Shooting Range Construction-Advice??

[smoky]

I am in the beginning stages of construction of my "dream range" on property I own.

My plans are to build a stationary covered/enclosed shooting bench area.  I am thinking about pouring a small concrete slab and building a stationary, ambidextrious, shooting bench out of cinder blocks with a steel plate top.  My range will have 4 permanent backstops 25 yds, 100 yds, 200 yds, and 300 yds.  A clay target thrower will be in the same range for shotgun practice.

My main shooting will be bolt action rifle and T/C Encore (rifle and pistol) shooting for deer hunting practice and hand load development.

All that being said, I am very open to suggestions on what will make my range easy to use and enjoyable.  Please comment on your experiences at the various ranges you have shot at or have constructed for yourself.

Thanks for all responses.

Smoky

[Possum]

We are debating doing this same thing on some land that we have.  I'm thinking make the bench out of concrete blocks like you said and then seal the top with that rubberizing compound.  Then you could lay your rifle/pistol down without having to worry about scratches.  The rubber I am talking about makes a nice slip-proof bond.  Just a thought.

[smoky]

Possum,

Would the rubber coating you speak of be placed over a metal bench top like I have mentioned?

[jamie]

Only thing I can think of is shooting in the summer with short sleeves, that rubber top will take alot skin off your elbos.

[Possum]

I think it would seal down on metal.  You know something like what is used to coat tool handles.  It's just a thought.  I always use towels on the concrete benches when I shoot at the local range.  Concrete and elbows don't work either.  

 We haven't decided what to do yet.  We are looking at a 25-50-100-200 yd range where we are.  Thought about using steel plate angled down to deflect the bullet.  Now I think we are considering just a dirt backstop with crossties holding the dirt.  We won't be using it every day, so the dirt should hold with some seed sown over it.

[Graybeard]

My shooting bench is made of 2" lumber. I like that. I don't yet have the cover over it but that is my next improvement and will pour a pad at that time also. I will then add a new bench but likely will keep the one I have for use at the 25 yard line which on my range is at a different angle to the right of the rest of the range. My new bench will be ambidexterous as you mention which the current one is not. But unless I pour it of concrete it will again be wood.

I'd consider covering the top with indoor/outdoor or marine carpet no matter what material the top is made of. This has worked best for me in the past on ranges that are covered. You DON'T want it on one that isn't covered.

Depending on how desperate your need to catch 100% of the bullets with your back stops make sure they are plenty high. This is especially important if you might allow others than yourself to use your range at times. Friends or family it don't matter. If a stray bullet matters make that berm twice as high as you think it should be and then add another few feet.

I suggest you also have a building perhaps either behind or at one end of the covered firng line to store your range supplies in. Things like shooting stands, targets, sand bags, etc.

These are the lessons I've learned on my personal range.

GB

[flyfisher]

I've been to many shooting ranges, including my own low-budget, low-tech range at home.  You had said that your bench would be covered or enclosed...I think that that's a great idea.  At all of the covered ranges that I have gone to, the benches, whether concrete blocks, poured concrete, or wooden benches, have most everything covered with either Graybeard's marine carpet, or old left-over carpet.  Since it will be covered, the carpet shouldn't get too wet, but I agree with Graybeard...the marine carpet should probably be the best option.  

My bench is made out of 2x4 and 2x6 pressure treated lumber, left over from a building project.  I found some plans for the bench in an old "Progressive Farmer" book, but the magazine has probably been thrown out by the wife several years ago.  

In addition to your stated target distances, I would add a 50 yard target.  I find that many of my shots on game are at or around 50 yards, and I like to practice at that distance as well.  

If noise is a problem, I've also seen pieces of used carpet (let's say 48" wide by 24" high) hanging from the range roof.  These carpet pieces are hung horizontally 5 or 6 deep and placed a foot or so in front of the shooter and maybe 2 feet above him.  When one shoots from the bench, the carpet gets blown forward and I imagine, collects much of the muzzle blast.  The roof can also be constructed to slope slightly downward and past the shooter to harness more of the muzzle blast and noise.  I've seen this style of shooting bench in some of the more populated areas.  

Happy constructing!

[ras308]

The only thing I can add to all the good info is, to contain the dirt in a more bullet catching fasion, find some big tractor tires and fill them with the sand or whatever you use, it doesn't take any time to shoot the cross-ties to pieces.  Stack the tractor tires about 5 high, put 2 stacks side by side and put another stack in the back to catch the bullets passing through the gap left between the front ones.  I have old bridge pilings at my 100 yard station, they are 3 times as big as cross-ties and they only last a few years.

[Jack Crevalle]

Be aware of what's down range. At one range where I used to shoot I was told that the owner of adjacent property had pulled slugs from his cattle. This was a range with a large berm and that was blessed by the county. He could of had us closed down forever for that but apparently he was a pretty forgiving guy.

Make sure that if someone is firing over a short range target that the bullet lands in the far berm if there is one. I see ranges where people shoot targets, miss the berm in front of them and the round skips on the grass behind it, especially if the ground is wet. These can skip right over another berm.

You might want to orient your range North - South if you have a choice so the sun is behind your back or to the side. East - West is the worst. I shot on one of those last week.

[PA-Joe]

Here is an interesting USEPA link providing BMPs for outdoor shooting ranges.

http://www.epa.gov/region02/waste/leadshot/

I just finished building one for the Philadelphia Police Academy where we used an 30 degree angled concrete slab covered with 18-24 inches of rubber chips. 100 percent affective and you can recylce the points.

[Keith L]

I can see how lucky we were.  We shoot into a abandoned gravel pit on my Brother in law's farm.  The targets are fully 30 feet below grade and we have  targets at 50 and 100 yards.  The only problem ever was a new neighbor who moved to the country and wanted to make it city.  He came over and complained about how our shooting was annoying to him while he was on his deck.  He also didn't like the sound and smell of the dairy farm on the other side, and also was a pest in the little sub division further down the road.  One day I went to our range and he was shooting there.  I told him he could use it if he stopped complaining, and so far so good.

[Jack Crevalle]

 He also didn't like the sound and smell of the dairy farm on the other side, and also was a pest in the little sub division further down the road.

God, I hate idiots like that. We have them here they move "out in the country" and then complain about the smell of manure. I had a friend who was working at a local private airport and had this moron call her up all the time and complain that "the planes are flying too low over my house" she asked how long he had lived there, he replied, "Twenty years". She said "and you just now discovered planes fly over your house?" He said, "Well, I just retired".

We had neighbors who moved into our neighborhood and called the fire department because a skunk sprayed in their backyard and they didn't know what it was.

[rickyp]

The range I  shoot at.
they made baffles that run the entire with of the range and spaced about 20 yards apart. they are made out of 3 steal I beams  (2 up rights and 1 cross) then covered by 2 layers of 2x6, if someone shoots way high the baffles will catch the bullet and no worries about them coming back at the shooter.