New member looking for Range advice

[sapper1]

My wife and I purchased our place about two years ago, and I am looking to put in a small range, but I would really like some experienced opinions on the location.

In the image, our property is outlined in red. With the three possible locations marked with green numbers and the berms, I am also thinking about in green. Direction of fire is noted by the red arrows. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Steve Donlon]

You should build it half underground and surrounded by grouted block walls and a sound proof ceiling so your neighbors do not hear the gunfire. Or completely underground. That is the only way I have seen a gun range with houses surrounding it. On case any of them have PTSD

 

[joshb]

What is the distance to the “trees” for 2? Can you get 100 yards? It looks like you can put a berm there and not have houses behind it. Is that a woods behind the berm or just bushes?
On another aspect: do you have any restrictions on lot size for a shooting range?
Are your neighbors pro gun?
You can shoot out of a roll off prefab shed. It’ll help contain some of the noise, provide shelter for a bench and equipment and keep the sun off your back.

 

[sapper1]

You should build it half underground and surrounded by grouted block walls and a sound proof ceiling so your neighbors do not hear the gunfire. Or completely underground. That is the only way I have seen a gun range with houses surrounding it. On case any of them have PTSD

I'm not sure all that would be necessary, as most of my neighbors shoot quite a bit.

 

[sapper1]

What is the distance to the “trees” for 2? Can you get 100 yards? It looks like you can put a berm there and not have houses behind it. Is that a woods behind the berm or just bushes?
On another aspect: do you have any restrictions on lot size for a shooting range?
Are your neighbors pro gun?
You can shoot out of a roll off prefab shed. It’ll help contain some of the noise, provide shelter for a bench and equipment and keep the sun off your back.

I can easily get 100 yards on spot 2, as well as the others, and yes, those are trees behind it.

 

[DShortt]

Having 'been there and done that', I would construct a 3-sided enclosure and fill the inside with soil. Make sure it's large enough to contain your shots. I'd probably go 8'x8'x8'. The walls will need to be substantial if you want it to last a decent amount of time and contain the soil. And as mentioned above, a shed of some sort will be nice to keep you shaded if you plan to use it much. Metal is quick and easy, but it'll be loud inside while shooting. Fine with ear plugs.
Only drawback to an arrangement like that is, you'll only have all the 'comforts' at one distance. I personally have -0- interest in dealing with the consequences of an errant shot. So containing the shots would be my top priority. Hence the large soil backstop.
Because of that, I'd cross location #3 off your list. You'd be shooting right towards a house.

 

[sapper1]

Having 'been there and done that', I would construct a 3-sided enclosure and fill the inside with soil. Make sure it's large enough to contain your shots. I'd probably go 8'x8'x8'. The walls will need to be substantial if you want it to last a decent amount of time and contain the soil. And as mentioned above, a shed of some sort will be nice to keep you shaded if you plan to use it much. Metal is quick and easy, but it'll be loud inside while shooting. Fine with ear plugs.
Only drawback to an arrangement like that is, you'll only have all the 'comforts' at one distance. I personally have -0- interest in dealing with the consequences of an errant shot. So containing the shots would be my top priority. Hence the large soil backstop.
Because of that, I'd cross location #3 off your list.

My wife works for a company that has an excavating division. I am thinking about having them come out and push the berms up to around 12 feet.

 

[DShortt]

My wife works for a company that has an excavating division. I am thinking about having them come out and push the berms up to around 12 feet.

That would be even better.

 

[ELR LVR]

My wife and I purchased our place about two years ago, and I am looking to put in a small range, but I would really like some experienced opinions on the location.

