Range sound management

[Patch700]

I've a couple questions to those that have had any experiences ( good or bad ) with the use of sound managment devices on the shooting range.

I am located on a rural property and have been shooting there for many years out to 300yds.. The spot where I shoot is a lane that runs parallel with our pond and is fenced off to keep our horses out etc.
Generally speaking our horses are all ok with muzzle report and have never been spooked terribly by it.

However as of late the Mrs. has been taking on boarding horses from time to time and these horses are not used to the report of a rifle to put it lightly lol.. The last thing I want is to have someone's horse go through a fence if spooked.

I'm considering building a sound deadening tube made from two 55 gal plastic drums attached end to end with a hole large enough for a series of 5gal pails (glued together) to run through the center that have holes drilled in them and then open cell foam between the inner pails (the core) and the walls of the two barrels.

Question , how much can i expect with respect to noise reduction?

I am not interested in running a suppressor of any kind on my target rifles period.

Also if someone knows of a better way to skin this cat I am open to ideas.. Building a cinder block shooting house beside the pond is out of the question according to the Mrs. as well lol.

I would like the system to be portable as I would like it to be put away after a session of shooting.. The size and weight aren't a huge concern as I can move it with the tractor.


Thanks in advancd for any input.

 

[savagedasher]

I've a couple questions to those that have had any experiences ( good or bad ) with the use of sound managment devices on the shooting range.

I am located on a rural property and have been shooting there for many years out to 300yds.. The spot where I shoot is a lane that runs parallel with our pond and is fenced off to keep our horses out etc.
Generally speaking our horses are all ok with muzzle report and have never been spooked terribly by it.

However as of late the Mrs. has been taking on boarding horses from time to time and these horses are not used to the report of a rifle to put it lightly lol.. The last thing I want is to have someone's horse go through a fence if spooked.

I'm considering building a sound deadening tube made from two 55 gal plastic drums attached end to end with a hole large enough for a series of 5gal pails (glued together) to run through the center that have holes drilled in them and then open cell foam between the inner pails (the core) and the walls of the two barrels.

Question , how much can i expect with respect to noise reduction?

I am not interested in running a suppressor of any kind on my target rifles period.

Also if someone knows of a better way to skin this cat I am open to ideas.. Building a cinder block shooting house beside the pond is out of the question according to the Mrs. as well lol.

I would like the system to be portable as I would like it to be put away after a session of shooting.. The size and weight aren't a huge concern as I can move it with the tractor.


Thanks in advancd for any input.

The best way I can think is to wrap the horses head in foam and use a bungy cords . Or Large foam ear plugs ! cheep and no tractor is needed .They seem to accept the the bug screen ok So that sound simple . Larry

 

[Patch700]

The best way I can think is to wrap the horses head in foam and use a bungy cords . Or Large foam ear plugs ! cheep and no tractor is needed .They seem to accept the the bug screen ok So that sound simple . Larry

Lol , you know Larry that's probably the simplest answer... However I've not the time nor patience to chase down the boarders horses and attempt to clad their heads in foam lol. But again thx for the advice I do appreciate it.

 

[savagedasher]

Lol , you know Larry that's probably the simplest answer... However I've not the time nor patience to chase down the boarders horses and attempt to clad their heads in foam lol. But again thx for the advice I do appreciate it.

 

[savagedasher]

Horses don't rate hi on my list.
I think you should put them in a circus . Many of years A friend of mine worked for a circus . He would go by old horses For lion food. His favorite thing was to tell them he was going to put them a circus.
But I feel ear plugs would work . Larry

 

[smoooth]

Patch700,

Take a look at Youtube, there are several video's that deal with designs similar to your idea.

Personally, I don't know how well the 5 gallon buckets would work, if I am understanding you correctly. You would probably be better off using carpet panels with a slot cut in the center hanging in the drum (or piece of culvert or pipe). I hear (pun intended) a stack of tied, strapped or bolted together also works fairly well. I have no experience with either but was planning to build one with a 55 gallon plastic drum and the carpet panels, just have not taken the time to do so.

Best of luck!

 

[Geno C]

Thunderbeast would be my first suggestion...

I think you have something more along these lines in mind though

 

[Hopkins]

I have seen used tires used to form a tube to shoot through. Logic would suggest the longer the tube the more noise reduction. I can't personally report how much sound baffling you can expect.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Once the bullet gets out of there you still have the supersonic crack. No way to get around it except shoot a different direction

 

[savagedasher]

Thunderbeast would be my first suggestion...

I think you have something more along these lines in mind though

Once the bullet gets out of there you still have the supersonic crack. No way to get around it except shoot a different direction

Go sub sonic the bullet is louder then the muzzle at 300 Yds . Larry

 

[Patch700]

Once the bullet gets out of there you still have the supersonic crack. No way to get around it except shoot a different direction

You bet Dusty , no way around that I understand.. Just trying to make chicken salad out of chicken poop here to keep the Mrs. at bay.

