Private range

Doug Ridley · April 17, 2013, 08:42 AM

Thinking of fixing a private mini-range in my shop. How many two bys will a .38 shoot through? Don't want any bullets flying out the back side of the building.

dayman · April 17, 2013, 08:48 AM

I'd put up some steel. wood gets chewed up pretty quick. A free swinging steel target with a wood frame to catch the splatter should work fine as long as you have adequate ventilation.
Railroad ties would work too, as long as you have a steady supply so you can change them out on a regular basis.
Also, what's behind your garage? If you're in a suburban area i'd think any setup would be a bad idea, and probably illegal.

nanewt02 · April 17, 2013, 12:15 PM

Could have sworn the last range I went to had a giant pile of sand. Oh I would l love to have a private range

Doug Ridley · April 17, 2013, 01:41 PM

Got it! I just filled a plastic garbage can with dirt, fastened the lid on good with cable ties, laid it down on the workbench, taped a target on it and started shooting. Works good. When too many holes appear I'll just tape over them, put on a new target and go some more. Won't last forever but will do for a while.

zincwarrior · April 17, 2013, 02:13 PM

Be sure to have a hose nearby. Call me gunshy now, but I've seen three fires at ranges in the last two years. Admittedly, we're in a drought, but when stuff starts smoking it seems to go really fast.

ShootingNut · April 17, 2013, 04:02 PM

You apparently don't live in the City or a subdivision.
You must be out someplace in the Boon Docks?

jglsprings · April 17, 2013, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Got it! I just filled a plastic garbage can with dirt, fastened the lid on good with cable ties, laid it down on the workbench, taped a target on it and started shooting. Works good. When too many holes appear I'll just tape over them, put on a new target and go some more. Won't last forever but will do for a while.

Okay...

Quote:

Don't want any bullets flying out the back side of the building.

So how did you get around the initial problem? One stray round and it's a disaster.

Others have asked as well, is it legal to discharge a firearm in your location?

Ferretboy · April 17, 2013, 04:27 PM

What shooter in their right mind doesnt want their own range? Just wish they didnt come with all the head aches. Though if I had a basement and a big enough peice of property, Underground range. Wouldnt have to worry too much about over penetration.

Old Grump · April 17, 2013, 04:33 PM

I hope you air flow is adequate and in the right direction. You still might want to dig into your pocket and get that sheet f steel, hang it at an angle and have a bullet trap under it. Then stick your trash can catcher in front of it. Stray bullet problem solved and you get your lead back but first the air. You don't want all that fun and have to give it up because your nervous system goes whacky doodle from lead dust in your system.

ranchito457 · April 17, 2013, 07:46 PM

safety first! use steel,Me and my friends put up a makeshift range and used old recycled steel never a problem but we also put up a 10 foot wall of dirt

bbqbob51 · April 20, 2013, 09:19 AM

Safety first when it comes to lead contamination. We've had a problem with lead exposure at the indoor range at or gun club and it's hard to get the conditions just right.
Here is a link to different types of backstops:
http://www.nssf.org/ranges/rangereso...gncriteria.pdf

Muskamoot · April 20, 2013, 03:45 PM

I made a mini backstop using a 4' x 4' x 2' deep base made out of 3/4" plywood.I mounted it on HD wheels and filled it 6" from the top with dry sand.The bullet plate was 1/4" steel mounted on an angle (about 45 degrees) that directed the bullets into the sand about 1' from the rear of the base if the bullets hit the target near the ten ring.I experimented with the plate angle with a .22. I made a target hanger to hold a 2'x3' cardboard backer and stapled the targets to that. I used the backstop for .38,.22 and .45,thousands of rounds with no real problems.There is a bit of bullet splatter thet will extend outside of the backstop,so be prepared for that.The wall behind the backstop was concrete filled block.

April 17, 2013, 08:42 AM	#1
Doug Ridley Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Posts: 121	Private range Thinking of fixing a private mini-range in my shop. How many two bys will a .38 shoot through? Don't want any bullets flying out the back side of the building.

April 17, 2013, 08:48 AM	#2
dayman Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2011 Location: The Woods Posts: 1,197	I'd put up some steel. wood gets chewed up pretty quick. A free swinging steel target with a wood frame to catch the splatter should work fine as long as you have adequate ventilation. Railroad ties would work too, as long as you have a steady supply so you can change them out on a regular basis. Also, what's behind your garage? If you're in a suburban area i'd think any setup would be a bad idea, and probably illegal. __________________ si vis pacem para bellum

April 17, 2013, 04:27 PM	#8
Ferretboy Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2012 Location: Longview, WA Posts: 214	What shooter in their right mind doesnt want their own range? Just wish they didnt come with all the head aches. Though if I had a basement and a big enough peice of property, Underground range. Wouldnt have to worry too much about over penetration. __________________ There is no such thing as Overkill, Dead is Dead!

April 17, 2013, 04:33 PM	#9
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	I hope you air flow is adequate and in the right direction. You still might want to dig into your pocket and get that sheet f steel, hang it at an angle and have a bullet trap under it. Then stick your trash can catcher in front of it. Stray bullet problem solved and you get your lead back but first the air. You don't want all that fun and have to give it up because your nervous system goes whacky doodle from lead dust in your system. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

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April 17, 2013, 12:15 PM	#3
nanewt02 Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Posts: 249	Could have sworn the last range I went to had a giant pile of sand. Oh I would l love to have a private range

April 17, 2013, 01:41 PM	#4
Doug Ridley Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Posts: 121	Got it! I just filled a plastic garbage can with dirt, fastened the lid on good with cable ties, laid it down on the workbench, taped a target on it and started shooting. Works good. When too many holes appear I'll just tape over them, put on a new target and go some more. Won't last forever but will do for a while.

April 17, 2013, 02:13 PM	#5
zincwarrior Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2011 Location: Texas, land of Tex-Mex Posts: 2,259	Be sure to have a hose nearby. Call me gunshy now, but I've seen three fires at ranges in the last two years. Admittedly, we're in a drought, but when stuff starts smoking it seems to go really fast.

April 17, 2013, 04:02 PM	#6
ShootingNut Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,475	You apparently don't live in the City or a subdivision. You must be out someplace in the Boon Docks?

April 17, 2013, 07:46 PM	#10
ranchito457 Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2013 Location: Manhattan,Illinois Posts: 179	safety first! use steel,Me and my friends put up a makeshift range and used old recycled steel never a problem but we also put up a 10 foot wall of dirt

April 20, 2013, 09:19 AM	#11
bbqbob51 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2005 Posts: 775	Safety first when it comes to lead contamination. We've had a problem with lead exposure at the indoor range at or gun club and it's hard to get the conditions just right. Here is a link to different types of backstops: http://www.nssf.org/ranges/rangereso...gncriteria.pdf

April 20, 2013, 03:45 PM	#12
Muskamoot Member Join Date: November 11, 2012 Posts: 16	I made a mini backstop using a 4' x 4' x 2' deep base made out of 3/4" plywood.I mounted it on HD wheels and filled it 6" from the top with dry sand.The bullet plate was 1/4" steel mounted on an angle (about 45 degrees) that directed the bullets into the sand about 1' from the rear of the base if the bullets hit the target near the ten ring.I experimented with the plate angle with a .22. I made a target hanger to hold a 2'x3' cardboard backer and stapled the targets to that. I used the backstop for .38,.22 and .45,thousands of rounds with no real problems.There is a bit of bullet splatter thet will extend outside of the backstop,so be prepared for that.The wall behind the backstop was concrete filled block.