Ideal outdoor range

[Pro2a]

Let’s just say I came into land in the right place, and I wanted to build a public range that would accommodate pistols and rifles.
What would be the ideal berm height?
Would you dig down, or build up on level land?
I’m trying to incorporate ideas as to what would be the ideal setup, and I haven’t found nearly anything for specifics.
It seems like one can just head out and pop off pistols anywhere, but there isn’t a lot of choices, if any, that are relatively closer in that accommodates those looking to do some precision long range shooting, or at least test the limits of their particular setup.
What would be your ideal setup as to what you’re looking to achieve when you go to a range?

 

[Dr Leaky]

Take a drive up to Chino Valley and check out the range they built there - about as nice as they get for a smaller place.
https://chinovalleyshootingfacility.com/

 

[Ranger1]

The NRA has a book just for this. They talk about berms, tables, distances for different things. They go into lead collection and water run off, ground contamination etc. It's very lengthy and in depth. Also what's behind your property in the distance?

 

[Harrier]

U could dig partway down and use the excavation for the berms- that way you utilize the borrow and reduce the visible shooting area & noise. I would like to see 1000 yd with all the std in-between ranges. With different distances protected from each other so one can check targets on 300 while someone else is shooting 600, Max range is often 37degrees so berms should be high enough to protect from that angle. There are NRA range design doc out there on the web... google is your friend...

 

[Suck My Glock]

Short of having a dedicated shoot-house,...the next best thing is a 360-degree enclosed range, like the pictures below. They need not be circular. Some are square or rectangular. This allows for some interesting scenarios to be built to engage threats from many angles other than to the frontal 90 degrees.

 

[Pro2a]

The NRA has a book just for this. They talk about berms, tables, distances for different things. They go into lead collection and water run off, ground contamination etc. It's very lengthy and in depth. Also what's behind your property in the distance?

The NRA huh?, I'll check that out :handgestures-thumbup:

 

[Ranger1]

If this is for the public I know I had to write up a proposal on my range. How far the nearest structure was that was not mine. What I was going to use for my far right and left markers. How high my berms were. What was the back stop going to be made out of, how I was going to deal with water run off. How I was going to.deal with lead collection. The EPA definitely wants to know about the lead collection and water run off. If it's just private you don't have to do anything of this. How would you deal with a incident.

 

[Ranger1]

https://rangeservices.nra.org/
https://rangeservices.nra.org/range-owners/
https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/05/f1/Range_Design_Criteria.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/lead/best-management-practices-lead-outdoor-shooting-ranges
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/epa_bmp.pdf

Here are some things to think about. It's a big undertaking. Make sure your coffee pot is full.

 

[Ranger1]

The gun ranges I have been involved in I used rubber conveyor belt, railroad ties, etc. Any thing you can get for free will save you money for structures.

 

[Steve_In_29]

"Ideal setup" would be at least 1000yds for rifles with ability to shoot shorter distances as well. Whether on the same or an adjacent firing range.

If land has any slope to it the best bet is to dig into that slope for each yard line. As that will reduce the amount of berming you need.

For a public range you need to look into what liability insurance is going to cost you. Also going to need sanitation facilities.

 

[Pro2a]

I’m toying with it with a friend, but I have two jobs now, so he’ll be the planner.
But you guys have tossed out a load of good stuff.