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Setting up a gun range!

joshb

joshb

Gold $$ Contributor
Talking to my cousin and his wife, the decision to build a range was finalized. A little work on Google earth, I picked the site and started clearing the land. Minimal tree removal for the first phase.
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Cut in an access:
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Parking area:
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125 yards opened up. Next push goes thru the trees to 200.
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Just a reminder, which you probably know.

The single biggest factor in designing and using a Rifle Range is Bullet Containment.

Several years ago, a man just west of Huntsville bought some wooded acreage and carved out a first class Bench Rest Range that went to 400 yards. We held quite a few Matches there.

He also held PRS matches, where I believe the problem arose.

There were houses about a mile on the other side of the Burm. Bullets were leaving the range and people complained. He was shut down for anything but 22 Rim Fire.

At Tomball four years ago, we spent around a quarter of a million dollars completely rebuilding our range strictly for bullet containment. That includes a 28 foot tall burm and no metal any where on the range. All frames are wood and any swingers are the reactive type targets.

While we are protected by the Texas Safe Range Act, we must insure that no bullets leave the range.

It looks like your 100 foot canyon will be perfect.
 
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jackieschmidt said:
Just a reminder, which you probably know.

The single biggest factor in designing and using a Rifle Range is Bullet Containment.

Several years ago, a man just west of Huntsville bought some wooded acreage and carved out a first class Bench Rest Range that went to 400 yards. We held quite a few Matches there.

He also held PRS matches, where I believe the problem arose.

There were houses about a mile on the other side of the Burm. Bullets were leaving the range and people complained. He was shut down for anything but 22 Rim Fire.

At Tomball four years ago, we spent around a quarter of a million dollars completely rebuilding our range strictly for bullet containment. That includes a 28 foot tall burm and no metal any where on the range. All frames are wood and any swingers are the reactive type targets.

While we are protected by the Texas Safe Range Act, we must insure that no bullets leave the range.

It looks like your 100 foot canyon will be perfect.
Click to expand...

I hear you. I have a stack of Texas Cedar logs I’m going to use for the 100 yard back stop. The 200 is a 50 foot rock wall. Right now, it’s just going to be a family range. Over time, I’ll put in a covered pad, concrete benches and a bullet stop in front of the firing line. I picked this canyon for the firing line direction. Beyond the canyon wall is the neighbors 1500 acre spread. No houses on it. Beyond that is another open tract, clear for a mile .
Most of the shooting will be me, trying to shoot tiny groups.
 
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Bill K said:
If this is going to be a range open to the public, rather than just you, cousin and family's personal use. Two major things to consider and cover are bullet containment and liability insurance.
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I’m really excited about getting the go ahead from my cousin that owns the land. He shoots occasionally. I’m doing the work because it will practically be my own private range. No idiots to watch out for. No long drive. No range officer looking over my shoulder to make sure my gun is clear and NO AR next to me raining brass on my head!
 
KMart said:
Is that another name for Ash Juniper? If it is Ash Juniper growing there, all the stuff you cut down or push down, will still be in a pile 15 years from now. Out there that stuff doesn't rot away.
Nice project
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Could be? Everybody just calls it Cedar around here. Very hard wood. Doesn’t rot. You’re right about it staying around. I have a five year old pile still looking hard as ever. A guy told me that they use it for fence posts because it never rots.
 
Wow! I can only dream of having a private range. Congratulations! However, if I had one, I would probably go bankrupt shooting so much.

Many years ago, back in the mid 60's when I got my first center fire rifle, a 243 Win, with a 3 x 9 Redfield scope, a friend of my dad's had a private range. He rented some land from a farmer, build a bench and target backer. It was only 50 yards. However, he schooled me in sighting in the rifle using ballistic data to approximate a 1 1/2 high 100-yard sight in. It seemed to work if you ask the many critters that I took with that 243 Win, i.e. groundhogs, foxes, and a few deer.
 
Kracken McGraw said:
Josh, you know you might as well rent a big track Dozer and have a little fun while doing this project!
Click to expand...
Not a chance! This whole county is a rock pile. You have to rent a Jack hammer to plant a tree. I’m using the natural topography as it is. This is a low budget operation, right now. My tractor and a chainsaw has to do. When my cousin wants to fancy it up, we’ll probably split the material costs.
I’m going to clear to 200 yards, put up a couple bullet stops and a solid bench. Maybe a backer for pistol shooting and have some fun.
 
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