Grass, gravel, dirt? What is your firing line?

[effendude]

At our club in MN, we are considering putting a roof over our 27 firing point 600 yard line. Something along the lines of a 20' by 200' open sided, metal roofed structure. Shade, weather shelter, etc. It will also be a step towards our goal of 25 electronic targets someday. While we love shooting from our irrigated grass firing line, I doubt we will be able to keep grass under a roof. Making the roof high enough to grow grass means it won't provide shade or shelter when needed. I have suggested we put pea gravel under the roof. Softer than concrete, cleaner than dirt, easily raked smooth if disturbed. Some of the F-Open guys have expressed concern that their fancy smancy rests might shift around in the gravel as their long spike feet won't be able to be driven into the grass. While these F-Open guys (and my wife) are a particularly needy bunch in general, I want to make sure we have researched our options.

A question for you competitive shooters, especially F-Class. Around the world, what are your firing lines? What works, what doesn't?

Scott

 

[Immike]

Pea gravel is pretty shifty and loose for even FTR , it's like quicksand for a heavy rest and rear bags the same. Gravel screenings work for what you ask.

 

[effendude]

Pea gravel is pretty shifty and loose for even FTR , it's like quicksand for a heavy rest and rear bags the same. Gravel screenings work for what you ask.

Mike, what do you mean by gravel screenings? The pea gravel I refer to is very small, compacts well. Maybe 1/8 to 3/16" in diameter.

Scott

 

[Immike]

Mike, what do you mean by gravel screenings? The pea gravel I refer to is very small, compacts well. Maybe 1/8 to 3/16" in diameter.

Scott

It's the off fall from a rock crusher at the quarry after the gravel dimensions have been screened out. Pea gravel has round corners and won't compact at all.

 

[saunaking]

Glad you threw this out there Scott. Not sure how needy we are though.

I'm looking forward to hearing some other opinions on this.

 

[spclark]

What range might this be?

Pea gravel - as I understand the term - often is screened river gravel anywhere from 1/4" to 3/8" diameter. Anything rounded in shape will stay loose lacking finer aggregate to fill in between.

Quarries that provide aggregate will sell screened products for various uses that, if from a crusher, are irregular in shape and compact very well.

Back when I lived in Illinois I used what was locally referred to as #9 gravel for driveways that worked quite well yet could be loosened up & raked level when necessary.

Try to avoid cinders if at all possible. They break down over time & have sharp edges that will abrade shooting mats.

 

[Ringostar]

With it being irrigated, would a grass seed for shady areas work?

 

[savagedasher]

We have a choice of 3 concrete grass or weeds We did concrete And foward is grass and weeds Larry

 

[Nodak7mm]

Scott,

FWIW: Down here at ENGC, its concrete and I thought I'd hate it and dreaded shooting on it.. Nope, really liking it due to the consistent surface (not messing with rest adjustments every string) and not as uncomfortable as I thought it would be. I am using the basic midway mat and am not sore at all. Yes, its covered so elevated heat soak is not a factor either. And you can see the creepy crawly things coming before they get to ya.....

In short, I am liking the concrete pad style of line. Beats the heck out the ever shifting always rock hard clay berms from ND.

Rod

 

[Fast14riot]

Concrete here, covered isn't bad in summer, but will suck the heat out of you in winter if you use a thin mat. Also, all rifle transport is muzzle up with a hard deck.

 

[Archis]

We have recycled concrete gravel on our firing line (3/4" irregular size). It compacts well and doesn't shift around on you when getting into position. I'd be worried that you would be constantly raking the pea gravel to keep it smooth and level, it never really seems to compact.

The only downside to the concrete gravel is the dust. If you don't buy it pre-washed, it'll take a year or two of rain and snow to wash away the dust.

FWIW, I've shot on concrete slab firing lines and didn't mind them at all. With even a thin mat it wasn't uncomfortable for a couple hours shooting.

 

[Ringostar]

I shot on covered concrete this morning. My rest would slide when putting shoulder pressure on the rifle. You'll want benchrest feet with small hard spikes, or some cow mat to set your rest on.

 

[Immike]

I shot on covered concrete this morning. My rest would slide when putting shoulder pressure on the rifle. You'll want benchrest feet with small hard spikes, or some cow mat to set your rest on.

I use the super feet now Kieth after I pushed my rest off the concrete once. Lol

 

[SDDasher]

Shot on covered concrete at the new CMP Talladega range in Alabama two weeks ago in 95 degree temps and around the same humidity. Surface was cool compared to the ambient air.
At Port Malabar in S Fla they have an outdoor carpet over concrete under their covered 600 yard firing points. Also very comfortable in the heat and humidity.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Scott,

FWIW: Down here at ENGC, its concrete and I thought I'd hate it and dreaded shooting on it.. Nope, really liking it due to the consistent surface (not messing with rest adjustments every string) and not as uncomfortable as I thought it would be. I am using the basic midway mat and am not sore at all. Yes, its covered so elevated heat soak is not a factor either. And you can see the creepy crawly things coming before they get to ya.....

In short, I am liking the concrete pad style of line. Beats the heck out the ever shifting always rock hard clay berms from ND.

Rod

Concrete has additional benefits: it requires neither water nor sunlight in order to thrive .

 

[Immike]

Concrete has additional benefits: it requires neither water nor sunlight in order to thrive .

Palo alto shoots on the ground under a covered line. Somehow they have grass growing but I'm sure it struggles to resist the traffic pressure.

 

[Bob L.]

Palo alto shoots on the ground under a covered line. Somehow they have grass growing but I'm sure it struggles to resist the traffic pressure.

Since Palo Alto extended the existing cover to the rear of the firing line, the grass has died off to a great extent. The morning sun used to reach a good portion of the covered area, but now can't. I'm sure the foot traffic contributed to the demise of the severely stressed grass.

Some grass and weeds remain in a strip about two feet wide right along the forward edge of the line, where the afternoon sun reaches it, but the rest is now dirt.

We are looking for other solutions.

 

[effendude]

We have an abundance of granite quarries just west of us. I have used their very small screenings for traction grit. They also sell it for chicken grit. Very small, irregular pieces that would compact up great. I'll pick up a couple bags to test. I suspect this is what Mike is referring to. Roads made from the stuff last forever.

Scott

 

[effendude]

Glad you threw this out there Scott. Not sure how needy we are though.

I'm looking forward to hearing some other opinions on this.

Joel, not all you Open guys are needy, but enough of you are to make a broad accusation! Mr. Sensitive, aka Remdog especially!

 

[Berger.Fan222]

I like concrete, but it can get hard on an old guy's elbows. Some guys get elbow pads.

Dirt is fine. Sure can be dirty, but what are mats for?

Grass is good, but I prefer a covered firing line. Some places put up a row of canopies for the day and have a covered line with grass.

Never shot on gravel, but I don't think I'd have any complaints.

I tend to think a decent rifleman should be able to handle anything within reason.