Home range suggestions.

[TrxR]

I have been thinking about putting in a couple of bench's for shooting on my property one at 50yds and the other at 100yds. They will primarily be used for .22lr and the odd centerfire around hunting season to sight them in for the season and maybe some repeated .223 centerfire down the road.

My question is what to use for a backstop? Also wondering about a decent sized bullet trap so not to contaminate my land with lead. I was thinking about a 6'-8' high single layer wall of railroad ties with dirt piled up it. Would it hold up? What would I need for a plate and at what angle for the bullet trap? Was also thinking about putting a layer of conveyor belt on the front of the trap to staple my targets to. Would that work?

Thanks

 

[Minesweeper3433]

If you build it with a bullet trap make sure to pack dirt in around the trap really well to keep it from shifting. Also up to what caliber will you be shooting? Easy bullet trap is a sheet of hard steal at downward angle against 6x8s buried in concrete put sand under neath the plate to keep them from bouncing out.

 

[TrxR]

.303 will be the largest caliber and that would only be a couple of times a year.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

If you are doing the bullet trap having the wall behind it wouldn't do much of anything if it is the type of trap I am thinking. What kind of trap will you be looking into and what kind of materials can you get. I built a backstop this year in the woods near my house by cutting down some pines and filling it with sand then hiding it with brush from the area. It works for practicing with my 22lr and nobody knows it is there.

 

[TrxR]

Im not really sure what to do. I was thinking a trap with an angled steel plate but now am thinking maybe just a small wall of railroad ties with an angled 6-8" deep box full of sand. Do you think a .303 would penetrate through 6-8" of sand at a 100yds?

Thanks

 

[Minesweeper3433]

yes I used something close to 10 cubic yards of dirt just for my 22lr I will take some pics of the backstops at my local range next time I am there for ya to get some ideas. Although it will be few days.

 

[LHSmith]

This is from a military site listed as spec DA PAM 385-63 10 April 2003. I used the following values for designing our local rifle range:
Minimum thickness of mat'l for positive protection against caliber ammunition listed:
7.62 (.308) 173 gr. FMJBT (match).............: dry sand= 24 inches/ wet sand= 36 inches/oak logs=40inches/ packed earth 48 inches/concrete (5000 psi) =7 inches.
Knowing that FMJ's penetrate more than expanding bullets, I consider these values give me an added safety factor. Note the difference between wet and dry sand.
For my clubs range I used the Army's values for a 50 BMG with FMJ and built 8'-0 deep bunkers using 6x6 timbers filled with sand, front target area covered by 1/2 " thick belting. Upon inspection after 3 years of use,I have not found any bullets to penetrate beyond 36" of the sand, this is for 2 separate bunkers, one @ 25 yds (pistol use) one at 50 yds.

 

[swampshooter]

Why don't you contact the NRA range dept. and ask them for assistance.

 

[LHSmith]

Our club inquired about the NRA range development program....for several hundred $$$ a club member could attend a seminar to learn range design, then for another couple hundred $$$$ an NRA rep would visit and offer comments. Upon talking to clubs that went this route, they were disgusted to find that an hour visit by the NRA cost $500 for expenses. Not very user friendly in my opinion.

 

[jhord]

I don't have your answer but I have a few facts. A 6BR will put a 105grn Amax right thru a 1/4" mild steel plate @400 yards, and a 168grn Sierra Matchking fired from a .308 will go clean thru a 12" maple tree @750 yards if you screw up and double your dial up. Be cautious.

 

[LHSmith]

Since you referenced using a .223 , FWIW these are the values for a 5.56mm (.223) w/ M193 Ball ( 55 gr. FMJBT) round: dry sand= 16 inches/ wet sand= 25 inches/ oak logs= 28 inches/ packed earth=32 inches.
I don't like shooting at steel, even hard plate that is angled.... not to mention the cost of a plate of sufficient size.

 

[jonbearman]

Packed clay is also a good solution as nobody wants the stuff. Build your bunker with rail road ties and pack 3 feet of clay in front of it.It works really well as in new york we have lots of clay.It hardens in the sun and works very well for a backstop. Tell whomever no rocks what so ever.

 

[LHSmith]

Our club first tried clay, it was the only "free" material available as there is a working clay pit a few hundred yards from the gun club. It was very messy and difficult to contain when it gets wet. Also clay has a tunneling effect where succeeding bullets penetrate deeper and deeper, much like wet sand but worse.
For comparison sake, the Army's data lists penetration values for plastic clay as follows: .223 w/M193 ball =44 inches/ .308 w/ 173 FMJBT = 65 inches.