I did notice that one system made of aluminum checker plate and that is what has me leaning towards a tube type setup.. I have also noticed some european shooters utilizing a pyramid type system about 2meters long just in front of the muzzle..

I will try searching on youtube as suggested so I can maybe have a better idea as to what I can expect for actual noise reduction.

 

[savagedasher]

You bet Dusty , no way around that I understand.. Just trying to make chicken salad out of chicken poop here to keep the Mrs. at bay.

I did notice that one system made of aluminum checker plate and that is what has me leaning towards a tube type setup.. I have also noticed some european shooters utilizing a pyramid type system about 2meters long just in front of the muzzle..

I will try searching on youtube as suggested so I can maybe have a better idea as to what I can expect for actual noise reduction.

Baffels or chambers or both is how sound is controled. The surface density and shape is another factor . Larry

 

[Tozguy]

I have seen used tires used to form a tube to shoot through. Logic would suggest the longer the tube the more noise reduction. I can't personally report how much sound baffling you can expect.

I've seen a tunnel with some old tires filled with PU insulating foam that did a good job of deadening sound. If the tunnel is long enough (10-12 tires?) the supersonic boom is also contained. It was important to have the muzzle at least 16'' into the tunnel for best results.
There are other additional means of deflecting sound depending on the site.

 

[Tozguy]

Here is a picture of what we use at the local range. I do not think that these tubes do a terrific job but they help us look like responsible citizens.
The tubes are filled with fibreglass insulation and heavy papermaker's felt. Something like a few layers of heavy rubber under carpet would be more effective. The PU foam filled tires mentioned above are much better than the metal tubes at the range.

 

[Patch700]

Thankyou for posting that Tozguy... I see the type of foam you are refering to. Seems it may be a bit dense and not take on as much noise as say a looser open cell foam? I actually dont mind the appearance of that setup.

Your opinion on it though is that it wasn't worth the effort regarding noise levels being reduced? More of a due diligence deal?

 

[rayporter]

http://www.earplugstore.com/horse-earplugs.html
the best thing to do is build a pen off the side to put them in when you shoot. a hundred foot is enough.

 

[SS427]

I belonged to a range that used exactly what you have in mind - two 55 gallon barrels welded together. Not sure what they use inside to absorb the sound, but it appeared to be held in place with either chicken wire or a similar type fence. The material may have been insulation or foam. You were not allowed to shoot black powder rifles through it because of the risk of an explosion of the powder buildup.

They did work. There was a big difference in noise level between a rifle fired inside the barrel vs outside the barrel. It seemed like the louder the rifle the better it moderated the sound.

I hated them and no longer belong to that range partly because of the barrels. Several reasons I didn't like them. They blocked the view of wind flags so you had to bob your head back and forth in order to see the flags. The barrel was always in the way to some degree. I scratched one of my blued rifle barrels on the damn thing. With a high power rifle like a .30-06 there was some blowback of crap onto my scope. After the scratched barrel I started using the left hand benches so I could shoot around the barrel.

 

[Tozguy]

Thankyou for posting that Tozguy... I see the type of foam you are refering to. Seems it may be a bit dense and not take on as much noise as say a looser open cell foam? I actually dont mind the appearance of that setup.

Your opinion on it though is that it wasn't worth the effort regarding noise levels being reduced? More of a due diligence deal?

Actually we sincerely try to reduce noise for the neighbour and the tubes passed the sound level tests taken by the municipality in the neighbour's backyard. The metal tubes at the range work some but not as much as they could if perfected. There are no horses or cattle nearby.

In some of my own experiments at home, light open cell foam was not very effective. A compressable material that is dense and heavy (like under carpet) will handle a single strong shock wave better. The inside surface should be irregular or rough. Spray in PU foam gave very good results.

If I had a farm with a supply of hay bales, I would try making a tunnel with hay bales and cover it with a heavy tarp.

 

[BenPerfected]

Actually we sincerely try to reduce noise for the neighbour and the tubes passed the sound level tests taken by the municipality in the neighbour's backyard. The metal tubes at the range work some but not as much as they could if perfected. There are no horses or cattle nearby.

In some of my own experiments at home, light open cell foam was not very effective. A compressable material that is dense and heavy (like under carpet) will handle a single strong shock wave better. The inside surface should be irregular or rough. Spray in PU foam gave very good results.

If I had a farm with a supply of hay bales, I would try making a tunnel with hay bales and cover it with a heavy tarp.

Having some experience in sound control, I think the hay bale suggestion has the best chance of significantly improving sound absorption (NRC) and reducing sound transmission (STC).

 

[Patch700]

Hay bales are something I do have lol.. I feed rounds tho and I'm assuming you meant squares?

Something that was brought up that never even occured to me was the fact of having to look around the tube to see what the flags are doing.. Thanks for the input.