Needing some input on my range barricade setup

[RD10]

I'm putting in a new railroad tie backstop at 100 yards from my back deck. I'm going to hang mine belt from it to help the ties last a little longer. I'm going to make a new 4'x8' barricade shown below out of treated lumber and attach it to 4"x4"s in quickrete. That's going to be at 50 yards. At 25 yards, close to where the small old backstop is situated, I'm wanting to put a VTAC barricade.

Here's where your thoughts come in. I'd like to have something-maybe a second VTAC barricade facing the opposite direction-about 30"-36" apart, thus having a doorway-sized opening in between.

Also, my wife doesn't really care for me putting this stuff in the yard. Any painting suggestions? Simple camo maybe, but nothing pink, please.

FYI-This will be used for handgun, shotgun (mostly zeroing slug guns), AR, and .308.

 

[doc2rn]

I can see your dilema and tell you exactly what your wife is gonna do when she hears you shooting from the back porch when she has the ladies over for tea. You have the Acreage and a nice alley pre existing between the fields. I would move it back and put a bench out between the fields. Hard to see a range sittin between ears of corn and its more likely to keep the lil woman happy! IF she's happy everyone's happy

 

[RD10]

She doesn't mind the shooting at all. My back deck is pretty high, which makes for good coyote hunting, too. Everything beyond where the loose ties are lying is just wide enough to drive though. I don't shoot from a bench anyway-all prone for long range. Can't fit a bench in my Impala with my sniper gear.

 

[RD10]

I finally got it done, thanks to a lot of help from my friends/coworkers, and got some pictures.

100 yards from my back deck.

First barricade, front and back.

Second barricades, front and back. VTACs with a 30" opening between to simulate a doorway.

Backstop. Two rows of ties and two layers of mine belt. My old backstop had three rows of ties. When I took it down, I found that two rows were sufficient-having stopped 12 gauge slugs, 5.56, .308, and all of my different pistol rounds. Nothing passed through and everything was stuck in either the first tie or the first part of the second tie.

Everything is set with 4x4 posts in concrete and made out of treated plywood and lumber. The backs have 2x4 bracing to sturdy them up for the wind/shooter bumping into them. I had to put reflectors on everything because you never know when somebody might forget where they are on a late night ATV ride up the field road. I put mine belt in front of the barricades to keep shooters out of the wet grass or mud. And in case you're wondering, because of the lay of the land, the first barricade is in line, but about 8' below the line of fire from the deck to the backstop. The VTACs are off to the side.

The wife was ok with it all. She just didn't like how much money I spent. She's probably already over it by now.

 

[Magoo]

Very nice. Looks like you didn't need much input after all. I'm really jealous of all you folks that can shoot in their backyards.

What is the "mine belt" you used, and if you don't mind about how much does it cost per x unit? My guess is it's some sort of conveyor belt material, but can't tell.

 

[oldbear]

Sir, what a great setup!! It appears as if you put a lot of thought and effort into your range. I do though have one question, what is mine belt? Sorry I've never heard of it.

Thanks

 

[CWLTZBEAR]

Very nice, boss! Nicer than a lot of commercial ranges. I don't see how much of anything would penetrate that without specialized ammo. I have a little 100' set up on my property. Not for big bore though. Seeing yours I think I have to upgrade!! Happy shootin'!

 

[RD10]

Thanks, guys. Mine belt is the vulcanized rubber beltline that mines and power plants use to move coal. I got a 4'x?' roll from my neighbor who works at a coal mine.

 

[rodensouth]

That is a mighty fine setup! Well constructed and pleasing to the eye in my opinion. It should be plenty thick until you spring for the 50 cal!

 

[statelineblues]

If I may ask, how much (approximately) did this cost?

 

[RD10]

I didn't total it up, but I'd estimate it at about $350 for the ties (first batch was expensive junk once I got into them, but later got some good ones for free, and used some pieces from my old backstop), paint, concrete, lags, bolts, screws, etc.

ETA: And, duh, I forgot to mention lumber in that list.

 

[Tim the student]

Looks good. I'm jealous!

What is mine belt?

 

[RD10]

Thanks! Mine belt is the vulcanized rubber beltline that mines and power plants use to move coal. I got a 4'x?' roll from my neighbor who works at a coal mine.

 

[Tim the student]

Thanks RD.

 

[RD10]

If anybody was wondering, I obviously have a little too much time on my hands since I'm off work with an injury, and made the cardboard silhouettes out of scrap boxes. I used scrap Mossy Oak plywood (just 'cause it looks cool) leftover from my bathroom remodel (on a now six year old house) to trace and cut out the cardboard. There's smaller piece to trace the vitals and I added a T zone (instant incapacitation zone) for sniper practice. The silhouettes all modeled roughly off of IDPA dimensions. The one with the middle cut out is for spray-painting over cardboard or butcher's paper to make cheap targets, as are the pistol, knife, and T zone overlays. Cheapo, but it'll work.

And, I forgot to mention that I made a makeshift range flag for wind estimate that mounts on top of the backstop.

 

[Travis McGee]

Color me green with jealousy!
Incorporate, come up with a snazzy name with tactical in the title, and you can go into business.
You have a better setup than many tactical shooting schools!