In the image, our property is outlined in red. With the three possible locations marked with green numbers and the berms, I am also thinking about in green. Direction of fire is noted by the red arrows. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

View attachment 1731257

I like to use the cleared area under the Highline poles for getting out to 600
it looks like your property borders up to one in the top left?
Other than that, I would not want to shoot toward any house even if there was a Berm
Some neighbors are illogical and don't understand Math, Geometry or a bullets trajectory even when a Miss would clear 20 ft over their house
---
I was once shooting across a canyon, which meant across the river which was 600 ft below me almost vertically (steep canyon)
Forest Ranger happened by and told me he was concerned about me shooting across water
I looked at him and said "bullets dont make 90 degree turns"
He kinda smiled then said "Yep, you're right... carry on"
---
I doubt the same conversation would go as well if a neighbor saw the direction you were shooting was aimed in the direction of their house (Bottom right, that's where "Karen" lives)

 

[Steve Donlon]

I'm not sure all that would be necessary, as most of my neighbors shoot quite a bit.

You have to be 1/4 mile away from a structure where I live. If your neighbors don't mind, what ever you think is safe. I have had neighbors shooting at coyotes 1/2 mile away and did not understand how far a bullet can go and almost shot me because they did not understand this. And then had to point this out to them. With all those houses around you, I would not shoot a weapon even if I was sure it was safe. That's just me because I have plenty of other places to shoot.

 

[ebb]

The full length of the red property line on the right side of the picture, even if you have to remove some trees. Make it as long as you can, you can post a target closer to the bench and shoot short but if you make it short there is no shooting longer. Or set it up on that long straight border make it 100yds and expand it later if you need to, but if you don't there is no way to expand.

 

[ebb]

A few years back I asked the mayor of Loxahatchee if I could shoot at my place, he told me yes if I owned over 1 acre and contained all bullets on the property. He showed up at my gate a few weeks later with a loader and built a berm without me asking. I have never shot much at the house, but a new neighbor moved in and is eager to learn to shoot. He is the one I posted about in the 308 loads post earlier this week. We have shot late in the afternoon and the 3rd time we shot the owner of the vacant land to the east had a melt down and cussed me a blue streak. I am totally with in my rights, and she has started a war she cannot win. I am doing my best to be diplomatic about it but it doesn't look like this will end well.

 

[Hipshoot]

I believe the preferred shooting direction is toward the North!

Hip

 

[justme]

Absolutely shoot to the north!!!
Build a shooting table for lefties.
Put roof over the tables. Leave room enough between the tables so you can shoot prone between them.
Make the roof wide enough front to back so that shooters are in the shade most of the time.
Shift the shooting tables closer to the overhang towards the target frames. Muzzle blast captured under the roof will be less and you will appreciate the extra room behind the tables.

 

[tred1956]

Railroad ties filled with sand make a great backstop And do not attach bench to shooting table

 

[Walt Krafft]

All your directions are pointing at houses. Big no no. Houses change hands and what is ok today may not be tomorrow. While a few shots now and then may be ok with the neighbors, constant use can start a fight. Even remotely pointing towards a house and you will lose the fight.

 

[dantiff2]

Carve out a small window in the woods and enjoy this angle shooting from the house. It's the best setup! I shoot off my back porch and yes, I can open the sliding glass door and shoot off the kitchen table but the wife frowns when the kitchen smells like burn Varget hahaha

 

[sapper1]

Carve out a small window in the woods and enjoy this angle shooting from the house. It's the best setup! I shoot off my back porch and yes, I can open the sliding glass door and shoot off the kitchen table but the wife frowns when the kitchen smells like burn Varget hahaha

View attachment 1731471

That would be about a 400-yard, somewhat downhill shot; I'm not looking to shoot at that distance.

 

[sapper1]

Shooting to the north may be out as well, since there is a road there that is pretty well traveled, as well as a house.

The plan for this is occasional use to site in my firearms and some practice. My wife and I, mostly I, will be the only ones using the range.

 

[dantiff2]

That would be about a 400-yard, somewhat downhill shot; I'm not looking to shoot at that distance.

You can always build bullet backstops along the way. Stagger them and have ranges between you and 400 yards. As other have mentioned. railroad ties with sand in front stops everything! From pistol to high power rifle, you can reach your hand into the sand no more than about 10" and find all the bullets for reuse- if you do any casting with range lead.
Dan