brother is going to school on borrowed money no one feels as if they are spending real money. Crying shame, IMO.

My nephew just bought a home in a neighborhood like you describe for 100,000, so there are plenty of opportunities in your price range.

Congratulations for living a life with a plan! You've worked; now you're retired. That's GREAT!

Big Grin to ya!

[Robert_J]

Desoto Rifle and Pistol Club in Como (they were forced from their site in Desoto county if you wonder about them being in a different county) - DeSoto Rifle & Pistol Club's range complex near Como in Tate County is rapidly becoming Northwest Mississippi's first choice for a safe place to exercise our 2nd Amendment rights. hosts many pistol competitions. Memphis Sport Shooting Association - Memphis Sport Shooting Association also holds competitions including USPSA on the north side of Memphis.

I've never been to MSSA and I'm not a member of DRPC. I have spent a weekend at DRPC but I was taking a private combat rifle course and we didn't have to follow the rules of the range. From what I've heard, they are pretty strict.

[jerseyjeepgurl]

Thank you EVERYBODY for your help! We have also looked into possibly going to Olive Branch, Byhalia, or Holly Springs. The close proximity to Memphis, is a REAL help for the ranges, and there is a USPSA affiliated club in Grenada. Out of ALL of these towns, which ones are considered to be the places that you DON'T want to live at or in?
I can definitely see that moving OUT of the Oxford area, is going to be much less expensive. Truth be told, I just need a DECENT grocery store, and one big box type place like Wally World or Target, and maybe a home improvement store. The rest of the time, I have absolutely no problem traveling a bit to get to the malls or even the range. I just didn't want to have to travel 80 miles to the range and that was how it was looking in Oxford. Right now we shoot about 3 weekends a month (one of Steel Challenge and the other two are USPSA) Thanks Robert J and Listener for your help - that was very kind - Because the competitions are so heavily officiated, (tow Range Officers per shooter on the stage, I am used to "strict". They would not have it any other way. In NJ all ranges - which ever ones there are are terribly strict - we also have a 15 round mag limit - talk about stinky policy! I can go over the PA border, and have a big stick if I wanted, but here it's 15 rounds - NO EXCUSES! There is no carry law, and you can only get a hand gun with a permit and they take usually 8-20 WEEKS to get! Then when you do get them, you are only allowed ONE gun per month, nothing higher even if they are a matched set of collector guns. So, as you can see, getting out of NJ should have its perks! But, I'd love to know what you think about the other towns - with trying to stay out of the Delta. Any thoughts?
Thanks!!!!
JJG

[jerseyjeepgurl]

OOPS! I forgot to ask,,,,if I happened to miss any "nice" places that are upper north that may also be an option! Tell me about ANY town that you would live in and why?
Thank you all!

[Robert_J]

we also have a 15 round mag limit

You can buy a 100 round drum or use a belt fed full auto here.

There is no carry law

There are two levels of carry license here. The basic lets you carry anywhere but government buildings, bars, churches and locations posted as no carry. The enhanced license requires a training class and allows you to carry everywhere but federal buildings, court rooms (there's some controversy on this one) and maybe schools (more controversy at MS State).

you can only get a hand gun with a permit and they take usually 8-20 WEEKS to get

My handgun purchase two weeks ago took about 15 minutes. I'm pretty fast at filling out a 4473 but since I have my CCW license, they don't have to call in for a check to NICS. Fill out the form, show my license, pay for it and walk out.

you are only allowed ONE gun per month

I've bought 3 AR-15 stripped lowers (treated as a pistol since they can be built into one) at the same time. The process was the same that I mention above.

I'd love to know what you think about the other towns - with trying to stay out of the Delta

As someone who grew up in the Delta except on the Arkansas side, I can understand. The Southaven / Olive Branch area has been discussed at length on this forum. Hernando always gets a mention. If you have any questions about this area after reading those threads, I'll be glad to answer them. I've been here since December of 2000.

I forgot to mention that Harrah's Casino in Robinsonville has a clay pigeon range.

[jerseyjeepgurl]

Don;t get me wrong,,,,I think that a background check is a needed thing for a person that may have problems,,,it keeps the wonky ones from owning a gun (usually). But here, we have to get fingerprinted every two years, NICS check for EVERY gun, and it must be done with that permit that took up to 3-6 months to get (it's supposed to take 30 days, but they never get done that fast). Any gun that you want must be shipped to an FFL in the area, so the extra charges to get that gun range in the $70-100 range - I have a Ruger MKIII with a Tactical Solutions upper that was ordered, and had to use two permits on it! CRAZY!!!

I read about the carry permits, but I'm sad that I have to wait a year for one,,,, but it's better than nothing! And no mag ban is way better than waiting to get to an out of state match to put my extended base plates on! And, even those only allowed me to have 20 in the gun because in keeping with NJ law, the +5 base pads are for my 9mm - 10 round mags!

I will read the other threads when I get a chance - and let you know if I have questions --as stated earlier, I really do appreciate all of your help! It's nice knowing that some folks don't feel like that one guy did in stating why he hated MS! You can be happy as a clam as long as your life is what you make of it --- you can also be miserable as a jackass --- (seems that he liked being that way). It was terrible at how insulting he was to not only the state, but to EVERY person that lives in the state as well. Nothing like generalizing an entire population!

Anyway - thanks again!

[Robert_J]

We are fingerprinted once for the license and that's it. It's good for 7 years or something like that. All mail order guns are shipped to an FFL. My local retail store charges a $100 transfer fee per gun. The guy that I use works out of his garage and charges me $25 per 4473. That's why I ordered 3 stripped AR-15 lowers last time.

My wife has an MKIII. I have an MK from around 1964.

Check out the towns along the I-55 corridor. Batesville, Como, Senatobia, Coldwater, Hernando, Southaven. The closer you get to Memphis, the higher the house prices will be. Most cities will have their own web site with all of the pertinent information. Southaven, MS What that one does not cover is our mayor is having a little difficulty with state auditors and the FBI.

[Dd714]

Robert gave you some very accurate information about our guns laws and carry permit, and the desoto gun club. I might add that our carry permit is also valid in about 35 or 36 other states, and in turn we have a reciprocity agreement with those states. Does not apply to NJ of course, as their gun laws are certainly more restrictive as you know.
Even MS has some silly gun restrictions however - such as the two tier carry permit. Also, open carry is not technically illegal, but you can expect to be hassled - (i.e. police usually say "hey you're gun is in a holster so we consider it concealed"). To balance that, we can carry guns, loaded and concealed or not, in the car without a permit without a problem. Concealed carry permits are relativly easy to get if you have a clean record, and it took me about 6 weeks to get my permit after doing the fingerprint and registering process.
Besides the outdoor Desoto Gun Club, I am sad to say there are no other, or I know of no other, shooting ranges in the county. You have to go up to Memphis which has several ranges. I do my shooting at RangeMaster in Memphis, which also has some of the best firearms training programs in the south (natonally known instructors). It sounds like you are looking for an outdoor range however - be aware that from what I read, the Desoto Gun Club is shadeless, and it gets HOT out here during the summer.