Thread: help setting up a shooting range

so i have the land to set up my own rifle range, max distance i can get is 240 250 meters, i have the idea of setting up building a solid timber shooting bench and having steel plate targets at 50 100 150 200 and 250 on 100 x 100 posts but i'm open to what you have done and any advice etc. i have found shooting 10mm thick steel ok but the bullets tend to rip it up over time as i used to shoot it then just spray it black and re paint a red dot on the black plate seems to work well but maybe 15mm thick would stop this ? any advice would be great or pictures what would you do ?

get biz plates mate however you can.

ok thanks where would i get those ? link ?

You could try either Gillie or Shootm if he has any.Or do you know and heavy Fab guys?

oh right so its just a term for a type of steel ? so its not a company that make em ? i know some engineers might have to ask em

yep biz alloy or something like that but thats the plate you want for gong shooting.

Use tannerite, you'll know when you hit it.

The grade steel you need for your targets is Bisalloy 400.

Depending on what you intend to shoot at it you will need it to be 10mm or more in thickness.

As for your range you have to consider what back stops you have in place and how large is the safety zone is behind and to the sides of the butts?

Is the safety zone your property or a neighbours or several neighbours or a combination of all of these.

Noise will get you lots of complaints from neighbours too, unless they also like to shoot and you invite them over.

Shooting down on a slight angle, 10 degrees or so, is a good idea as this may reduce the height of your backstop and size of your safety zone.

Shooting up is not a good idea as this may increase the size of your backstops and size of your safety zone.

Shooting steel will result in ricochets which will need to be taken into consideration.

This link will take you to the New Zealand Police Range Manual which describes the principles for the design and development of shooting ranges in New Zealand.

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/fi...nge-manual.pdf

Here's some ideas to build your bench rests. Make them strong with no movement.

http://benchrest.com/articles/benches.pdf

Good luck

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by P38

The grade steel you need for your targets is Bisalloy 400.

Depending on what you intend to shoot at it you will need it to be 10mm or more in thickness.

As for your range you have to consider what back stops you have in place and how large is the safety zone is behind and to the sides of the butts?

Is the safety zone your property or a neighbours or several neighbours or a combination of all of these.

Noise will get you lots of complaints from neighbours too, unless they also like to shoot and you invite them over.

Shooting down on a slight angle, 10 degrees or so, is a good idea as this may reduce the height of your backstop and size of your safety zone.

Shooting up is not a good idea as this may increase the size of your backstops and size of your safety zone.

Shooting steel will result in ricochets which will need to be taken into consideration.

This link will take you to the New Zealand Police Range Manual which describes the principles for the design and development of shooting ranges in New Zealand.

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/fi...nge-manual.pdf

Here's some ideas to build your bench rests. Make them strong with no movement.

http://benchrest.com/articles/benches.pdf

Good luck

Cheers
Pete

Really good advice this - even if you do not want to get your range certified.

16mm bisalloy is great for most calibers. I would consider 50m a bit close for a centrefire caliber gong. If you do put one at 50m have it angled to deflect bullet fragments in a safe direction - and be prepaired to repair or replace your gong often. As good as steel is i would still allow for paper targets at 100m and 200m.

On the ricochet's I've got an experiment in mind, an extra hole or two at the bottom of the plate and pull the bottom back so the plate has a slight angle. I would expect the bullets to be guided a lot better with that to a 'safer' place..

cool thanks for all the advice guys that benches pdf is a big help there p38 cheers!

anyone got pictures of there range set ups ?

got a quote for a sheet of biz 400 the other day, costs the same as a new rifle

Originally Posted by scoped

got a quote for a sheet of biz 400 the other day, costs the same as a new rifle

Hahahaha

Yeah it's not cheap.

Buy the off cuts and weld them together if you want a bigger piece.

Originally Posted by scoped

got a quote for a sheet of biz 400 the other day, costs the same as a new rifle

Fark I think they where trying one you on

What's a good size for a gong?

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