Building the home rifle range

[bobcat93]

Hi all..as the topic states
.considering building a rifle range on my property..
Most folks around me shoot..but in curious about something..
I've seen people post pictures of there range in the past with concrete shooting bench and there were a section of concrete drain pipe at each bench...
Are those to direct noise or controle the Wildman at the shooting range..
Are they horrible to shoot at..what about use with a muzzle break..
Some one fill me in on these
Thanks

 

[spaniel]

Building on your property for personal or commercial use? Big difference....

I've never seen the setup you describe, but it sounds like other mechanisms I've seen which are intended to keep idiots from missing the backstop. I have my own personal range, I don't do anything like that, I just take proper safety precautions to put the bullets in the berm and don't let people I don't fully trust shoot on my personal range.

 

[60723]

Don’t know about a drain pipe. Finished my concrete top in my garage last night. Looks really nice. Have built 2 really nice wood benches but when using a bipod the spaces between boards always causes problems. If you go concrete I would recommend a smooth finish. Rough finish really eats away at the bipod feet.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Poor picture of our home range. The bench on the right is angled to shoot pistols, rimfire, or air rifle to 25 meters. You can see the target frame and berm at 100 and 200 yards and the 300 yard berm is slightly visible. Our bench tops have a semi rough finish, not broom finish and so the bag and front rest stay put. If we were going to put sound reduction at the bench, it would be through a series of tires and not concrete pipe. In over twenty years of shooting off these benches we haven’t had a stray shot. We are careful that the bench rest rifles are in the rests and we are sitting next to them before a rifle is loaded. Pretty much the same holds true for deer rifle sight ins.

 

[Steve Blair]

Poor picture of our home range.

Picture is good as is your execution. Nice job.

 

[K22]

Just make sure you check your local ordinances before you spend a lot of time and money and have the authorities come in and shut you down.

This is something I always dreamt about but never live in a place where it was feasible. I have a friend, years ago that went this route. He leased some land on a remote farm at a nominal price and built a really nice 100-yard range with a bench, overhead pavilion and a nice target stand. The farmer and family also used it, so it was a win - win arrangement.

 

[Jr solocam]

This is a little off topic, please bear with me.....I live on a quarter of land that I own, a neighbor owns the quarter adjacent to me then Iowa the next quarter. It's almost perfect for ELR shooting, I can safely shoot out to a mile (no roads, buildings, cattle). The neighbor doesn't care (just don't shoot my irrigation system).

My question is, what are the laws concerning shooting over another land owners property? Thanks.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

I don’t know but I’ll bet an attorney can get on here and tell us. I have an idea what the answer will be.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Here in Minnesota it is considered trespass, so permission is needed. This was because of shooting into/over properties to move animals. Not sure if anyone has been charged, guessing visual evidence or an admission of act is required.

 

[Jr solocam]

I should add I am in ND. Thanks again.

 

[284winner]

Hi all..as the topic states
.considering building a rifle range on my property..
Most folks around me shoot..but in curious about something..
I've seen people post pictures of there range in the past with concrete shooting bench and there were a section of concrete drain pipe at each bench...
Are those to direct noise or controle the Wildman at the shooting range..
Are they horrible to shoot at..what about use with a muzzle break..
Some one fill me in on these
Thanks

I've seen that big concrete drainage tune design before. The ones I've seen are 100-200 yards long. They are completely environmental proof. On the shooting end, they had a door and the bench was outside the tube. The shooter stayed outside the tube so noise wasn't an issue. There was a monitor at the bench and camera at the target to see the shots on paper.

 

[Brians356]

I don’t know but I’ll bet an attorney can get on here and tell us. I have an idea what the answer will be.

Not on this forum. I once asked a legal question and the thread disappeared. For good reason in retrospect.
-

 

[Uthink Uknow]

It’s too bad Gene Beggs or Lou Murdica don’t come on this website. They built “underground“ shooting ranges consisting of buried concrete tube. Gene used to invite people to his range. I know for a fact that Pete Wass traveled to Midland/Odessa, Texas from Maine to shoot there.

