Mike OTDP
Member
A combination of a suppressor, a shooting room with good sound absorption, and good selection in arms and ammo should solve the problem. And a good backstop.
Help me build a safe shooting range.
- Thread starter Simple Man
- Start date
- Status
pith43
Member
Railroad ties with a dirt backfill work good for a backstop. Depending on where you live, you can find used ones for a pretty good price.
woodybrighton
member
silencers probably way to go 
sucks they make you pay through the nose for them
sucks they make you pay through the nose for them
Officers'Wife
Member
Hi ilksurfer,
Now that you mention it, Wabash National Corp in Lafayette IN often has semi trailers boxes (the trailer part sans wheels) that can be bought at a reasonable price. At the nose portion you could put a wall of rough cut lumber straight from the mill as a bullet stop then replace the lumber as the bullets 'chew' them. The FRP (fiberglass reinforced plywood) ought to be reasonably good soundproofing but inside the trailer hearing protection would be mandatory!
Selena
Now that you mention it, Wabash National Corp in Lafayette IN often has semi trailers boxes (the trailer part sans wheels) that can be bought at a reasonable price. At the nose portion you could put a wall of rough cut lumber straight from the mill as a bullet stop then replace the lumber as the bullets 'chew' them. The FRP (fiberglass reinforced plywood) ought to be reasonably good soundproofing but inside the trailer hearing protection would be mandatory!
Selena
I just bought 4 acres with three houses on it.
Okay So we are talking about shooting ranges. My question is Could a mobile home be a sufficient enough back stop for my bullets. Keep in mind I fire heavy rounds. all assault rifle. Ak-47, Mosin Nagant, AR-15, 30-06, a .50 sniper I picked up in texas, and other. But its an aluminum sided mobile home with wooden studs and walls. Older and sturdier. I just dont want to start firing at it and the bullets arent being stopped. Now the other house is a 1930's church, which I dont really want to use for target practice. I'd be kicked out of my town haha.
Okay So we are talking about shooting ranges. My question is Could a mobile home be a sufficient enough back stop for my bullets. Keep in mind I fire heavy rounds. all assault rifle. Ak-47, Mosin Nagant, AR-15, 30-06, a .50 sniper I picked up in texas, and other. But its an aluminum sided mobile home with wooden studs and walls. Older and sturdier. I just dont want to start firing at it and the bullets arent being stopped. Now the other house is a 1930's church, which I dont really want to use for target practice. I'd be kicked out of my town haha.
Radagast
Member
thegarlon: All of those rounds will punch straight through and keep on going. Unless you have 3000 meters of uninhabited land down range, or a good thick earth backstop, I would advise you not to try this.
On the pistol range I helped build we placed a 10mm thick steel lintel as a plate stand. Someone fired a centerfire rifle at it and punched straight through it. four inch thick wood was quickly shattered by pistol round, rifle rounds would do a lot worse.
Unless you have the down range land or are willing to build a good high backstop behind the building, shooting at it would be unsafe.
On the pistol range I helped build we placed a 10mm thick steel lintel as a plate stand. Someone fired a centerfire rifle at it and punched straight through it. four inch thick wood was quickly shattered by pistol round, rifle rounds would do a lot worse.
Unless you have the down range land or are willing to build a good high backstop behind the building, shooting at it would be unsafe.
There's no need for you to "reinvent the wheel" on building a range.
The NRA has a great book on range construction, range safety, and best practices.
I can't recall the exact name of the book. It might be as simple as the "NRA Range Manual" or some such.
I've browsed through the copy owned by my local private club and it talks in detail on what makes a safe backstop, construction techniques, safety fans, etc.
Contact the NRA and get a copy of the manual. I'm sure there's a charge, but I'm also sure it would be worth it. It is a bit "gun club" oriented, but you can just ignore the parts that aren't relevant to your situation.
Seriously, check out the resource that the NRA developed just to answer questions like yours before you go any further.
The NRA has a great book on range construction, range safety, and best practices.
I can't recall the exact name of the book. It might be as simple as the "NRA Range Manual" or some such.
I've browsed through the copy owned by my local private club and it talks in detail on what makes a safe backstop, construction techniques, safety fans, etc.
Contact the NRA and get a copy of the manual. I'm sure there's a charge, but I'm also sure it would be worth it. It is a bit "gun club" oriented, but you can just ignore the parts that aren't relevant to your situation.
Seriously, check out the resource that the NRA developed just to answer questions like yours before you go any further.
- Status