 

[vonb]

Uthink,
Would you mind providing a little more information about your benches? Did you build or buy them and if you don't mind, what was the cost?

I built a bench top on my place last year. It took 3-4 bags of Quickrete and a tractor to move it. I was happy with how it came out but had more porosity than I was hoping for. I therefore, sealed with concrete sealer in hopes that freezing/thawing won't crack it.

 

[AckleymanII]

Remember your impact zones around your rifle range, you are liable. Consider carefully who you let shoot off of your property, you may get accused of every bullet impact in the area. Less people using the property is best. If you live in an area that is semi rural, you can protect yourself some what by keeping a log of when you use the range, may sway some on a jury. Make sure you can present a rifle range that looks very safe, and you are exercising all due diligence in keeping every round on your property, consider the liability of shooting at steel. Chances are that it will be a Guest that gets you in trouble.

There is a State owned rifle range out side of Spartanburg, SC that has shooters fire through long concrete pipes. This is an attempt to control the direction of the impact. Pauline I believe is the name of the Rifle range.

 

[JSH]

Nice looking benches. As mentioned a semi smooth is nice.

I have shot off of numerous wooden benches. I have yet to sit and use one that was worth bragging on. Buddy had a rickety one for years, I refused to use it. He built one out of RR ties….it was pretty solid for a year or two then wobbled all over, weighed a bunch but he put a seat attached to the bench. A big NO NO in my book.
I got him some 4” and 2” pipe and we welded up a base. Has the warped and twisted wood top on it, have access to a form for bench top. A fall project.

 

[Jr solocam]

Remember your impact zones around your rifle range, you are liable. Consider carefully who you let shoot off of your property, you may get accused of every bullet impact in the area. Less people using the property is best. If you live in an area that is semi rural, you can protect yourself some what by keeping a log of when you use the range, may sway some on a jury. Make sure you can present a rifle range that looks very safe, and you are exercising all due diligence in keeping every round on your property, consider the liability of shooting at steel. Chances are that it will be a Guest that gets you in trouble.

There is a State owned rifle range out side of Spartanburg, SC that has shooters fire through long concrete pipes. This is an attempt to control the direction of the impact. Pauline I believe is the name of the Rifle range.

This is good advise. In my case,, it is very safe as no one can shoot without me present. I was more wondering how the courts would view it. But I see there is no right or wrong, perhaps.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

vonb;
Here’s how we did our benches. Our son, Paul, is an iron worker by trade. The legs, braces, and rebar were “false work” from a building they put up. Falsework being scaffolding, braces, etc. temporary to a job and taken down when down. So, the iron was free. Paul was having a drive way put in and he had the concrete for the benches delivered at the same time. The concrete guy did the driveway and we had the forms for the benches set up and out of the way and when the driveway was done we poured the seven benches. Two were for other guys. Paul kept one at his house and we have the others here. Here is a sketch and list of material.

 

[TrapperBR549]

vonb;
Here’s how we did our benches. Our son, Paul, is an iron worker by trade. The legs, braces, and rebar were “false work” from a building they put up. Falsework being scaffolding, braces, etc. temporary to a job and taken down when down. So, the iron was free. Paul was having a drive way put in and he had the concrete for the benches delivered at the same time. The concrete guy did the driveway and we had the forms for the benches set up and out of the way and when the driveway was done we poured the seven benches. Two were for other guys. Paul kept one at his house and we have the others here. Here is a sketch and list of material.

Very nice and thanks for sharing. I am a slow learner, can you explain how the rebar is used? Also, are the legs set 2" deep in the concrete?

 

[Uthink Uknow]

The forms are made and laid on the ground (level). The form has caulking lining the top to side joints for a smoother edge. Mark the legs at two inches above the top of the legs. The concrete is poured and the re-bar is placed on top of the concrete from top of leg to top of leg. Then push the leg assembly down until the marks are just visible. This may take a little pounding, depending on the concrete. After the concrete is set and the form is removed you may have to grind the top edge of the bench. These benches weigh around 700 pounds and we lifted them with a hook on a front bucket on a tractor.